Chapter Thirty-One
It was a little less than two weeks since Rosemary had moved in with Amanda and the kids. Amanda and Rosemary were spending evenings at Salt of the Earth, preparing to relocate her business to Paws Town Square. Despite its small size, there were a lot of things to move. Thankfully some of her herbs had survived the beating of the hurricane. It was a miracle, really, so they dug up those hardy plants and moved them into containers. Having Rosemary by her side to help made it fun.
That evening while repotting herbs, Amanda felt a rush of anxiety at the thought of Rosemary leaving. “I can’t believe the time is flying by so quickly,” Amanda said. “You need to stay longer.”
“I’d love that,” Rosemary said, “but I don’t want to wear out my welcome either. I have something to tell you.”
“Is everything okay?” Amanda recalled the day Maeve told her that she was ill. Please don’t let anything happen to Rosemary. “Please tell me you are okay.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry. It’s nothing like that.” Rosemary seemed hesitant, though, and that scared Amanda.
A wry smile spread across Rosemary’s face. “I looked at a house this morning.”
“Here? On Whelk’s Island?”
She nodded slowly. “Yes.”
Amanda screamed. “Really? We would love it if you moved here. Are you seriously considering it?”
“I think so. It was so exciting, and the house is really cute.”
“Where is it?”
“Just a couple of blocks away. Apparently it’s been a rental, and after this last hurricane, the owners have decided to sell rather than repair, but there wasn’t much damage. The realtor knows a guy, so I’ve got someone going over there to do a full estimate tomorrow before I make an offer.”
“An offer? This is real!” Amanda sat down. “I’m about to faint. I’m so excited.”
“Well, don’t do that.”
“I’m fine. It’s just, a lot is going on. The hurricane, this mess here at the bungalow, and now moving into Paws, getting engaged.”
“Are you having second thoughts?” Rosemary asked.
“Rosemary, I love Paul. I do. I love him with all my heart. It was so easy to say yes to him.”
“That’s how it’s supposed to be.”
“But I never thought I’d ever marry again. I loved Jack. Our marriage was perfect. How do you even match that? But I trust Paul with my life, and my children. And I did with Jack, too, and this is the same but different. I know I’m not making any sense.”
“You are making complete sense. You and Jack were wonderful together, but he’s gone. You’ve been blessed with another love. A new season of love. It can happen twice, honey. Don’t be afraid.”
“I have no doubt, no hesitation. You could never convince me I’d marry again a year ago, though.”
“That doesn’t take anything away from this.” Rosemary pulled Amanda into a side hug. “Honey, you’re blessed to have two wonderful loves in your life. It’s okay. Jack’s not coming back. There’s no recovering that marriage. You’ll still miss him, but you’ll have something fresh and alive in your heart. You’re a young, beautiful woman, and Paul adores you. And I can see how much love you have for him too.”
“I do,” Amanda said.
“Even more importantly, he and the children have a wonderful and respectful relationship.”
“I’m so grateful our paths crossed again.” She let out a staggered breath, pausing for a long moment. “Why do I feel guilty about it sometimes?”
“I can’t tell you how to feel, Amanda. I think it’s natural. You don’t have to let go of Jack’s memory. That is safe in your heart, but it’s the past. You are safe moving forward with Paul. He’s a good man, and he will always protect you and the children and give you a good life. I believe that.”
“I do too. I think I’m probably just tired and overthinking things.”
“Probably. Let’s call it a night here. A little time on the deck would do us both good.”
Amanda nodded. “Good idea. We’ll let the kids load up the plants tomorrow so we can nurse them back to health at the house. Paul is still working on getting the space built out with a new hydroponic system. I can’t wait to see if I can get my herbs to thrive in that environment.”
“I’m sure it will be great. No risk really. You could always grow and clip them at home.”
“True.” Amanda took solace in that.
“Have you and Paul set a date or talked about what kind of wedding you want to have?” Rosemary asked as they drove back home.
“Just something very small. I’d like to get married here at the house. I asked our pastor about it, and he thought that would be fine.”
“I think it would be lovely.” Rosemary clapped. “I’m ready to help you plan. Please let me. Whenever you decide, I’m here, and even if I’m not living here, I’ll come back! Are you thinking you want a long engagement?”
“No. I’m ready to marry him now. I think I’m more worried about what other people will think, but I keep reminding myself that’s really not their business.”
“No, it’s not, and Jack’s been gone a long while now.”
“Feels like yesterday.”
“I know that feeling,” Rosemary said. “It changes, but it’s still there.” She let out a heavy sigh. “How about we grill chicken and pineapple tonight? You can put your feet up, and I’ll take care of everything. I love that fancy grill of yours.”
Amanda pulled in front of the house and shut down the engine. “That sounds terrific. How am I going to go back to cooking all the meals again? It’s been so nice having you around.”
They got out and went up to check on the kids. Hailey and Jesse were so good about staying out of trouble so she could zip over to the bungalow when needed. They were lying on the floor, coloring, when Amanda and Rosemary walked in.
“Mom!” Hailey jumped up, carrying her masterpiece. “I made you something.”
“I did too,” Jesse said, sliding to a stop in her wake.
“I’m the luckiest mom in the world. Beautiful.”
“We made something for you, too, Rosemary.”
“You two are so sweet.”
Hailey nudged Jesse in a “told you so” kind of way that made her wonder what all they’d been talking about while she was gone.
“Thank you both,” Rosemary said. “I know I’m going to love it, but you save it until after dinner. I’m going to get that started right now.”
“Good. I’m starving.” Jesse clutched his belly.
“You’re always hungry,” Hailey said with a dramatic sigh as she turned and went back into the living room.
Amanda watched as Rosemary worked her magic at the grill. She’d just taken the chicken off when there was pounding on the front door. “Hailey, run and get that. Paul must have left his key.”
“Mom?” Hailey called from the front door a few moments later. “We have company.”
Amanda gave Rosemary a funny look, and Jesse ran around Amanda to see, but she caught him by the arm. “No, sir. You wait for me to see who it is.” She wiped her hands on the hand towel stuck in the waistband of her jeans.
Rosemary followed her into the front room.
“Nina?” Rosemary looked shocked.
“This is your daughter?” Amanda recognized the name. “Oh my gosh! What a wonderful surprise.”
“It is. Hey, Nina.” Rosemary walked over and hugged the auburn-haired woman. “Amanda, this is my daughter. Nina, this is Amanda. And this is Hailey and Jesse. I’m so glad you are getting the chance to meet.”
Amanda could see the resemblance between the women. Nina was taller by a few inches, but they could practically pass as sisters. “It is so nice to meet you.” Amanda reached out to shake her hand, but Nina didn’t accept it.
Rosemary suddenly looked confused. “What are you doing here, honey? This is a surprise. Why didn’t you call?”
“I did. I called Kathleen.”
“Why would you call her and not me? You drove all the way down here without calling me? It was a six-hour drive. Well, not that long the way you drive.” Rosemary giggled. “She drives like a maniac,” she said playfully to Amanda.
Nina didn’t laugh. “It was a hike. I called Kathleen’s, seeing if I could send anything since you’d been there so long. Being a responsible adult, I thought it was the polite thing to do. Only when I finally got her on the phone, she told me you’re not staying there anymore. I felt like an idiot.”
“Well, did it matter that I changed locations? I’m still on Whelk’s Island. What’s the difference?”
“The difference?” Nina threw up her hands. “Seriously?”
“Nina, I invited your mother to stay with us,” Amanda quietly added. “We’re so happy to have her here with us. My kids love her.”
“I love her too.” Nina spun toward Amanda. “You’re a stranger. It was one thing for her to visit a friend from high school, but you? I don’t even know why you’re in the middle of all of this.”
“We’re friends.” Amanda withdrew a step.
“Nina, what has gotten into you?” Rosemary’s response was measured.
“Me? What’s gotten into you?”
“I need this. The ocean. The beach. Friends. Adult conversation. All of it.”
“You’re living in the past.”
“I promise you I am not. I’m making steps forward every day and learning who I am without your father. I’m finding out what I like to do. I’m making new friends, if you haven’t scared them away.”
“Never,” Amanda said. “No. This is just a misunderstanding. Nina, come in. I’d be upset if I was in your situation too.”
“Mom, we need to leave. Let’s get your things.” Nina was barely able to contain her agitation.
Rosemary stiffened. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Great. So now I’ve wasted my time coming here to get you, on top of it all.” Nina’s voice was sharp, her brow furrowed.
“To get me?” Rosemary’s voice rose an octave. “I don’t need a ride. I have a car.”
“Well, you need someone to help you make good decisions, apparently.”
“I’m quite capable, thank you.”
“I don’t even know why I care.”
“No. Wait. Nina, you care,” Amanda said, unable to stay out of it. “Or you wouldn’t be here. But I promise you have nothing to worry about.” Her heart ached for these women. Rosemary losing Kai—she knew what that was like, but she couldn’t imagine how Nina must feel having lost her father and now feeling unable to help her mother through a difficult time, on top of her own divorce.
“Look, I’m sure you think you’re helping, but you don’t understand.” Nina’s jaw pulsed. “She’s lying to me. I can’t take care of her if I don’t even know what’s going on.”
“I don’t need you to take care of me, Nina.”
“You do. You aren’t making good decisions. I’m afraid you’ve lost your mind!” Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Let’s take a breath,” Amanda said. “We can discuss this.”
Nina glared at Amanda, her frustration now finding a new target. “And you are not helping.”
Amanda couldn’t imagine herself ever acting like this toward her own mother, and her mother had made her pretty crazy at times.
“I appreciate your concern, but it’s unfounded. You will not talk to my friend like that. And I do not appreciate you showing up and creating a scene.” Rosemary’s calm demeanor wavered, a hint of steel in her tone. “Nina, I’m in my right mind, and I’m in perfect health. I am perfectly capable of deciding where I want to spend my time, and right now, I choose to be here on the beach with people who have shown me nothing but kindness. I love you, honey. And I don’t know where all this is coming from, but I think we need a cooling-off period.”
“A cooling-off period is a good idea.” Amanda stepped between them. Both women were red in the face.
“I think you should leave,” Rosemary said to Nina.
“And I can’t worry about you like this, Mom. It’s making me nuts. I don’t have the patience for it.”
Rosemary blinked twice, and Amanda wasn’t quite sure what she was going to say.
“I think I already knew that. I think what had me hesitant on really believing I could stay was that I was struggling with how to do it without hurting your feelings. I guess that’s not a problem now.” Rosemary smiled, looking as if an anvil had been lifted from her. “I guess now is as good a time as any to mention I’ve been looking at beach houses down here.”
“What?” Nina stared, her lips apart, but not another word came out. Finally, she lifted her hand in a wave and walked out.
Amanda stood there, not even looking at Rosemary until she heard the car start and pull away.
“I’m so embarrassed.” Rosemary covered her face and cried.
“Don’t be. I think she’s just worried,” Amanda said. “I could call her in a day or two and try to smooth things over.”
“That won’t be necessary. She’s always had a temper, but she’ll calm down. I’m sorry she was so ugly to you. I raised her better than that. She’s not like this.”
“She loves you. She’s just in mama-bear mode. I know what that’s all about.”
“Only, I’m not a cub.”
“No, you most certainly are not, but she’s in protection mode because she loves you. We have to give her that. My guess is it’s misplaced grief, her trying to help you because Kai is no longer around to help. Her own emotions raw from the divorce. There’s grief to deal with in that too. Grief is hard on all of us.”