Page 101 of Wild Flower

“You’re stuck with me, Archer Kaine!” Val laughs, quoting our mother. “My love is as big as a hurricane. Bigger. And more fierce!”

Mom believed in loving intensely and proudly. “She gave up on no one,” I say, “just like you, Val. Mom and Dad would be proud of you. You’re the one who …”

Emotion grips my throat. She’s the one who’s always had my back, even from across an ocean.

My sister smiles and shoulders me for being sentimental. “Don’t sell yourself short,” she says kindly. “Yes, Mom would’ve kicked your ass for this Hawaii stunt, but she always wanted you to fall in love. I think Mom would’ve liked your girlfriend. Becca sounds like the kind of woman she would gush over when you aren’t around.”

“She is,” I manage, emotion still straining my chest. Val takes my hand and squeezes it. She knows I was scared to death to walk into that doctor’s office this morning. She knows I find it easier to avoid the truth—good or bad. She knows every one of my weaknesses, and she still flew across the ocean to sit next to me when I messed everything up with Becca and Finn.

Val is family.

And family is there for you when you need them.

* * *

I knock loudly on Becca’s parents’ door.

To my right, I see all the boxes and gardening equipment piled outside of Becca’s greenhouse. Beyond is the farm where several rows of plants have been dug up, leaving empty holes where the plants were. Rich, black dirt is strewn across the rows like debris after a battle, and I hate that I haven’t been here to help.

“Becca isn’t here,” comes a pinched voice as the door opens, Becca’s mother glaring at me through the screen. “I haven’t seen her since—”

“That’s fine,” I say. “I came to talk to you.”

Mrs. Laurel frowns. “I don’t approve of her relationship with you and—”

“I might have cancer again,” I interrupt, and that catches her attention.

“Cancer?” Her eyes widen. “Again?”

“Lymphoma. I’ve been in remission for a while,” I confess. “Truth is, I don’t know if it will come back. So even if you don’t approve of me and Becca and Finn, I might not be around long enough for you to be truly pissed off about it.”

“I—I—” Mrs. Laurel stutters. It’s hard to be a bitch when someone pulls the cancer card. “I didn’t know.”

“Yeah, well, neither did Becca,” I admit. “I didn’t tell her. And I probably messed everything up with her because of it. But that’s not why I’m here.” Mrs. Laurel’s eyes narrow. “If you remember, my parents died in a car crash when I was nineteen.”

Her face sobers, nodding to acknowledge how I’d mentioned that at the fish fry. “Yes, I—I’m very sorry for your loss.”

“Losing my parents was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through. But you know what was harder? Going through cancer without them.”

Her eyes soften. “I’m sorry, that must have been …” She shakes her head as if she can’t fathom it.

“I love your daughter,” I state, which makes some of Mrs. Laurel’s softness harden again. I don’t care. This needs to be said. “It breaks my heart that my parents won’t ever get to meet Becca and know how incredible she is. But I came here to talk about you. Becauseyouneed to understand how much Becca needs you.”

Mrs. Laurel’s arms tense.

“Your daughter’s entire world is getting upended right now.” I point to the boxes and gutted farm. “I understand you’ve had your disagreements, and Finn and I are a big piece of that, but she needs you on her side, even if she won’t admit it to you.”

“It wasn’t our idea for her to move. She brought lawyers and—”

“Becca is twenty-six years old,” I defend. “She needs to spread her wings and be out on her own. This is a life changing moment for her, and she’s terrified of all the unknowns ahead. She needs your support. I know what it’s like to not have my parents by my side when the world flips upside down. I can’t imagine how much harder it would be—how much more it would hurt—if theychoseto abandon me.”

Mrs. Laurel’s lip trembles, and a hand appears on her shoulder from the shadows. It’s Mr. Laurel coming into view behind her.

“I genuinely believe you want what’s best for your daughter,” I continue. “But you have to start asking her whatshe wantsand what she thinks is best for her life. Because even without your approval, she’s brave enough to chase after her dreams and be the vibrant person she is. Your daughter’s amazing. She’s courageous and passionate. She has a successful business that she’s willing to lay down her heart for to keep alive. She may have this tough-looking exterior with the tattoos and her defiant attitude, and it may look like she’s throwing all that in your face, but she’s not. Do you realize how strong your daughter has to be to stand up to you and be her true self?”

“W-we just want what’s best for her,” Mrs. Laurel rasps out. “We never …” Her voice trails off into silence.

“I know.” I nod. “And I know your daughter will get through this without you, because nothing makes you fight more than love.”

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