Risk of Falling
Page 23
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING, Suzy searched through her few outfits and settled on a pair of jeans and a yellow sweater that reminded her of the color of sunflowers. She glanced in the mirror before she left. She looked almost normal.
She still had dark circles under her eyes. And she’d lost seven pounds since this had all started. Her curls actually lay in controlled waves, as if they’d lost their life when she’d lost the house. She sighed. But she wasn’t losing anything. Not anymore. She’d made some choices, and it was time to act on them.
She jacked up the volume of the radio as she drove to the house. The familiar route lodged an ache in her chest. She’d longed to say good morning to Mr. Fletcher’s cat and set out a plate of food for her. She’d missed her neighbor Shelley and her kids who always waved to her as they left for school and she came home from finishing a shift. She wondered what fundraiser she’d missed out on while she was at Presley’s house. The kids in the neighborhood seemed to know when to hit her up for donations for their school.
When she got to the house, she saw that Will was already there, and the front door was ajar. She parked in the driveway behind his truck then took a few deep breaths before getting out and walking up the front walk. She poked her head in and frowned. Stepped back outside and checked the address.
Yep, it was Mama’s house.
She stepped inside. But it wasn’t Mama’s house. Gone were the boxes of things. The stained carpet. The cobwebs in every corner of the living room. The crack on the ceiling had disappeared. As had the old sofa and coffee tables.
She shook her head. It was fixed.
Clean.
Beautiful.
The walls had been freshly painted pale yellow, and the carpet had been replaced with gleaming maple wood floors. Although there was no furniture, it still looked charming. Inviting.
Only one man could be responsible. She turned and found him standing in the front doorway behind her. “Surprise.”
“Mama’s things...”
“In storage until you can sort through them.”
“The foundation?”
“Repaired.”
She nodded and glanced around. Walked into the kitchen and ran a hand on the new butcher block counter. The appliances had disappeared as had the clutter. She looked at him before walking down the hall to Mama’s bedroom. The door was closed, and she took a deep breath before opening it. The bed had a new comforter and sheets. The dresser cleared off except for a picture of Mama and herself on her graduation from nursing school. In the corner, three familiar fur balls slept on a large pillow. She smiled and scooped the smallest into her arms. She rubbed her face into his side. “Oh, how I’ve missed you.”
She took the kitten with her and sat on the bed and looked up at Will. He braced his hands on either side of the door frame. “What do you think?”
She stroked the kitten’s head and was rewarded with a rumbly purr. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Thank you is a start.”
That was only the beginning of what she wanted, needed to say. “Thank you.”
He stepped forward and opened the closet door. Inside hung Mama’s clothes. Suzy placed the kitten on the bed and joined him at the closet, pulled out the red puppy sweatshirt. “You know I thought I would need this to remember her. But even when I was at Presley’s, I could still feel her. Like she was watching over me.”
He turned and gazed down at her. “I’m sure she was.”
She clutched the sweatshirt to her chest. “No one can take away my memories of her.”
“Right.”
“You fixed this.”
“I had help.”
Suzy couldn’t get over the room. The new bed. The kittens. “I don’t know how long it will take for me to repay you for this. I mean, I don’t have a lot. But whatever I have, I’ll pay you back one day.”
“There’s only one thing you have that I want.”
She looked up at him then placed her hand on his chest. “Then ask me for it.”
“Before I do, you need to understand something.” He stepped away and gestured to the room. “I didn’t fix you. Yes, I hired someone to fix the house. I packed boxes and rented a storage unit.” He paused for a beat, yet didn’t look away. “But I can’t fix you.”
“I know.”
He looked down into her eyes. “I am willing to help you find your way again though.”
She took a few steps towards him. “You understand that I can’t fix you either. But I’ll stand by your side and help you through it.”
They both took a few steps closer. He shook his head. “I can be too structured and serious.”
“That means you’ll make sure I’m safe and secure.”
He smiled and reached out to touch one of her curls. She stepped back. “And I can be flighty and spontaneous.”
“Which will bring joy to my life.” He pulled her to him, tenderly, gently. “I love you so much it makes me want to smile.”
She reached up and touched his cheek. “My favorite thing you do.”
He smiled at her then lowered his mouth to hers. Tentatively at first then with certainty. She kissed him back, knowing she’d be doing that for years to come.
He broke away and rested his forehead against hers. She kissed his cheek. “Oh, how I’ve missed you too.”
He pulled her tighter in his arms. “I’m thinking we should get married.”
“Right now?”
Will laughed. “I’m not as impetuous as you. I need to take things slow.”
“Slow.” Suzy gave him a peck. “Will a month be enough?”
“I was thinking more like two weeks.”
EPILOGUE
SUZY TOOK THE plastic wrap off the bowl of potato salad and placed it on the kitchen counter next to the other potluck items. She smiled at her sister-in-law Carol, who chatted with Tori, then turned back to add a serving spoon next to her salad.
Connor, who’d been perching near the front door, stood and cupped his mouth. “They’re here,” he shouted.
Family and friends moved to gather around the front door as Eva walked in. They all held their breath until Eva raised her arms. “I’m clear! The cancer is gone.”
Joyous claps and hoots filled the living room as Will followed Eva through the crowd. He helped her settle on the sofa then sought out Suzy. She gave him a smile, which he returned. He did that more often these days, a fact that she wouldn’t take for granted. She needed those smiles as much as he needed her.
Her heart full, she wiped her first tears away, but then gave in to the emotion and let them flow freely. An arm came around her shoulders. She looked up at her husband. “The doctor was very encouraged by her test results. She’s going to be okay.”
“Did you tell her about our test results?”
Will shook his head. “This is her celebration.” He slipped his arms around Suzy’s waist and brought her closer to him. “We’ll have plenty of time to tell her our news.”
“Only thirty-four more weeks.” She touched her still flat belly. “But plenty of time.”
He kissed the top of her head, and left her to talk to Rick about the volunteer brigade’s last successful project. Now that Will was back to work full-time with the town and she was going back to school to get her Master’s degree in nursing, their lives felt very busy, but they always had plenty of room for each other. And now a baby.
Suzy glanced up at the ceiling. She still felt Mama’s presence in her life even though her stuff had been cleared. And now this new family meant she’d never be alone again.
Yes, life was full of blessings.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460337592
RISK OF FALLING
Copyright © 2014 by Cynthia Powell
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