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“Sometimes when Rogen was working on assignment, she sent me to this nice school around the corner from where we lived. It was really fun, and I asked if I could go all the time.” He showed her his very first piece. “It’s not all that good. Not like I can do now.”
“I think it’s lovely.” She looked up at her son when he said her name, tearing her out of her memory of earlier. “I’m sorry. I was thinking of something else. What did you say?”
“I asked you if you wanted to have a seat. The service is about to begin.” She was escorted to the front by Thatcher. Jamie had to be ready to be a pallbearer. Thatcher sat her down next to Rogen, then sat by her.
The service wasn’t that long. The minister didn’t know Jimmy—few people here did, she supposed—but it was nice, the things he said. He even told about how he’d come to see his children for the last time but hadn’t made it. He died trying to tell them that he loved them. That was when he went into making sure you live everyday as if it were your last. Lisha thought that was good advice, and she was going to make sure she did that as much as she could.
As they were leaving the church, Lisha thought about the other funeral home that she’d gone to with Rogen. The man had been rude and nasty, and it wasn’t until Rogen stood up to take her someplace else that she realized that he was treating her like white trash. They were nearly to the car when Rogen said she’d forgotten her purse and went back in to get it. It wasn’t until they were riding to the next place that she realized that Rogen hadn’t carried a purse.
“What did you do to that man?” Rogen grinned and said she’d done nothing. “I don’t believe you. What on earth did you do to him? Rogen, you didn’t kill him, did you?”
“No. Not yet at any rate. But he’ll never treat anyone like he did us again. I made sure of that. The nerve of that fucking bastard.” The driver laughed and Rogen joined him. “This place we’re going now is the church that is on pack land. Shane offered it
to us when we told him about Dad’s death. He said it was large, and he even told us that we could bury Dad back there. You too when the time came. This way, you can visit him anytime you like.”
“I’d like that.” Rogen had nodded. “Rogen, Mrs. Robinson, she said it would be her pleasure to teach me how to read. I talked to her last evening. And she’s nicer to me now too. I wasn’t all that nice to her when we first met. I wasn’t nice to a lot of people, including you and Jamie.”
“You were fine, Mom. It was us. And I’m not going to tell you that we didn’t deserve to be rude, but we should have taken your feelings into consideration more than we did.” Lisha said nothing. “Thatcher said he found a buyer for the camper. And he’s going to buy the truck from you to use.”
“Thank you for that. I just don’t think I could use it on my own. Too many memories.” She looked out the window and the lovely little church they were in came into view. “Oh Rogen. It’s perfect. Just like a picture. Thank you for bringing me here after me putting up such a fuss about the other place.”
“I had no idea that he’d be a jackass, but I had heard that he was a prick. I’ll take care of him too.” She didn’t know what that meant and was positive that she didn’t want to. Rogen was good at whatever she did, and that was all she knew. “Mom, are you all right?”
For the second time in the last few hours, she’d been pulled from her memories. Vowing to pay attention from now on, she walked with Thatcher on one side of her and Rogen on the other. Once they were standing near the open grave, Thatcher went to the hearse to be a pallbearer with Jamie. Sitting in the chair offered to her, Lisha watched as her husband, her friend, was brought to his final resting place.
There were nice words being said, Lisha was sure. But all she could think about was that she was alone now. No more would Jimmy be there with her when she was watching television. He’d not be around to help her with small things around the house. There would be no more plans for the future for the two of them. The trip to Florida was finished.
Leaning on Rogen’s shoulder, she told her that she loved her and Jamie. Loved them for taking her in, for giving her peace, and most of all for accepting her when she needed them most. Jamie handed her a tissue, then hugged her too. Lisha felt something that she’d never felt before—love from her children. Something that she was positive she did not deserve.
Going back to their home, Lisha sat at the table, just watching the people that had come there. There were a great many of them that were well dressed, some of them in military uniform. And all of them seemed to know Rogen.
She was delightful, Lisha noticed. Friendly to everyone. Hugged a great many of the men and women alike. Some of the people were introduced to her, but Lisha knew that she’d never remember their names. And it was doubtful that she’d see them again.
When Maggie sat next to her and put a plate of food in front of her, Lisha started to shove it away. She didn’t think she could eat, ever again.
“No, you don’t, young lady. You eat something. I’ll talk, you’ll listen. I was thinking about something that I think you might be on board with. I have a place in town that caters to some of the handicapped veterans that come home. Some of them are damaged physically, a lot of them emotionally. There are even a few of them that I worry won’t be able to come back from where they’ve been.” Lisha opened her mouth. “Unless you’re putting food in there, you close that mouth of yours right now. I’m talking.”
“You’re very rude, aren’t you?” Maggie laughed, and Lisha couldn’t help but join her. “I guess it works when you have six boys running under foot. Jimmy and I, we wanted more children. For all the wrong reasons. But these two—while I had nothing to do with them being what they are, I’m very proud of them.”
“You should be. And don’t cut yourself short. Had you been a better parent, then maybe they’d not have turned out like they did. Yes, I’m rude, but I don’t beat around the bushes when I have something to say. You’ve come a long way, Lisha. I didn’t want to like you, but you’ve turned me around.” Lisha thanked her. “You’re so very welcome. Now, I want you to come and help me out at the veterans’ offices. It’ll do you good to see people that are suffering more than you. Get you to realize that there is more to life than grief.”
“Have you ever lost anyone?” Maggie nodded and looked away. “I’m so sorry. That was really mean of me. I’m sorry.”
“My parents. They were tigers too, as you can guess. They’d been captured by some very bad men, and they...they killed them horribly. Then they skinned them. I wasn’t very old, maybe twelve or so, but for a long while I didn’t trust humans at all. I wanted nothing at all to do with any of them. They’d all killed my parents, was my thinking.” Lisha asked what had turned her around. “That man over there. My Thatch. He’s the best thing that could have happened to me. And I just don’t know what I’d do without him with me. I can’t feel your pain of the loss of a husband, but I do hurt for you. And want to help you.”
“I’ll have to think about it. I mean, I feel so fuddled right now.” Maggie said that she understood that. “Thank you, Maggie. You’ve been wonderful to me and my children. Jamie cannot say enough great things about the two of you. He said you take him to dinner out all the time. I’ve never been anywhere but a fast food place. It’s easier to read the menu there.”
“I have a girl’s day out, and you’ll come with me.” She started to tell her that she wasn’t up for that. “We do it once a month, and when the weather is nice, we have teas in someone’s flower garden. You’ll get to meet women of your own age as well as have some fun. Do you want anything else?”
Lisha looked at the now empty plate. Then she looked up at Maggie. With a wink, the woman slipped away and left her there. She did feel better, she thought. Having just a little food on her belly made her feel like she could do this.
Getting up, she walked around the room and let people talk to her. At first, she was nervous. Then the more she did it, the better she felt about it. As she was talking to a gentleman, Rogen came up to stand beside her and hugged the man. Lisha couldn’t for the life of her remember his name.
“Leave my mom alone, you old letch.” The man laughed. “I didn’t think you’d be able to come here, Mr. President. My family and I thank you—”
“You’re the president?” The man laughed and told her that he was. “I’m so sorry. I feel so stupid. I had no idea who— I’m so sorry. I feel so foolish.”
“No reason to feel that way, Mrs. Hall. You have a great deal on your mind, and you just lost your husband. When my wife passed away, I could barely get out of the bed. You’re going much better than I was. And I want to thank you for just being you.” She asked him what he meant. “You were talking to me as if we were old friends. I don’t get that a great deal in my line of work. I do hope you’ll come and visit me sometime when I have to see Rogen. She’s my best man, and there isn’t anyone that I trust more than her. You did a fantastic job with both your children.”
