Page 17 of Someone to Remember
I don’t want to let him go, but the kids need one of us, and Taylor needs me. I release him reluctantly so he can go to my babies. They love their Daddy Gage so much and will be happy to see him.
After he leaves, I call Christy.
“Hey, I was going to call you today. You won’t believe what happened.”
“Christy.”
“What? Iris, what’s wrong?”
“Taylor’s husband, Will, was killed in an accident.”
She lets out a sound of agony that’s all too familiar to me. “No.”
“He fell from scaffolding at work last night.”
“Oh my God, I saw something about that on the news. And she’s about to have the baby…”
“It’s horrible.”
“Iris… How in the world can this happen to her again?”
“We’ve been asking that all night. It’s unreal.”
“What does she need? What do you need?”
“I have to tell the others, and I’m worried about that. All we talk about is hope and optimism. Hearing about this could destroy their faith in such things. I’m barely hanging on to my faith, even with Gage by my side all night.”
“I feel sick for her.”
“Me, too. What do I say to the others?”
“You tell them, just like you told me, and you remind them that Will had a freak accident, and despite how it seems, this is no time to give up on hope or optimism for the future.”
“That sounds like bullshit.”
“It did to me, too, as I was saying it, but it’s what they need to hear.”
“My faith is rocked. To the core.”
“I’m sure, but, Iris… You’re our true north, our fearless leader, our first call in good times and in bad… As hard as it is for you as the person who’s known Taylor the longest, you have to be strong for the others. You have to show them you’re not letting it knock the legs out from under you, even if it has.”
She’s right. “I’ll do my best.”
“You always do. And I’m sorry you’re the one who bears these burdens. It’s just the reality of it.”
“I know.”
“Do you want me to help you make the calls?”
“Do you have time for that?”
“I’ll make time.”
We divide the list by the people we’re closest to. I end up with Roni and Derek, Wynter and Adrian and Lexi, while Christy takes Joy, Brielle, Hallie, Kinsley and Naomi.
“I suppose I should text Aurora, too.” She became part of our group after her husband was charged with rape, but she hasn’t been to a gathering in a while. “She knew Taylor well back in the day.”
“Yeah, good idea. Let me know if you need anything after you make the calls.”
