“I’m so glad we did this.”
Over the course of the next twenty-four hours, we manage to relax into relaxation. Funny, how it takes some effort—at least at first—to simply slow down and enjoy yourself. Of course, an hour-long massage helps. I practically float out of the spa.
We have dinner at the restaurant, then walk the Haddad Riverfront Park, enjoying the sun setting over the placid waters of the Kanawha River and talking about anythingbutour regular lives.
I learn that Emmy majored in English in college and loves poetry, something she kept pretty secret beforehand. I also learn that her parents, while pretty local, are practically housebound—her mom with COPD, her dad as her carer—and haven’t been able to be very involved in her kids’ lives.
“Ed’s mom comes around a lot and helps out,” she continues. “Maybe too much. She’s always complaining about the state of my floors.”
“I think that’s practically a mother-in-law’s duty,” I quip, and she snorts.
“What about you? Will Josh’s parents help out when this baby comes?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Josh’s parents live in Maryland, so not even that far away, but they haven’t visited us yet. They keep saying they’re going to, but then something comes up. They have very active retirement lives, in which pickleball and wine tasting seem to feature prominently.
“You must be missing your mom,” Emmy says quietly.
I feel a lurch inside, as if the ground beneath me has shifted. And in some ways, thatisexactly how it feels—with every baby, my mom was there, in her briskly practical way. She was the emotional foundation for my experience of pregnancy and motherhood, and doing both without her feels both weird and lonely.
“I do,” I say quietly. “She’s been gone awhile now, but this brings it all back in a way.” I know I’ve been thinking about her a lot more than I usually do.
“Well, you know you’ll have plenty of help,” Emmy assures me. “But I know it’s not the same.”
No, it’s not the same, but I’m still glad to be part of such a close-knit community. A close-knit community, despite all the relaxation, Emmy and I are both eager to get back to.
By Sunday morning, we’re definitely feeling a little restless. Emmy has succumbed to the siren call of her phone, and she keeps checking it.
“Everything okay?” I ask lightly as we sit down for breakfast after going through the substantial buffet offerings. I am looking forward to my cinnamon and apple French toast with plenty of whipped cream.
“Yes.” She gives me a guilty smile. “Sorry, I’m as bad as my teenagers. It’s just hard, being away. I want to know what’s going on.”
“I know, me, too.” I miss being part of the cheerful chaos of our home life, even just for a weekend. I’m also wondering if the house is going to be a pigsty upon my return, with four loads of laundry Josh will have forgotten to do. Still, I’m glad we did this. Getting away has been fun… and it’s also made us both appreciate what we left behind. I know I’ll return to Wildflower Valley with a new appreciation for just about everything.
It isn’t until we’re in the car heading home, happy and relaxed and ready to return to our lives, that Emmy drops what amounts to an emotional nuclear bomb, detonating my newly placid mood.
“Has Bethany said anything to you about her and Ben?” Her tone is way too innocent.
“No…” I give her a swift, searching glance from the driver’s seat before turning back to the road. “What kind of thing do you mean?”
Emmy blows out a breath. “Well, maybe I shouldn’t say anything, but if it were me… I think I’d want a heads up.”
Now I’m feeling really nervous. “They’re okay, aren’t they? I mean, Ben’s not thinking of breaking up with her?” Because after their back-and-forth last fall, Bethany has seemed happier than ever. Even though I’ve worried about them getting too serious too soon, I don’t want my daughter to be heartbroken. But he gave her that housewarming present… theyhaveto be solid, don’t they?
“No, no,” Emmy assures me. “Not at all. In fact, the opposite.” She hesitates in a very unEmmy-like way, and I give her an exasperated look.
“Emmy, whatever it is, please just spill.”
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” she cries, covering her eyes. “I just didn’t want you and Josh to be blindsided. Ben thinks you won’t be, but… I have my doubts.”
“Blindsided?” I shake my head, incredulous. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“Ben’s going to ask Josh’s permission,” Emmy blurts, and I still don’t know what she means.
“Permission for what?”
“His blessing,” she emphasizes. “Both of yours. For him to ask Bethany to marry him.”
Chapter fourteen
