“Good. Let’s move on. How’s your family?”
“They’re all well. My husband—ex, I mean—has a new girlfriend, if you can believe it. Why is it so easy for men to find someone new? I’ve been out here on the dating apps, and it’s like whistling Dixie in the wilderness.”
Rita almost choked on a dumpling. “Well now, that’s a new way of sayin’ things.”
“There’s no one decent out there. It’s a wasteland.” She sighed.
“You got any new datin’ stories?” Rita asked. “They sure do perk me up after a long day on my feet.”
“Last Friday night, I went on a date with this man who had the worst kind of cold. I thought for sure he’d cancel if he was unwell, but no. That’s why I’m sick. He took me to the movies and put his arm around me. Then he proceeded to cough and sneeze his way through the whole thing. I just about had to catch an Uber home because I couldn’t take it anymore. I’m a bit of a germaphobe, you know…”
“A bit?” Rita rolled her eyes.
“Are you gonna interrupt the whole time?” Cathy glared at her.
“Sorry.” Rita waved a hand. “Continue, please.”
“Then he wanted a kiss goodnight. Well, I’ll be darned if I’m gonna kiss someone I don’t know from Adam, and who has a runny nose. And he had the hide to ask if he could come in so I could take care of him because his ex-wife used to do all that and he couldn’t bear going back to an empty house to cough all night alone. I didn’t know what to say, so I pushed him out the door and told him to stop by the pharmacy on the way home. Then I locked it behind him.”
Rita had started laughing halfway through the story and now couldn’t stop. Every time she pictured the scene in her mind, she started laughing all over again. Cathy watched her with slits for eyes. Finally, she said, “Well, I’m glad my life at least gives you a laugh.”
“I’m sorry, honey. Really, I am. But that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in a while. You’re a hoot.”
Cathy crossed her arms. “My pain is hilarious?”
“Oh, come on. Lighten up. You know I love you. But you’ve got to laugh at yourself sometimes.”
She sighed. “It was pretty funny — looking back, you know.”
“If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry,” Rita said as she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief from her pocket.
“So, what’s going on with you?”
“Things are good. Today was Tyler’s first day in training. I really hope it goes well. He needs a win in his life. I still don’t understand why he left the military — he loved being part of something meaningful like that, so I hope the sheriff’s office will give him the same kind of satisfaction.”
“Maybe he got sick of bein' in the navy. Or wanted to see his daughter more often. And you too, by the way — you know how much that boy adores you. Anyhow, if this doesn’t work out, he’ll find something else. You worry too much.”
Rita listened as Cathy told her another story, but only with half her mind. The rest of her thoughts were focused on Tyler and what was going on with him. She didn’t know where he stood with Jessica after the break up, or how he’d do in training, but she wanted so badly for him to find happiness and to settle down close by. He deserved that. He’d always been such a good son — kind, thoughtful, and hardworking. He’d never been much for rebelliousness. And now she saw it in his eyes — he was just holding on, hoping for something to go in his favour. She hoped and prayed that this time it would all work out for him — heaven knew the entire family had been through enough grief and hardship to last a lifetime. They’d all get a boost by seeing Tyler succeed.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Matilda wiped her mouth after retching into the toilet bowl yet again. Whatever she ate the night before had disagreed with her, and she’d woken up before dawn with a horrible urge to rush to the bathroom and empty her stomach. She’d thought she had the flu a couple of weeks earlier, but that had passed. Since then, she just hadn’t felt right, and now the symptoms were really ramping up.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Ryan stood behind her, placing one hand on her shoulder.
“I’m fine.” She stood and looked at her reflection in the mirror above the sink. There were dark smudges beneath her eyes, and her neck was blotchy and red.
“What’s going on?”
“I think I have food poisoning.”
“Oh, no. I’m sorry.” He rubbed a circle on her back. “Can I get you something?”
“I’ll take a shower, and I’m sure I’ll feel better.”
He smiled. “Okay. I’ll let the dog out since we’re up. I don’t have to go into work until nine today, so I can stay to make sure you’re well before I leave.”
“Thanks. That would be nice.”
