41. Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-One
Cole
My brother stares at the television; his arms folded across his chest.
“Did you ask her to come home today?”
“I ask her every fucking day.”
“Maybe Mom and Dad will give her a gentle nudge out of the nest.”
“Nope. I already asked and Dad said she can stay until she wants to leave.”
This surprises me. Dad doesn’t usually let people stew in their emotions as long as he has her. She hasn’t even made it down the goddamn stairs.
“I’ll go talk to him.”
Carson doesn’t argue, just continues to stare at the TV.
My dad and mom are working out in the garden when I get to their house.
“Hey, baby,” my mom says, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
I look at my dad. “Can I talk to you?”
He takes off his work gloves. “Yeah, your mom’s been working me all day. I could use a break.”
“Oh, I have not.” She tosses a clump of dirt at him, but he manages to sidestep it.
“Missed me.”
She smiles and goes back to her flowers.
“How about a beer?”
“Sounds good.”
We head into the kitchen, and each crack a cold one before going back out to the patio and sitting down at the table.
“What’s on your mind?” he asks before taking a long drink.
“Well, I was wondering why you haven’t encouraged Luna to come out of that room.”
“She does.”
“Dad, going across the hall to the bathroom doesn’t count.”
He laughs, and I don’t know why, because I don’t see anything funny about it.
“Why, Dad?”
He looks out at the sunflowers scattered across the backyard. “Because right now that’s where she needs to be.”
“She needs to be with Carson,” I argue.
He takes another long drink, thinking about it. “Do you know her mother prophesied that I would save her?”
My head pulls back. “What are you talking about?”
“On her deathbed, she told Luna that a big man with a beard would save her. That I’d be waiting on a rocky path by the sunflowers.”
I relax back in my chair. “That’s fucking nuts.”
“It is,” he agrees.
My mom smiles as she walks past us with a handful of them. “I’m going to take these up to Luna’s room,” she says, stopping to give my dad a quick kiss on the cheek.
He pats her on the back side as she walks away.
I’m used to it.
“But what does her mom’s vision have to do with letting her hibernate upstairs?”
Dad looks around again. “If it hadn’t been for your mom moving out here, there would be no sunflowers … no cabin out back … no church filled with Kelsie’s little family. None of this would have existed. Not even you.”
I still don’t get it.
He shakes his head as if trying to clear past memories. “I remember when there was nothing back here but weeds and that little shed over there.” He points to the building Mom keeps her wood projects in.
“What’s the point?”
His laugh scares a squirrel that came up for a drink out of their bird bath.
“I don’t know if there is one.”
“Well, I think we need to get her out of there. Make her at least come downstairs.”
“I promised her I wouldn’t make her leave, and I’m sticking to that. She needs to know she can trust me not to let her down. I can give her that. It’s the least I can do for that girl. She’s been nothing but a blessing to your mother.”
“Carson misses her.”
“I know, son, and I hate that.”
We finish our beer in silence. I look over my childhood home, my attention settling on the basketball hoop.
“How is Mom doing?”
“She’s better. Not her hearing, but how she’s dealing with it.
Luna and she sit up there for hours, yakking at each other.
Mom’s getting pretty good at signing, and honestly, it’s been nice having Luna here for her to talk to.
” He chuckles, rubbing his belly. “It’s the cutest damn thing to see her and Mom helping Khloe learn to sign. ”
“That’s good. Carver said Natalie is back at the warehouse teaching the club.”
“Yeah, she stopped over here yesterday to see Luna and spent some time with us. Nice girl.”
“I think she’s got a crush on one of the new prospects.”
Dad laughs. “I think all the ladies do.”
“Even Mom?”
“Everyone but Mom.”
I laugh lightly. “You’re probably right there. She’s a good woman.”
Dad smiles. “The best.”
“I guess Carson found a pretty good one too.” I rub my hands down the front of my jeans, still a little unsure about all of this.
“She is, son. She really is.”
“I was probably a little hard on her when she got here.”
“I wouldn’t feel too bad; she didn’t take offense.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
“She talked to you about it?”
“She did. She wants you and your brother to have a good relationship.”
“I want them to have a good relationship too.” I slap my hat against my leg. “I guess.”
Dad laughs, and as he does, an idea pops up in my head.
“What time is supper?” I ask him.
“Whenever you come over here and cook it.”
I give him a big smile and jump from my seat, hugging him. “Carson and I will be over after a bit.”
I run home, bursting through the front door. Carson turns to look at me. “What did he say?”
“He’s not making her leave. Ever.” I plop down beside him. “But I have an idea. If she doesn’t want to come here, we go there.”
My brother looks at me like I’ve grown two heads.
“If we’re there, we can work on her … subtly. ‘Cause I’m telling you, brother, Mom and Dad are loving having her there.”
“You want to stay at their house? Like sleep there and everything?”
“Yep. I say we pack our bags, grab a basketball and head over there.”
“Dad said it was okay?”
“Yeah, but you have to make supper tonight.”
He sits back, thinking about it. “You think she’ll come out if we’re there?”
“We make it impossible for her to resist us, or drive Mom and Dad so nuts they kick us all out.”
“Let’s do it.”