Page 27 of Here With You

The light in May’s eyes dimmed. “They were ugly times.”

She looked at Miles, who stared at his mother with love. “Why didn’t you tell me May was your date?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t think you were interested in the intimate details of my life.”

“I’m interested in seeing your mom.”

“She’s been in town since I left, and you haven’t been interested until today.”

His words were like a jagged, rusty knife piercing her soul. They hurt worse because they were true.

Miles stood. “Would you mind keeping her company while I see what happened to Cormac? He got a call and disappeared, but we wanted to order dinner. I don’t want to tire Mom by keeping her out too late.”

“No problem. I don’t mind keeping her occupied while you’re gone.”

Miles left, and May didn’t give her a chance to say a word. “Give my boy another chance.”

Em was taken by the plea. “You want me to take him back, but you never did. Why is that?”

May sat there for a second before a tear slipped from her eye. “I’ve been letting men decide for me all my life. First, it was my husband, and after he died, Darryl took his place. I didn’t want to lose Miles. I’m sure you didn’t either, but you and I are the same. We let others decide our paths.”

She wanted to refute that statement but couldn’t. Everyone around her, from the Fireflies to Cricket, had pointed out that she’d not been the captain of her ship for a long time.

“I don’t know, May. How do I go back? There’s so much hurt and baggage to get over.”

May shook her head. “Honey, you never go back. You go forward. There’s nothing in the past but memories. Build a future.”

Em raised her hands like she was praising the lord. “Look around. This is my future.”

May smiled. “You don’t think Miles ended up next door by accident, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

She took one of Em’s hands and covered it with her gnarled crepey one. “If Darryl hadn’t refused to let Miles stay on the ranch, I would have. He doesn’t need to be doting on a dying mother. He needs to be dating you.” She smiled. “I prayed that he’d land where he needed to be.” Rough, gurgling laughter filled the air. “Who knew it would get him so close to you? Honey, this is divine intervention.”

Em thought about everything that had to happen to put Miles next door, and she couldn’t argue with May’s theory. Someone was at work, but she didn’t think it was God. It was Brie and Carter meddling in her life. Karma indeed was a bitch.

Miles and Cormac returned and took their seats, with Cormac to May’s left and Miles to Em’s right.

“Sorry about that,” Cormac said. “My dad thought Uncle Miles kidnapped his mom.”

“She’s my mom, too,” Miles said.

“Dad isn’t used to sharing her after all these years. In his mind, everything that has to do with the ranch, including Grandma, belongs to him.”

May gave Em an I-told-you-so look. “Well, won’t he be surprised.”

They all stared at her. “What do you mean, Mom?” Miles asked.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Miles waited for his mom to answer.

May took her napkin and placed it on her lap. “I’m dying, and my last wish is to bring my family back together.” She pointed at Cormac. “You did a good job, baby. It took him a long time to get here, but he finally made it.”

Miles turned to Cormac. “You looked me up all those years ago because Mom asked you to?”

Cormac frowned. “Well … okay. If I have to fess up to something, then I think it’s only fair that everyone at the table needs to. Isn’t it time we cleared the air about lots of stuff?”

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