Page 87 of Fall Over You

She gives me a look like I’m not getting the point. “Do you think she’ll like them?”

“Oh. Sure.”

She shakes her head and chuckles. “You are such a guy.”

I am kind of being a dick, and I really do care about her flowers. I step carefully through the path she’s constructed through the meadow. I walk up behind Becca and Ellie, and when Becca straightens to look at the blooms in her hand, I tap her waist to keep from running into her. She startles at first, then leans back into me. “Oh. Hi.”

My heart is galloping, but now I can’t stop. I rub my hand along her side and she hums. It feels so nice to touch her like this. “Hey. Those look good. What kind are they?” I point to one flower that looks basically like what kids draw for a flower.

“Yeah, I like these. Cosmos. There are a lot of different types, but these are the classics.”

Something occurs to me: she has this whole meadow, but I never see cut flowers in her house. “Why don’t you ever put these inside the house?”

Becca gets a rueful smile. “I don’t know. I feel like flowers are something you give to other people, to show them you care. Or I’m just so focused on selling them that I forget to cut some for me. Then if I have leftovers at markets, I usually just give them to other vendors. They deserve things to brighten their homes too.”

My brow wrinkles. “Yeah, but so do you.”

“I guess so,” she says with a shrug.

Ellie pops out of a tall set of flowers then, proudly displaying a flower that she pulled up at the root. I’m afraid Becca will be mad that she uprooted her plant, but she just beams.

“Oh, Ellie, that’s such a pretty one. Your meemaw’s gonna love it.”

In this moment, I decide that Becca deserves all the flowers in the world.

I close my eyes and let out a breath as I shut off my truck in my parents’ driveway.

Maybe this time will be different.

I love my parents. Love my dad. And I love my mom too, but it’s more complicated. Since CJ left, Mom just can’t let it drop. Every time I pull up in their driveway, I have to steel myself, hoping maybe it won’t be so bad this time. Maybe she’ll stop bringing up something that gives me no pleasure—or healing—to remember.

I believe in second chances, and apparently, I also believe in ninety-second chances, because I subject myself to this at least once a month.

A freezing cold hand slips into mine and my shoulders relax.

“We got this,” Becca says. “I’ll charm the shizzin’ pants off ‘em.”

I open my eyes to find Becca’s warm smile and a wink. She’s been making a concerted effort to cuss less because of Ellie, and it results in some pretty funny alternatives. It’s honestly kind of adorable.

“Thank you. I’m just afraid my mom’s going to be rude.”

Becca tosses her head. “I think you underestimate how lovable your wife is.”

We’ve been married two days and already I’m having to subject Becca to my parents’ Sunday dinner madness. Obviously, my dad loves her, but there’s a bit of a rift between my mom and my dad. My mom takes her solace in doing things for church and being involved in the community there. My dad’s community is at the Legion. Their social circles don’t really cross, and I can’t imagine they spend much time together. That’s not my idea of a good marriage, but they’re still together.

I resigned a long time ago that whatever happens between them isn’t my problem. I’ve had too many problems of my own to waste any more energy on it.

Given Becca’s connection to my dad’s bar of choice and Ellie’s mom, I doubt my mom’s going to be a barrel of laughs today. I don’t think Becca knows just what she’s up against, but I let her confidence ground me now anyway.

The back door pops open as Dad swarms in to get Ellie out of her carseat, immediately launching into their little Papaw-and-Ellie dialect full of jokes and him telling her she’s a little rascal.

Guess it’s showtime.

“Let’s do this thing,” Becca mumbles to me.

We get out of the truck and Becca immediately goes for my mom, spreading her arms. “Diane! Thank you so much for having us!”

She hands my mom the jar of flowers and accepts a lukewarm hug. They both watch my dad goof off with Ellie. Becca looks on adoringly, and my mom looks significantly less pleased.