Page 35 of Forever Writing You

I can almost picture your confusion when the will was read to you, but I promise I did it in good faith. I put you in charge because I know that everything we’ve worked for since the day you were born will flourish under your hands.

With time (and with Aunt Gertrude’s insistence), I believe this place will become a love for you, too. Trust me.

Also, I received an order from Everett a few weeks before I was admitted into hospice, and I didn’t get the chance to tell him that we were full (or any of the other 'not interested' excuses we have), so please forgive me. And please forgive him for making the biggest mistake of his life.

Hopefully, whenever you two join me here (which I hope is a long time away), you’ll be together as you should be.

I love you, my darling Dahlia.

Keep blooming,

Mom

P.S. Don’t let your Aunt Gertrude take my favorite thuja trees. Plant them near my grave if you have to because those are MINE.

P.P.S. Don’t shave the thorns off any of Everett’s fiancée’s flowers; I highly doubt that marriage will last, and she’ll never know it was done on purpose. :-)

SEVENTEEN

Everett

Walking through my house during the engagement party was like walking through high school all over again. Carmen had found everyone I’d ever said “hello” to when I was a teenager, and the clash between my old ways and our multi-million-dollar decor was overwhelming.

It was also fake as fuck…

I shook hands with her oldest cousin and excused myself from the party. Picking up a beer, I carried to the balcony and gazed at the terrace.

Something green twinkled in the distance, and I squinted for a better look.

It was a stone-grey frog withglittering gems for his eyes.

It was Dahlia’s mom’s signature for her landscaping jobs.

“Instead of being normal and using a ‘designed by’ sign, she wants to do these weird frogs from here on out. If you don’t offer to come over and help me with this, you’re not the best boyfriend ever anymore.”

I laughed at the memory; I could still remember that long weekend of work like it was yesterday.

“You alright out here?” Carmen’s voice was suddenly behind me.

“I’m fine.” I sipped my beer.

“Okay, well…” She cleared her throat. “I know we just got this house, but um, the party room is downstairs, not out here.”

“I’m aware.” I turned around to face her.“Why do you love me, Carmen?”

“What’s not to love?”

“No, no, no.” I finished the last of my bottle and set it on the ledge. “Give me some concrete reasons why.”

“I can talk to you about anything, and I see us building one hell of a future together because we have so many things in common.”

“Name five.”

“Is this like a pop quiz?”

I smiled at her. “Just name five.”

“Movies, art, business, hatred of rude people, and books.” She stepped closer. “We also laugh a lot together, and everyone who comes around us always says they can tell we’re a great match.”

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