Am I being selfish by hiding my money away? Cecily shifted uncomfortably in the driver’s seat as she watched the familiar landmarks race by along the 405. By trying to prove a point about self-reliance, had she been missing the bigger picture? Of course, starting her own company was probably just a pipe dream, but there must be something that would give her the challenges she craved and yet allow her to stay close to home.
Chapter 23
“Well Mom, if you do decide to move,” Tyler said, cracking his neck to one side, “I won’t miss sleeping on that couch when I visit.”
Cecily set a plate of eggs and toast in front of him on the kitchen table. “If we haven’t found you a new dorm for next year, you won’t be ‘coming to visit’ at all. You’ll be living in my new backyard. Have you dropped by the housing office yet, like I asked?”
Tyler glanced uncomfortably at the floor. “No. I’m just not—”
Cecily shook her head, exasperated. “Tyler, if you don’t get your housing application in soon—”
“I don’t know if I want to come back to UCLA next year, Mom.” His words tumbled out in a rush.
“What?” Cecily stared at her son in shock. “After all the begging to be allowed to apply?”
Tyler’s shoulders slumped. “I just don’t know if this school’s a good fit for me. I think maybe NYU would be more what I’m looking for.”
“NYU, huh? You mean where Reese goes to school.” Cecily fumed at her son’s immaturity. “You can’t just upend your whole life for a girl, Tyler.”
“Why not? You did.”
Anger bubbled inside Cecily’s chest. “How dare you, young man! I’m your mother. The decisions I’ve made this past year have not been made lightly, and I am not about to apologize for finally taking some control over my happiness. You have no right!”
“You thought everything through before making this leap?” Tyler’s eyes flashed with emotion. “Then why do you assume I haven’t done the same thing?”
“Because this is the first time you’ve even mentioned it!” Cecily’s voice quaked with emotion.
“To you!” Tyler shouted, throwing his hands up in the air. He took a deep breath and continued in a calmer tone. “You haven’t exactly been around, Mom. But I’ve talked with advisers at school, and with Dad, and even with Rorie. She’s the one who suggested that for the types of films I want to make, NYU might be a better fit. This isn’t about Reese.”
Cecily’s temper cooled and tears pricked the corners of her eyes. “You talked to Rorie about this?” And not to me? Guilt and sadness crept into the spaces where her anger had been. “Tyler, I’m so sorry. I should’ve been here.” She should have been the one he had turned to with this, but she’d been so busy taking care of herself that Rorie had had to step in, instead. For a woman who hadn't wanted kids, Cecily feared that Rorie had been a better mother to Tyler this year than she had been.
“Mom, it’s okay. You’ve had things you needed to work through.” His tone was gentle. It made Cecily feel even worse.
“I appreciate that, Tyler. But I’ve already started to question how I’ve handled certain things.” Regret washed over her at how much she’d missed of her son’s life, and Rorie’s, this past year. “I just wanted so badly to be a strong, independent woman who could take care of myself. I wanted to be able to stand on my own.”
“You already were, Mom.” The love on his face made Cecily’s heart melt. “So what if you didn’t know how to pay a bill online? You took care of lots of other stuff all the time. The only person who thought that wasn’t good enough was you.”
Cecily sighed. “I always had so much help. My whole life, I never had to struggle for anything. I wanted to prove that I could make it without help.”
“I’m sure you could if you had to, Mom. But you don’t have to. You’ve got plenty of money to live on. Heck, I’m pretty sure you’ve got more money in that investment account of yours than some countries have for their entire GDP. And you have people who care about you. And we need you.”
His words were like a vice on her heart, and she felt a rush of love, followed by another wave of guilt. “You’re right. I’ve been going about this the wrong way.” Cecily’s mind flashed back to the thoughts she’d had on the drive home from Rorie’s about starting her own company. They'd seemed crazy at the time, but maybe they weren't so far-fetched after all. “Tyler, you’ve been learning about the entertainment industry at school. What do you think of the idea of a production company that focuses on entertainment with a positive message about lesbians?”
“Like what, inspirational after school specials?”
Cecily cringed. “Nothing so preachy. I was just thinking of something where no one died, with a happy ending. You know, where the plots are about more than just angst-ridden coming out stories or dealing with homophobia.”
“So, a movie or a TV show with a lesbian just living her life like anybody else?”
Cecily grinned. “Exactly!”
Tyler looked thoughtful. “It could work. Could she have super powers?”
“I don’t see why not,” Cecily said with a laugh. “Super heroes, detectives, vampires—whatever people like to watch! Just where the character is a woman who loves another woman, and it’s no big deal.”
Tyler nodded. “Actually, I know a professor at UCLA who might be really into that idea. Do you want me to give her your number?”
Cecily’s pulse quickened. What had been nothing more than a nutty idea the day before suddenly felt on the verge of becoming real. “Yeah. Absolutely. Let’s make this happen! I’ll find out what I need to do to get the ball rolling, and maybe you can come help me run it.”
A flicker of doubt crossed Tyler’s face. “That’s not really what I had planned, Mom. I mean, I think it’s a great idea, but…um…lesbian entertainment is kinda more your thing, you know? I still want to go to NYU next fall.”
Melancholy cast its shadow over her. Her son was becoming an adult, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Cecily sighed, but then shook it off. This was no time to feel blue. “Sorry, kiddo, I forgot. I can handle this one on my own.”
Tyler looked hesitantly at her. “So you don’t mind if I transfer?”
“I can live with it. And at least at NYU you’ll be close enough for your dad and Angie to keep an eye on you.”
“You’re not going to be jealous if I spend time with them?”
“Jealous?” Cecily looked at him in surprise. “He’s your dad, Tyler. Of course you should spend time with him. Why would you think I’d be jealous?”
Tyler shrugged. “I don’t know. Divorced parents can get like that sometimes. Especially now that Dad and Angie are married and expecting a baby.”
Ever since she and Chet had split up, Tyler had acted so mature that sometimes Cecily forgot how much of a challenge this must be for him. He was an adult now, but he was still learning to navigate a new world of divorced parents and new stepparents, just like they all were. Cecily patted his shoulder. “I’m happy for them, Tyler. And for you, too. I always thought you’d make an awesome big brother. As for Angie, I hope you realize I’ll be calling her once a week for a full report on you while you’re in New York.”
Tyler groaned. “Couldn’t you just quietly loathe your ex-husband’s new wife like a normal mom?”
“Sorry, kiddo. No such luck!” Her jovial tone covered up the sadness she felt at the thought of letting him go. Not that it was her decision to make, but she’d kind of liked the little family unit that she, Rorie, and Tyler had formed. The bonds would still be there when he was gone, but things would change.
She wondered how Rorie would take the news of Tyler leaving. Would she be sad to see him go, or more relieved not to have to keep a teenage boy stocked with cereal anymore? Cecily had counted five empty boxes in Rorie’s recycling just last week, and it occurred to her that the money she’d spent on Rorie’s mother’s living expenses probably paled in comparison to the added strain her son had
put on Rorie’s grocery bill this year.
Of course, now that she was determined to crack open her investment account to fund her business venture, pulling extra to pay for Grace’s care was a given. As long as she was spending money, she might as well take out enough to buy the very best. She would add calling the specialist in Temecula to her to do list this week, along with talking to Tyler’s professor.
Her mind buzzed with anticipation, eager to get started. There was so much to do, but if she focused, she was satisfied that she would have quite a bit of good news to share when Rorie arrived at her place on Friday to spend the weekend. She took one last swig of her coffee and set to work.
They sat on the gliding rocker on Cecily's porch listening to the hum of music coming from a house down the street where a Friday night party was in full swing. Rorie turned to Cecily with a grin. “Your new neighbors seem like the rowdy type. Good thing you've decided to move in with me, huh?”
“Sorry, what?”
Rorie frowned. “You're distracted tonight.”
“Well, there's something I want to show you.” Cecily hand trembled nervously as she pulled up a picture on her phone. “Here, look.”
Rorie looked at the screen and saw a beautiful oceanfront house. She could feel her heart beating harder against her ribcage. “You bought a house?”
“No, I didn’t buy it. But I did arrange for your mother to live there.” Cecily broke into a jubilant grin.
“My mother?” Rorie looked stunned.
“Yes. Remember the doctor I told you about in Temecula? I spoke with him on the phone, and while the facility I’d found before was good, he said his real groundbreaking work was being done at this smaller facility in Carlsbad. It’s on the ocean, and there’s even a guest house for your dad, or for us to go and visit. He can take her in April. If you agree, that is.”
Rorie stared in amazement, finding it impossible to believe that her family might all be reunited in the same state in one month’s time. “And he thinks he can help her?”
Cecily nodded. “He wants to see her complete records to be sure, but he sounded very optimistic. He’s the best.”
Hope shot through Rorie’s chest, followed by a chilling dose of reality. “The best is never cheap. Cici, there's no way we can afford this.”
“It’s taken care of,” Cecily said quietly.
“No, Cici. You can’t do that. It’s too much. The place my mom is now is over a hundred thousand a year.” Rorie’s head swam just thinking about the numbers. “A private facility like this would be a quarter million or more. I know you have money in that investment account of yours, but that’s a lot of money.”
Cecily gave her a funny look. “I’ve never really explained the details of that account to you, have I? Wait right here.” Cecily disappeared into the house and reemerged holding a folded piece of paper which she handed to Rorie. “I had my financial adviser send me a copy of my latest statement.”
Rorie’s eyes fixed on the string of numbers on the bottom of the page. She’d never seen so many zeros in her life. “Are you sure they got the decimal point in the right place?”
Cecily laughed. “Yes, I’m certain. It’s more than I can spend on myself in a lifetime. Rorie, you’ve taken care of me and my family, and humored me this year while I struggled to make it on my own. I’ve got nothing left to prove, except maybe how much I love you. Let me take care of you and your family now.”
Tears glistened in Rorie’s eyes. She couldn’t think of a single word to express what was inside her heart, so she merely pulled Cecily close to her and held her tightly while they rocked the glider back and forth slowly in the brisk evening air. “Okay,” she said, finally finding her voice. “Let's bring my mom home.”
The crashing of the waves echoed against the cliffs, punctuated by the persistent honking of a flock of seagulls trolling the coastline for their evening meal. The salty mist of ocean spray hung in the air with its unmistakable marine scent. It was an hour before sunset as Rorie and Cecily approached the house, and the fiery glow of the sky had turned its plain beige stucco walls a warm, rosy pink. It wasn’t their first visit to the house where Dr. Lawson conducted his treatment, but it would be the first time with Grace in residence. Rorie’s legs trembled as they made their way up the walkway to the intricately carved wooden door.
“Are you nervous?” Cecily asked gently.
Rorie nodded and squeezed Cecily’s hand. “I’m not sure what to expect. When we saw her in Lake Charles, she looked right through me and had no idea I was there.”
“Dr. Lawson’s adjusted her meds and says she’s making progress already,” Cecily said, looking hopeful.
“That’s why I’m nervous.” Rorie’s eyes were wide, her insides turbulent. “She might be able to talk to me this time, and I’m scared of what she’ll say.”
Cecily tucked one of Rorie’s slender raven braids behind her ear. “What are you afraid to hear?”
“That she doesn’t remember me.” Rorie drew in a sharp breath. “That she doesn’t love me?” She felt as lost and helpless as the child she’d been when her mother left.
“Listen to me. That’s not going to happen. Your father’s told you how much she adored you before she had to leave.”
“But I was just a kid. I’m a grown woman now, one she’s never met.” Rorie’s head spun with terrible possibilities. “What if I’m a disappointment? Or, what if she can’t accept me? She’s from a conservative Catholic family…”
“Do you want me to wait out here?” Cecily’s expression was earnest. “I don’t have to go in with you if you’re afraid it will upset her.”
“No!” Rorie looked horrified. “That’s not what I meant. Besides, you’re the one paying the bills.”
“You know that doesn’t matter.”
“I could never do that to you. We’re a package deal.” Rorie lifted her chin, resolute. “She’s going to have to learn to accept us both.”
“Okay, then,” Cecily said. “Let’s go in.”
Inside, the house was clean and modern, with tasteful furnishings and windows overlooking the sea. At first glance it looked like any wealthy person’s house, and the small desk in the foyer where a nurse wearing khakis and a polo shirt was stationed provided the only clue about the true nature of the facility.
“Ms. Mulloy, Ms. DuPont.” The nurse stood to greet them with a smile. “You’re here just in time to join Grace in the back for a stroll.”
“She’s settling in well?” Cecily asked.
The nurse nodded. “Her first week has been even better than expected. She’s responding positively to the changes in her medications and starting to communicate on occasion with short words and phrases.”
Rorie drew in a shaky breath. “She can carry on a conversation?”
“Not quite yet,” the nurse replied. “It’s more simple requests, repeating names, that type of thing.”
Rorie nodded, uncertain whether she was feeling sadness or relief. “Where is she now, already out back?”
“Why don’t you take a look for yourself,” the nurse suggested, gesturing toward a large picture window.
Rorie and Cecily approached the window and looked out to see Grace, wearing cream pants and a top in a gauzy fabric that fluttered in the sea breeze. She slowly circled the garden on the arm of an older gentleman who walked with a military bearing despite his mildly stooped shoulders.
Cecily pointed. “Rorie, is that your dad?”
Rorie gave a surprised laugh. “It is! Leave it to Pop to be the first to visit.”
“Oh, Flip’s been here every day since she arrived,” the nurse informed them with a fond smile.
“And charming the staff, I see,” Rorie said with a grin.
“Dr. Lawson thinks him being here has had a lot to do with how rapidly your mother’s making progress,” the nurse said. “Even before the med changes had a chance to really kick in, Grace’s whole demeanor improved as soon as Flip entered the room. He gave he
r a kiss on the cheek that first day and it was like she came back to life.”
“See,” Cecily said softly. “Just like I said.”
“Okay, fine,” Rorie conceded, dabbing her moist eyes. “You might be right about second chances after all.”
They stepped into the garden and Rorie waved to her father and mother as they approached. Just thinking of them that way, father and mother, made Rorie choke up a little. They’d only ever been together like this in her dreams until now.
“Gracie, look. It’s Rorie. See?” Flip pointed. “It’s our daughter.”
At first, Grace clung to Flip’s arm, her expression passive and confused. Slowly, a light seemed to flicker in her eyes, growing brighter like a lamp on a dimmer switch. When Rorie came to a stop in front of her, Grace reached up and touched her cheek. “Baby?” Her voice was hardly more than a whisper, but her meaning was clear.
“Mama,” was all that Rorie could say in reply, her throat too constricted with emotion for more. She wrapped her arms around Grace’s still-frail body and pulled her close. She felt Cecily’s hand on one shoulder, and as her father’s came to rest on the other, she couldn’t hold back a joyful sob—she didn’t even care that her father was there to see. A moment later, the sound of a deep-pitched sniffle near her ear told her that he was crying, too.
As she stood in the garden in her family’s embrace as the surf beat against the shore, Rorie closed her eyes and allowed the perfection of the moment to wash over her. All the people she cared most about, everyone in her family, was there. Or almost everyone. Missing was the mysterious half sister she’d never met. There’d been no trace of her, and thinking about her absence now was the one small blemish on an otherwise perfect day. Rorie could only hope that in time, they’d find her, too. But for now, with mother, father, and partner in her arms, her family was more complete than it had ever been, and there was no longer a trace of fear inside her heart.
Love's Encore Series (Books One and Two) Page 42