He shook his head. “You don’t need to worry about that.”
“Mitch, I can’t let you pay for this.”
“Why not? There’s not much else I can do. Let me do this. I’m great at travel arrangements, which is an odd thing to be good at, considering I never leave my house.”
He was being sweet enough already. Having him pay for the tickets really did seem like too much. “You’re going with me. That’s a lot right there.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Harper, I want to help. And this is the only way I know how.”
“I’ll pay you back.”
A hint of a smile played on his lips. “If that’s what you want, but it’s not necessary. In fact, I could use the write-off.”
She gave him a look. “How is a trip to help me deal with my mother passing a write-off?”
“Research on Nevada.”
“You’re currently writing a series set in a completely make-believe world.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “So I’ll write a new short story and set it in Laughlin.”
She sighed, emotionally drained but also touched by his efforts to do all this for her. “Whatever you want to do is fine with me.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and seemed to be searching for words. “I’m…not good at comforting. Or emotional stuff. You know that. It’s something I’ve been working on. Which you also know. But I want to be here for you in whatever way you need.”
She nodded. “I appreciate that. This was something I knew was coming, but I didn’t think it would happen for a long time. I thought I was prepared. It’s been a while since my mom was…my mom. Her dementia really got bad about three years ago. The staff at the facility said my visits were only aggravatingher, and it took them days afterwards to get her calmed down sometimes.”
Mitch listened without saying a word.
“I had to make the hard decision to stop visiting. I hated it. But I knew it was better for her. And I told the staff if she ever asked for me, they were to call me anytime, night or day, and I would be there.”
She blew out a breath. “That never happened. They sent me regular updates, but there really wasn’t much to tell. She wasn’t getting better. She wasn’t going to get better. I made my peace with losing her right after I had to stop visiting.”
She shook her head. “Now I feel…I don’t know. I wish I hadn’t stopped. No, that’s not true. What I wish is that not visiting hadn’t been the right answer. I know it was, but I still feel guilty that I haven’t seen my mom in three years.”
The lump reformed in her throat. “And now I’ll never get to see her again.” Tears spilled down her face. “Never get to tell her I love her. Never hold her hand. Never get to brush her hair or help her eat her dinner or tell her how thankful I was to have her in my life or—”
A sob ended her words. She covered her face with her hands and let the tears flow again. “I hate that stupid disease.”
Mitch pulled her into his arms, the warm embrace exactly what she needed. “Your mom knew how much you loved her. I don’t doubt that one bit. You’re an amazing woman, Harper. That’s because of her. Your mom lives on in you, in all the things she taught you and all the ways you’re like her.”
She sniffed, tears abated, and pulled back to look at him. There were damp marks on his T-shirt from her crying. She wiped at the spots, ineffectually, then touched his face.
What a good, sweet man he was. The kind of man she never wanted to be without. She was blessed to know him. “Thank you. I’msoglad you’re here with me.”
Chapter Forty-Four
For the day’s painting session, Frankie had music playing on her laptop, soft instrumental sounds mixed with rain and a gentle breeze. It fit the portrait. She couldn’t explain why, it just did. Maybe because it worked with the mood she was creating. That was the best she could do.
The volume was down low, so the music served as background. It didn’t stop her from hearing the door open and close. She looked up as Harper walked into the rec room. Her face was splotchy, and her eyes were red and puffy.
Frankie put her brush down. “What’s wrong?”
“I guess you didn’t get my text. It’s okay.” Harper let out a deep sigh, her chin crumpling. “My mom died.”
Frankie sucked in a breath, tears immediately forming as Harper began to weep. She ran to her sister and hugged her. “Oh, Harper. Oh, honey. I’m so, so sorry.”
Harper hugged her back, sniffling as they separated. “Thanks. I’m doing all right. I’m sure I don’t look all right, but the initial shock has worn off. I mean, I knew this was coming. I just didn’t expect it so soon.”
