“Morning, sweetheart,” Willa said softly, walking into the room. “Are you okay?”
“I keep trying to remember dad’s voice,” Becky said, without preamble. “Grace says he used to sing badly in the car. Andy sayshe smelled like cedar wood. I don’t remember any of that.” Her jaw tightened in the way it did when she was fighting something. “I just don’t remember him, Mom.”
Willa sat on the edge of the bed.
“I know,” Willa said quietly. She didn’t try to fix it or soften it. Becky was twelve, and she deserved the honest version. “But you were so little. All you have to know and keep in your heart is that he loved you so much. The three of you were always together.”
“I know. But… I feel like I’m betraying him when I see you, Grace, and Andy get so upset,” Becky admitted. “And I want to feel that. I do feel the loss of my dad…” She swallowed. “Just not the way you all do, and that makes me… Makes me feel awful.”
“Oh, honey,” Willa pulled her into her arms. “You can’t feel guilty for that. Dad knows you loved him. Gosh, whenever he walked into the room, you’d light up like a Christmas tree.” She swallowed the lump in her throat as tears stung her eyes, remembering. “You know your first word was daddy.” She sniffed and kissed her daughter’s head. “Not mommy. Daddy.”
Becky pulled away and looked at her mother. “Really?” Her eyes were wide. “You never told me that.”
“Didn’t I?” Willa asked. “Oh, sorry, I thought I did.” She smiled. You can ask your sister. “I was quite upset and jealous about it for a while.”
“Oh!” Becky smiled and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Thank you for telling me that.”
“You were a real daddy’s girl,” Willa went on to tell her. “He even chose your name. He loved the name, Rebecca. It was his grandmother’s name. She was a hero, you know?”
“No, I didn’t know that,” Becky said again.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Willa said, feeling bad. “Your father told these stories to your brother and sister. I should’ve told you the stories too.”
“It’s okay, Mom,” Becky said and smiled. “We can make a family night once a week, and you can all fill me in with stories about Dad and his family.” She frowned. “I’m going to need a new journal because I’d like to document them. The way I’ve documented Gran’s and Aunt Carmen’s stories.” Her eyes widened. “Maybe Gramps Dean can join us as he’ll have more stories.”
Willa smiled. “That’s a brilliant idea.” She leaned forward and kissed her daughter’s cheek. “We’ll go and buy a journal together.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Becky smiled.
“Now, you need to get up and get ready,” Willa told her.
By seven-thirty, the house was moving at full pace.
Willa’s mother was in the kitchen, humming softly as she worked. Willa watched her mother move between the stove and the counter with a lightness about her that had been there for the past three days. Willa had been privately observing her mother with a mixture of warmth and amusement. She had been out every night for the past three nights. Her mother looked like a teenager with a crush, and the town was talking about seeing June and Holt having supper together for the past three nights. Walking hand in hand along the boardwalk. One person even witnessed them kissing behind a tree in the beachfront picnic area. Willa smiled to herself. She was happy for her mother, who hadn’t even dated in the past eighteen years since Willa’s fatherhad died. It was time for her mother to find happiness. Willa liked Holt. She wasn’t too happy that they had been married to each other before and had hidden it from her and Rad for all these years. It just seemed fishy, like they were hiding something. Willa shook the thought away and let her mother have her romance, knowing that June would let her know when she was ready to talk about it. So Willa had said nothing. She glanced at her wristwatch, and her eyes widened.Good grief, was that the time already?
“Mom,” Willa said, accepting the coffee June held out to her, “You won’t forget to ensure that Blaze has enough food and water before going out. Please ensure that the back gate is closed so he can’t escape again before you leave for the memorial.”
“I will,” June assured her daughter, her eyes scanning Willa. “How are you holding up, sweetheart?”
“I’m fine,” Willa assured her mother, and she was. Actually, she was a lot better than she’d been in the past nine years on this terrible day that brought back devastating memories.
They turned as Willa’s Aunt Carmen rushed into the kitchen. “Good morning, family,” she called, looking just as young and carefree as Willa’s mother. The sisters had each found a second, well, third in her mother’s case, chance at love. And she couldn’t be happier for both of them. It was also comforting to know that no matter your age, love was always around the corner waiting to offer another chance.
“Morning, Aunt Carmen,” Willa called back. “Are you and Zane all ready for today?”
“Yes, we are.” Carmen accepted a mug of coffee from her sister and gave June a strange look. “You’ve been looking far toohappy these past few days.” Her eyes narrowed. “Have you done something new to your hair?”
“Nope!” June shook her head. “You were telling Willa about being ready…”
“Oh, right.” Carmen turned back to Willa. “Zane has his speech ready, and I helped Margo with hers last night.” She took a sip of coffee. “Zane will start the memorial, then introduce you, Willa. After you’ve spoken, you will introduce Margo…”
“Yes, and then Holt will step up to let everyone know about the case,” Willa continued. “Exonerating Gilbert Fry.”
“Then you will unveil the new memorial plate that has been placed beneath the original one.”
“We’ll cut to the hospital where Judy will give a small speech,” Willa finished.
“I’m still worried about that,” June stated. “I visited Judy yesterday, and she’s still very weak.”
