by Nan Rossiter
“Of course,” Beryl said, taking his arm.
39
Puzzled by Mia Graham’s youngest daughter’s request, Mr. O’Leary slipped the clean, glass honey jar she’d handed him into his pocket and retreated from the church kitchen. Beryl dried her hands on a dish towel and looked out the window, silently preparing her argument. Hanging the towel on the handle of the stove, she went to find her sisters.
When she pushed open the kitchen door, she was happy to see a small crowd gathered around the photo montage the kids had put together. Then she turned to see the huge spread of refreshments that had been set out—from deviled eggs and tiny ham salad sandwiches to cream puffs, chocolate-covered strawberries, and her mom’s favorite—lemon squares. As Beryl reached for one, she heard someone say her name and turned to see Mrs. Coleman standing with a neatly dressed man who appeared to be about her age.
“Beryl, I’d like you to meet someone.”
“Of course,” Beryl said, putting her lemon square on a napkin.
“This is Colin Davis—he’s a math teacher at the high school.”
Beryl reached out to shake his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Colin.”
“It’s nice to meet you too,” he said in a soft voice. “I’m very sorry for your loss,” he added.
Beryl smiled. “Thanks.”
“I wanted to come,” he began, carefully choosing his words, “because a long time ago I helped your mom with a flat tire … but I don’t think she knew—in fact, I know she didn’t know—who I was. But I knew who she was from a picture my mom had cut out of the paper.” Colin’s solemn gray eyes gazed at her with sincerity. “I can’t stay,” he continued. “I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am.”
“Thank you,” Beryl said again, looking puzzled.
He turned to Maddie. “Thank you for introducing us, Mrs. Coleman.”
“It’s Maddie, Colin,” she said, giving him a wilting look. “You youngsters make me feel so old!”
Colin laughed and turned to go, and Beryl looked at Maddie questioningly.
“I know, you’re wondering why I wanted you to meet him,” Maddie said with a smile.
“His name sounds so familiar,” Beryl said, taking a bite of her lemon square.
“That’s because Colin is Clay Davis’s grandson,” she said, waiting to see a spark of recognition in her eyes, but Beryl just breathed in suddenly and the dust of confectioner’s sugar made her cough. “Are you okay?” Maddie asked. Beryl nodded and swallowed, her eyes watering. “Micah said you wanted to know more about your parents’ accident—and although this isn’t the best time or place, when I saw Colin, I thought it might be a good chance for you to meet him.
“Colin was a baby when his father, Carl, was killed in Vietnam; his grandfather, Clay, had already lost his wife to cancer earlier that year, and he was utterly devastated when the telegram came to the mill where he worked telling him that his son had been killed.” Maddie paused, searching Beryl’s eyes. “Please know that I am in no way condoning Clay Davis’s actions or making an excuse for him, but I think it might help you to know that, although he was very drunk the night of the accident, he wasn’t a drunkard.”
Beryl shook her head in disbelief. “I had no idea,” she said, tears filling her eyes.
“I know, hon, and I’m so sorry. When I heard you talking about your mom’s life being part of God’s tapestry, I couldn’t help but think about Clay’s and Colin’s lives too. What happened in Clay’s life had a profound effect on your mom’s life … and, in turn, on your life and your sisters’ lives … and Colin’s.”
“What happened to Clay?”
Maddie shook her head sadly. “He spent the first night in jail but managed to post bail. He was ready to plead guilty—he knew he’d made a terrible mistake. But he was so distraught and despondent—not only had he lost his wife and his only son, but then he’d destroyed another family too. He told his friends that his life was cursed … and then, on Christmas morning, they found him hanging in his shed.”
Beryl covered her mouth in horror. “Oh, no!”
Maddie nodded. “After that, Colin and his mom, Linda, moved back to Vermont to live with her parents because she didn’t want Colin to grow up in a community where everyone knew his grandfather had killed someone in a drunk-driving accident—and then killed himself.”
Beryl nodded as Micah appeared at her side. He took one look at her and then eyed his mom suspiciously, but Beryl managed to smile. “Thank you for telling me, Mrs. Coleman. I definitely wanted to know the truth—and I’m glad I had the chance to meet Colin. It makes it all easier … somehow … as if it wasn’t so … senseless.”
Maddie squeezed Beryl’s hand. “I hope so, honey. And please call me Maddie.” Then she looked around the room for her husband and spied him talking to Tom Jacobs, a local contractor, and Rumer’s husband. She looked at Micah. “Are you going to the cemetery?”
Micah shook his head. “I think it’s just family… .”
“And you,” Beryl said, touching his arm. “I’d like you to come if you can… .”
Maddie smiled. “We’ll pick Charlotte up—if we can pull her away from Emma.”
Micah nodded. “Thanks, Mom,” he said as she turned away.
“That story is almost too sad to be believable,” Beryl said, shaking her head. “I have to tell Rumer and Isak—but first I need to talk to them about something else.”
“Okay,” Micah said, eyeing the refreshments. “I’m just going to fix a plate and then I’ll be over.”
“Take your time,” Beryl called over her shoulder. “This might not be pretty.”
Micah gave her a funny look and she just shook her head.
Beryl found her sisters standing outside the kitchen. Rumer was trying to convince Rand to keep his tie on while Isak was trying not to interfere. “I need to talk to you two for a minute,” she said, pulling them away and leaving Rand free to tug off his tie.
Beryl leaned against the kitchen counter and quickly explained what she wanted. Isak stared at her as if she had grown a second head. “Are you out of your mind?” she said. “We’re not doing that!”
Beryl looked at Rumer for support, but she looked uncertain too. “I don’t know, Ber. It sounds a little crazy to me. Do we have to decide right this minute?”
“Yes, and I know in my heart it’s what Mum would’ve wanted.”
“How do you know?” Isak said.
“I just do—and I’m not giving in. We always do what you say, Isak, and this time we’re doing what I think is right.”
Isak turned to look out the window. “Okay,” she said softly.
Beryl stared in disbelief. She had been preparing for a contentious debate. Instead, she whispered, “What?” in a voice that was barely audible.
Isak turned to face her. “I said, ‘Okay’—as long as it’s okay with Rumer.”
Rumer looked as shocked as Beryl. “I guess so …” she agreed.
“It’s settled, then,” Beryl said happily. She hugged her sisters and hurried out before Isak could change her mind.
Rumer followed her through the swinging door and Will grabbed her arm. “Ru, I’ve been looking all over for you,” he said excitedly.
“Why? What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” he said, trying to suppress a grin.
She eyed him suspiciously. “Why are you smiling?”
“I have some news. Do you remember Tom Jacobs?” he asked, motioning to the gray-haired gentleman still talking to Micah’s dad … and, now, Micah.
Rumer nodded thoughtfully and murmured half to herself, “He’s Sarah’s dad.” Then she looked up. “Wasn’t he in construction?”
“He still is,” Will said. “He specializes in high-end construction and new homes, and he said he has more work than he can handle. He’s looking for a site foreman.” Will was absolutely beaming as he told her the news. “Ru, he offered me the job!”
“No way!” Rumer could hardly believe
that the father of her childhood friend would be the one to change their lives. Would he if he knew that she and her sisters had once scared his little girl half to death with an old Ouija board?
“Way! He said he remembers my work.”
“Will, that’s awesome! When does he want you to start?”
“He wanted me to start on Monday, but I told him we were in Montana now and I’d have to make arrangements, so he said a week from Monday.”
A shadow crossed Rumer’s face. “But where are we going to move to? And what about the end of the school year?”
“Well, I thought we could stay at your mom’s for now. And if I go out and move most of our stuff back, you and Rand could stay out there until he’s done and then drive back with Norman. It would only be a couple more weeks.”
“Oh, Will, that’s almost too good to believe,” she said, hugging him.
Isak looked out the kitchen window, mulling over her sister’s request. Had she been wrong to give in so easily? Then again, maybe Beryl was right—maybe their mom would’ve wanted it this way. How does a family know, after a loved one is gone, what their intentions would’ve been? Isak sighed and her thoughts drifted to Matt. She wondered how he was doing. He’d been sound asleep when she left that morning and she was anxious to head back—even though, now, she’d have to come back up again tomorrow. She was definitely going to be racking up the miles on that rental car. Who knew when Matt would be well enough to travel? She hoped the kids wouldn’t mind staying at the house while he recuperated.
Later that afternoon, in a peaceful cemetery, Mia Graham’s daughters watched tearfully as their beloved mom was laid to rest beside their father. Beryl gazed through the whispering pine trees at the golden light of the setting sun and reached into her pocket to touch the cool, smooth glass of the honey jar.
40
Rumer slid the casseroles in the oven, took the salad out of the fridge, put a stack of plates on the counter, and poured two glasses of wine. She carried them out to the porch, handed one to Beryl, and sat down beside her. “It’s too bad Isak had to go back to Hartford,” she said.
“Especially since she has to come up again in the morning,” Beryl agreed, taking a sip from her glass and watching the heated battle of croquet that was taking place in the dimly lit front yard. Meghan, who was trying to play one-handed, was lagging so far behind that she never benefited from hitting an opponent’s ball and getting two extra shots, so she just fell further and further behind. Rand, on the other hand, was having a game that would make his grandmother proud. Already holding a decisive lead, he watched in surprise as his ball sailed through the last two wickets and hit the post. “I’m poison!” he announced happily. “Aunt Ber, I’m poison!”
“Good job!” she called. “Who’s on your list?”
He eyed the blue ball at the previous wicket and grinned mischievously. “Tommy!”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Tommy warned.
Rand laughed. “You know what they say …” He giggled, mimicking his cousin: “Payback’s a you-know-what!” He lined up his mallet so it was aimed straight at Tommy’s ball. Then he sent it scooting through the dandelions to tap it and knock him out of the game. “Ah, the kiss of death is so sweet,” he teased, leaning flamboyantly on his mallet. “Wouldn’t you say so, cous?”
Tommy shook his head slowly and took a step toward him.
Rand laughed and began to look around for an escape route. He spied the pond and wondered if he could get to the other side before …
Suddenly, Tommy dropped his mallet and sprinted toward him, and Rand, caught by surprise, dropped his mallet and started to run, but it was too late. Tommy scooped him up and threw him over his shoulder, and Rand squealed helplessly, trying to escape.
“Put me down,” he pleaded. “I’m gonna wet my pants!” he squealed.
Tommy swung him around onto the grass and tickled him mercilessly.
“Stop … stop!” Rand giggled breathlessly. Just then, Flannery trotted around the house and hurried over to investigate.
“Oh, no, it’s Smelly Dog,” Tommy teased. “Go ahead, Flan, give Rand a big kiss!” Flan’s sloppy tongue swept across Rand’s face and Rand put up his arms to protect his face, leaving his sides vulnerable. He giggled helplessly and shouted, “Uncle!”
“Wrong word,” Tommy teased.
“Cousin! Cousin!” Rand shouted, and Tommy finally released him and Rand just lay there, catching his breath and looking up at the stars. “I won, Gram,” he whispered with a grin.
“Supper’s ready!” Rumer called from the porch, and Tommy reached out his hand to pull his cousin up.
They lined up in the kitchen, buffet style, Rand and Tommy jostling for first, and heaping their plates with lasagna, lemon chicken, salad, and rolls.
“Is Micah coming?” Tommy asked.
“He is, but he said not to wait for him. He wanted to be home to tuck Charlotte in first.”
Meghan was next, refusing help and setting her plate next to each dish to spoon some out. “Are you sure I can’t help you?” Will asked with a smile.
“I’m sure, Uncle Will. I need to learn to manage myself.”
He sighed. “You Graham women are all the same,” he teased. “You’d think the strain of stubbornness would grow weaker with each generation, but it doesn’t.”
Rumer grinned, handed him a beer, and kissed him. “You wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“You’re right,” he said, pulling her into a playful hug.
Beryl watched them and laughed. “It’s good to see you two happy finally.”
“It’s good to feel happy … for a change,” Will said, taking a sip of his beer and kissing Rumer’s forehead before pulling away to hand the sisters plates and insisting they go first.
They all sat down around the table as Beryl lit the candles. Then she sat down and said, “How about grace?” Tommy and Rand both had forks en route to their mouths but reluctantly put them back down and bowed their heads. Beryl smiled, offered a quick prayer of thanks, and said she hoped there would be many more opportunities for their family to be together.
After she said, “Amen,” Rand looked up and grinned. “There will be a lot more opportunities, Aunt Ber, because we’re going to be living here!”
“I know, hon—I think that’s so great.”
“And we’re going to be here for a while too,” Meghan added. “At least till Dad feels better.”
“I wish I didn’t have to go back to Montana to finish the school year,” Rand said woefully.
“Well, you do … and that’s that,” Rumer said. “It’ll be over before you know it.”
“Yeah, but by then, Tommy and Meghan will be back in California.”
Tommy saw the disappointment in Rand’s face. “I’ll tell you what, Rand, I’ll stay here until you get back and we’ll hike Mount Washington together.”
“You will?!” Rand exclaimed, his face lighting up. Tommy nodded.
Just then, there was a light knock on the door, and Flan scrambled to get up, barking ferociously.
“C’mon in! The party’s already started,” Beryl called.
Micah pulled open the door and, all at once, everyone called, “Hi, Micah!”
“Hi,” he said, laughing.
Beryl pushed back from the table to get another chair. “Grab a plate,” she said. “What would you like to drink?”
“Whatever you’re having.”
“Iced tea?”
“Sounds good.” He filled his plate with food and sat down next to her.
“Micah,” Tommy said, “how’d you like to hike Mount Washington with us when Rand gets back from Montana?”
Micah looked questioningly at Beryl. “Is everyone going?”
“Everyone who wants to, I guess,” she said with a smile.
He smiled. “I’m in.”
41
Early the next morning, Isak pulled up in a Chevy Suburban. “I traded in the Mustang,” she said, pouring st
eaming coffee into a Black Dog mug and cupping it in her hands. “It’s chilly out!” she said with a shiver.
“I know,” Beryl agreed. “I took Flan for a walk earlier. Why’d you trade in the car? I thought you loved it.”
“Well, for one thing, it wasn’t big enough for everyone—”
Beryl interrupted her, “You know it’s just us going today … right?”
Isak looked puzzled. “No … how come?”
“Well, I assumed it would be just us. Don’t you think it would be better for the kids? I mean, I wouldn’t want to be the one to explain it to them, but … it’s really up to you two—you’re the moms.”
Rumer nodded in agreement. “I definitely don’t want to try to explain it to Rand right now. He’s got enough on his plate. Maybe when he’s older.”
Isak sipped her coffee thoughtfully. “I guess you’re right. I hadn’t really thought about it—things have been so crazy I haven’t really had time to think about anything, and I assumed we’d all be traipsing up there today.”
“The kids aren’t even up yet,” Beryl said. “They stayed up playing Parcheesi until who knows when.”
“Oh, well, it doesn’t matter,” Isak said with a sigh. “We need to have a bigger vehicle for trips back and forth to Boston, and when Matt gets out of the hospital, I’m sure he’d be more comfortable coming up here in a bigger car. Plus, we have all of Meghan’s stuff.” She paused thoughtfully. “I wonder if we could leave most of it here for the summer.”
“I’m sure you could. How’s Matt doing?” Beryl asked.
Isak smiled. “Every day’s a little better, but the surgeon already told him he’s going to need physical therapy if he’s going to regain full use of his leg.” Then she smiled, remembering her other news. “You guys aren’t going to believe this, but his doctor is an old friend from college; his name is Jonathan Marks and they were in residency together at Columbia. It was like old home week—Jon stayed and talked to Matt for over an hour. In fact, he told Matt that Hartford Hospital and Boston Medical are both looking to have more heart surgeons on staff and he asked Matt if he’d ever consider moving back … and Matt’s actually thinking about it!
“We talked about it after Jon left and Matt said his mom is getting older, and after seeing what you went through, Ber, taking care of Mum by yourself, he didn’t want Lily to go through the same thing. He also thought it might be a good time to make a move, before he’s too old. After all, Tommy only has a year left at Stanford, and it would be easier for Meghan going back and forth to Barnard.”
