Page 99 of One Southern Summer

“Hey, Mama.” He sank to his knees beside her recliner. “Sorry to wake you.”

She blinked. This couldn’t be happening. She blinked once more, slower this time. Maybe she wasn’t hallucinating. Maybe she was dead.

But surely her estranged son wouldn’t be the first one to greet her at the Pearly Gates? No sir. Because if that were the case, then she and the Big Guy were going to have a chat first thing. If Heaven was indeed perfect, He’d missed the mark there. She’d recommend He upgrade His welcoming committee.

Keith’s face paled and he shot a frantic glance toward the nursing assistant. “Ma’am? She isn’t speaking. Is that...normal?”

“Um, no, she usually has plenty to say. She might be annoyed that I didn’t bring her any cookies today.” The woman returned to Maribelle’s side. “Mrs. Lansing, do you recognize this young man? He says he’s your son.”

“Oh, for crying out loud, Keith Albert Lansing, you’ve been gone for eighteen years.” Maribelle glared at him. “I’m old, son. Nearly ninety. I’m allowed to be surprised by your sudden reappearance.”

The woman chuckled then patted Keith’s shoulder. “She’s fine, sir. I’ll leave you to get reacquainted.”

Her rubber shoes squeaked and her scrubs whisked together as she strode toward the door then quietly slipped out, pulling the door shut behind her. Smart girl, that one. Lucille would be over here in a hot minute to see who’d dropped by. Maribelle wasn’t quite ready for the whole place to know her business. Especially if he was just here to borrow money.

“What are you doing here?” She surveyed his face then drew in a deep breath. His eyes looked bright and alert. He didn’t smell like whiskey. Not that she’d know what that smelled like, mind you.

“Not exactly the warm welcome I was hoping for, Mama.” His eyes gleamed with amusement. “I suppose it’s only reasonable that you’d question my intentions.”

“Where have you been, Keith?”

He pushed to his feet then crossed to the chair opposite hers and sat on the edge. She shifted to face him, struggling for a glimpse of the little boy who’d resided in her memories. Oh, that belly laugh. Sure, he’d kept her on her toes with all those trees he’d climbed and his bizarre need to drive things at high speed. The only time he stayed still was when he fished for hours or followed his daddy everywhere.

Tears pricked her eyelids, but she stubbornly willed them away. Her only son had come home. It was a blessing she didn’t deserve. But there was no way she was going to let him see her cry.

Not yet.

“I’ve been to all fifty states, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.” His gaze fell to the floor and he rubbed his palms together slowly. “If there’s a stage, an arena or an amphitheater, I’ve probably been inside it.”

She slanted a look toward him. “Are you trying to tell me that you’re famous?”

He chuckled. “No, ma’am. I work for someone who is. We’ve toured the world together.”

“Do you play an instrument?”

“I move the instruments. I’m a roadie.”

“Are you telling me a story?”

Keith’s smile faded. “I’m here to tell you the truth, Mama.”

“You’d best get started then. I take a lot of naps these days and I don’t want to miss any of the important details.”

“I won’t keep you. The first thing I need to say is that I’m an addict who’s in recovery. That’s the main reason I’m here and I just wanted—”

He paused then rubbed his fingers along his jaw. “I’ve lost so much time, being away all these years. I just wanted to come home and see my family.”

His expression crumpled. He dropped his chin to his chest. The sound of his quiet sobs undid her.

Maybe it was the sight of him crying, or maybe it was guilt over him leaving. She’d always secretly feared that she’d done or said something to drive him away. Or maybe she’d flat had enough of trying to make everything all right all the time.

There was no fighting back the tears. She didn’t have the strength. The emotion welled like a king tide under a full moon. Tears fell unfettered, sliding down her cheeks and into the valleys and crevasses of her neck.

Keith stood then crossed to her dresser and picked up the box of tissues. When he brought them to her, the torment swimming in his eyes made her heart nearly split wide open.

“I’m so sorry, Mama, for all the hurt and pain I’ve caused. There’s nothing I can do to change the past, but if you’ll let me, I’d like to be part of your life again.”

She blubbered like a baby. They could probably hear her downstairs in the commons, but for once she didn’t care. Plucking a tissue from the box, she swabbed at her tears. “I never thought I’d hear you say those words to me.”

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