Page 5 of Someone to Remember
I’ve gotten good at supporting young widows over the years, which is a skill I never imagined I’d have when I was still happily married to Mike. But in the years since I lost him so suddenly, I’ve learned a lot about grief and the uniquechallenges faced by younger widows who still have most of their lives ahead of them.
Topics such as dating and sex—and judgment from those who think it’s too soon or whatever stupid thing they might say—as well as blending families and dealing with two sets of in-laws have become routine to me, but this… Being widowed a second time before the age of thirty-five… I have zero experience with that one and would’ve preferred to keep it that way.
When we’re on the road to Inova in his Range Rover, Gage reaches over to take my hand.
“You’re freezing.”
“It’s shock. My hands always get cold when something terrible happens.”
“How do I not know that about you?”
“Thankfully, there hasn’t been this kind of shock in a while.” I glance over at his strong profile as he keeps his gaze pinned to the dark road. “How will I get her through this? I don’t have the tools…”
“You do. You have everything you need.”
“I don’t know. This is next-level, Gage. And what will it do to everyone in the group to hear about this?”
“It’ll be a kick in the teeth for everyone, but it’s not like we didn’t already know it was possible.”
“Knowing it and having it actually happen to a friend are two very different things.”
“You’re right, but the process will be the same for her—and for us as her supporters—only this time, she’s better equipped to handle it.”
“No one should have to go through this twice.”
“That’s for sure.”
“We’re going to have to tell the others…” I absolutely dread the thought of sharing this with our widow friends.
“Not yet. Let’s see Taylor and figure out what she needs first. We’ll tell them later.”
I’m relieved to take his advice, which is always spot-on. He’sbeen at this longer than me and most of the others, and his insight is invaluable to us.
“Gage…”
“What, honey?”
“We need to get with Joy and make your adoption of the kids final so if anything ever happens to me…”
“It won’t.”
“If it does, I want them with you, and we need to make that official.”
“Before the wedding?” We’re getting married the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is less than two weeks from now.
“Right freaking now. I don’t want to leave anything to chance.”
“I hope you know what it means to me that you’d want them with me.”
“Of course I do. You’re their Daddy Gage, and it’s what they’d want, too.”
“We’ll get that done, but first we have to take care of Taylor.”
We also have to take care of the other Wild Widows, who’ll be rocked to the core by Taylor’s tragedy.
We’ll get them through it. Somehow.
Two
