“Makes me happier though.” There was sheen of tears in his eyes and her heart sunk, knowing his reaction was perfectly normal. “Hon, go down to the creek, kick a few rocks and curse all you want for the next half hour. After that I won’t tolerate anymore, got it? Get it out of your system because, so help me, Kyle, I can’t carry this around for much longer. I need to let it go and move on too.”
He spun away from her and pushed his way through the long grass and scrub down the track that led to the creek. Lena dropped down to her haunches and listened to the shouts of pain and frustration coming from her son. Unlike her, Kyle couldn’t keep things locked away. Fiery Italian blood racing through his veins made it impossible for him to lock things away, just like her mother. He had to let them out before he exploded. The sounds ripped through her gut and she finally let the tears fall unheeded down her cheeks, unable to bear the pain her baby was going through.
She dropped back on her butt, pulled her knees up to her chin, and wrapped her hands around her legs. A cry would do them both the world of good and she let go of her grief leaving nothing in reserve to come and haunt her later on.
After a cleansing sob, she straightened her back and pulled a damp tissue from her pocket to blow her nose. Lena had just wiped away the tears and was getting to her feet when Kyle returned.
“I’m sorry, Mum. I didn’t mean to lose it with you. It’s not your fault.”
She wiped her hands over her now damp butt and tried to smile. “Honey, it’s not your fault either. Life happens and some days it sucks big time. Don’t let it define you, you’re better than that.” She held out her arms. “Come here and give me a hug.”
He stumbled into her reach and together they stood with their arms around each other taking the love and healing they both needed.
Kyle sniffed and pulled back. “There’s a nice patch of mushrooms down there, I saw. We could make some more pickled mushrooms.”
Lena laughed, and ruffled his hair. Oh my heart. “I love you, Kyle. You’re so Italian it’s not funny.” Thank goodness you turned out the way you did.
“Can’t help it if it’s in my blood, can I? Besides, it’s a family thing to cook with each other. Keeps us together.” He grinned and picked up the discarded buckets. “Let’s go.”
“When did I get so lucky as to have you? Wise and handsome all rolled into one. Just wait until the girls get a load of you at school. You’re going to break so many hearts when they learn you’re not just a pretty face.” You’ve always been more than that and you’ll only get more so as you grow up.
The blush of pink stained his cheeks and he laughed as he turned away and walked down the track with Lena following. Together they picked wild mushrooms from around the base of the old pine trees, chattering happily now the demons had been put to rest. The new phase of their lives would go smoothly considering they had banished the angst that haunted Lena for the last few weeks.
Chapter 5
“Lena, phone call for you.” Her father was tapping on the bedroom door. She groaned and opened her eyes, looking at the small electronic clock on her dressing table. 7:55. She’d slept in and that was unusual for her. But after the stress of the last few weeks she needed it badly.
“Coming. Who is it?” She threw back the blankets and swung her legs down to the floor, shuffling around to find her slippers. Once her toes were covered, she reached for the lightweight dressing gown slung over the end of her bed before opening the door.
Her father stood there holding out the phone to her. “Gail at the café.” He handed her the phone and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll pour you a coffee.”
“Hello.” Please go away and let me sleep. She turned back to her room and sat on the bed, struggling to wake up.
“Hi, Lena, sorry to wake you up but I need a special favor and when I heard you were back in town...” She gave a small laugh. “Well, you were the obvious solution.”
Gail! “Hey girlfriend. Sorry I haven’t had a chance to get in and see you. I was planning on it tomorrow when I book Kyle into school. I only got home yesterday.” And I need to sort myself out before I unload on you. She leaned back on her pillows and yawned, wiping her hand across her eyes.
“You poor thing, you sound so tired. We really do need to do a catch up, but I have a massive favor to ask of you.”
“Ask away.” Lena looked around the room that she’d grown up in and spied a photo of her and Gail pinned to the corner of her mirror. It was taken when they were twelve years old on a school camp. She smiled at the memory that surfaced of them getting into trouble putting legless lizards in sleeping bags and waiting for the screams of terror from the other girls in their class thinking they were going to get bitten by dangerous snakes. They were both such tomboys in those days. Now they were both working mothers, well at least Gail was. Thank goodness Kyle had turned out a calmer child than she was. Lena doubted she would have been able to do half of what she had if he was the same as her.
“Can we do it over coffee? Come to my place or I’ll come out there, your call. But I need to speak to you.
Lena sat up, worried about her bestie. Hell, I hope this isn’t
