Jen grabbed a napkin from the table and wiped away the tears that fell freely. “We love both of your very much, Billie. Thank you for coming into our lives.”
Fred wrapped his arm around Jen. “That goes for both of us.”
Billie held her glass up to Art. “One of the principle rules of business is not to mix business with pleasure. Art, I’m so glad you chose to ignore that. You’re so much more than my boss. You’re my friend. Out of love and concern for me and my family, you nearly kicked me off the McBride case. Why? Because you knew how it might affect me personally. You put my needs before the needs of the firm. Not many bosses would do that. You’re truly a good friend. You and Marge opened your home to me several weeks ago when I needed shelter. You treated me like family. I’ll never forget your generosity.”
Billie paused for a moment and allowed her gaze to fall on Cat. “Cat, you are my heart. You own me, body and soul. Without you, life isn’t worth living. For the longest time, I didn’t completely understand how devastating it was for you to not have all of me. So much of our present, and so much of our future, is based on our past. You were unwilling to settle for anything less than full recovery. Even in the darkest hours, you stood by me and never gave up hope. You fought for me—and for us. I love you, Cat. I love you with every fiber of my being. You are the mother of my children, whom I love dearly. You are my lifeline. Thank you for standing by me and never giving up on us.”
Cat made no attempt to hold back the tears as she folded her hands as though in prayer and held them in front of her mouth. “I love you too, Billie.”
Billie scanned the faces of everyone at the table. “If I had to use just one word to describe everyone at this table, it would be ‘family.’ Family is always there for each other. Family never gives up. Family loves unconditionally. I’m so proud and blessed to be part of all of you. Thank you for being there for me.”
A round of applause erupted from the table. Billie remained standing until it died down.
“There are two more things I need to say. First, it should be obvious to you now that I’ve recovered my memory. I’ll never again take for granted the memories I’ve made with all of you. When you lose them, you lose part of yourself. I’m so happy I found you all again, and Cat, I am so very happy that I have found us. Life would not be worth living without us.
“Second, on a lighter note, Cat and I have enjoyed watching each of your reactions to me cooking. I couldn’t resist taking advantage of the memory loss angle to play it up. Let me make something very clear… I know how bad I am at cooking. Like Cat said, I have many skills, but cooking isn’t one of them. So, without further ado, I invite you to feast on this wonderful meal, including the juicy burgers—not hockey pucks—cooked by me, but under the watchful guidance of Cat. Oh, and by the way, you guys were way easy to fool. Now, dig in.”
The picnic went well into the afternoon. Jen and Fred were the last to go, refusing to leave until the trash was collected and dishes done.
“Thanks for your help, guys,” Billie said. “We appreciate it.”
“No thanks necessary,” Jen said. “We had a good time.” Jen hugged Billie. “I’m so happy you’re back. It was really rough watching the two of you struggle to find each other again.”
“Me too. We couldn’t have done it without your help. And Fred’s too. I can’t imagine it was easy on him for you to be gone so much and to have our kids practically living at your house.”
Jen watched Fred toss the football around with Stevie and Seth. “Fred’s a good man. He’s a good husband and father too. He loves your kids as much as I do. You needed us. There was no way we weren’t going to help. You’d do the same for us.”
“You’re right. We would. Anyway, just know that we love you and appreciate you very much.”
“Ditto, my friend. Ditto.”
“Dishes are done,” Cat said as she came out of the house.
“Walk us home?” Jen said.
“You bet.”
“Fred, we’re heading home. Are you coming?” Jen called.
“I’m right behind you.” Fred threw the ball to Seth and joined the women.
Moments later, they stood in front of the Swenson’s house. Jen hugged Billie then Cat. “This has been one hell of a run,” Jen said. “It’s time for things to settle down. Time to relax.”
“It’s been crazy for all of us,” Cat said.
“You know, we should do something together, just our two families. Something fun,” Jen said.
“Like what?” Billie asked.
Jen shrugged. “I don’t know. We should go somewhere on vacation together. Somewhere far away from the hassles of our day-to-day lives.”
“That sounds great. Let’s make plans,” Cat said.
“Cool. Okay. Tell Stevie and Karissa they need to be home by eight.”
“You got it. Good night.”
Cat slipped her hand into Billie’s back pocket as they walked home side by side, in cadence to the clicking of Billie’s crutches.
Author Karen Badger Photo Credit: Song of Myself
Photography, Provincetown, MA
About the Author
Karen D. Badger is the author of On A Wing And A Prayer, Yesterday Once More (a 2009 Golden Crown Literary Award winner for Speculative Fiction), In A Family Way, Unchained Memories, and Happy Campers: Books I, II and III of the Commitment Series, and her current novel, The Blue Feather, all published by Blue Feather Books, Ltd, and re-released by Badger Bliss Books.
Born and raised in Vermont, Karen is the second of five children raised by a fiercely independent mother, who remains one of her best friends to this day. Karen earned her B.A. in 1978 in Theater and in Elementary Education, and in 1994, earned a B.S. in mathematics. In addition to her novels, Karen is the author of many technical papers on photomask manufacturing, which she has presented at numerous semiconductor industry conferences, and is the holder if several technical patents. Karen is currently in her 37th year as an Advisory Engineer with the IBM Corporation in Vermont.
Karen and her wife, Barb (a retired Lt. Co. in the US Air Force) live in the beautiful state of Vermont—home of Ben and Jerry's and civil unions. They spend their spare time with family: sons Heath and Dane, their respective ladies, Kacie and Daisy, and their three grandchildren, Kyren, Ariana and Ellie, as well as doing home improvement projects on both their homes in Vermont and New Mexico. They also enjoy camping, kayaking, motorcycling and singing Karaoke.
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