Page 16 of From Rivals to I Do

“Joseph take off after I left?” I ask as I walk back out to the living room.

“Took a bit of convincing from Daniel, but he left,” Sparrow says.

“I hope he wasn’t too much trouble,” I reply, feeling bad for leaving them there with Joseph. Not that I thought that Joseph would hurt

anybody, but because of the tension between them all since Joseph had done what he did.

“It was really no trouble,” Daniel insisted.

“Well, let’s get that pie in the oven and warm it up,” I say as I force a smile. “I hope y’all love some apple crumble.”

“Sounds good to me,” Sparrow says as we preheat the oven. “I’m sorry about Dad,” Sparrow apologizes.

“It’s not your fault darlin’,” I insist. “He’s acting like a hit dog, even though he’s the one that caused all of this.”

“Well, I’m sorry all the same,” Sparrow says as she wraps her arms around me, squeezing me tight.

“Thank you,” I say as I hold back tears. When the pie was ready, I cut it up as we chatted about anything other than Joseph or what

happened at the store. “Aw, you guys,” I gasp and smile as we all sit around the dining room table that they’d put back together while

I was gone. “It looks good!” “We figured it would be better than sitting on the floor,” Daniel said. “Plus, I found the electric drill in the

box labeled ‘tools’.” “It came out really well,” I say as I hand out slices of pie with paper plates and forks. “Anyone want ice cream?”

“Yes please!” both Sparrow and Daniel say, and we all giggle as we eat our warm apple pie. The pie reminds me of my own mother, of

Amarillo. . . of the life I’d shared with Joseph only for him to wreck it all. . . and I can’t hold it in anymore.

“Sorry,” I say quietly as I leave my pie and retreat to my bedroom, closing the door behind me as I sit down hard on the bed. I begin to sob, my head in my hands, when Sparrow swoops in.

“Oh, Mama,” Sparrow says as she sits down next to me, gives me a side hug, and pulls me in close.

“I’m sorry,” I reply. “It’s just. . . a shock to see your daddy after so long. . .”

“Well, he won’t be back, that’s for sure,” Sparrow replies. “Not unless he wants his butt kicked by Daniel.”

“I hope so,” I reply as Sparrow grabs a box of tissues off the old vanity I’d brought along, handing me a handful. “You know, even after

all he’s done, a part of me wanted to let him stay.”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t,” Sparrow replies. “What he did was slimy, and he doesn’t deserve you or anyone. Besides, he’s in trouble

with the law, and you don’t want that kind of trouble.”

“No, I suppose I don’t,” I say with a nod. “It’s just. . . hard. I’ve spent the past—almost thirty years with someone. . . and now I’m all

alone.” “You aren’t all alone, Mama,” Sparrow insists. “You have me, Daniel, and Jade just a few roads away.”

“I know, but that’s not what I mean,” I say with a sigh. “You have your own lives, and I’m used to having a companion, you know?”

“Yeah, I get it,” Sparrow says, quiet for a moment as if she’s unsure of what to say. But then suddenly, she perks up. “What about that

app?” “Love and Company?” I ask.

“Yeah! Have you tried it out?”

“No, I haven’t actually,” I reply. “I just don’t think it’s for me. Not right now.”

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