They’d been told after the fact that his ashes had been scattered near the gym he trained at as per his wishes. It’d taken the family a long time to get over that information. Some days he didn’t think they had. That seemed to upset his mom more than finding out her son was dead. The final straw he imagined. He held out his arms and his mom leaned against him. Ethan hugged her tightly. How was she going to take the rest of his news?
“Remember I said we were doing the renovations for the Lake Hotel?”
“Yes, you did mention something about it before we went away on our vacation.” Two months away not thinking about the farm before the next cherry season started.
His folks wouldn’t get a chance to take another breath until it was all over for another year and they deserved a well-earned rest.
She pulled away and wiped her cheeks with her palms. “Is that where you saw her? Is she staying there?”
“Mari owns the place.” He waited for the response and wasn’t disappointed.
Her mouth formed an O-shape. “She does? How come nobody told us that, Ethan? Are we still being shut out of her life?”
“No, Mom. Not at all. You and Dad were away and I’ve been working in Poulson. I get the feeling she’s been trying to work up the courage to see you again. There’s a lot to try and figure out between us all and that’s why she’s come back.”
“She told you that? She’s not going to ignore us anymore?”
“Yeah, that’s the plan. She wants to belong again.” He patted her on the back then pulled her close for another comforting hug.
Her voice was muffled against his shirt. “Well, that’s wonderful. I’m so proud of her for coming back even knowing how much she hurt us all. That shows guts. I loved her so much but I still want to ground her for life.” She pulled away and his heart broke at the pain in her eyes. “She still should have told me she was coming home.”
Her face crumpled and tears ran down her cheeks again. She always wore her heart on her sleeve and the mix of emotions was playing havoc with her. “After all that mother of hers put her through and what happened between us all, she deserves all the happiness she can get. We all do. A body can only take so much pain.”
“I agree and I think she’s doing okay.”
His mother wiped her face once more and ran her hands over her shirt. “Is she married again?”
“No, Mom. She’s on her own as far as I know. I’m going to talk to her tomorrow and I’ll let you know how that goes, okay, so you have as much information as you can before you go over there.”
“I’m scared, Ethan. Part of me wants to see her but I’m afraid I’m going to be angry at her and the last thing we need is more arguing. This family has had enough grief, I’m not sure I can take any more.”
*
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Noah stared at her across the table.
“Nothing, honey. Eat your dinner. You still need to do some reading for me and have your bath before bed.” Of course he’d notice her nerves.
Noah was a sensitive child, so much like his father it hurt. That was another secret she had to share and the one that scared her the most. Rake had been so good to her. Taking her with him when he found her sitting by the side of the highway with her thumb out, waiting for a lift out of Cherry Lake.
She’d climbed in his old truck and promptly burst into tears.
“What’s my little brother done to you now?” He’d asked her one question and it’d opened the floodgates to a crying fest that had lasted halfway to his destination. The other half of the journey had been Rake trying to convince her to hang with him, that he would look after her better than Ethan had.
“Why would you want to saddle yourself with me?”
He’d turned and grinned in the cocky way he had that made the local girls weak at the knees. “Because, my mom brought me up to be kind and I know how she feels about you. Hell, I’ve caused her enough grief by leaving and I’m pretty sure knowing you’ve gone too will just about kill her. My folks and I might disagree over most things but if she ever found out I hadn’t looked after you, she’d skin me alive.” It was the wink he threw her way that convinced her she was making the right move. Full of confidence and bravado, with a good dash of kindness, something she needed right then.
Mari had wiped at her tears and laughed for the first time in weeks. Rake had always been kind to her and he made her feel safe. “Thank you. I could do with a friend right now.”
She blinked, brought herself back to the present. She had to tell Noah the truth. It was only fair and only one of the promises she’d made to Rake.
“Sweetheart, I need to tell you something.” Mari chose her words. “You know I’ve mentioned your dad’s family lives here, right?”
He nodded his head.
“Well, I saw someone today that you’re going to meet very soon and things are going to get a little bit awkward.” And possibly fiery and nasty and I don’t know how the heck I’m going to protect you from the words that will get thrown around, especially at me. I’m a fool for ever agreeing with Rake. It would have been so much easier to stay away and not tell anyone the truth.
But as much as the thought of coming clean stuck in her throat, Mari had to tell Ethan
