Page 92 of Someone to Remember
“You haven’t been your usual happy self this weekend.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just…”
“Processing it. I know. Me, too.”
“I want to go to the wake and funeral.”
“Roni… You’ve met them twice.”
“I know, but I want to go for Iris.”
Leaning against the dryer, I cross my arms and sigh. “I get that, but you don’t have to put yourself through it, even for her. She’ll have Gage, Christy and Joy with her. She’ll be okay.”
“Other than you, she’s my very best friend in the after, and Taylor is one ofherbest friends. I need to be there for her.”
“Okay, then we’ll go.”
“You don’t have to.”
I really don’t want to, but… “Do you honestly think I’d let you do that alone?”
“I won’t be alone. I’ll be with the others.”
“And with me.”
She gives me the exacting look that women have been giving men for all of time.
I give her the mulish look that lets her know I’m not backing down.
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
“What’s the plan for the kids?”
She reaches for her phone. “I’ll ask my mom to come over.”
“Mine would do it, too, if yours can’t.”
“Okay. Are you mad at me?”
“What? No, I’m not mad at you. How can I be when I love you for your big heart, which is aching for Iris today?”
“I’m aching for all of them. Iris, Christy and Joy, who got to watch Taylor fall in love with Will and move into a new happily ever after, only to have it snatched away so suddenly. I’m aching for Taylor’s kids and their unborn baby. It’s all so sad.”
“It really is, and I’ve felt that this week, too.”
“I know. You’ve been tossing and turning every night.”
“Brings it all back. Even when you don’t know the people well, you certainly understand the experience.”
“That’s it, exactly.”
Her phone lights up with a text. “My parents are happy to hang out with the kids for a few hours this afternoon.”
“Did you tell them where we’re going?”
“Nah. We’ll tell them after, so they don’t try to talk me out of it.”
