Page 75 of The Summer We Mended
ChapterTwenty-Eight
Jess
“Mom, I think we should give them a little time to process things,” Jess said from the backseat.
“I told her the same thing,” Henry told her as he looked back at her in the rearview mirror.“There’s no changing her mind on this.”
“I don’t know that it’s a good idea to swoop in.I’d want to be alone.”
“We left Lily alone after David died, and she’s just now joining the land of the living.We thought we were doing the right thing.I think…I think we need to be there for all of them.This could send all three of them spiraling.None of them have been able to heal or grieve properly.”
“Claudia,” Henry started.
Claudia put her hand up in the air.“We’re family, and they need to know we’re here for them.I don’t care if all we do is go in there and entertain the kids or wash dishes.We’re showing up for them.”
The tone in her voice showed that Claudia wasn’t backing down.Jess could understand what she meant, but she still would have rather stayed home and waited a few days to check in on her cousin.
By the time they pulled into her Aunt Lily’s driveway, Jess could already see that Cody and Margot were also here.Judging by the random cars, people in town were probably dropping food off or coming by to pray.There was a dog barking somewhere in the distance, but even the dog’s joy didn’t cut through the heaviness that blanketed the street.
They all went in through the front door and were immediately met with the warm scent of cinnamon rolls, Margot’s default grief mechanism.There was no one in the house, though.
“They’re probably outside,” Claudia interjected as she floated through the house and went straight to the back door.
“Are my cousins outside?”Maisie asked excitedly as she raced after her grandma.
Claudia opened the door, and Maisie flew past her to the backyard.Henry and Jess were a little slower to go outside.Cody was out in the yard playing with the twins, while a golden retriever barked excitedly as they threw a frisbee in the air for him.
Anna was staring off into space but also sort of watching the kids play.Margot was running from the kitchen to the outside, fussing over everyone.
“Well, hey guys!”she greeted everyone loudly with a huge grin.“Come, sit.”
She floated around the porch gathering chairs and welcoming everyone in.
“Any updates?”Henry asked.
“Nothing,” Anna murmured softly.
“There will be soon.Your phone will ring with Luke’s number before you know it,” Henry assured her as he sat down in a chair.
He looked out at the kids playing and didn’t say anything else.
“We know that’s right,” Claudia added as she went to Anna and hugged her tightly.“What can I do?”
“Nothing.Just you guys being here is good.”
“Hi, Tom Hadley,” an older gentleman said as he walked up to the back porch and straight to Henry.
Henry stood and extended his hand.“Henry Hartman, my wife, Claudia, my daughter, Jess, and her daughter, Maisie, is out there already.”
Tom laughed.“My daughter, June, will be here in a minute.She’s staying with me for a bit.And that’s Max out there, he’s clearly loving all the attention.”
There was a round of laughter as everyone looked out at the yard to see the kids giving Max belly rubs.
Jess walked over to Anna and sat down next to her.“Hey,” Jess said gently.
Anna blinked, then looked up.“Hi.”
Jess crossed the room and sat beside her, their shoulders touching.“Anything new?”
