Page 10 of Conail

"I have some tilling to do." His eyes scanned out the window, a frown touching his brow. "If the weather report holds true, we're in for some more rain."

"Have a glass of lemonade."

"I'll take it to go." Moving forward, he grabbed a thermos from the cupboard and handed it to her. "I put your things in your old room."

"Thanks. Will you be here for supper?"

He looked surprised at the question. "If I can."

"Thanks for picking me up from the airport."

He nodded again as he screwed the top on.

"Well, see you later."

Stifling a sigh at the distance between them, Yasmine took a sip of the lemonade and closed her eyes in appreciation. "No one can top your lemonade. It's the best."

"Of course it is." Maeve took cookies out of the tin and slid them onto the counter. "Now tell me what's been going on with you. How's the project coming along?"

"Not as well as I want." She shook her head and reached for a cookie. "But I am planning on working on it while I am here. Mama--" She hesitated briefly, wondering how to put it. "How bad is it?"

Chapter 4

Maeve knew it was the perfect opening, but did not take it. The girl deserved a night of rest before being told of her future. The conversation could wait.

"Let's not discuss that now," Maeve said briskly as she took a seat across from her and picked up her glass. "Anything happening with you socially?"

Yasmine shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I've been too busy with work." She stirred the wedge of lemon absently. "And after what happened..." She let her voice trail off, reluctant to go back to a painful past. "Anyway, I am over all of that now."

"Are you sure, honey?" Her mother's voice was quiet and comforting, bringing tears to the back of her eyes. Reaching out a hand, she closed it over the one resting on the table. "I wanted to be there for you, to help you through it. But we had our own problems here."

"Mama, it's fine." Turning her hand over, she squeezed. "I dealt with it and now I am over it."

Maeve privately thought that was not the case but decided against saying anything.

"I really hope so. Now drink up your lemonade and go and see if your daddy is up. It's time for his medication."

She watched as her daughter rose and left the kitchen. Wrapping her hands around the ice-cold glass, she stared at the empty doorway. She would give her daughter tonight and then lay everything out on the table. It was time.

"Dad?" Yasmine hovered just inside the doorway of her parents' large and comfortable bedroom with its slightly shabby furnishings and stared at the man sitting on the edge of the bed. The room was mostly in shadows, as he had drawn the lime green shades. But it was light enough for her to see the stoop of his shoulders and the new lines around his eyes and mouth.

Feeling the tightness around her heart, she stepped into the room.

"You're here."

"I came about an hour ago." She wandered into the room slowly and sat next to him on the edge of the bed.

"I bet your mama already fed you."

"She did." Reaching for one work-worn hand, she clasped it between hers. "I'm sorry it took me so long to come back after I was here when you had the stroke."

He jerked a shoulder. "You have your life to live, girl."

Up close, she could see the ravages of his illness and felt her heart twisting. "That's no excuse. I should have been here. Mama and Colin need the help."

"And I'm not able to lend a hand." His hands stirred restlessly between hers. "I suppose you know how bad things are. The drought and my illness made a dent in the savings." He looked across the room, his face pensive. "I used to rule the land. Was up from dawn to dusk and it never affected me. Now, I'm useless."

"Daddy--"