“I’m fine. I’m fine, sweetheart.” She tries to hold back the tears, but one or two escape. Then I notice Grandma is wiping her cheeks too, and I frown. I do not like to see Grandma cry, even if they’re happy tears. It hurts my heart.
“It’s okay,” Grandma says, wiping her eyes as well.
“What are you two going to do the day of the wedding if you’re like this today?” I ask, but Grandma waves her hand at me like I’m the one crying. After she takes a deep breath, she retrieves the veil that has been hanging on a satin padded hanger, then she goes on like nothing just happened.
“I gently steam cleaned it to get the small wrinkles out from being stored so long.” She places it on my head and secures the two tiny combs. I turn to look in the mirror and my lips part in awe.
“It’s perfect. Just perfect.”
“It is,” Aunt Savannah agrees.
“This will be perfect with the pearls Violet gave me,” I smile at Grandma, and she smiles back
“You’re going to wear them?” Violet blurts out. I turn to her, and see she appears surprised.
“Yes. Is that okay?” I ask, and she quickly nods.
I nod too.
“Okay then,” Aunt Savannah says. “You have something old; the handkerchief Grandpa had for you all this time. Something new, is the magnolia clip Aunt Paige made. Something blue, is the bluebonnet pin Grandma gave you. Now you need something borrowed. I had a feeling you’d wear the pearls, so I dug these out of my safe.” She pulls a small jewelry box from her purse on the bed, opens the lid, and turns it my way.
“Aunt Savannah, they’re beautiful.” I gasp.
“My mom wore them at her wedding, and I wore them when I married Duke.” She takes the box and sets it on my grandma’s dresser. “One day, Bradley and Connor may give me a granddaughter, and maybe she’ll want to wear them on her special day, but until then, here,” she whispers.
She pulls the earrings free and hands them to me. I clasp each one on, and look back in the mirror. I stare for a few moments, then break down. Emotions flood in and the tears fall. I was doing so well too. Out of nowhere, I flashback to laying in that field and believing I was dead, then watching Abigail bleed from her stab wound and being shot, to falling off the cliff into the lake below. Memory after memory, happy and sad, flash before my eyes. I thought one's life flashed before their eyes right before they die, not right before they live. Maybe marrying Max is a rebirth, and my memories are reminding me of all I went through to get here.
“Oh, honey, are you okay,” Grandma asks and hands me tissues.
“Yes. I’m sorry. I’m okay,” I promise, and gather myself. I’m perfect actually.
25
Today, all the family is meeting at Marble Falls. We’ll spend the next few days on the lake making new memories. I know without a doubt we will all feel the empty spot left from Grandpa not being here with us, though.
Max and I pull up on the uneven ground in front of the cabin, and park next to the garage. I scan the property, taking it all in. Someone has put a fresh coat of red paint on both buildings and white trim has been added, giving it a lovely facelift. The cabin is not huge, but it’s beautiful with its covered porch and white screen door gracing the front. The garage is much bigger, because it was built to house the boat, ski gear, tools, fishing poles and go-kart, among other things. I catch a glimpse of boat trailers sticking out from behind the building, and I realize Uncle Duke and Jake are already here. It won’t be long until we’ll be on the water, and as excited as I am, it still feels like a punch to my soul knowing Grandpa won’t be out there as well.
I turn and look at the field beside the back of the cabin. There. This. I open the door with a smile, and quickly walk towards it. I stand, astonished, as I take in the sea of blue. The bluebonnets have bloomed, and are brilliant and striking in color. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the field so covered–so blue. Indian Paintbrushes are scattered amongst them, and it adds to the magnificence. I hesitantly walk closer, taking care not to crush any of the precious flowers. This year, Grandpa won’t mow them down. We won’t have our traditional battle that ends with me rushing to fill old coffee cans with them. No, this year they will stay where they are and serve as a memory to him–to us.
“Wow.” Max’s voice rumbles from behind me.
“Oh, I forgot. You’ve never seen it like this.” I smile at him, my voice trembling a little from emotion.
“Jayc,” he says softly.
“I’m okay,” I promise. “It’s amazing, huh?”
“No. I mean the field by our home is amazing. This is…” He gestures to the endless sea of blue. “Phenomenal.”
“Yeah,” is my only reply as I continue to take it all in.
I’m not sure how long we stand there, but break from our vantage point when we hear the sound of cars coming up the road. Not one or two, but many.
“They’re all here,” I whisper and turn fully to road.
“That they are,” he replies.
We stand back, and watch Nick’s Jeep pull up and park. Behind him, is Grandma, then Bradley and Conner. Vehicle after vehicle pull up, doors open and my family folds out, scanning the area, appearing just as wonderstruck as me and Max.
“Just came from the lake,” Jesse calls out, glancing between the cabin, the field, and me and Max. “Uncle Duke and Jake have everything set up. The boats are docked at the pier and they’ve already loaded up with the skis and life vests. Aunt Savannah and Kore set up chairs in the shade for whoever isn’t going out. Let’s go,” he cheers us on, finally tearing his eyes from the field.
Abigail squeals in excitement, and she and Nick head back to his Jeep. “Anyone want to ride down with us?” Abigail calls out. “Come on, sissy.” She waves at me. I glance back at Max, then the field, before taking a deep breath and turning my attention to Max.
“You want to?” I ask unsure, and he nods.
“It’s time for you to make more memories.” He pulls me close and kisses my forehead.
I think over his words and I know he’s right. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll be down soon,” Grandma says, halting us all in our steps
“Grandma?” Bradley, whose hand is on his car handle, releases it and walks back over to her. “Connor and I can stay here with you until you’re ready.” At that, Connor walks over to them.
“You are so beautiful to me.” Grandma gives a sad smile as she regards all of us. “Thank you for always watching out for me. Thank you for doing all you’ve been doing to keep my mind distracted. I love you so much for doing that, but I need a few moments.
“I remember your grandpa building this.” She gestures to the cabin and garage. “With his own two hands. It was just us. I wasn’t much help, though. Handed him a nail here and there. Held the ladder steady. From the concrete to the framing, to the walls and roof, he did it, and he did it all by himself. It was the most spectacular thing to watch. I would just like a few moments to walk around and lose myself in those memories. It’ll hurt, and I’ll miss him, and probably cry, but I’ll also smile and laugh at the mishaps. I’ll be okay,” she finally promises softly.
We all share a look, then Bradley finally relents and leans down to give her a kiss on her cheek. “Okay, but please don’t be long.”
“I won’t.” She smiles, and walks off towards the field of flowers before turning back to the cabin. We all watch her take a deep breath, then pull her keys from her purse, and prop the screen door on her hip while unlocking the door. We all stand and watch her disappear behind the closing door. We all stay, but lost on how to ease her hurt as she loses herself in the precious memories of her and her beloved Colton.
26
We pull up and park in the parking lot just beyond the dock, and I notice the place is all but deserted, except for us and a few fishermen fishing on the opposite side of the marina. Max and I, just like the rest of the family, wore our bathing suits under our clothes from home so we’d be ready to hit the l
ake.
We make our way down to the dock, and there I observe Uncle Duke preparing his ski boat. He’s not in his usual jeans and cowboy hat, but instead donning a baseball cap and board shorts, shirtless and soaking up a little sun. Same as Jake, who is in his boat and prepping it. Aunt Savannah, Kore, Aunt Paige and Uncle Brock are sitting in chairs under the shade of the roof, with a couple of ice chests sitting near them. Chase and Callie are at the very end of the dock, with several fishing poles set up. Chase has always been the fisherman of the family.
“Hey y’all,” Uncle Duke calls over to us.
He’s now standing up, looking at us. He zones in on me specifically, and I can tell by his guarded expression he has something on his mind. I’m not wrong, because when he steps out of the boat and onto the dock, he heads straight my way. Before he reaches me, his eyes scan everyone and it’s feels like he’s reaching out to them for help. I have no idea what could have him so worked up though. He stops a few feet from me and pulls off his cap, his long hair tied back in a low ponytail, stays put. He’s about to say something, when we all turn to hard footsteps coming down the dock. My dad is trudging towards us, and he seems about as worried as Uncle Duke. Jeez Louise what’s up with them? Soon Uncle Brock joins them, and I’m convinced I’m about to find out something horrible. I stand quiet and alarmed, my eyes going between the three of them as they share glance.
“You three are scaring her death. Stop it,” Aunt Savannah scolds as she comes over and stands next to me, but her eyes are just as worried.
“What’s going on?” I ask. Everyone has their eyes on me and they all seem worried. “Okay, seriously, you’re freaking me out,” I whimper.
Aunt Savannah lets out a huff, grabs my hand and pulls me to Uncle Duke’s boat, then stops and turns to me. “They’re all worried this could turn out really bad, when they’re all just trying to do something good.” She peeks over her shoulder at everyone.
“What are they trying to do?” I ask breathlessly, still freaking out.
“That last summer, before Grandpa Colton got sick,” she explains, her face taking on a touch of sadness. “It was supposed to be your turn. And Abigail’s.”
“Turn for what?” I have no idea what’s going on, until she returns her gaze back mine, then turns to the boat and points at something on the floorboard.
When I see what it is, I take a deep breath and try to swallow the lump down in my throat. There on the floorboard are the red skis that my grandpa bought me the year before he died. I glance around at everyone, and offer a soft yet hesitant smile, then step into the boat. I lean down and run my hands along the sleek red fiberglass. Someone has been maintaining them, because they look as new as the day I saw them in the store. Uncle Duke, I surmise. I smile when I see the holes Grandpa drilled in the skis, and remember his plan of helping me get up by tying a rope between the two through those little holes.
“Did I overstep?” A deep concerned voice asks from behind me.
“Of course not.” I turn and smile up at Uncle Duke.
“Would you like to try?” He looks down at me while standing on the dock. I glance down at the skis then out at the lake. My mind drifts back to our summers and how Grandpa encouraged me to never give up. I flash back to our special moment in his workshop, and I make up my mind. I know this is what he wanted, but not for him, for me.
“I want to try.” I stand and face him fully. A huge smile spreads across his face and he steps in the boat.
“Whoever is with us, let’s go,” he calls back to the others, not wasting any time.
“The rest of you are going are with me,” Jake adds.
Max, of course, comes with me, while Abigail and Nick go with Jake. Jesse and Allie, with her cute little baby bump peeking out of her summer tank top and shorts, get in with us. Uncle Brock and Aunt Paige stay behind with Callie, while they wait for Grandma. And Callie fishes with Chase. Dad and Violet load into the boat, as well as Nash, who comes running down the dock at the last minute and hops in with us.
“You sure, Chase?” Connor calls out from Jake’s boat, as Nick releases the ties from the dock.
“Waiting for Victoria. We’ll catch you on the next go round. Go have fun, Callie and I are going to catch dinner,” he informs us.
“Dinner?” Callie wrinkles her nose at Chase, as she sits on the edge of the dock with her pink Minnie Mouse fishing pole hanging from her hands. She’s in her little bathing suit and wearing a life jacket.
“Catfish,” Chase responds, chuckling.
“Catfish?” Callie peers into the water and giggles, before breaking out into song. “Gonna catch us a catfish dinner. Gonna be a winner,” she sings perfectly, as she stares mesmerized at the water and then continues to repeat the lyric over and over. Everyone starts laughing, except Aunt Paige. Her hands immediately go to her hips and she whips around on Uncle Brock.
“Of all his songs, why?”
Uncle Brock holds up his hands in a protective stance and starts backing away as he claims innocence. “It wasn’t me. Seriously? When have I ever listened to that song?”
“Aahmm.” Bradley raises his hand from the boat. Callie peeks at him from under her eyelashes, giggling. He winks at her, then scrutinizes Aunt Paige. “Seriously is right? You really thought him…” he trails off while pointing at Uncle Brock. “Have you seen Luke Bryan in jeans, Aunt Paige?” he finishes, talking out of the side of his mouth, his voice half muffled to keeping Callie out of earshot.
We’re all still laughing, as Nash releases the ties from the dock and pushes off as well. Both, Uncle Duke and Jake, keep the boats at an idle, until they clear the buoy warning to keep it slow. Once past, Jake guns it and the bow of his boat raises high out of the water. Abigail and Kore, who are lounging in the cushioned seats of the port, let out a whoop and throw their hands up as Jake speeds across the water. I make my way to the port of Uncle Duke’s boat, with Aunt Savannah and Allie behind me. Once we’re seated Uncle Duke guns the throttle and the bow lifts from the water, and Allie and I let out a whoop just like Abigail and Kore. For the next little while, Jake and Uncle Duke, take us on a ride around the lake, reacquainting us with it.
27
With my eyes closed and a smile on my face, I sit back and relax, enjoying the very gentle bouncing of the boat across the glassy water. The only wakes being left are the ones from other boats on the water. When the boat slows, and Uncle Duke cuts the engine, I open my eyes and turn to look at Allie, who’s watching me and rubbing her baby bump.
“You okay?” I ask concerned.
“Oh, I’m fine.” She smiles down at her belly. “I think Codi Lynn is going to be like her daddy. She seems to like riding in the boat. She’s fluttering all over the place.”
I catch a glimpse at Jesse and he’s watching us. “I’m surprised he let you come out with all the bouncing over the water.”
“Oh, that very thing caused World War Three, yesterday.” She looks back over her shoulder at Jesse, and rolls her eyes before looking back at me. “I had to call the doctor and have him reassure him, over and over, that Codi Lynn and I would be fine. Just as long as the water wasn’t too rough. It’s smooth as glass, so it’s okay. Plus, I wasn’t going to miss Jesse skiing. I’ve waited too long to see him, after the way he talks about it. And I hear your wipeouts are pretty epic. Wasn’t missing that either,” she jokes.
“I don’t know about Jesse, but trust me, Allie, I won’t disappoint you. It’ll be well worth the trip,” I joke back. Just then, Jesse walks up and leans down and gives Allie a kiss, while placing his hand on their baby.
“You okay?” he asks, and I can see he’s truly concerned.
“Baby, stop. I’m fine. The doctor told you it was okay. I’m not going to overdo it. I just want to see you ski for a while. After, I’ll go in. I promise.”
“Ummm.” I know it will take a while, if at all, for me to get up. “Jesse, maybe you should just go. I can try tomorrow.”
As I say that, across
the lake Nick is flinging the ski rope out into the water, and Jake is turning the boat back on. He thrusts the throttle gently and the rope begins spreading out behind the boat. Nick then turns back and begins helping Abigail put on her ski vest. I try to tamp down underlying fear, but I’m having difficulty. This is it. If she’s going, there’s no way I can’t at least try. I peek around Jesse, and Nash is doing the same as Nick. Uncle Duke turns on the boat and we begin to gently coast forward. Once the rope is fully extended, both cut the engines again.
“No way. This is your summer. Yours and Abigail’s,” Jesse says and grins. “Come on.”
“Jesse, I don’t know. I…” I’m so unsure. I don’t want to disappoint them.
“Come on, brat. You’re just going to try. No pressure,” he encourages me softly.
“Okay,” I concede, and look out at the lake while biting my lip nervously.
“Let’s get a vest on you.” Then I’m ushered to the back of the boat where the vests are.
I look over at Allie and she’s standing up, watching us.
“Don’t disappointment,” Allie teases, and I relax a little and laugh.
“You should probably take a back seat for this,” I say, and she and Jesse start laughing.
At the back of the boat, Max stands wearing a ski vest and holding my skis.
“You ready?” He smiles his glorious beautiful smile, and that’s all I need.
“I am.” I give a little jump of excitement.
“Good. Let me make sure the boots are your size, then we’ll do this.”
While Max checks the boot size, I glance over and see my dad pulling on a life vest as well.
“You’re going in with me too?” I softly ask, touched.
“Of course. I mean, do you want me to? I can just leave it to you and Max.” Dad offers.
“No! I want you.” I smile.
Max glances between us, then cups my cheek. “You two go. If you need me, I’ll jump in, but I think you both got this.”
Forever & A Day Page 14