“Would she come over here? Make the trip next time you come? I’d pay for her flight. And yours.”
“That would be a lot of money, mate.”
“But worth it to me.”
The longing in his brother’s eyes made his chest tighten. He couldn’t even say when he’d be coming back, let alone promise to bring Granny. Money was a problem, and he wasn’t taking handouts.
But with his granny, it was more than money blocking the way. “I wish I could say she’d come, but she’s never been on a plane, let alone one crossing the ocean. I don’t think there’s much chance.”
“Then Oksana and I will have to fly over there.”
“Doesn’t seem like you have the time. Running two shops and all.”
“We’ll make the time. Last February I was at peace with the idea of never having blood relatives. But now I have you and her and it’s… it’s a big deal.”
“For me, too. All this time I had a brother. If I’d come sooner?— ”
“You didn’t know. It could have been a wild goose chase. And we have a lot of years ahead of us, but Granny… she must be getting up there.”
“She’s eighty-one.”
“In good health?”
He shrugged. “A few aches and pains. Nothing serious, yeah?”
“I missed meeting our grandpa. I don’t want to miss her.”
“She won’t want to miss you, either. But I just don’t see her getting on a plane.”
“Not even to visit the cemetery?”
His breath hitched. He’d pushed the gravesite to the back of his mind. He wanted to go, but it would be… challenging.
The prospect of laying flowers on her daughter’s grave might convince Granny to come to Montana, though. “That could possibly work, but… don’t count on it.”
“If I know Mom, she’s already found someone to put the right name on the stone. She knew Jane Smith couldn’t be right but she had to put something on it.”
“Course she did.”
“I keep saying it in my head. Freya Noreen Haggerty. Can you imagine how much it means to know that name?”
“Yeah, I can.” And here they were at last, talking about their fiery mother. “It’s a good name. Freya means noble lady and Noreen means honor.”
“That’s…. kind of sad.”
“She didn’t live up to it.” He sighed. “Granny claims she spoiled her, blames herself for her headstrong ways.”
“Maybe she was headstrong. She certainly had terrible taste in men. But Mom said she was determined to pull herself out of the nosedive, take back her life and be a good mother.”
“Then let’s focus on that.”
“Yeah, let’s focus on that.” Lucky took a deep breath. “Ready for me to contact Mom?”
“Desiree?” Even though he didn’t think Lucky was proposing a séance, he felt the need to ask.
His brother gave him a lopsided smile. “I’ve never had to clarify that before. I meant Desiree. She’s the only one I call Mom. Her face is the one that comes up when I use that word.”
“I wish I could remember our mum’s face.”
