Mason and Layla slipped out the patio doors to the backyard.
Bo took a helping of Kelsey’s banana pudding because no one else was eating it. He carried his plate to the kitchen and knew time was up. He had to talk to his father. He walked to the patio doors and Kelsey was right behind him.
“You’re not doing this without me,” she said.
Mason sat in the swing and Layla sat beside him. Both were smoking, which was the last thing Mason needed to be doing, and blowing puffs of smoke into the air.
When Layla saw them, she got up and went back into the house, throwing her cigarette onto the grass as she went. Aunt Lois was going to love that.
Kelsey sat on a large car toy and Bo shoved his hands into his pockets, waiting for the words to come.
Kelsey took it out of his hands. “I’m sorry you have cancer and I’m sorry you’re in pain.”
“Thank you, Kel,” Mason replied.
“I remember you singing in the mornings and I liked that. I knew you were home.”
“I like singing to my kids, too, and I’m not expecting forgiveness. I just wanted to see you, both of you, to say how proud I am of you. Despite my behavior, insecurities and the many problems I heaped upon your mother, you turned out better people than I will ever be.”
“Then why heap another one on her by bringing that woman today?” Bo couldn’t keep the words inside.
“Because she gives me an injection if I’m in a lot of pain and I knew today would be stressful. I talked to your mother and she said it would be fine. But if it bothers you, we will leave.”
“No. I just worry how it affects my mother.”
“Your mother is not in love with me anymore, so you don’t have to worry about that.” He pushed to his feet and staggered. Bo grabbed his arm and Kelsey jumped up and grabbed the other one.
“Are you okay?” Bo asked.
“The pain is getting bad and I need to go home.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out a large white envelope. “I wanted to give you this. It’s not a long, sorrowful letter about how I’m sorry and excuses. There is no excuse for the way I lived my life. It’s just something that needs to be opened when I pass. Since you’re my son, I want you to do that.”
Bo didn’t hesitate in taking the letter. It seemed important to his father and it was the least he could do. With him and Kelsey on either side of Mason they walked into the house, where Layla joined them at the front door.
“What’s wrong?” Grandma wanted to know.
“I’m a little tired, Mom, and I’m going back to the motel. Goodbye, everyone. Thanks for the beautiful dinner.”
Bo and Kelsey walked him to the passenger side of the car and he got in. Mason was ghost white and his hands shook. “Just remember, a day didn’t go by that I didn’t think of the two of you.”
Bo looked at Layla. “You might want to give him something for pain.”
“The motel we’re staying in is not far away and I’ll wait until we get there. He usually goes to sleep.”
Bo nodded.
“Goodbye, son, Kel,” Mason muttered.
Bo closed the door and Layla drove away.
He stared at the car and Kelsey’s left arm went around his waist. “That didn’t go too bad, and for the life of me I can’t dredge up any resentment. It’s absolutely gone.”
“I know.” All the anger and bitterness had disappeared. His dad was a shell of a man now, and needed their sympathy and support, and Bo would give him that until his father’s last day.
“Let’s go eat some more of that banana pudding,” he said to lighten the atmosphere. “I’m in a daredevil mood.”
Kelsey laughed, and arm in arm they went back into the house.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
IT WAS SEVEN O’CLOCK when Bo got back to his mom’s house. After he and Kelsey went back in, it had been a whole different atmosphere. The tension that had gripped everyone was gone. Everyone was laughing and joking and carrying on.
Aunt Lois made them do the dishes and they had a line going, washing, drying and putting up. They talked as they worked and he got to know his cousins a little better, especially Andrea. Their next assignment was in Germany and she was excited to get to see her parents again.
Just as they were talking, Uncle Jim called and Grandma yanked the phone out of Lois’s hands. He talked to everyone and Andrea got teary-eyed. She was pregnant and missed her parents. Grandma told Uncle Jim he needed to call his brother and he told her he already had. Uncle Jim was always a stand-up kind of guy.
He always had a beer with Grandpa Walt on Thanksgiving and afterward that’s where he went. Grace’s friend Frannie was there and also Miss Bertie, who lived down the road. It was a visit of laughing and telling stories, and it gave Bo a lift. But he was glad to go home because he had a big day tomorrow with Becky and Luci.
When he walked into the house, he saw his mother sitting in her chair with her feet propped up. He sat across from her.
“You look tired.”
“I am a little. It was a big day.” There was something in her voice that was different and he was trying to pinpoint what it was.
“Did Layla bother you?”
“Layla? Heavens, no. Her being so young did, but that’s your father’s life and doesn’t concern me anymore.”
“I think she’s good for him,” Bo said, looking at the situation through different eyes.
“Yeah, I think so, too. She’s taking care of him and not many women that age would do that.”
“Then why do you look so sad?”
She removed her feet from the stool and sat up. “Bo, I think you’re old enough to hear what I have to say.”
He was startled for a moment. Old enough? He’d been old enough for a long time. He sat patiently, though, waiting for whatever she needed him to hear.
“I told you I’m not in love with your father anymore and whatever he does doesn’t concern me or affect me. I’m glad he’s found someone and I’m deeply saddened that he’s in pain and not going to live much longer.
“But—” she took a deep breath “—I’ve been seeing someone else, someone that I love deeply, and he was upset that I was spending Thanksgiving with my ex’s family. I told him I had to go because of my children and he didn’t quite understand that. He’s such a nice man and I didn’t want to hurt him. Now I’m worried I’ve ruined everything between us.”
“Huh…” Words filled his mouth, unspoken. Seeing someone else?
He cleared his throat. “How is that possible? You never go anywhere. You work all the time. When did you find time to meet someone? Is it your boss?”
“Of course not. He’s almost seventy and has grandchildren.”
“Then who?”
His mom slipped her feet into her shoes and grabbed her purse. “I’m not going to sleep until I see him. I’ll be back later.” She headed for the back door and Bo followed.
“Who is it? Mom, who are you seeing?”
She ignored him and got in her car and drove away.
He went to the refrigerator, grabbed a beer and downed a gulp. His mom was dating. He would’ve never guessed that in a million years. He walked into his bedroom and stared out the window at the Tullous house. The lights were on. Everyone was home, enjoying the holiday. Suddenly, the garage door went up and Craig backed his truck out and drove down the street.
As a cop, warning bells went off in his head. Could it be? Craig was the only man she saw outside work. They’d gotten very close since Craig’s accident. There were the flowers in Craig’s yard. Some of the same flowers as in his mom’s. Could it be?
Bo set his beer on the dresser and went out the front door and across the street. When Becky opened the door, he walked right past her.
“I think my mom and your dad are seeing each other.”
She brus
hed hair behind her ears. “I’ve had my suspicions for a while now.”
“So they are?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
He took a long breath to calm down. “I think it would be wonderful. Someone would always be there for her.”
“Me, too. And my dad wouldn’t be so lonely.”
“I’m waiting up for her and she’s going to tell me the truth.”
“Don’t push, Bo. If they’re seeing each other, they’ll tell us when they want to.”
“Yeah,” he mused and leaned toward her. “Sometimes I smell that scent even when you’re not around.”
“What scent?” she whispered.
“Mimosa Rain.”
“Bo…”
He kissed the side of her face, his lips lingering for a moment. “See you tomorrow.” He walked out, forcing himself not to look back.
Bo went home with a smile. They were getting along and that’s what he wanted. He wanted to make up for everything and to feel her love again. He took a shower and waited up for his mother. At almost twelve she came through the back door, humming. She was in a better mood. “Oh, Bo, you scared me,” she said as he got up from the sofa. “I thought you’d be in bed by now.”
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You were kind of sad when you left. I guess you talked to the new man in your life.”
“I should’ve never told you that. Now you’re going to hound me to death.”
“Yes, I am. Who is he?”
“I’ll tell you when I’m ready. Now I’m going to bed.” She turned on her heel and walked to her bedroom. He went to his, looked out the window and saw Craig drive into his garage. Oh, yes. His mom was in love with the neighbor.
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING Becky rushed around trying to get Luci ready, and trying to get herself ready. She put jeans, a pink polo and a pink hoodie on Luci. For herself, she decided on a red hoodie and put her hair up to show off some Christmas earrings.
Bo rang the doorbell about nine and Luci ran to answer it, shouting, “We gonna get a tree. A big tree.”
They loaded up into Bo’s truck.
“There’s a Christmas tree farm between Horseshoe and Temple. Are you game?” Bo asked. He was wearing jeans and a black sweatshirt, which reminded her of just how handsome he was.
“Sure. I thought we’d just go down to the Christmas tree lot, but that sounds much more fun.”
Luci kept singing songs that they’d learned. Every now and then she’d stop and announce something. “Santa got reindeer.”
“We know, baby. What do you want for Christmas?”
“I can’t tell you.”
Becky frowned. “Why not?”
“I don’t know. I have to tell Santa.”
Becky looked at Bo and he shrugged.
They turned off the highway onto a country dirt road and traveled about a mile until they came to the tree farm that grew miles and miles of Christmas trees. They were in Santa land for sure.
“Trees, Mommy.”
“Look, Bo. They have a trailer pulled by a tractor to carry customers around to pick out their trees. This is going to be so much fun for Luci.”
“Really?” He lifted an eyebrow at her.
“Okay, me too.” She laughed.
There were other people waiting in line to get Christmas trees. The fall temperature was brisk and Becky pulled the hoodie over Luci’s head so her ears wouldn’t get cold. There were lots of children running around and Luci’s eyes were glued to them. Bo held her and she wanted down. A little boy about her age was in front of them with his parents and two sisters.
Luci walked up to him. “My name is Luci. What’s your name?”
“John,” the little boy replied.
“We gonna get a Christmas tree,” Luci told him.
“We are, too.”
“She’s having a conversation,” Becky whispered to Bo.
“Yeah, she’s getting braver.”
A tractor trailer pulled up and the man shouted, “Two families.”
They got on the trailer with John’s family and the man drove them into the trees. Becky felt as if she was being swallowed by Christmas trees. Christmas music played and the kids clapped and sang along. John scooted over by Luci, and they giggled and laughed and it made Becky’s heart happy. She took pictures with her phone, as did John’s mother.
The man stopped the tractor. “When you find your tree, just holler.”
It didn’t take them long to find a tree, and the man cut it down and put it on the trailer. Luci’s eyes were huge as she watched. When they got back to the office, Bo lifted it off the trailer and placed it in the back of his truck as if it was no more than a limb.
“Bye, John,” Luci called as Bo put her in the car seat.
Luci chattered all the way home and Becky smiled at Bo. It was good to feel free from the pain and to share this Christmas moment with him. She didn’t think beyond that.
She made turkey sandwiches for lunch and then they spent the afternoon putting up the tree. Her dad had already gotten all the decorations out of the attic and the living room was full of Christmas stuff.
Luci was super energized, telling her grandpa all about getting the tree and about John. Her dad just smiled. Becky sorted through the decorations and paused as she came across a box she remembered well. She knew what was inside and couldn’t open it in front of everyone.
She carried it into her bedroom. Removing the lid, Becky stared down at ten crystal angels, angels her mother had given her for Christmas every year until her death. A tear rolled down her cheek as she pulled out an angel and looked at the inscription: To my baby, Rebecca Diane. Love you, precious. And then it had the date.
“Hey, what are you doing sitting in here by yourself?” Bo asked from the doorway.
She brushed the tear away quickly. “It’s nothing. I’m just a little emotional when I see these angels.”
He sat beside her. “Those are the ones your mom gave you.”
She blinked through tears. “You remembered.”
“I helped you to hang them on the tree, being very careful not to break one. I know how much they mean to you.”
“I get so sad when I see them. And then I get mad. Why didn’t she realize what was happening to her? Why did she ignore all the symptoms?”
Bo put his arm around her and pulled her close. She soaked up his strong presence, his protectiveness that she craved. “I guess she didn’t think it was a big deal and it would go away. Isn’t that what most women think?”
“No! Women today seek out treatment like they should. If you want to live, you need to be conscious of what’s going on with your body.”
“Your dad said you cried for your mother when you had the miscarriage.”
“I was seventeen years old and I needed my mother so badly. I…”
He stroked her hair. “Don’t relive it. I will always be here now. Trust me. I’m not going far and the only thing I want is for you to smile and be happy.”
“Bo…”
“Mommy? Mommy?”
He kissed her lips gently. “Let’s go put some stuff on that tree.”
Becky made hot chocolate and they decorated the tree. Luci put ornaments on a bottom branch, all in one spot and as close together as possible. Becky didn’t change a thing. Luci didn’t remember last Christmas, so this Christmas was extra special.
The day ended way too quickly, and Bo went home and the house was very quiet. But they’d made plans to go into town the next day and look at all the Christmas decorations the townspeople were putting up.
There was life after a devastating heartache.
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING Bo was at the house early and they decided to walk into town for the exercise. Becky tried to explain to Luci that
it was a long way and she might get tired, so they would use the stroller. Luci refused.
“I not get tired.”
Becky looked at Bo.
“Where’s the stroller?”
“No! I walk.”
So they started out with one stubborn little girl between them. They’d walked about two blocks when Luci said, “My feet are tired.”
Bo swung her up and placed her on his shoulders. Luci giggled and Becky linked her arm through Bo’s as they made the trek into town. The temperature was still in the fifties, but it didn’t feel as chilly as the previous day.
They made it to the square and Becky could see the townspeople were busy putting up decorations. All the lampposts had big wreaths on them with red and green plaid bows. As did the courthouse doors. All the shops that surrounded the square looked festive with trees, wreaths, poinsettias or garland in the windows. It was definitely Christmas in Horseshoe, Texas.
A truck and trailer pulled up to the curb at the courthouse and on the trailer was a huge Christmas tree.
“Look, Bo, they’re going to put up the tree at the courthouse.”
“I’ll see if they need some help.”
As they got closer they could see Cole, the sheriff, Bubba, a couple of Rebel brothers and some people Becky didn’t know.
“Hey,” Cole called. “Just what we need, another pair of strong hands.”
Bo lifted Luci to the ground and she quickly clung to Becky, a little shy of all the people. Becky noticed Grandpa Walt and a dark-haired woman sitting on the courthouse steps and she walked over and introduced herself for she knew the woman was Cole’s wife. Becky sat by Grace and they talked, and Becky took to her immediately. She was down-to-earth and easy to like. Luci still clung to Becky.
A little girl between two and three with dark hair came over to Grace, and Becky knew it was her daughter. Two little boys stood behind her. “Mommy, can she play with us?” She pointed to Luci.
“Ask her.”
“Do you want to play with us?” the little girl asked Luci. That was all it took. Luci took off running with them across the lawn. She tripped and got back up and kept running. They ran to the benches and sat there. Two boys and two girls.
Harlequin Heartwarming December 2020 Box Set Page 42
