by CJ Murphy
“I’ve made some suggestions, like for her to stay with Gram and me so we can help her. There’s a top-notch therapist in our area. She hasn’t given me an answer, so I don’t know what she’s going to do yet.”
“I’m grateful to you and your grandmother. I don’t want to see her slip down the rabbit hole again. After she healed, she jumped on a motorcycle and hasn’t stopped since. I’m going to let her know I’m planning my trip home. That will let her relax about me asking her to come home.” Amanda rubbed her temples, laughing bitterly. “Home. It hasn’t been home for her since she started college. I don’t know where home for her is, and I’m not sure she does either.” Amanda wiped at her eyes. “Thank you, Laurel, for tolerating me. I know we got off on the wrong foot. I’m sorry. Almost losing your only child twice tends to make you lose your grace.”
Laurel was grateful for the small crack in the ice that had developed between them. She still didn’t like the way Val’s mother treated her, but she was learning that much of her bluster was a defense mechanism. “Amanda, I don’t know what Val will do. All I know is I want to help her. She seems comfortable enough with my family. If I can convince her to come and stay with us, you can be sure she’ll be well taken care of.”
Rising from her chair, Amanda reached out her hand and clasped Laurel’s forearm. “I’ve never been the best parent, but she’s about the only thing her father and I did right. She didn’t grow up watching a happy marriage. If her father had looked at me the way you look at her, maybe our lives would have been different. Maybe she would’ve felt about our family like she does yours. I don’t know.”
Amanda turned and walked down the hall toward Val’s room, leaving Laurel stunned, reflecting on Amanda’s observations.
***
Val was gazing down at her phone, slowly trying to answer correspondence. She looked up hearing her mother enter the room.
“I’m going to book my flight home. You don’t need me here, and I have an interview with the president of the Puget Sound Partnership. They’re trying to get more stringent permits to prevent environmental issues in the Sound.” Amanda’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not even going to ask you to come back to Seattle, because I know you won’t. All I ask is that you let me know how you’re doing on a regular basis.”
Val pursed her lips and let out a long breath. “I will, Mother. I don’t know what I’m doing yet.”
“I think you should take Laurel up on their offer.”
“That’s a lot for someone to take on that isn’t family.”
Crossing her arms, Amanda continued to probe. “Aren’t they? I’ve read the blogs you write after you stop at their diner, Valkyrie. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard you describe anyplace or anyone with such affection.”
Val did consider them family. More importantly, they consider me family. “I’ll think about it.”
“While you’re thinking about that, try being a little more honest with yourself on a few other things.” Amanda kissed her daughter on the forehead and walked out of the room.
As Val watched her walk away, she marveled at the way her mother could drive home a railroad stake with very little effort.
Chapter Nine
LAUREL APPEARED IN THE doorway, and Val shook her head. “Do you have magical powers?”
Laurel grinned mischievously as she patted her hands together and then separated them in a gesture of full disclosure. “A good magician never reveals her illusions.”
“If getting my mother to go home is an illusion, then David Blaine needs to hire you. I’m not sure which is the bigger miracle, that she’s going or that she seems to be going without a fuss.” Val squinted one eye. “What did Ree put in her crisp?”
“In the words of Sipsey from Fried Green Tomatoes, 'secret’s in the sauce.'” Laurel grinned.
“I love that movie.” A smile graced Val’s lips.
Deciding to take another stab, Laurel broached the subject on her mind. She wanted to convince Val to come home with her. “Well, maybe once I get you home we can have a movie marathon of all our favorites?” Please let me help you.
Val fidgeted in the hospital bed, running her hand through her hair. “Laurel, I don’t know. That’s so much on you guys.”
It was time to change tactics. Let’s see how you react to a little assertion. “Suck it up, buttercup. You’re coming home with me when they spring you from this joint. I’ll help get you wherever you have to be, including Bethesda. We’ll take it one day at a time.” She held her breath and searched Val’s face for any signs of irritation.
Val chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck nervously. “It doesn’t sound like I’ve got much say in this. I can see I’m not going to win this battle.”
Laurel raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Oh, you have a say. You can say yes now, or in a few days when they let you out.”
Val raised her arm in surrender. Laurel reveled in her triumph. In the words of my favorite Pittsburgh Pirates announcer, “Raise the Jolly Roger, game over.”
Another week passed as Val recovered in the hospital. She signed her release papers and Laurel helped her into her Jeep to drive them to her home in Aurora. Val had completely given in after another visit from Ree, who threatened to use her considerable powers of persuasion and make her cut her own sprig of forsythia if she wouldn’t listen to reason. Val agreed after saying she’d help out at the store once she was recovered.
Laurel drove slow, taking care to avoid as many potholes in the road as possible. They pulled up to the modest home, the exterior covered with native field stone. She ran around and helped Val into the companion wheelchair. Grateful for the ramp built onto the house leading to a side entrance, Laurel wheeled Val into the house. She looks pale. I bet she’s in pain. Laurel, relieved to finally have Val home, helped her into the guest room. The room was warm and inviting, decorated with antiques and pieces of local pottery. The physical therapist had shown her how to help Val stand so that she could transfer in and out of the wheelchair without inflicting injury on either of them.
“How are you? Comfortable?” Laurel examined Val. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead and upper lip. Her eyes were full of pain and she grimaced as she settled Val onto the bed.
“I’m ok. Just tired.”
Laurel retrieved a cool cloth that she placed on Val’s forehead. “Rest, ok?”
After seeing Val nod, Laurel retreated, but left the door ajar so she could hear if Val needed her. She made her way to the kitchen where her grandmother sat with a sharp paring knife, cutting peaches into small chunks.
Laurel ran her hands through her hair, pulling it up off her neck. She rolled her shoulders in an attempt to release the tension that had formed during their ride home. Dropping into a chair at the table, she rested her head on her palm. “She’s settled in for now. I’ll take her something to eat later.” She looked at her watch. She’ll need a pain pill, too.
Ree looked at her. “Going to take her a while to get her gumption back. What’s your plan?”
“Tomorrow, if she’s up to it, we’ll drive over to Annapolis and stay with her friends Jo and Liz. The following morning, I’m taking her to someplace called The Bodyshop, to see if we can get her prosthesis fixed. I think she’s more worried about that than anything. From what she told me, the last time it took her over a year to get the fit right. Later that afternoon, she has an appointment at Bethesda for her shoulder.” Laurel yawned.
Ree waved her knife through the air. “They must know what they’re doing. Tarnation, I never even knew she had one. My Uncle Henry was missin’ a leg. Some logging accident he had as a kid. Had this great big wooden thing with metal brackets and a wide leather strap that went up and over his shoulder. He hitched it to walk, but walk on it he did for sixty years. They just kept whittling him a longer one as he grew.”
Laurel stifled a laugh, worried she would wake Val. She shook her head in disbelief. “Gram, just when I think I’ve heard every one of your stories, you pull one out of
your hat.”
“Honey, once you’ve lived as long as I have, you’ll have stories too.” Ree laughed and went over to the stove. “I’m going to do something that will be easy for her to eat one handed. No peas.”
Laurel rose and ran a hand down her grandmother’s arm, kissing her temple. She paused. I hope you’re around for a long time. I need you so much. “Thanks, Gram, I’m going to go check on her.” Laurel made her way down the hall and pushed the door open a crack.
Val was asleep but not resting well if her furrowed brow and jumping jawline were any indication. Laurel stepped in, pushed a few locks of hair off Val’s forehead, and adjusted the throw she placed over her. As she rose to close the blind a bit more, a hand caught her wrist.
Looking up from the bed, Val said, “Stay, please?”
Laurel peered into the blue eyes clouded with pain and walked over to the other side. Val rarely asked her for anything. She wanted to be close to Val, to comfort her and reassure her she’d be all right. Though they’d never done more than embrace and share a few tender kisses, Val had asked her to stay and there was little Laurel wouldn’t do for her. Pulling off her shoes, she carefully crawled onto the bed. Val lifted her left arm up in invitation. Laurel moved in until her own head rested on Val’s shoulder, tucked under her chin. She caught her breath as Val’s right hand, still confined by the immobilizer, clasped hers. This feels so right. She relaxed into the touch and within minutes, both were asleep.
***
Ree stole down the hallway as quietly as she could, trying to avoid the creaky boards. Peering in, she saw exactly what she’d expected. Laurel curled up in Val’s arm with her own thrown across Val’s body. They looked like they’d been together forever. Ree backed up and walked away with a smile on her face. Now if she could just get them to see what she did—love.
***
Val woke with Laurel in her arms. She didn’t move, afraid to wake her and lose this moment. Before Laurel joined her, her pain and her mind refused to let her rest. A peace had come over her once Laurel had lain down beside her. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this way. Maybe because I never have before. Stroking the soft skin of Laurel’s arm, she marveled how her fingers tingled. She didn’t care if they ever moved.
Laurel stirred and rolled her head to look at Val. The smile she offered warmed Val to her core. Laurel sat up looking down into Val’s eyes. “I think I smell dinner. How do you feel?”
“Actually, pretty good. Some pain, but it’s tolerable.” She watched Laurel rise from the bed. “I need to go to the bathroom.”
Laurel stepped around the bed and helped Val sit up, helping her to the bathroom and waiting outside for her. Unconsciously Val tried to use her right arm to slow her descent into the chair and winced at the pain. Damn. She closed her eyes and breathed through the burning in her shoulder.
“Thank you.” Val took an appreciative sniff to the air. She could make out the fragrance of chicken and bread. It smelled heavenly and Val’s stomach grumbled. She needed to put back on the weight her accident and hospital stay had cost her. She knew getting too skinny cost her strength she needed it to hold up the big bike. If I ever get the bike back in shape to ride.
They made their way to the dinner table in the comfortable kitchen and Laurel helped her into a seat at the table. Worn wooden chairs creaked with every weight shift. A cheerful red and white checkered tablecloth covered the surface and real cloth napkins sat with the silverware. She held one up to Ree with a questioning look.
“I just like em’ better than those paper ones. These I can scrub my hands good after a good round of barbeque,” Ree said, handing a glass bowl to Laurel. She carried the main course to the table herself and uncovered a roasting pan full of chicken and dumplings.
Val’s mouth watered in anticipation.
Ree took her seat and said a word of grace, then they dug in. She placed her napkin on her lap. “How are ya, hon? Ya in much pain?”
Val shook her head. “Not as much as I would expect. My head is still a little fuzzy, and my arm bothers me if I do something I shouldn’t. Good thing I bounce. Don’t worry, I’m alright.” She reached out and patted Ree’s hunched back, trying to ease the concerned look on her face.
Ree’s eyes searched hers. “You’ve got a big trip tomorrow, so eat up and get rested for that. Mule and Bobeye have been asking about ya. I’ll give’m a report tomorrow.”
Val speared a piece of homemade bread. “Damn, I just thought about my cameras and the rubbings from the wall. They were in my saddlebags. Anyone know if that stuff is okay?” I hope some of my things survived.
Laurel shook her head. “I know Bobeye towed it. I’ll check with him tomorrow.”
Val tried to relax, knowing there was nothing she could do about her things if they were destroyed. “My sketchpads are in there, too. Any chance we could drop by there on our way out in the morning?”
Laurel finished chewing her bite of food. “Sure. It’s on the way. That companion wheelchair’s easy to get in and out of the Jeep.”
They ate and enjoyed small talk about the diner and who had said what. Ree got tickled. She composed herself as she relayed the latest Wunder story. “So Wunder came in the other day with that look. We all waited ’cause we knew this was gonna be good. He turned his head sideways the way he does.” Ree mimicked him perfectly. “He asked, if they find plane crashes in the ocean, how come they don’t find submarines crashes in trees?”
Val held her side as she laughed. Laurel shook her head while she cleared the plates. She came back with three bowls of peach cobbler topped with milk.
Val’s eyes lit up as she raised her spoon. “I’m not going to have to worry about putting weight back on around here. I’m going to gain three hundred pounds eating like this,” Val said, as she shoveled the cobbler in her mouth.
Laurel giggled. “I guess we’ll have to find a way to work it off you.”
Val couldn’t resist pushing the envelope a bit. “And how, pray tell, do you plan to do that?”
A blush rose up Laurel’s neck. She grabbed at her shirt collar and pulled it. Turning back to the refrigerator, she picked up the tea pitcher. “Pretty soon you’ll hook up with Fallon and she’s likely to work your ass off in therapy. My bet is you can eat all the crisp you can handle without fear of needing to go buy new jeans.”
Val had noticed the blush, thinking Laurel beyond adorable when she was embarrassed. By the time Laurel made it back to the table and filled their glasses, Val could barely see the blush. She tried to change the subject, letting her off the hook. “What day do I get to meet Fallon?”
“I guess that will be up to your surgeon once we get your wing fixed, and I assume after you get your leg back in working order. We’ll also need to check with Dr. Ellis to make sure you don’t have any restrictions.”
Val sat with a spoonful of cobbler millimeters from her lips, staring at Laurel. Her mouth curled into a smile. I guess I’ll just follow her lead.
Ree laughed at them.
After finishing dinner, they all sat around the table and played a few hands of cards. Val had never spent a more enjoyable evening. Funny, no one’s staring at their smart phone, no reality TV droning on, just honest interaction around a kitchen table. I could get used to this.
“Gin.” Ree fanned her cards out. “I’m pretty sure if we were playing for coin, the two of you would be washing dishes at the diner until ya got to be my age.” Rising from the table, she looked at both of them. “Goodnight, girls, these old bones would like a lay down and to spend a few hours seeing what Agatha Christie has Miss Marple up to. See ya when ya smell the bacon.” Ree kissed Laurel on the temple and did the same to Val. Ree let her weathered hand rest on Val’s shoulder. “Nice to have ya with us, Val. I like having ya in person compared to seeing ya on a little screen.”
Val closed her own fingers around those of the older woman. Ree’s fingers were soft, and yet Val knew they were working hands. This simple gestu
re made her insides go to mush. Her words stuck in her throat, and she coughed. “Thank you, Ree. I don’t know if you will ever know what having you and Laurel there for me during this has meant to me.”
“Night.” Ree kissed Val on top of the head again and moved out of the kitchen and down the hall.
Val closed her eyes tight to keep the tears threatening to escape from rolling down her cheeks. She felt Laurel’s hand close on hers.
“She’s something isn’t she, Viking?”
“She’s amazing and so are you.” She opened her eyes and looked into Laurel’s green ones. “So, how about that movie marathon you promised, or at least one of them?”
“Only if you’ll watch it lying down. You need to rest and that strap has to kill your neck,” Laurel replied. “What do you want to watch, chick flick, classic, comedy, or thriller?”
“I think you promised me an evening with Idgie Threadgoode, if I remember correctly,” Val said using an exaggerated southern drawl.
“So I did.” Laurel retrieved the wheelchair. “Your chariot awaits. Towanda!”
Val laughed. “I’m with you.” And I’ve never been happier.
***
They made their way to Val’s new room. Laurel settled her on the bed, then left to make a huge bowl of popcorn and some tea. The movie played and they both laughed as Idgie let the prosecutor have it. Once they’d finished the popcorn, Laurel moved into Val’s arm, with her head resting on Val’s chest. The steady relaxed rhythm of her breathing told Laurel that Val was asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, Laurel stayed where she was, warm and comfortable.
As the movie continued, she watched Idgie’s soul shatter at the loss of Ruth. Laurel gained perfect clarity about why she hadn’t crossed the imaginary line she’d drawn on her heart. She was dancing dangerously close to allowing an impossible dream to take hold. The cancer might already be inside me, waiting. She wanted to stay in the small cocoon she currently found herself in. The warmth of Val’s body drew her in and for the first time, she questioned herself. Why not? What if?
