A lot of things had changed since the previous Valentine’s Day. Carol and Rex had joined a grief support group for parents who lost children, and they’d made several new friends in the process.
The Rose’s had joined my parents for Christmas Day, and the mothers had gotten along very well. I had a feeling they were conspiring behind our backs, but I couldn’t prove it.
“Carol? It’s just me.” I carried the groceries from the list she’d sent me and put them on the kitchen counter to unload.
“Coming, son.”
Carol was moving around upstairs, so I put the milk and ice cream away and hurried upstairs to see what she was up to. She’d been on a cleaning kick since after Christmas, so I wasn’t surprised to see the linens from Holden’s childhood room on the floor of the hallway.
I was, however, surprised to see the bed had been stripped in Happy’s room. All her dance trophies and ribbons were missing from the built-in bookcase in the corner.
“Whatcha doin’ Carol?” I walked into Holden’s bedroom to help her pull the mattress pad off the double bed. It was a tight fit for the two of us to sleep together as we’d done when we’d come out to visit over the summer for cookouts.
Carol, Rex, and Holden had spoken to the other transplant recipients over the summer, and this was the time when everyone would meet face-to-face. I was sure Carol was nervous. I’d been launched at her without warning, but this was a planned event.
She was the ultimate hostess, and I knew the evening would be perfect. Why she was rearranging the bedrooms right then was beyond me.
“I’m changing things up. This room used to be Holly’s when she was growing up. After Holden moved to Northern Virginia to attend trade school, I let Holly have his old room, and we put this stupid bed in here for when Holden came out for a visit.
“After Holly died, I left her room as a shrine, and I want it to be used, so I’m putting you and Holden back into his old room after I paint it. This room will become a guest room, or maybe a nursery.” It wasn’t the first time she’d mentioned grandchildren. Holden and I hadn’t taken the bait.
“Is there something you want me to do? I can do laundry, or I can start cutting vegetables. Have you finalized the menu for this evening?” She was a list maker for every occasion.
“I’m just making appetizers for this gathering. Rex suggested we get pizzas from Rosarita’s so I’m not in the kitchen all night. I’m finally listening to him.”
We both laughed at her acknowledgement that she rarely listened to Rex, who had figured it out years ago.
“Okay, what can I do to help?”
Carol stepped closer to me for a hug, and as had become part of our routine, she patted my chest over my heart. Over Happy’s heart. The gesture always brought a smile to her face.
“Are you doing it tonight?”
I froze. “Doingwhattonight?”
Carol stared at me before laughing. “Never mind. Bring all the laundry downstairs, please. We’ll start making appetizers.”
My palms started to sweat, but I simply did as I was told. Once I got to the laundry room, I quickly shoved all the sheets in the washer, added detergent, and turned it on so the laundry could be done before the guests arrived.
“Thank you, honey. I’m donating all the bedding and buying new stuff once I decide on paint colors for the rooms. Maybe you and Holden can come back in the middle of March, say St. Patrick’s Day, and help me paint?”
I grinned. “Of course we will. Anything you need, Carol.” And I meant it.
Two hours later, Holden arrived, after having had to repair a tire on a large piece of farm equipment in rural Maryland. I’d driven my newly purchased car, thanks to Holden’s generosity, to Manassas because Holden was coming from a different direction in his work truck.
We were spending the night, but we were staying at a bed and breakfast down the road. It then occurred to me why Carol had decided to deal with the beds at that particular time. She was giving me an excuse for why we were going to be staying at the Stoney Ridge Inn about three miles from their house.
I’d already stopped at the place to check us in and put a bottle of champagne on ice with the help of the nice lady who owned the inn. The ring was in the glove box of my car, and my stomach was starting to feel like I was housing a pterodactyl inside.
“Sweetheart, why is our room missing sheets?” Holden had showered and changed once he arrived. He’d brought his duffel with him since he thought we were staying with Carol and Rex.
I tried not to grin conspiratorially when Carol giggled.
“Your mom is trading your room for Holly’s bigger room. She wants to give us more room when we come to visit. I think it’s very nice of her to want us to have the bigger space.”
Holden arched his eyebrow as he studied me. “What did we getvoluntoldwe were going to do?”
I smirked at him. “We’re coming back for St. Patty’s Day to paint.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “It’ll be fun.”
