Page 81 of Someone to Remember
“It helps to be around people who understand the struggle and don’t say stupid things like, ‘He or she is in a better place.’”
“Oh my God, I might punch the next person who says that to me.”
“Don’t do that.”
“I won’t, but I want to.”
“Right there with you. That and ‘It’s God’s will’ are two of my least-favorite platitudes. How could God have wanted this for us?”
“Exactly. It’s infuriating to hear that crap from people who’ll never know what we’ve been through.”
“Joy’s had people say, ‘At least you and Craig didn’t have kids,’ as if that somehow makes it all better that she lost her young, healthy husband to natural causes.”
“That makes me see red for her.”
“She tells them that doesn’t help, and they should think before they say something stupid to a widow.”
“She comes right out and says that?”
“Yep. After years of biting her tongue, she doesn’t anymore.”
“Good for her.”
“I agree. Why should she have to listen to that shit?”
“No one should.” After a pause, he says, “So, um, do you want to grab lunch one day this week?”
He’s asking me out, and I’m dead, done. Good thing I’m seated, or there might’ve been swooning.
“Kinsley? Are you still there?”
Say words, you fool.“Sorry, yes, I’d love to have lunch with you.”
“Great. I need to look at my schedule for the week, and then I’ll text you to set up a time and place. Does that work?”
“Perfect. I’ll look forward to it.”
“Same. I’m really glad you reached out.”
“I’m glad, too. Talk to you soon.”
“Yes, you will.”
I left Iris’s feeling sad and unsettled after talking about Taylor’s loss, but I’m absolutely giddy as I get out of the car to go inside.
“There you are,” Mom says. “I heard the garage a while ago, but I was watching the end of my show.”
“I was on the phone.”
“I figured it was something like that.”
“I was on the phone with a boy who asked me out.”
My mom’s eyes go wide as her face lights up with the biggest smile I’ve seen from her in a long time. “I’m going to need details about this boy.”
“Well, he’s actually a man—a doctor, in fact—and the single dad to four kids eight and under after losing his wife to colon cancer two years ago.”
“Oh my. That’s a lot.”
