Kate Cummings heard the front door slam so loudly that the windows shook. Three seconds later, her twelve-year-old came charging into the kitchen, wearing a red-and-gray Razorbacks sweatshirt, a matching cap, and a toothy grin that told her his fishing outing had been better than just enjoyable.
“I’m back,” Jesse Cummings announced as he made a beeline for the fridge.
“Yes, I heard. I think every guest at Angel View heard.”
Jesse refilled his water bottle, then stood beside Kate at the stove, his fishy, wet-dog smell mingling with the aroma of the homemade pasta sauce she was stirring.
“Man, does that ever smell dee-lish!” Jesse put his face closer to the pot and took a big whiff. “Mmm … this is a perfect Saturday. The Razorbacks won. The Foggy Ridge Falcons won. Fishing was awesome. And now we’re having the best spaghetti in the world for dinner.”
Kate proudly stirred the sauce she’d made with plum and Roma tomatoes, Italian sausage, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and her own special blend of garlic, spices, and fresh herbs.
“So tell me about the fishing,” she said.
“It was awesome—the most fish I ever caught. Sixty-two crappie and thirteen catfish. I forgot my stringer, so I let them all go. But I took a couple selfies with the biggest ones. Tons of them were legal keepers. I should take Hawk next time. Grandpa’d go nuts, but it’s too far for him to walk.”
“So where is this honey hole?” Kate said.
Jesse unscrewed the cap on the spring water, gulped down half the bottle, and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “On the east bank of the Sure Foot, south of the bridge—on down toward Rocky Creek. There’s this wide, flat rock that sticks out over the river. Such a cool spot. I caught one fish after another, and they were still biting when I finally ran out of bait. I practically had the place to myself, except for a man and a lady over yonder, wading in the water.”
“That’s dangerous,” Kate said. “You do know that, right?”
Jesse rolled his eyes. “You’ve warned me a million times about the undercurrent. When I get hot, I take off my shirt, then fill my hat with water and pour it over my head. I just wish it felt like fall instead of summer.”
“Why don’t you go shower and clean up before dinner.”
Jesse glanced in the dining room at the new navy stoneware, floral tablecloth, and the centerpiece his mom had made of fresh yellow mums and orange zinnias. He cocked his head and looked at her. “Cool, Elliot’s coming for dinner. Why don’t you just get married? He’s here all the time anyway.”
Kate felt her cheeks warm. “He’s not here all the time. But we certainly enjoy each other’s company.”
Jesse ran his finger through a dollop of pasta sauce on the spoon rest and stuck it into his smiling mouth. “Well, it’d be fine with me if you got married. I like having Elliot around. You’re over Daddy now, right?”
Her youngest son’s candor pierced her. Had he been able to remember his father, perhaps he wouldn’t have spoken matter of factly about the man she mourned so deeply—who had just vanished one day with Jesse’s two-year-old sister, Riley.
Kate tilted Jesse’s chin and looked into his eyes. “I doubt I will ever get over your daddy being murdered by some wayward mountain man who stole Riley from us for five years. But it’s behind us, and I’m enjoying life again.”
“Well, I think you and Elliot should get married.”
“You do, huh?”
“Yep. I like it when you’re happy.” Jesse downed the last of the bottle of water. “I’m gonna go shower. Don’t put the garlic bread in the oven till I get back. I love the way it makes the whole house smell good.”
Jesse shot out of the kitchen, and she could hear his footsteps on the staircase.
Kate smiled. She loved being happy again and was glad Jesse noticed. For most of the years he could remember, she had been grieving the losses in her life. He couldn’t possibly understand how afraid she was to open her heart again, despite the fact she was inexplicably drawn to Elliot and too much in love to run scared.
Elliot Stafford loved her more than she dared admit. He had been a supportive friend during the time Micah was missing, slowly falling in love with her, but never once telling her so or acting inappropriately. He was sincerely devoted to her and the kids, all of whom adored him. So why, every time he hinted about marriage, did she seek to change the subject?
Liam Berne pulled his ’95 Chevy Caprice into the driveway of his sister’s red-brick ranch and then eased into his half of the garage. He paused to pull himself together, then got out and opened the trunk. He took out four plastic bags of groceries, spotted his sister standing in the doorway between the garage and the utility room, and walked toward her.
Act nonchalant. No matter what she says, don’t react.
Colleen Berne blocked the door, her arms crossed, worry creases connecting her thick eyebrows. Her dull brown hair bore streaks of gray and hung down to her chin, straight as a two-by-four, same as her figure. Despite the fact that there wasn’t an ounce of middle-aged fat on her, Colleen’s most attractive feature was her designer tortoiseshell eyeglasses.
She glanced over Liam’s shoulder. “I was hoping Mom was with you.”
“Why would she be with me?” Liam said. “I told you I was going to run errands and stop at the grocery store.”
“I know. When she wasn’t in her room, I thought maybe I’d misunderstood and you’d taken her with you. I’ve been trying to reach you for almost two hours. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“Sorry. My battery went dead and I didn’t have my charger with me. So Mom’s out wandering again?”
“Apparently.” Colleen tucked her hair behind her ear. “I just got back from looking for her when you drove up.”
“Did you call the sheriff?”
“Yes. No one had reported finding her. That’s why I hoped she was with you.”
“Surely someone will realize she’s got Alzheimer’s and wandered off,” Liam said. “I’m glad we ordered that ID necklace with her name, address, and phone number on it.”
“She’s not wearing it.” Colleen’s lower lip quivered. “I told you she keeps taking it off. It reminds her of the dog tag Daddy wore in the army. She was wearing that platinum cross he gave her and won’t even let me take it off when she showers.”
“I’m sure Mom’s fine.” Liam forced a reassuring smile, finding it harder to lie to Colleen than he had anticipated. “The sheriff’s department will probably call any minute, and we can go pick her up.”
“They have my cell number. I can’t just sit here and wait. I need to keep looking for her.”
Liam squeezed past Colleen, the scent of Dial soap wafting under his nose, and walked through the utility room into the newly remodeled kitchen. Wood floor. Granite countertops. Stainless steel appliances. Wallpaper with an attractive flower-garden pattern. Colleen had better taste in decorating than she did in personal fashion.
Liam set the bags on the breakfast bar. “I’ll go with you. It’s pointless to split up if my cell phone’s dead. Let’s bring in the rest of the groceries and put away the perishables first.”
Liam turned and walked back out to the garage, Colleen on his heels. He handed her a bag, then picked up the last three, slammed the trunk shut, and followed her into the house.
Colleen began emptying the bags. “Mom’s living with us isn’t safe for her anymore. I can hardly wait until there’s a bed available at the Alzheimer’s center.”
“I know you’re right. But it hurts me to think of leaving her there like some stray puppy we turned in to the humane society.”
Colleen put down the yogurt carton, her eyes welled with tears. “Don’t you think it breaks my heart, Liam? But we have to do whatever it takes to keep her safe. She’s vulnerable when she’s out wandering. I don’t know what I’d do if something awful happened to her …”
Liam was touched by his sister’s raw emotion. What Colleen lacked in looks, she made up for in character. Her motives were pure and he knew it. His unspoken disagreement with her was concerning what was actually necessary. And in his opinion, watching his mother’s life drag on in some sterile institution that would cost a fortune and not add one minute of quality to her life was not necessary.
Liam blinked away the image of his mother’s limp body, weightless in his arms, and was hit with an unexpected swell of emotion. He coughed to cover it up—but not before his sister picked up on it.
Colleen came over and stood next to him, her arm around his waist. “I know it’s hard. I hate it too. But it’s really the best thing for her. She’s been a wonderful mother.” Colleen gently rubbed his back, her voice now compassionate and soft. “We can honor her by being strong and making sure she receives the necessary care, for however long she’s still with us.”
Liam nodded, glad to let her assume his upset was because of his reluctance to admit their mother to the Alzheimer’s hospital.
Colleen pulled him closer. “Let’s get this done and go find her.”
The lump in Liam’s throat seemed to have doubled in size. He was beginning to feel the finality of his actions. He would have to join in the search for their mother. And when they couldn’t find her, Colleen would fall apart. The sheriff would be all over it. And Liam would have to give the performance of his life.