My girl. Marcia used to always call her that. Hearing it now, after all this time, was like a soothing balm to the soul.
Derek’s mom swung her gaze back up to him. “Tell me you’re on this.”
“I am.”
“Good.” Marcia thought for another moment before asking, “Does Eric know?”
“He does.”
Derek’s answer caught Charlie by complete surprise. “He does?”
Unapologetic eyes found hers. “I called him last night, while you were sleeping.”
“Great,” she mumbled under her breath.
At the same time, Marcia said, “Good. I didn’t want him to be as taken off guard as I was.” She looked at her watch. “He should be here in a few minutes.”
“Eric’s coming, too?”
As much as she hated Derek’s family knowing all her dirty laundry, Charlie found herself looking forward to seeing Eric. It had been far too long.
Marcia nodded. “I called him as soon as Derek phoned and said you two would be coming here.” The sympathy she’d wanted so badly to avoid was written all over the sweet woman’s face. “I’m sorry this happened to you, honey. And I’m sorry about your daddy. I know you two had a...rocky relationship. But, he was still your daddy. I would have gone to the funeral if I’d known in time.”
Charlie forced another smile. She’d gotten the call about a year after she left with Caleb that her father had passed away. He’d passed out on the couch and never woke up. The doctors said it was a heart attack.
In a rare show of empathy, Caleb had flown her back to make the arrangements and attend the meager funeral. Other than her and Caleb, only a handful of people from his work had shown.
She’d desperately hoped Derek would be there but learned he’d been deployed with his SEAL Team at the time.
“Thank you.”
With a solemn nod, Derek’s mom clapped her hands together loudly and smiled again. “Okay. Enough of that. Do you still know how to mash potatoes?”
Charlie smiled back. “I do.”
“Well, let’s get to it, then. Derek”—she looked back up at him—“I believe your father’s out in the garage. Will you tell him to come inside and get washed up for supper?”
“Yes, ma’am.” When his mom looked away, Derek mouthed,sorry.
Charlie grinned and mouthed back,It’s okay.
Then, she went to work mashing the boiled potatoes the way his mom had taught her years ago.
****
“Thanks for supper,Mom.”
Derek leaned down and gave his mom a kiss on the cheek.
“Of course, dear.” She kissed him back. “You know you’re welcome here any time.” Hugging Charlie she said, “That goes for you, too, young lady.”
Charlie returned the kind woman’s embrace. “Thanks, Marcia. Your cooking tasted even better than I remembered.”
“That’s sweet of you to say. I just wish Eric could have been here, too.”
Eric had gotten a last-minute break in a case he’d been working and had called to tell them he couldn’t make it.
“That’s all part of the job, dear,” his dad told his mom as she went back to his side. “You know that.”
