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“Are you asking me or telling me?”
“I’m just trying to stay off the couch every day.”
“Sounds like you’re past that point, Ms.Fix-it.”
This was what it was like to talk to Cassidy.Others in my life had treated me like I was a precious figurine.Cassidy acted like I was a snow globe, breakable but still needing to be shaken up.She challenged me to do more than what was expected of me.When I was younger, talking to her made me defensive.Not every girl had to conquer the world before she could be soft and wear pink.
My world had crumbled.I didn’t need to conquer it.I needed to rebuild it.And Cassidy’s comments that made me question my worldview didn’t unsettle me like they had before.
“It’s too soon to date.”Because the thought of dating gave me palpitations as strong as the thought of Liam dating.
“Is that what the widow’s rule book says?”
“Cassidy!”
“I’m not sorry, Kennedy.You lower yourself to everyone’s expectations.It’s your default, and I get that you were sick for so long.But when you lost Derek, you were healthier than you’d ever been, yet you shattered so badly I thought the next time my phone rang I’d learn that you were gone too.”
I pressed my hand to my lips to hold in my gasp as tears sprang into my eyes.Cassidy never talked about feelings.Never.For her to admit that she feared for me meant she’d been terrified.
“So, you need to quit defining your life by rules other people set.”
That was what it felt like.Other people’s unspoken rules about what I was capable of.“I just have to follow your rules?”I asked wryly.
“Yes.And I’m older, so you have to listen.”
I smiled.“You can report to Mom that I’m fine.”
“Don’t be surprised if she and Benji show up.She could’ve handled home repairs or you watching Liam’s kids.She can’t handle both.”
That was how weak Mom thought I was.“I’ve been fairly warned.They’ll have a brand-new faucet to wash their hands with.”
“Right on.Love ya, kid.”That was her only endearment, but it wasn’t as automatic as it used to be.I should call her more often.We didn’t even message, other than wishing each other happy birthday.I had assumed she resented me.What if she thought I was okay on my own?That’d be one less person I had to prove it to.
I hung up, set the phone down, and took a deep breath.I gave my wedding ring another look.There was no rule book.I slipped the ring off and went into my bedroom.With the work I was doing, it made sense to take it off.Take some of the emotion out of it.There were no rules.I could put it back on after I was done with the bathroom.
It was time to turn the water on.
Liam
My phone rang.I pushed my stool away from the lawn mower I was changing the oil on and wiped my hands off.I hit answer, and the song I had playing through the speaker died down.“Kenny, you shower today?”
“Oh my God, Liam.There’s water everywhere, and I don’t know what to do.I tried to fix—”
“Whoa.”I hated stopping her, but if she was in her house, an explanation could wait.“Where’s the water coming from?”
“Under the sink.I tried to turn the water off to it and—”
“Okay, go downstairs.”I rose and hit the button to close the shop doors before I stepped outside.Grandma Gin had taken the boys to lunch and a park so I could mow the lawn a couple hours quicker than it’d go with them around.
“What?”
“Shut off the water to the house.The valve is downstairs.”
“What if that springs a leak?”
“Then we’ll call a plumber, but I can guarantee that’s been turned more than the one under your sink.”Kenny’s house was a starter home.Couples moved in, made some money, and found something bigger.Each time they moved, I’d made sure the water was turned off until the new owners moved in.
“I just used the one under the sink last weekend.”Her voice was hitched.She must be going down the stairs.I hated sending her to the musty basement of that old house, but it had to be done.
