Chapter 6
Kate dropped into the old rocker beside her brother. The kids were asleep, the dishes were done, and everything was quiet. Lawrence had built a small fire in the fireplace that staved off the chill of the March evening. “The kids had fun today. Thank you for that.”
“We had a blast, and man, has Hollister grown.” Kate took a sip of her coffee and pushed the rocker. “I love to sit in front of the fire on nights like this.”
“So did Bridgette.” Lawrence took a sip of his coffee. “Did you run into anyone you knew?”
“Ah, yes and no. I met Samantha Zorn. The kids and I had lunch with her. She seemed really nice.”
“She’s good people.” Lawrence chuckled and shook his head. “Craig and Hailey had it in mind to go to town and buy me a birthday cake and a present. They took the tractor.”
Kate snorted. “Craig told me about that. He was so upset Ken told you the truth after they got home.”
Lawrence stared at the fire. “I was terrified. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
Kate put her coffee cup on the table beside her. “How about we give them their dad back?”
Lawrence glanced at her. “I have no idea where to find him. Most of the time, I feel like I’m in this dark hole. I swear I’m trying to climb out, but I’m so damn tired.”
Kate reached over and put her hand on his arm. “Let me help you. Dr. Wheeler in town can help. I’ll set up an appointment. Do it for the kids.”
Lawrence chuffed out a breath. “No fair using them.”
“I’ll use everything in my arsenal to help you get through this.” Of the two of them, she was the direct one. Lawrence had always been so laid-back and easygoing, but he didn’t like to take orders. Kate remembered Blessing’s warning. “I’m not making you do anything. I’m not forcing you to go before you’re ready, but when you are, I’ll make the appointment. Until then, I’ll help any way I can.”
“I know,” he said and took another sip of his coffee. “Who else did you see?”
“Edna Michaelson.”
Lawrence laughed. “That was a given. I think she has a radar for new people. Is she still chasing UFOs?”
“No, Bigfoot this time.”
Lawrence barked out a laugh. “At least she’s keeping busy.”
“I also met Doc Macy today. Tegan introduced us.”
Lawrence turned to her. “Tegan? How did that go?”
“Well, he almost choked to death when he saw me.” She explained what happened, and Lawrence laughed again.
“He’s probably still in love with you.”
Kate shook her head. “He’s probably in love with the memory of me, but I’m not objecting to that. I fell hard for him, too. He’s always been special to me. Speaking of which, can I get his phone number from you? We didn’t have time to exchange numbers this afternoon.”
Lawrence pulled his cell phone from his pocket and handed it to her. She found his number and added it to her contacts. “You have two voicemails?—”
“Don’t.” Lawrence snatched his phone out of her hands. “They’re from Bridgette. I’ve kept them.” Lawrence cleared his throat. “I need to hear her voice sometimes.”
Kate smiled at him when he glanced at her. She put the rocker into motion and picked up her coffee cup. “I miss her laugh.”
Lawrence seemed to relax a bit when he realized she wasn’t going to judge him for the voicemails. “She lit up a room.”
“Always,” Kate agreed. “Hailey is just like her. A whirlwind of happiness and energy. Craig is more like you.”
“He’s growing so fast.”
“Right? I think we need to run down to Rapid and get him some longer jeans. They’re riding up past his ankles.”
Lawrence nodded. “I asked Kayla to order some for him. She owns the shop next to the bakery. I keep forgetting to go in and get them.”
“It wasn’t open when I was walking around today. I saw Allison at the bakery, though. I figured she’d be married by now.”
Lawrence shook his head. “She’s a pickle of a person, as in bitter. Glad Ken moved on from her.”
“That’s right; they had a big falling out your senior year.” Kate snapped her fingers. “I couldn’t remember who she was dating back then. Glad I didn’t open my mouth and insert my boot. Leather tastes like shit.”
Lawrence laughed. “Language. Allison’s a pretty woman, but as I said, a pickle.”
“Ah, some guy might like pickles.” Kate couldn’t hold the laugh in, and Lawrence joined her.
After they stopped laughing, Lawrence turned to look at her. “Thanks for coming back. Make that appointment for me. I’ll go.”
“I’ll go into town on Monday and do it, plus I’ll pick up those jeans for Craig.” She sighed heavily. “And I promised Edna I’d stop in for coffee some morning.”
Lawrence’s eyes widened. “Why?”
“Because she was always nice to Dad. He stopped and visited with her every time he saw her.”
Lawrence blinked rapidly. “Because they were hooking up.”
Kate’s jaw dropped to the ground. “What? No way!”
“Way. After Mom left, he was a monk, you know, and then he and Edna kept each other company.”
“But he and Mom were still married.”
“In name only. She had a boyfriend.” Lawrence narrowed his eyes for a second. “Pete, I think was his name?”
Kate’s mind exploded. “Pete? No …” Pete was their neighbor, and … she blinked … “How did I miss that? It all makes sense now. Pete was always over, and he and Mom always did things together. I thought it was friendship in their old age.”
“Kate, we’re almost their age when they split. Sex is still an option for you.”
She let that one slide by. It could be an option for Lawrence once he figured out how to deal with losing his wife, but that was his decision, and she wouldn’t step into that puddle. Instead, she asked, “How did you know?”
“I heard Dad talking to her on the phone. They were open about it with each other. I confronted him when he hung up. He told me everything. I think it was a relief, although he made me promise not to tell a soul about it. Folks wouldn’t take kindly to the arrangement; though it worked for them. Edna had been widowed long before the time Mom took off. Dad and Edna didn’t hook up for a long time after he and Mom split up, but eventually, they found each other. They were together for five years or so. Then Dad died of a heart attack.”
“And Mom and Pete died in the car accident two years later.” Pete had had too much to drink, and he’d gone over the center line and hit a semi. The driver wasn’t injured, but both their mom and Pete were killed instantly. Kate sighed. “Edna’s lost two guys, then?”
“Yeah,” Lawrence agreed.
“I wonder why they never divorced?” Kate had always assumed it was some deeply held belief of her parents that they couldn’t divorce.
“Because Mom’s family owned the land, and Dad owned all the stock. They managed the business of the ranch together and split the profits seventy-thirty. It let Mom move to Colorado, and Dad invested back into the ranch. They were a lot happier apart.”
“Well, that I know. She never once said a bad word against Dad. She just said sometimes love doesn’t work out.”
“Dad was the same. I’m sorry they never had true love. It’s the most wonderful thing in the world. I swear, Kate, when you find the person you love, your head is in the stars, and the world is a beautiful place. Even in the hardest times, love gives you strength you never thought you’d have.” He stared at the fire for a minute before he said. “Maybe even the strength to let go.”
She rocked beside him as he seemed to lose himself in his thoughts. He’d agreed to see someone who could help him. She closed her eyes and said a silent thank you to Blessing and the force that gave her the sight.
She glanced at her brother. He was tall, big-boned, and strong through the shoulders. His hands were scarred from years of hard work. He was part of this land as much as the animals he raised. He lifted from the chair. “I’m going to bed. Morning comes early.”
“I’m going to have another cup of coffee before I turn in. See you in the morning.”
Lawrence made his way into the kitchen and rinsed out his cup. He stopped at the doorway to the living room on his way back to bed. “It’s going to be okay.” It was more of a question than a statement.
She nodded at him. “It really will be, Lawrence. And until it is, I’m right by your side. We’ll pull together, so it isn’t so heavy.”
He nodded and headed to the room he used to share with Bridgette.
Kate quietly poured herself a cup of coffee, rinsed out the pot, and set it up to brew at five in the morning. She turned off the light in the kitchen and sat back down on the rocker. In the light of the fire, she pulled up Tegan’s number and sent him a text.