Sharon turned her thoughts from the past to the present. To the boy who’d grown into a man. To the grandfather she’d kept from him. She couldn’t help but smile at Tuck. He’d situated himself on a park bench near the edge of the falls. Trini Barton sat beside him. She’d been a friend of Sharon’s mother’s years ago, and although the woman had certainly aged, she still had a childlike sparkle in her eye and a bounce to her step. It was good to see Tuck happy. He grinned now and again when Trini said something particularly snappy. His crooked grin, that single front tooth just a bit longer than the other.
An ache so deep it could grow legs and walk away settled in her stomach. She’d missed so much. And Tuck was sick. How sick, she didn’t know and wouldn’t press because there was a marginal strip of justice being doled out to her. She hadn’t been here. She hadn’t been the one available when a diagnosis came. Oh, God, she didn’t want to lose her father. Not now, not after finally finding her way back home.
The sting of oncoming tears caused her to stand and walk away from the group. Becca and Rave held hands with Daniel and once even swung him out over the water as if to drop him in. He squealed and yelled, “Again!” But Rave shook his head. A loving but wise, fatherly decision. Again, Sharon was painfully reminded of how much she’d missed. How much she’d traded for a drug that could only give her a momentary release, followed by years of heartache. But she was here now. That’s what she had to concentrate on because rehashing the mistakes for too long could only make her bitter. Bitterness was something she’d fought all her days in confinement and something she refused to allow into her heart.
She was strong now. She could do this. Whatever Tuck needed. Whatever Rave needed, whether he agreed to allow her to be part of his life or not, she’d be here to help. For the first time in her life, Sharon knew she wouldn’t let down the people who needed her the most.
She heard someone coming up behind her and turned.
Tuck opened his arms, and she found a place against his chest. Closing her eyes, she relished the feel of her dad’s arms around her. No matter how old a girl got, she was never too old for her father’s arms.
“I still can’t believe you’re here,” Tuck whispered.
“I can’t believe how good it feels to be home. But Dad, I need to know how sick you are.”
His mouth pressed into a flat line. “Plenty sick. Cancer.”
No. No, not now that she was finally home. “Is it . . .”
“It’s localized in my liver. As long as it doesn’t spread, there’s still hope.”
Sharon’s mind clouded. Cancer always spreads. That’s what it does. “What can we do?”
He cradled her closer. “We can live, Sharon. We can live every single day to the fullest. Let’s not dwell on it, OK?”
She drew a steadying breath, but her heart was breaking. “I’ll try to concentrate on being home.”
He leaned back and looked at her. “You know, folks remember who you were back in high school more than they remember what you became after you got out.”
Whether they did or didn’t was something she knew she had to face. If they remembered the basketball star with the bright future, wonderful. If they remembered the injured senior who slipped right into drug use and eventually abuse, well, that was OK, too, because she’d learned in prison a person can’t live her life in fear of what people thought of her. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Transitions are tough. Having some friendly faces will make it easier.” His brow furrowed. “But do you really have to leave in a few weeks?”
Her gaze trailed behind them. It all depended on Rave. “I can’t stay if Rave doesn’t want me here. It’s not fair to him.” At the same time, she wasn’t about to leave if her father was sick, maybe dying.
“Rave has more strength to forgive than he knows. He’s an amazing young man.”
She looked across the stream where Becca and Rave stood arm in arm, staring up at the gorgeous falls. “He is. I’m not going anywhere as long as the two of you need me, Dad.”
He gave her a crooked smile. “Better cancel that trip, then. I have a feeling we’re going to need you for a long time.”
Becca remembered days like this back when her grandmother was alive, and her family would take all-day trips to the park or a favorite fishing hole. Sometimes they’d all pile into her dad’s boat and float along on Lake Tears. They ate lunch and caught fish for dinner. But that was before her dad lost his job, and they had to sell the extras. The boat, the four-wheeler, all gone. Not that any of them had time for those things anymore. They were all working and helping each other stay afloat.
This had been a great day. Even though there was tension between Rave and Sharon, the buffers of Tuck, Trini, and Becca herself had created a nice insulation, so all could enjoy Daniel and his first trip to Sapphire Springs. There was no more mention of Ashley. And Becca hoped maybe they’d all overreacted to Daniel’s dream and the phone call from Ashley. Becca could certainly understand a young woman falling hopelessly in love. After all, she had with Rave.
They’d gone back to Tuck and Rave’s house and had dinner, a perfect ending to the day. Becca was planning to leave soon when the night took a horrible turn.
It was after dinner that Tuck’s illness was brought with resounding immediacy to the forefront of their minds. Everything had been fine. Sharon had left an hour before, and Rave and Becca were finishing up the last of the dishes when Tuck came into the kitchen, lost his balance, and nearly collapsed. A mug he’d been holding shattered to the floor as if its purpose had been to punctuate the cancer that sought to destroy Tuck.
Becca sat with him on the couch while Rave tried to get ahold of Tuck’s doctor. They were waiting for a call back when Trini arrived.
Straightaway, she plucked the phone from Rave’s hand and redialed the doctor’s office. She placed her hand over the receiver and pointed to the kitchen. “Rave, go get your grandfather’s medications.”
When the doctor’s service answered, she started talking. She talked and talked and talked until finally, they told her they’d call the doctor immediately and have him call back within the hour. When she hung up the phone she said, “You have to be your own advocate these days. If Tuck has another one of these dizzy spells, we’re taking him to the ER.” She spun and pointed a finger at Tuck, who was shaking his head. “Like it or not.”
“It was just a spell. I probably stood up too fast or something. I’m fine.”
Trini was wearing jeans with the bottoms rolled up to midcalf. She had on plain white sneakers that looked like their sole mission was to absorb the green from the freshly mowed grass. Even though she was in her early seventies, she liked her jeans and her sneakers, and Becca thought she was one of the most inspiring women she’d ever known. Trini was a force of nature.
When Becca’s family had fallen on hard times, it was Trini who’d found work around her house to keep Becca’s dad busy. Trini would load him up with fresh vegetables from her garden and send him home with meat from her freezer because it was going to get freezer-burned if someone didn’t eat it. Meat—she’d explained—didn’t always agree with her. Becca had learned that this wasn’t true. She’d seen Trini work her way through ribeye steaks like a hungry lumberjack.
She was the closest thing to a grandmother that Becca had, and it helped to know she was here with Tuck when they all needed her most.
Becca slipped into the kitchen and used her cell to call her parents and tell them she was staying at Tuck’s place for the night. Her dad was silent on the other end of the line. “Dad, it’s fine. Tuck is having a rough night. I want to be here.” She was an adult. She didn’t need their permission or their blessing, but Becca cared about what her parents thought of her.
“And Rave is there, too?” her dad asked.
She stared at the ceiling. “Yes. Of course. He lives here.”
“This young man knows I have a variety of guns and know how to kill with my bare hands, right?”
&nbs
p; “Funny, Dad.” She glanced at Rave, who’d just entered the kitchen and rolled her eyes.
“Shall I tell him I know how to make a body disappear?” His tone was flat but edged with humor.
“And shall I tell him you’re really just a giant teddy bear who likes chick movies and sipping tea in the afternoon?” Her tone matched his.
“That was a particularly low blow.”
“It was. Don’t make me rat you out. Love you, Dad.”
“Love you, too, Bec. Give Tuck our best, and be careful.” It was a father’s warning to a grown daughter. She loved him all the more for it.
She hung up the phone and replaced it in the kitchen. When she returned to the living room, she was stopped by the heaviness that lingered there, the tension thick. She took a delicate step closer to Rave, who’d left the kitchen when he realized she was on the phone. “What did I . . . miss?”
Rave’s hands were on his hips. “He wants me to call my mom.”
Tuck’s eyes were hopeful, the brackets around his mouth deep. “I’d like for her to be here. I’d like for you to give her a chance, Rave.”
Rave pulled a steady breath. “Tuck, you can’t just throw her into every situation we’re facing and expect all the things she’s done to disappear.”
Tuck nodded. He looked tired. Worn out by the day and the dizziness and the weight of unforgiveness that hovered in the room. “I know. I just want you to agree to give her a chance.”
Trini wasn’t speaking. Like Becca, she didn’t want to get in the middle of this delicate conversation. Becca’s gaze trailed to Rave. His fists found their way to his waist and even before he spoke, a challenge was in the air. “And I’d like you to agree to me being a donor for you.”
Becca’s eyes widened. Rave was smart, really smart, to think on his feet this quickly. Her gaze trailed to Tuck.
Tuck huffed. It was evident what Rave was asking, and really, could Tuck say no? Becca figured the one thing Tuck wanted more than anything was to see his daughter and grandson reunited. This might be the only way. “You give your mother a chance. And I’ll be open to you being a donor.”
“Then I’ll give her a chance. But no promises, Tuck. I’m not sure I can ever let go. I’m still so angry at her. When I see her, I want to put my fist through the wall. Like I said, I’ll give her a chance, but I can’t promise much more than that.”
Tuck came closer and extended a hand for Rave to shake. “That’s all I’m asking, boy. We agree to take it one day at a time.” They shook hands, and then Tuck surprised them all by drawing Rave into a hug.
Sharon arrived within the hour. Rave opened the front door to her, noticing first the dark circles under her eyes—lack of sleep, he assumed, but who knew? After all, this was Sharon Wayne, lifelong drug addict.
She swallowed and smiled. The dark disappeared. Just lack of sleep. Or waking after so little sleep. Whatever. It really didn’t matter to him. “Is Dad OK?” she asked.
No, Rave wanted to say. He’s sick. He’s dying, and you weren’t here for him. And neither was I, because you kept us apart. Rave forced the renegade thoughts down. He’d told Tuck he’d give her a chance. For the sake of his grandfather, Rave was going to do that. But only baby steps. That’s all he was capable of. “He’s upstairs changing clothes. He’ll be down in a few. He can explain.”
A look of horror washed over her face.
A stab of regret pricked Rave’s heart. He quickly washed that away with a fast rundown of the things she’d done, the things that could have kept this awkward meeting from ever happening. When the moment stretched without further explanation, she held out a grocery bag. “I bought these for Daniel after I left earlier.”
Rave took the bag and looked inside to find coloring books, puzzles, crayons, and washable markers.
“I know he’ll probably need supervision with the markers, but they were always . . .” Her voice faded away.
Rave’s gaze returned to her.
“They were always your favorite.” It seemed as though the words had fought to stay inside her mouth, a battle lost; they slipped from her lips only to die in the encroaching air around Rave.
“Thanks.” His voice was clipped. He started to put the bag of books on the coffee table, but a shiny gray cover on one caught his eye. He slid his hand inside and tugged at the book until he could see the entire thing. “Creatures of the Deep.”
“It’s all underwater pictures—sharks, dolphins, and stingrays. Colorful fish, too. I hoped he’d like that one.” Her voice was tentative with each cautious word.
But coloring books and markers didn’t erase what he’d lived through. Markers only covered things, made them look less lifeless. And that’s how Rave felt. Lifeless where his mother was concerned. “Like I said, Tuck will be down in a few minutes.” Rave turned from her.
She followed him deeper into the house. “I’m glad you called.”
“Yeah, about that.” Rave spun and took a step landing at his mother’s feet. “He made me call. I don’t want you here, Sharon. But it’s not up to me. Tuck is sick. Really sick. And if you have any thoughts about backsliding, you need to either leave or not do it until—” Until he’s gone. Those were the words that stuck in his throat and refused to come out.
Her face darkened. And Rave knew he probably should have been a touch gentler in telling her. Tuck was her dad, after all. Her only living parent. But right on the heels of that thought came another. His only living grandparent—whom his mother kept away from him, telling him Tuck was dead.
Her brow furrowed. “He told me at the waterfall,” she whispered, so many emotions gathering on her face that Rave had to look away.
Behind them, Rave heard shuffling and the unmistakably cheery timbre of Becca’s voice. “Trini’s in the kitchen making cookies. I made fresh coffee for when your mom arrives—” She came into the living room. “Oh, hello again, Sharon.”
Rave couldn’t help but smile. Becca always made him smile, even in the tensest of moments. When she looked up into his eyes, all the frustration of having to explain anything to his mother melted. He squeezed her hand. She squeezed back. And for a few glorious moments, it was just the two of them.
Sharon sighed. “You two really are great together.”
When Rave questioned her with a look, Sharon went on. “I watched you today at the waterfall. You’re fortunate to have found each other. That kind of emotion is rare.” Her voice got quieter. “Once in a lifetime.” At that, she turned away.
Rave had to wonder if she’d had a once in a lifetime. He’d never thought about it before. When he was a kid, she’d just been his mom—a woman with poor judgment and an addiction she couldn’t control. She’d found the loser guys. The no-goods. She’d let them into her life but had protected Rave if they ever acted like they’d turn their anger on him. For all her failings, she had protected him in ways that he’d never even thought about until right now. This moment. With her eyes misty and her heart bare. There was much about his mother he didn’t know.
Becca spoke up. “Daniel went on and on about what an amazing day it was.”
Sharon smiled. “He reminds me of Rave at that age. Curious about everything. Fearless. Little-boy excitement is contagious.”
Rave busied himself sifting through the mail near the front door. He didn’t want this kind of attachment to his mother. She always left. Eventually, she always left. He didn’t want her chatting about Daniel and what an intelligent little guy he was. Rave didn’t want her knowing these things because knowing meant contact and contact meant future failure. He couldn’t allow his mother to fail him again. And more important, he couldn’t allow her to fail Tuck.
Becca and Sharon sipped coffee while Rave roamed the living room like a caged cheetah.
“Any word from Ashley about her plans?” Sharon said when the room grew heavy with the quiet.
Rave stopped pacing. “We were gone all day. You were here all evening. So you already know the answer to that.”
Sharon swallowed hard. “I just thought . . .” But there were no words to complete that sentence because all three of them knew she was trying to approach the is Ashley really coming home question.
Rave moved to sit on the couch beside Becca. “She’s trying to give them a better life. Ashley would make any sacrifice for her son.”
The comparison was not lost on Sharon. She bit back a painful smile.
Rave instantly felt bad. Then he felt angry for feeling bad because she didn’t deserve to be here. She didn’t deserve Tuck’s forgiveness, and she didn’t deserve to step back into their world like nothing ever happened. He’d told Tuck he would give her a chance. But he would also protect Tuck.
“Rave, can you tell me if Dad’s cancer is terminal?” Her eyes were pleading. Impatience crackled around her.
“If he wants you to know, he’ll tell you.”
She nodded slowly, gaze dropping to the floor.
Rave knew he wasn’t making this easy on her. But why should he? When Tuck rejoined them, dressed in jeans and a blue flannel shirt, he hugged Sharon, then explained that he’d had a dizzy spell. Nothing to worry about, but he’d wanted her there. They all sat quietly for several minutes, then Sharon spoke up. “Dad, are you sure we shouldn’t take you to the emergency room? Just let them check you out. I know we’d all sleep better.”
“Pfft. Emergency room, my rear end. They ought to call it a-grow-old-and-die room. Or a we’ll-get-to-you-if-you-don’t-bleed-out room. I’ve been poked and prodded enough.”
Becca curled her feet under the afghan on the couch. “Should we call the answering service again?”
At that moment, the phone on the wall sprang to life. Tuck stood to answer it, but Rave got there first. He was done with feeling like an outsider to his grandfather’s condition. Liver cancer was nothing to mess with. And Tuck was failing right before his eyes. With the medications spread on the coffee table before them, Rave ran through the list of drugs while the doctor listened. “Tuck, where are the pills for tomorrow night?” Since the doctor had added more medications to Tuck’s routine, he’d purchased a pill holder that had separate morning and night spots for each day of the week.
Something Like Family Page 23