“He’s gone and he’s not coming back.”
“I know.”
“You still going to the support group?” Becca asked.
“Yeah, you?” She attended one in Cliffside Bay, a town just north of here.
“No, I was ready to stop. I got what I needed.”
“Good.”
“Listen, I wanted to talk to you in person instead of over the phone about something important.”
“Go ahead. I’ll try and be more gracious.” I braced myself though, knowing what she was going to say.
“I’m getting married.”
There it was. I drew in a deep breath. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. You almost sound like you mean it.”
“I do.”
“I want you to meet him,” Becca said. “And I want you to come to the wedding.”
“I was at the first one, so why not?” I blurted out before I could think better of it.
I cringed as a wave of pain crossed her face.
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “That’s not what I meant.”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“How are the girls taking it?”
“Maria’s all in. She was little when Nate died, and he’d been away for so much of her life. I’m not sure how much she even remembers him. She adores Mark. They’re tight already. But Luci’s struggling. Her face looks like yours does right now pretty much all the time—like she’s trying to be happy for me but she can’t fully because she loved her dad so much.”
“It’s dumb, but I never thought about you remarrying. I don’t know why. It was just always Nate and Becca, you know?”
“I know more than anyone,” Becca said softly. “I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone again. But Mark’s special.” She went on to tell me how they’d met through mutual friends. “At a Christmas party I didn’t even want to go to. He’s a marine biologist. Specializes in dolphins.”
“Who wouldn’t like a guy who studies dolphins?” I asked lightly. Inside, however, my chest had tightened to the point of finding it hard to speak.
“He has a beautiful home in Cliffside Bay.”
“No kids?” I asked.
“No, but an ex-wife. He hasn’t spoken to her in years though, so it’s nothing to worry about. And he’s really good to the girls, even when Luci’s rude.”
“When’s the wedding?”
“In two weeks,” Becca said. “We’re going to do it at his house. He lives on the cliff, looking out to sea. It’s beautiful. We’ll be moving in with him, so I have the house up for sale. He wants me to be able to stay home with the girls if I want, so I’m thinking about leaving my job once we get married.”
Becca had been working as an elementary school aid since Nate died. She said she needed the money, despite Nate’s pension, but I suspected she wanted ways to fill her days when the girls were at school.
I thought about the small house Nate had found for them after he left the Navy. He’d acted proud, but later I wondered if it had felt like a burden. Like a noose around his neck.
“There’s more,” Becca said. “I was wondering if you’d give me away. You know my dad’s gone and I have no brothers. You’re the closest thing I have to one, and I’d really like it to be you.”
