The Resurrection of Wildflowers (Wildflower #2)(35)

I sigh dramatically on purpose, fighting a smile. “I guess that could work.”

“You’d seriously go camping with me?” Now, he chooses to look doubtful.

“Sure, why not?” I set my plate aside and lay down on my side, mimicking his pose.

“Huh. I guess I thought that wouldn’t be something you’d enjoy.”

“You don’t know until you try.”

“You never went camping as a kid?”

I snort at that. “No, definitely not.”

“I’ll take you sometime. I know it’s hard right now with your mom, but I promise someday we’ll go.”

“I’d like that.”

And it’s crazy, but I really would.

The sun starts to set in the distance, and I’m surprised by how much time has passed. Thayer must be too, because he sits up and starts gathering our plates up.

“I better get you home before it gets any later.”

I help him pack everything away and we make the trek back through the muddy grass to his truck.

“I want to see those bows and outfits of Winnie’s sometime.”

He shakes his head. “Never gonna live it down, am I?”

“No,” I laugh lightly, “definitely not.”

In the truck he holds my hand, our fingers wrapped firmly together. I keep looking at them, his skin a golden-tan against my paler tone, and I can’t help thinking to myself how I never want to let go again.

Thayer drops me off in my driveway, giving me a peck on my cheek. A part of me is disappointed after the kiss we shared previously, but I realize he’s trying to take things slow with us.

Letting myself into the house, I find my mom asleep already and Georgia sitting in the chair crocheting a pair of baby booties.

Never thought I’d see the day that my sister was doing such a thing, but here we are. It makes me smile, seeing her so happy and content with her family. She deserves all the happiness in the world.

She makes a shushing motion with her finger when she sees me in the doorway, as if I hadn’t already noticed mom’s sleeping form.

“How’d it go?” She mouths the words.

“Amazing,” I mouth back.

She smiles, tucking the booties back into her bag. She stands up, pressing a hand to her lower back. She points to the kitchen, and I follow her.

“It’s not even that late and I’m ready to crash.” She yawns, covering her mouth with her hand. “But I expect a full report on this date later, you hear me?”

“Yes.” I stick my tongue out playfully. “How was Mom?”

“The usual.” She shrugs, biting her lip. “I don’t think she has much time left.” Her eyes dart helplessly to the living room. “I know she’s fighting to hang on as long as she can, but … I think it’s coming soon. Doing what I do, you start to sense it after a while.”

I close my eyes and nod. “I hate this.”

“Me too.”

I open my arms and my sister returns the gesture. We hold on tight, united in our pain and grief. It’s so difficult mourning someone who isn’t even gone yet—it feels like a betrayal in a way, even though she knows it’s coming too.

“I’ve gotta go.” She pulls away, dabbing beneath her eyes with a finger. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Probably stop by too. I want to spend as much time with her as I can.”

I open the door and see my sister out to her car.

Standing on the driveway, I watch her pull away. Before turning to go back inside, I hear the clinking sound of a dog collar and spot Thayer with Winnie across the street.

A big pink bow is around her neck.

Like he can feel the weight of my eyes, he looks over at me and lifts a hand in a wave.

I smile, and it feels good despite the heaviness in my heart.





CHAPTER 24





SALEM





The next morning, I’m sitting on the front porch with my mom after eating breakfast, knowing I have to drop a bomb on her. Despite the already warm day, there’s a blanket draped over her lap. She rubs the material between her fingers like she’s trying to memorize the sensation. Across the street, she watches some kids playing in the front yard with their golden retriever. I wonder what she’s thinking, but I don’t want to ask.

“Mom,” I say softly, getting her attention. I wrap my fingers tighter around my cup of orange juice, trying to brace myself for what I’m about to tell her. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

Her eyes slowly move to where I sit in the rocking chair beside hers. “What is it?” She looks curious, alert.

“You know Seda isn’t Caleb’s biological child, but I never told you who her father is.”

“And you’ve waited until I’m on my deathbed to tell me?” She’s amused, not a hint of anger, but I still feel bad.

“It never seemed like the right time,” I admit. “It’s stupid, I know, but I don’t think I knew how to handle a lot of this. Getting pregnant wasn’t a part of my plan, and then I got back with Caleb, and we were married, and it all just…”

“Life passes in a blink.” She covers my hand with hers, her skin cool to the touch despite the warmth of the outdoors. “Time is strange, the way it feels like not much has passed but then you realize it’s actually been an entire lifetime.”