Chapter Twenty Nine
Victoria sat down on the couch and patted Lizzy’s knee. “I know you’re worried about eating after the horrible night you experienced. At least suck the ice thingy.”
Lizzy reached out for the treat. Nothing else appealed to her. Victoria ripped the package with her perfectly manicured nails filed into daggers. Her nose crinkled as she took the frozen stick daintily and passed it to her.
Lizzy immediately stuck it in her mouth and moaned. It quenched her thirst. She decided to take things slow, not wanting a repeat of nausea and mayhem like the night before. Except the part where Michael held her in his arms. She watched Victoria’s lip curl in disgust over the banana popsicle’s ability to make anyone feel better.
“Victoria, you need to try one. I can tell you’ve never experienced the cool bliss of a banana popsicle. It’s the best flavor.”
“No, thank you, luv. I don’t see the appeal of those ridiculously sticky things.” She watched her suck on the stick.
“Really, try one. You aren’t chicken, are you?” She dared the beautiful, yet scary woman.
“Don’t be silly,” she scoffed.
“Here you go.” Carol placed one in Victoria’s hand. “Don’t even try to protest with me. Ever since you made me go out on these dates, I’ve got every bachelor within a twenty-mile radius ringing my phone or stopping me at the grocery store. They’re all searching for a woman to make them meals, wash their clothes and clean their house. Owen’s date might’ve come with an application. He asked if I enjoyed cooking and how I sorted my laundry.”
Victoria laughed as she ripped open the wrapper and glanced at Lizzy to duplicate her action on eating a popsicle. She popped the end in her mouth and started to suck. Her eyes grew large and round the longer she tasted it.
Carol sat in the chair across from her and gave her a self-satisfied smirk. “Maddie, Joe, and Ivan will stop by in a few minutes. Edie is already on her way.”
“I didn’t mean to cause you to drop your schedules today.” Lizzy pulled her blanket higher.
“Maddie and Joe volunteered to pick up the kids from school, Samantha and Whiskey stayed in New York a few extra nights and Catherine’s holding down the fort at the hospital. Ivan’s coming to pick up Victoria,” Carol accounted for everyone’s whereabouts except for Michael’s, and she wondered what type of meeting he kept attending.
The doorbell rang, and Victoria hopped up from the couch, still fascinated with the treat in her hand. Maddie, Joe, and Ivan entered. Maddie greeted the women as Joe said hello and then departed to speak with Jake. Ivan intently watched Victoria suck and lick away at her dessert.
“Do you want one? We have a ton in the freezer,” Lizzy offered.
“No. I appreciate the offer.” His eyes never left his wife.
“Why did we not ever taste these things? My mama made frozen Irish coffee like no other, we didn’t eat anything else. Do you not have these in Russia?” Victoria appeared entirely engrossed in the magical kid’s treat. “It’s hardly anything at all, only frozen stuff on a cold wooden stick.”
Ivan crossed the room. His head turned toward Lizzy and Carol, “Excuse me and my wife, ladies, we shall visit you at a later time.” He took his wife and gently tugged her from her seat and headed toward the door. All the while, Victoria protested, “I’m not ready to leave, I want to visit.”
Ivan didn’t seem to hear his wife as he plucked her coat from the hall tree, and she slipped her arms into the sleeves. Victoria stamped her foot, showing him her temper. He grinned. “Come luv, I’ll show you the Russian version of your little treat.”
“Why did you not share it with me before?” she whined.
“Oh, but I did, luv, you’ve enjoyed it many times,” his voice deepened, and Victoria stopped sucking to gaze into her husband’s eyes. Her hearty laugh filled the room as she turned and waved her goodbye. Ivan rushed her out the door and Lizzy heard Victoria squeal and laugh as he took her to their car.
Carol shook her head, “They act like they’re on a continuous honeymoon.”
“I think it’s sweet, he clearly loves her.” Lizzy stuck up for the couple.
“Yes, I’m sure he does,” Carol told her wistfully.
The doorbell rang again. Maddie answered the door this time and held it open to Edie, who went straight into the kitchen.
When she returned, she held a cup in her hand and a motherly expression crossed her face. “Carol and Maddie say you’re a little worried about eatin’ child. We gotta keep nutrients in you. I don’t want to hear any fuss. Drink this down.”
Lizzy placed the stick from her popsicle on a plate next to her and took the steaming liquid. She inhaled the scent and took a small sip to see if her tummy accepted something other than popsicles and peppermint tea. The flavors burst in her mouth, and she took a bigger drink. “What is it?”
“I made you bone broth. It’s packed full of protein and good stuff for your body.” Edie took a seat next to Maddie. “There’s a big bowl of it in your fridge and more in my freezer when you need it.”
“Thank you, Edie.” Lizzy sat back and smiled to herself as she watched the older mother figures talk among themselves while they cared for her. She wondered if her mother lived if she would’ve acted like these women. They fiercely loved, guarded, protected, and watched over their family and friends.
A knock sounded on the door as Joe opened it, letting himself in. “It’s only me, ladies. Jake asked if he might come in to say hello.”
Jake awkwardly walked toward Lizzy and handed her a bouquet of flowers. “These grow on the mountain in the winter. They’re glacier lilies. It’s a sign of new beginnings as they’re one of the first flowers to bloom as the snow melts.” He held a second bouquet in his hand as he stared at his feet.
“Such a wonderful meaning behind them, Jake. I appreciate you thinking of me,” Lizzy told him.
Jake walked in front of Carol. “You haven’t taken your walk lately, and I thought you might enjoy the bouquet. If it warms up, I thought you might like to take a walk with me Friday on the mountain to see them in their natural state. I can throw a pot of stew on, and we can enjoy dinner together.
She blushed prettily, “Thank you…I ugh…”
Maddie interjected. “You can’t Friday, you agreed on a double date with me and Joe and Mr. Harris from the bank.”
“I…I love the flowers,” Carol assured him. Jake gripped the bouquet as if he pictured strangling someone by the neck. His arm stiffly held them out and she took them in her hand. “They’re lovely.”
Jake swallowed and turned toward Lizzy, “I best be going, I hope you feel better, girl.” He made a hasty exit.
Joe frowned as he took in the two older women. Carol excused herself to put her flowers and Lizzy’s into water.
“If I didn’t know better, I might say you gals hatched a plan concerning Jake,” Joe surmised as he studied his wife.
“I can’t control who Carol decides to date. If Jake is interested in Carol, maybe he needs to throw his hat into the ring.”
Joe’s eyes narrowed and he glanced in Lizzy’s direction. She pretended to remain engrossed in her soup. His gaze went to Edie as she plucked out yarn for her project from a bag.
“I really gave Jake too much credit,” Edie mused aloud.
“Why?” he questioned.
“I thought he carried his brain in his head and not his butt,” she pondered.
Joe frowned as Lizzy and Maddie let out soft giggles.
“The man suffered a great loss when he lost his wife. He made vows,” he stood up for his friend.
Edie glanced up toward the ceiling, “Nope.”
He leaned forward, “Nope, what?”
“I clearly remember my wedding vows and I don’t recall anything about promising to close my heart and not let love in. Did you, Maddie?”
Maddie thought for a moment, “No. In fact, I remember us discussing this when Kassie’s parents passed away. We agreed if one of us passed, we promised to grab happiness wherever we found it. Because the love in our hearts knows no bounds. I believe we taught our girls to love everyone like family. Did you imply we lied to them?”
“No, I didn’t say such a thing,” he rushed to assure her.
“Good. I hate to think we lied to the girls who we raised as our own. It’d seem like our feelings for them felt like a lie.”
Joe’s chest puffed out. “You know we cherish Kassie and her sister like our own. This situation’s entirely different,” he insisted.
“Oh? What makes it different? It comes in many different forms and there’s nothing in one’s vows saying you can’t find room to love another person. Life is too precious to waste time not showing someone how much you care.”
“Ugh huh.” Edie let out.
Joe stood up and nodded to Lizzy. “I think I’ll visit with Jake while you enjoy each other’s company. Text me when you’re done, and I’ll come for you.”
He closed the door and the women burst into laughter.
Carol came out of the kitchen. “How much longer do I need to play this game? I miss him and he asked me out, why did you stop me?”
Maddie smiled. “Jake found his heart, give him time to discover its capacity.”
Edie nodded and began to crochet. Lizzy laid her head back and thought of Michael. Maybe he felt the same way. Did he love her regardless of the fact she didn’t save Conner? Can he love her through the cancer, the disfigurement, and the scars? Most importantly, can she learn to love herself?