Five Ways to Fall (Ten Tiny Breaths #4)(111)

“What do you think’s going to happen now?”

Ben frowns. “What do you mean?”

“I mean tomorrow and next week, and next month. Look at everyone.” I gesture toward his family—Jake standing behind his girlfriend, his arms coiled around her belly; Rob and his wife laughing at their kids; Elsie and Josh linked arm-in-arm and smiling. Granted, I didn’t know them before, but they all look so content. And Wilma . . . The woman has been dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief all day. During the service, I know those tears were meant for the loss of her husband. But mostly, it wasn’t sadness I saw.

It was gratitude, and relief.

“This house is meant to be filled with noise. Wilma’s meant to see her children. Her grandchildren should be running around, laughing and swinging on that big old swing. Even Quincy’s in heaven right now!”

Ben chuckles. “She’s going to end up in dog heaven soon. She’s too fat for all this excitement.”

“But what happens after today?” I press. “Please tell me you guys have talked. Something has to change. For Wilma’s sake, for this grove’s sake . . .” A lump in my throat is forming, as I think about how sad and lonely Wilma will be once everyone’s gone. As much as I loved the grove before, now that I’ve seen it at its best—alive—I can’t bear to see it so quiet and empty again.

Ben sighs. “I’m not sure yet, Reese. Everyone’s got a life somewhere else now. We’ll see what happens.”

“You need to make it happen, Ben. At least for holidays and birthdays and . . .” A thought hits me. “Jake and Rita should get married here. You need to tell him that.”

“Sure!” Ben’s face splits out in a wide grin as he cups one hand over his mouth and hollers, “Jake! Reese thinks you and Rita should have your wedding here!”

“Ben!” I’m not fast enough shoving my fist into Ben’s ribs to cut off his words and, by the flat glare his brother gives him, Jake isn’t impressed by them. If Rita heard them, which I’m sure she did, she doesn’t let on, intent on keeping her focus on the two little girls.

“Benjamin, would you stop harassing your brother,” Wilma’s stern voice calls. We turn to see her closing the distance, trailed by Jack and Mason. I instinctively shift away from my comfortable nook against Ben’s body at the same time that his arm slowly retracts from my shoulders, until just his hand is settled on my back.

“Ben, Jack was just telling me how impressed he is with you at work,” Wilma explains, smiling up at her son, her face full of pride.

“I proofread like a boss,” Ben mocks good-naturedly.

“Though I don’t know why you bothered with law school, given you had this place to fall back on. It’s breathtaking here,” Jack offers, his hands lifting in gesture of our surroundings.

“It is,” Ben agrees.

“Maybe you and Mason can come with Reese another time. I’m expecting her up here quite a lot.”

Good Lord, Wilma. Ben’s deep inhale next to me tells me he’s thinking the same thing I am.

I think all of our eyes—Mason’s included—are locked on Jack, waiting for the reaction, wondering what it might be.

Those gray eyes soften with a genuine smile as he dips his head, as if acknowledging something silently. Maybe he is. “We’ll gladly come visit with her sometime. I wish we could stay longer today, but we’ll be leaving shortly for Miami.” Turning to Wilma, he offers, “Again, we’re very sorry for your loss. If there’s anything we can do to help, please just let Ben know.”

Wilma glances at Ben and me and winks as a woman calls her name from the front porch. “You already have. If you’ll excuse me, it sounds like I’m needed in the kitchen.” She reaches out to shake Jack and Mason’s hands. “Thank you for coming today.” With that, she turns and hurries to the house.

“Well, Reese’s Pieces, I suppose we’ll see you by the end of the weekend, hey?” Jack says, a loving smile on his face.

He steps forward, gripping my arms with his hands. “And remember, we’re always here for you.” Worry flitters through his eyes as he turns to level Ben with an unreadable look. “Take care of my girl this weekend.”

“I will.”

He slaps Ben’s shoulder once. “I know you will.”

I feel the deep furrow in my brow as I watch them leave. “Okay, see that? Now Jack’s acting weird too. Don’t you think?”

“Well . . .” Ben draws that out as he turns to settle a long, hard look on me. So long, it starts to make me squirm.

“What?” I snap.

Gritting his teeth, he gives a cursory glance around the lawn. “I think I’ve shown my face long enough here.” Dropping his gaze to me again, he says, “Let’s go for a ride.”

Chapter 36

BEN

“I love this time of day up here!” Reese yells over the roar of the engine as she kicks the dune buggy into fourth gear and swerves to avoid a pothole in the trail, the late-afternoon November sun beginning its descent over the horizon.

“Can we not add to the funeral count this week?” I yell back, gripping the roll bar with white knuckles. The woman is a maniac behind the wheel. I don’t know how she hasn’t crashed her bike yet and I’m starting to think that I don’t want her on it anymore, because it’s only a matter of time before she does. The only reason I handed her the keys is because I knew she’d need to have a bit of fun before I drop a giant bomb on her head.