“Why am I doing all the work, Laura Sue?”
“I’m helping,” she said as she kicked her legs in the water.
“You are not! You’re weighing me down!” her mother complained.
“Well, this is your therapy, not mine. I’m just along for the ride.”
“I’ll say.”
Laura laughed. They were draped across the float on their stomachs, using their legs to propel them over the water and to the other side of the pool. Well, mostly her mother was.
“You’ve gotten so much better, Mom. You hardly use the walker at all anymore. Doesn’t it feel great?”
“Yes, it does. Thank you for talking me into this all those months ago.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Now that you’ve given me my independence back, does that mean you’re ready to move on? Leave me on my own?”
“If I moved on anywhere, it would be over here, you know. I’d still be here for you every day.”
“You practically live here now.”
Yes, Cassidy had taken to working from home on most Mondays and nearly every Friday. And yes, Laura stayed with her when she was here. But she still saw her mother every day and still cooked some meals for her. Of course, since she was getting along better and could make it to Cassidy’s without the walker now, she joined them for dinner a lot of nights…unless it was one of her TV nights. Despite her newfound independence, she was still hooked on her TV shows.
“I’m a little nervous about meeting her parents,” Laura admitted.
“Why?”
“Maybe they won’t think I’m good enough.”
“Oh, Laura Sue…that’s ridiculous. Cassidy is head over heels in love with you. Anyone can see that. They’ll love you just as much.”
“You’re still coming, right?” she asked, referring to the Labor Day party Cassidy was having. Tanya and Derrick would be there, as well as Dave, Cassidy’s brother. Laura had met him once, when his family came out to see Cassidy’s house. He was much like Cassidy in personality although perhaps a little more serious and a little less playful. Still, he had been very friendly to her. His wife was down-to-earth and so like Tanya that Laura had taken an instant liking to her. She was looking forward to seeing them again. And of course Tanya too. They’d become friends and she and Derrick had been out on several Saturdays over the summer.
“You don’t think I’ll get in the way.”
“Of course not. Cassidy would be hurt if you didn’t come. And besides, if it’s not to your liking…just complain of being tired and you can limp badly and I’ll help you back home.”
Her mother laughed. “Escape plan, huh?”
“Yes. I just hope I won’t need one.”
“Quit worrying. Her parents will love you.”
She didn’t know why she was worried. If they didn’t like her, they didn’t like her. That would have no bearing on her and Cassidy’s relationship. What she was really afraid of was that they wouldn’t think she was a suitable partner for Cassidy. She was the yard girl, for God’s sake. Cassidy was a professional. She had a real job. Laura? Well, she did have three yards now, but that hardly constituted a thriving business.
“Laura Sue, you’re frowning. You’ve got to quit worrying about it. You are what you are.”
“A yard girl,” she said almost disgustedly.
Her mother laughed. “So tell them you’re a writer.”
Laura laughed too. “And what? I’m between books.”
“Writer’s block,” her mother managed between laughs.
“Eight years of it!” she said as she broke into a fit of giggles. “God…what was I thinking?”
“You wrote a book. I’ve always been so proud of that.”
“Thank you. But we should probably leave that in the past. And you’re right. I am what I am. A damn good yard girl.”
“What’s all that giggling out here?”
Laura turned at the sound of Cassidy’s voice and nearly fell off the float. “You’re early!”
“I know.”
“Like a day early! I don’t have dinner planned.”
“No problem. We’ll do our fallback plan.”
“Pizza? We’re going to get so fat.”
“No way.” Cassidy gave her an exaggerated wink. “I think we get enough exercise…don’t you?”
Laura felt a blush on her face which deepened as she heard her mother’s chuckle beside her. Laura turned to glare at her, which did no good whatsoever.
“Maggie? Is it okay if we have pizza at your place?”
“Oh, that would be nice. I was about to leave anyway. Help me out, Laura Sue.”
They paddled over to the shallow end, and Laura marveled at how comfortable her mother was in the water now. And at the progress she’d made over the summer. She walked unassisted up the steps—wearing her new flowery swimsuit—to take Cassidy’s hand. Cassidy draped a towel around her shoulders.
“You’re doing so good, Maggie.”
“Thanks to you two.” She looked fondly over at Laura. “She would have made a good drill instructor. She was relentless.”
Laura smiled at her. “Maybe by next summer, you’ll be able to ditch the cane too.”
“I’m just happy I’m not tied to that dang walker. It made me feel old.”
Laura watched her pick up the cane and make her way around the shrubs at the side. Laura stepped—dripping wet—next to Cassidy.
“So…you snuck away early again? Tanya let you off?”
“Yeah…she thinks she’s the boss, all right.” Cassidy was unmindful of her damp suit as she pulled her into her arms. “I missed you this week.”
“I miss you every week.”
“Oh, yeah?” Cassidy finally kissed her, long and slow, drawing out a moan from Laura.
“You have entirely too many clothes on,” Laura said. She started unbuttoning her blouse. “You look kinda nice in your power suit, but let’s take it off, huh?”
“We don’t have time for this. Your mother—”
Laura put a finger against her mouth. “We have all the time in the world.” But something caught her eye and she looked past Cassidy, seeing her mother standing beside the shrubs, watching them. “Mother!” she hissed and waved her away. Her mother was smiling as she left. Laura was smiling too as she looked at Cassidy. “She loves you, you know. She loves us.”
“You’re worried about meeting my parents this weekend?”
“I’m worried your mother won’t like me. I’m worried she won’t like…us.”
“I told you…they’re very normal, down-to-earth people. They’re going to love you. If for no other reason, they’re going to love you because I love you.” She kissed her again. “Quit worrying.”
Laura finished unbuttoning Cassidy’s blouse and she ran her hands across her smooth skin. “Ooh…sexy bra,” she murmured. “I love you in black.” When she would have pushed the blouse off of Cassidy’s shoulders, Cassidy stopped her.
“Move in with me.”
Laura looked up, startled. “What?”
Cassidy smiled. “Move in with me.”
“I’m practically living here now,” she said, echoing her mother’s words.
“Practically, yes. Let’s make it official.”
Laura swallowed. “Are you…are you sure?”
Cassidy frowned. “Are you not sure?”
Laura saw the doubt in her eyes and she moved closer, pulling Cassidy tight against her. “I love you so much. I’m sure of that.” She pulled away. “But I don’t want you to regret it later and then—”
“Laura, I want to marry you. I want us to be together…always.”
“You want…you want to…to marry me?”
“Yes, I want to marry you.”
Laura felt tears in her eyes and she tried to blink them away.
Cassidy smiled gently at her. “I want you to move in with me. I want to marry you. I want to love you for the rest of my life.” She leaned closer and kissed her. “Please say yes.”
Laura gave in to her tears as she nodded.
“Yes. Yes to all of it.”