Page 102 of The Wedding Ranch
“Honey, we’ll be right in.” Mom pulled her closer.
Dad groaned. “Oh no. Tears?”
That made Lorri smile. Dad had never been good with tears. That had always been Mom’s department. “We’re coming in now, Daddy.” She squeezed Mom’s hands. “I love you so much.”
“And we both love you, darling.”
She climbed to her feet, and Mister jumped up too. She walked inside and slapped her hand against her hip for Mister to follow.
He waited for the command to come through the doorway, then she told him to sit.
Mister sat, his eyes on her waiting for the next command.
“Rest.”
He laid down and put his chin on his paws.
“He’s so well behaved, but man, he’s gotten big,” Dad said.
“I barely notice that anymore.”
“That was a lot of tears. Did somebody break my little girl’s heart?” he asked. “We could sic Mister on him.”
“No, Daddy. This isn’t about me.” She reached for his hand, and then Mom’s. “Or maybe it’s all about me and what I’ve done wrong. I know Jeff’s struggles had to be heart-wrenching for you both. I’m sorry I didn’t make it any easier up to or after he died. I’m really sorry.”
Her father’s head tilted gently. “Oh, Lorri. We have always loved you both more than you can ever imagine. We hurt when you hurt. Every heartache is one for us too. Thank you for recognizing our pain, but honey, you had to deal with those things your way. There is no good way to get through it. Come here.” He held her, rocking her and dropping a kiss on the top of her head.
It had been years since he’d done that. She was fifteen again, crying over Donnie Humphries. Her first broken heart.
“I don’t know where all this is coming from, but Lorri, I am glad you’re able to finally grieve for Jeff. He loved you. He loved us all. Sometimes it’s hard to love people when you know they are self-destructing, but that’s what we have to do. When you have a child of your own one day, you’ll understand that.”
“No more apologies about this, Lorri,” Dad said. “Here’s the thing. Everyone handles things differently, and your anger didn’t make you wrong. Okay?”
“I feel awful about it.”
“I think you’re about to find real peace in your heart. I know you’ve given me some,” Mom said.
“I don’t know how you can forgive me.”
“You’re our daughter.”
“Can’t be that simple.”
“It most certainly is,” Mom said.
She noticed the dining room table was already set. Mom had started the tradition of making Jeff’s favorite foods on this day.
“You hungry?” Dad rubbed his belly. “I’m starving. I’ve been having to smell all this stuff since breakfast this morning.”
“Pure torture, right?” Lorri placed her hand on his back. “I’ll help Mom get everything served up.”
She’d never really thought about it before, how Mom was such a good cook, and yet she hadn’t ever learned. Lorri had been in such a hurry to move out of the house by then that she never had the chance. “Maybe next year I can help you cook everything. You could teach me the recipes.”
“I’d love that.”
Lorri hadn’t seen such delight in Mom’s smile in a long time.
“Then, let’s count on that.”
