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“You were away at school. Dave had just left to visit you. You made the excuse that you weren’t coming home that summer; you were going to work at the vet school in Davis.”
“It wasn’t an excuse, though. I really worked there, and I think it’s why I got into a vet school.”
“Probably,” Vic said. “It’s harder these days to get into veterinary medicine than it is to get into medical school. This might be hard to hear, but you should remember that she wasn’t in her right mind, obviously. She wasn’t thinking of the future, of grandkids and enjoying the fruits of her labor. She was in pain, so much pain she wanted to end her life. I can’t even imagine it.”
That was it; it was Vic’s turn to cry. For the first time since Emily had died, he let go, not worrying about his sons, if they were in pain because of his grief.
The sons stared at their father, in shock. Justin reached over and grabbed his shoulder. “Papa, I’m so sorry,” he said passionately. “I can’t imagine how awful it must have been.”
“I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to ask before. I assumed she fell off her horse in the yard,” Dave said.
“We were told that, that mother fell in the paddock. I avoided walking through it for years.”
Vic nodded. “The sun was setting, and she wasn’t home yet. That had never happened. I called Georgie Boudin, and he came with his four-wheeler. Mojol was standing over her. She was facedown in the marsh. She had water in her lungs, so we knew she was alive when she went down. She didn’t have any bruising or abrasions, so I don’t think she fell off the horse. The drug was probably making her tired, so she lay down and that was it. Again, I’m so sorry, boys.”
“Pop, I hope you don’t plan on telling Rose,” Justin said.
“Son, she was your mother’s best friend through their childhood. If you’re worried about her spreading it around, I don’t think she will. I trust her.”
They sat for a while in contemplation.
“Is Maggie going to wear her dress?” Vic asked.
“Yes,” Justin answered.
“Rose brought it to the station today,” Dave said. “I’ll do a few alterations.”
“I’m not sure about getting married on the twenty-first now,” Justin said. “It feels wrong, like that day is sacred. It’s part of Mom’s history.”
“I hope you’ll do it, get married on our anniversary. It will make the day live on, like it will still be important.”
“I’ll think about it,” Justin said, standing up. “Give me your plates. I’ll do the dishes.”
“You don’t have to,” Vic said.
“Yes, I do. I’m not leaving this mess for my father to clean up.” While loading the sink, Justin asked, “How did she seem that day?”
“Looking back, she seemed pensive,” Vic admitted. “She also had a lot of energy. On the go, even in the evening, she was up and about. Like she couldn’t get comfortable. I asked her if she was okay, and she said she had a lot on her mind and felt like she was going stir-crazy. I found her in your room, sitting on your bed. When I asked her what she was doing, she teasingly said she was trying to communicate telepathically.”
Justin looked over at his father, leaning against the counter. “What day was that?”
“I don’t remember exactly,” Vic said. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I don’t remember getting any psychic messages from Mom. Do you, Davie?” Justin hadn’t called Davie by his childhood nickname in years.
“No, but remember, I was here. I never got the feeling there was any problem. It just goes to show you how secretive people, especially sick people, can be.”
They worked together to clean up their father’s kitchen.
“Are you okay if we leave?” Justin asked.
“Yes, but no worries because I’m going to text Rose that the coast is clear so you boys can leave your old father. I won’t fall apart if I’m alone for a little while.”
The sons laughed. “We lived at home until just recently, Pop,” Justin said. “Was that by design?”
“I don’t think so. I enjoyed having my boys at home.”
“If I hadn’t met Maggie, I’d still be living here,” Justin said, chuckling.
