“A future without you.” He pressed his lips to hers. “I love you, Viv.”
Still in a warm lip-lock, they pushed off, falling the short distance in an instant, still clinging to each other as they went under the dark water.
Coming up for air, they paddled to the side, and climbed out, arm in arm, knowing the one thing they’d never let go of—each other.
“No.” Maggie sliced her new “life partner” with a look that she hoped conveyed how serious she was. “Absolutely, unequivocally no. Do not ask again or I shall throttle you.”
Jo Ellen just giggled in response to that, which only made Maggie scared enough to take a deep drink of the gin and tonic that Jonah had promised he’d made “light.” But, goodness, it tasted more like gin than tonic.
“Mags. You know you want to.”
“You know I don’t,” she volleyed back, watching Anthony climb the stairs carefully with a giddy little Nolie. “Thank goodness Crista has a brain and is watching from the sidelines.”
“She’d go if she weren’t pregnant,” Jo Ellen said.
“And I’d go if I weren’t seventy-eight. You? Knock yourself out, Jo. You probably will.”
“I’m not doing it without you,” she said sternly. “And Iamjumping.” She leaned closer from her lawn chair, lifting her drink, her bright eyes proving the gin-versus-tonic theory. “So that means you are, too. We’re in this together and we’re letting go of lonely widowhood and embracing our new, fun, adventurous, hilarious, perfect life.”
Maggie waved her off and let her gaze drift over the party around her, deeply content. In this chair—where she intended to stay.
“It’s not even as dangerous as a motorcycle,” Jo Ellen said, “which you have ridden multiple times.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“Have you talked to Brick?” Jo Ellen asked.
“No. Why would I?”
“To tell him you’re staying local. He’s not far from here, you know. You two could ride his hog all the time.”
Maggie’s eyes shuttered. “Don’t make me regret my decision to stay here with you, Jo.”
Her friend just laughed and leaned back with a smug smile. “No regrets, Maggie. No regrets.”
They turned to the bridge at the sound of Nolie squealing in delight with her father, followed by a splash.
Maggie sat up, waiting for that little head to pop up, which it did, joyfully laughing.Thank goodness she was safe.
They heard movement behind them and turned to look up at Vivien, who gestured at the bridge.
“Your turn, Mom and Aunt Jo.”
“We’re not?—”
Jo Ellen rose quickly, like she’d been waiting for the invitation. Reaching her hand to Maggie, she angled her head toward the water. “Buckle up, buttercup. We’re jumping.”
“We arenot.”
A few others called out encouragement, and those who were standing came closer.
“Come on, Mom!” Eli said on a laugh. “I wouldn’t let you jump if it were dangerous.”
“Really, Grandma,” Jonah chimed in. “We’re not leaving until you two go.”
“Stop it,” she said, shifting in her seat.
“Don’t you have something to let go of?” Vivien asked. “Something that’s weighed you down for a long time? This is freedom, Mom.”
