“Others are outside,” she told them as Honey took an appetizer. “And drinks too. Go visit with neighbors.”
“Thank you.” Honey exchanged winks with Marta. “We’ll dothat.” She turned to CT. “Wait until you see their garden. It’s beautiful.” She led him outside and around the patio, pointing out the pond and fountain and plants, pausing to greet neighbors they hadn’t seen lately. Finally, feeling slightly relieved, she left CT with a group of older men. Some of the same friends he used to visit with at the feed store coffee group.
Honey spotted Jewel assisting Miguel at the barbecue. She smiled to herself. Those two looked good together! She spied Cooper and Anna sitting on a bench with their heads bent together as they focused on their phones, showing each other things that they clearly found highly amusing. So normal. So good. Things were going smoothly. Somewhat relieved, Honey returned to the kitchen to help out and perhaps catch up with some of the neighbors she hadn’t seen in a year or more. She suspected most of them were aware of CT’s condition, and probably just as well. That was life in a small town. She inhaled deeply as she waved to her old friend Donna Skinner. The Skinner farm was at the end of the road, and she and Donna used to walk together for exercise, catching up on all the latest news. Honey eagerly greeted Donna with a hug.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Donna gushed. “Where have you been keeping yourself? I hear you’re retired now.”
“I’ve been home,” Honey told her. “I thought retirement was supposed to feel like a break, but all I do is work.” She laughed. “Still, it’s nice to call my time my own.” Of course, even as she said this, she questioned herself. When was her time really her own? With CT, she was on call 24/7.
“That’s farm life.” Donna nodded. “Always something needs doing. Do you have chickens this year? I’ve been looking for someone to buy eggs from.”
“No.” Honey sighed. “But CT keeps bees, and we have lots of honey. I’ve been thinking about selling that. And now that I have my daughter and granddaughter here to help, I might get chickens again.”
“Oh, how nice for you! Rick had to hire help a couple years ago,” Donna said as they moved to a quieter corner of the kitchen. “I wasn’t sure about it, but it’s allowed us to go and do more.”Suddenly she was gushing about the trips they’d taken—a cruise to Alaska and then one to the Caribbean and even a vineyard in Tuscany, the one place Honey had always longed to visit. She suppressed a wave of envy.
“How about you?” Donna asked. “Now that you’re retired and have extra help, will you and CT be traveling?”
Honey sighed. “I’m guessing you haven’t heard about CT’s condition.”
“Oh, no.” Donna’s eyes grew wide. “Is it cancer? So many of my friends have been diagnosed lately.”
For a moment, Honey wished it was cancer. That sounded easier. “No, it’s FTD.”
Donna frowned. “FTD? Isn’t that a florist?”
Honey couldn’t help but smile. “You know, that’s exactly what CT thought when he first heard it.” Now she explained that FTD was early-onset dementia. She hated using that word, but sometimes it was just simpler.
“Oh, Honey.” Donna hugged her again. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah.” As usual, Honey felt her emotions coming to the surface. But she really didn’t want to cry. Not here tonight.
Donna released her and looked intently into her eyes. “I’m so glad you have Jewel and her girl to help you, but if you ever need anything, I hope you will call.”
Honey thanked her. “What I might need sometime is to get away for a cup of coffee.”
“You come on down to our place anytime, Honey. Or we can go to Starbucks if you’d like. You name it and I’ll be there.”
“Mo-om?”
Honey turned to see Jewel by the door with a slightly anxious expression. She motioned for Honey to join her, and Honey excused herself. “What is it?”
“Dad.” Jewel took her by the arm. “He’s, uh, making a scene.”
“Oh dear.” Honey let her daughter lead her out to where CT appeared to be about to get into a fight with one of the neighboring farmers. At least he wasn’t about to accost Miguel. That was something.
“CT,” Honey said gently as she firmly took his hand. “I want to show you something.”
“Huh?” His brow furrowed with a combination of confusion and anger. “What?” he growled loudly enough to grab the attention of several neighbors.
“The fish in the pond,” she said, acting as if it was the most important thing in the world. “You have to see them, CT.”
“Fish?” He sounded slightly curious.
She continued to chatter at him about fish as she led him to the little pond. She was careful not to ask what had transpired back there with the men, but when she glanced back, she noticed Jewel still talking to the men gathered in a tight circle, probably explaining her father’s condition. To her relief, they were nodding with what seemed understanding and perhaps a tinge of sympathy.
A little while later, Jewel brought over a plastic cup and offered it to her father. “Iced tea with sugar,” she told him. “Just how you like it.”
CT held the cup, then took a cautious sip.
