Page 66 of In This Moment

“You know, Mom, I could’ve gone the rest of my natural life without hearing that tidbit, thanks.”

She carried on as if he hadn’t been split in two. “I asked her how she dealt with it, and she replied with the darnedest thing. Just shrugged and said, what other choice was there? She either lived her life or let the disease take it from her. People have jobs and hobbies and friends and family. If they focus only on the symptoms, then they’d never get out of bed.”

Yeah. “Sounds like Rebecca, all right.”

A warm hand settled on his back and rubbed in soothing circles. Her faint scent of rosemary knocked him back to childhood when she used to comfort him this way. “Remember a few years ago when your dad was having chest pains and they did all those tests at the hospital?”

He huffed a laugh. “I remember you threatening to sue the hospital into oblivion if he didn’t make it.”

“Not my best moment,” she mumbled, then shook her head. “My point is, when we love someone, their pain is our pain. Their struggles, their joy. Love isn’t always sheer bliss, but if you’re lucky, the good outweighs the bad. Sometimes, the best you can do is be there to support them, so they know they’re not alone, and offer to help when you’re able.”

A long-winded sigh, and he rubbed the grit from his eyes. “I don’t recall saying I loved Rebecca.”

“MmmHmm.”

“Didn’t imply it, either.”

“MmmHmm.”

He narrowed his eyes on her. “Is this one of those reverse psychology parent tricks? I know you like her, but that’s beneath you.”

Dad chose then to stroll into the room, the dog on his heels. He glanced out the window, around the kitchen, and back to them. He scratched his head, disrupting his salt-and-pepper strands. “We having a family meeting?”

“No. Our son thinks I’m using ploys to get him to fall in love with Rebecca.” She smiled at Dad, weaving her arm through his, and winked.

“That would be a feat. Besides the fact that one cannot make a person fall in love with another, he was already in love with her before we got here.”

She raised her palm in emphasis. “Exactly.”

“Really, son. Your mother is an amazing specimen, but you give her too much credit.”

Sighing, Graham eyed the ceiling. “Y’all are a barrel of laughs.”

“Oh boy.” Dad cleared his throat. “He’s been in the south too long. He ‘y’alled’ us.”

Crap. Had he? Graham rolled his response around in his head and…yep. He had.

Whatever. When in Rome…

“I think he’s been here just long enough.” Mom’s grin had slid from cheeky to endearing. She searched Graham’s expression, nodding as if she’d found what she’d been looking for, and him being no wiser in what the quest had been. “Indeed.”

***

Blowing strands of hair out of her eyes, Rebecca glanced at the five remaining bags of mulch, then at the tiered garden. Dang, it looked so much better. But, geez. Her body was irrevocably pissed off right now. Tightness and tension had a chokehold on her shoulders and neck. Thighs and lower back, too, proving she’d done too much. Exhaustion weighed on her from a bone-deep level. Fatigue forced her to hunch over or faceplant on the lawn.

It had to be done, though. Gammy’s gardens had looked sad for too long. Rebecca was sick of being sad. The sight of color and life again would’ve made Gammy so happy. Plus, it was, for the most part, self-serving once Rebecca got finished. She wouldn’t have to consume this kind of effort again.

Twilight had fallen, stars aplenty, as a cool breeze wafted across her skin. Scents from the roses, gardenia, and vine blooms scented the humid air. She was worried if she sat down or stopped, even for just a quick rest, she’d never get up again. Five bags seemed like five hundred with her current pain level.

Giving herself a mental peptalk, that there were only five bags left, and they were for the garden’s lowest tier, she bent and cut a bag open. A deep breath, and she hauled it to the garden.

A screen door clacked from the direction of Graham’s house, and she glanced over.

His mama walked toward Rebecca, a smile curving her lips. Not for the first time today, she spotted a resemblance to Graham in the eyes, the shape of the woman’s chin. Rebecca had thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with them for a stint today. His folks were funny, warm, and down-to-earth people. They’d been by the office earlier, and not wanting to be a third wheel, Rebecca had declined lunch and dinner. It was also supposed to rain the rest of the week, so she’d wanted to get the garden finished. She hoped his mother hadn’t taken offense.

That, and Rebecca looked like hell warmed over right now. Sweaty, dirty, and in clothes not fit for company.

“You did an amazing job. It’s lovely.” Mrs. Roberts bumped her head toward the new plants, making the last legs of her trek, and stopping beside Rebecca.

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