Page 43 of Dreams of Falling
He shook his head. “I already asked her. So I thought it might have been your mother. Except...”
“Except what?”
“Well, I found a ball of twine and two brand-new and cleaned gourds on the back porch today, and they definitely weren’t there the last time I was there. So it couldn’t have been.”
“That is odd,” I said. “But not earth-shattering. She must have a friend who took it upon herself—or himself—to take care of them while Mama’s in the hospital.”
“True. Guess I should ask my own mother.”
I nodded. “Thanks again, Bennett, for the boat ride. I really enjoyed it.”
He grinned broadly. “Me, too. Only thing that might have made it better would be if you’d sung that song.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Mama says hey, by the way. She’d love for you to come for supper sometime before you go back to New York. She’s into all that healthy cooking now, so I can’t promise anything tasty, but the invitation stands. I’m staying with them for a little bit, by the way. I can work remotely and avoid the trip back and forth from Columbia until we figure out what we’re doing at Carrowmore. Just thought you’d want to know, in case you needed to reach me. And when you’re ready to return my T-shirt.”
I looked down at the red shirt I’d borrowed and took hold of the hem, getting ready to give it back.
“Don’t,” he said quickly, his eyes widening briefly. “I mean, it’s still chilly. And I’m sure you’ll want to wash it first.”
“Right,” I said, embarrassed. “Sorry—of course I’ll want to wash it. Thanks again,” I said, waving before turning around.
“Sure wish I could have heard you singing, though.”
I kept walking until I reached the porch steps, and then, because we were old friends and there’d be no judging, I began belting out the words, “Oh, what a beau-ti-ful morning...”
I could still hear him laughing as I let the door snap shut behind me.
sixteen
Ceecee
2010
Ceecee stood at the kitchen sink, rinsing her skillet and peering out the window toward the dock. She couldn’t hear anything—dang old age!—but Larkin and Bennett were apparently having a heated argument. Except when Ceecee heard the back door slam shut, Larkin was definitely singing. Not exactly in tune, but close enough.
“I hope you’re hungry,” she called out, bringing Larkin into the kitchen. Even without makeup and with windblown hair, and wearing a ridiculously oversized T-shirt, Larkin was stunning. She looked so much like Margaret that Ceecee had to lean against the counter until she remembered that her friend was truly gone.
“I’m starving,” Bitty said from the doorway, clutching a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. “Smells like bacon and eggs.”
“And cheese grits,” Ceecee said as she picked up the bowl and brought it to the adjacent dining room.
“Actually, I thought I’d go for a run first before my conference call at nine,” Larkin said, eyeing the platter of bacon and scrambled eggs, made with lots of cheese, just as she liked them.
“You have plenty of time to eat now and let it sit in your stomacha bit. Besides, you’ll need your energy to go running, sweetheart. Sit down and I’ll bring you some fresh-squeezed orange juice and coffee.”
“Well, maybe if I just eat a little bit,” Larkin said as she pulled out a chair next to Bitty.
Ceecee shook her head. “I don’t know why you don’t just exercise with Jack LaLanne on the television like I used to.”
“Probably because he’s retired,” Bitty interjected.
Ceecee frowned in her friend’s direction before turning back to Larkin. “Your daddy said he’d stop by, too.”
Larkin looked at Ceecee with alarm. “Is everything all right with Mama?”
“Everything’s fine,” Ceecee said calmly. “The episode she had yesterday when you were with her was just an anomaly, the doctors are saying. Her brain activity spiked somehow as if she were regaining consciousness, and then returned to where it’s been. But she’s not worse. We have to remember that, and keep praying that she’ll get better and wake up.”
“So why’s Daddy coming over?” Larkin asked.
“Because he wants to see you, and he thinks you’ve been avoiding him.” Ceecee headed for the kitchen to retrieve the coffeepot. She must have missed the knock on the front door because of Bitty’s coughing, but Mack tapped on the door frame of the dining room to let them know he was there. After a brief hesitation, he approached Larkin and kissed the top of her head before retreating to the chair opposite his daughter’s and sitting down.
