Page 20 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

“Do you need any help with anything?”

“I’ve got it covered. Soon as I heard you were coming; I picked the vegetables from the garden straight away and took stew meat out of the freezer. You know that garden was Tuck’s pride and joy. That and Cybal’s rose garden. Every day he’d be outside tending to those flowers like they were his children. I bet he secretly named them too.” A sadness crawled over her wrinkled features.

Noelle didn’t know how to tell the sweet older woman. “Stew sounds delicious, but Ollie and I don’t eat meat.”

Bea paused in her chopping as if a brisk wind had knocked her for a loop. “You don’t eat meat? What do you eat then?”

“Plant based meat. Vegetables. Pasta. We do eat eggs.”

“Fake meat?” Her astonishment grew. “I don’t have any fake meat.”

“Don’t go out of your way for us.”

“Vegetable stew, without the meat, is now on the menu. I can make a mean vegetable soup.” She continued chopping without missing a beat.

Noelle hesitated, wanting to clear the air right away. “Did you know that Tuck was my father?”

Bea paused, then set the knife aside and gave Noelle her full attention. “I had my suspicions and when I came right out and asked, he told me I was right. It was an odd living situation alright but I was never one to judge. He was an adult who could decide things for himself.”

“You never liked my mother, did you?” Noelle pulled a stool over and sat down.

“Patricia was…how can I put this. Unique. Interesting. But she was good to Cybal, yes indeed. Stayed by her side, fed her, clothed her, bathed her. Few people would do that for someone.” She sniffed. “Before Cybal’s death I guess I learned to like Patricia more. In fact, she was there when the doctor came in and unhooked Cybal from her machines. Patricia held it together but I could see that she really did care for Cybal.”

“Why wasn’t there a funeral service for Tuck?” Noelle had lots of questions.

Bea shrugged her thin shoulders. “He’d always said that people who wanted to see him had their chance while he was alive. After his death he had no use for them.”

Noelle felt a pain in the center of her chest. “I should have come to see him.”

“Honey, he talked about you often. Always wished well for you, but Tuck wasn’t a man who liked to disturb a hornet’s nest. I think he lived with guilt after the affair with your mother.” A sadness crawled across Bea’s reedy features.

“I can’t help but question why Mom moved me here, especially when she had no intention of ever telling me about Tuck being my father.”

“Don’t ponder on that thought too long. People do things sometimes that we’re not meant to understand. You left, then Cybal passed, and soon after Patricia left too. He walked around like a zombie for months. A robot with a heart. I felt sorry for him but he wasn’t one who wanted pity.” Bea’s sigh echoed off the tiled wall.

“This house, it’s nothing like I remember. Everything is different. Updated.” Noelle glanced over at Ollie who was still happily playing with his toys.

“When he told me he was going to remodel I thought what in tarnation had gotten into that old man? I guess he needed something to occupy his time, or maybe he hoped one day you’d live here. Hence the master suite fit for a queen. He didn’t sleep there once. Chose a guest room.”

“I don’t feel like I’m deserving of a piece of the ranch,” Noelle said in a low voice.

“Child, stop talking that nonsense. There was one thing that stubborn man wasn’t and that was stupid. If he thought you belonged here then he had for sure put a lot of thought into it.”

Noelle played with the lid to her water bottle. “What about you? You’ve lived here and this is your home.”

Bea wiped her wrinkled hands on a dish towel. “This isn’t my home, dear. My home is where my grandkids are. Elsea, my daughter, has invited me to come live with her in Florida. Honestly, I was only here because I didn’t feel it was right to leave my brother alone although he was brave all the way up to the end. He knew once he passed, I’d leave to be with family. I look forward to seeing my kids every day.” Her eyes brightened but a shadow passed over her face. “And yet, I guess you’re my family too. I couldn’t be prouder to call anyone a relative.”

“I’ve missed you, Bea. You were a big part of my life, and Tuck. Riding horses, swimming in the pond, and making homemade ice cream on the back porch on hot days.”

“It’s good to have you back in this house. Now that there’s a wee one, it’s even better. Tuck would be so happy.”

Noelle didn’t have the heart to tell Bea that this would be a temporary living situation. “Are you sure I can’t help with anything?”

“If you feel the desire, go on and set the table. Use Cybal’s good China. She loved the pattern.”

At the antique hutch, about the only old furniture left in the kitchen, Noelle opened the glass door and admired the old floral plates that were only used for special occasions.

Noelle wondered if Cybal had known that Noelle was Tuck’s daughter?

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