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Andy frowned, not liking this at all. “I’d prefer to expedite the process.”
Pulling her in for a hug, her father chuckled. “That’s my girl. So efficient.”
Andy held on for a moment longer than usual, feeling remorseful for laying into the man on Sunday about Aldon. Her father’s arms tightened around her, and that was that. As soon as he released her, Andy knew it was all good between them. Her father wasn’t into hearing long, drawn-out apologies any more than she was into vocalizing them.
He nodded towards the nook. “You want me to get the cages loaded into my truck?”
“Yes, please.”
As Andy’s father set to the task, Andy and her mother set to another. When they stepped out onto Andy’s patio, the sky above them was a brilliant blue brushed with cottony masses of clouds. The fiery ball peeking through said clouds was comforting, its warm rays falling upon her skin in gentle measure. This was the perfect environment to reach Stage Five.
Andy could already feel it coming on.Acceptance.Letting go. She knew right where she would do it too.
When she and her mother had first moved into the apartment, Davis had decorated both patios with a variety of planters since she was into container gardening.
Andy’s favorite had always been the miniature roses growing in a big resin pot near her swing. Sequoia Gold, they were called. Showy when in full bloom — as they were now — and with the most beautiful yellow petals. Soft and silky to the touch, with just a hint of a velvety texture.
That’s what Andy had thought of the first time she’d held her bird. She’d thought of those petals.
Opening the wooden box her parents had brought over, Andy tugged out a small bag. There wasn’t much inside it, but Andy imagined that each little speck was super-rich in nutrients for the soil.
And super-rich in love.
Kneeling, Andy opened the bag and sprinkled her Petals in with the fall of little yellow ones scattered in the planter. “There,” she said, “now you can be outside all the time.” Standing back up, Andy whispered the words she hoped would bring acceptance. “Goodbye, Petals.”
She closed her eyes as she waited for it to come. Nothing particularly extraordinary happened. Only a slight tingling at the nape of her neck as a breeze kicked up.
But Andy supposed there was some vague sense of inner peace as well. And it did make her happy to think a little spirit version of her cockatiel might be clutching onto the branches swaying above.
Opening her eyes, Andy turned to find her parents standing beside her. “I’m good now,” she told them. “I’ve reached Stage Five.”
Her father patted her shoulder. “Well done.”
“Oh my gosh, you two,” her mother drawled. “Grief isn’t some action list you can just check off.”
“I don’t see why it shouldn’t be.” Pulling his phone from the pocket of the jeans he wore with his polo, Timothy began tapping away on it. “I built a highly successful enterprise with action lists, I’ll have you know.”
Davis rolled her eyes, attention swinging back to her daughter. “Are you sure you’re okay, Andygram?”
“Yeah, Mom. I’m fine.”
“You don’t sound like it,” Davis pressed.
“I am, it’s just…” Gaze falling, Andy frowned as her thoughts veered once again to her boyfriend. “I just don’t understand why he hasn’t called.”
“Luke?”
“Yes,” Andy said sulkily. “And he didn’t come over yesterday when he said he would either. I know he’s probably busy, but—”
“Oh,” her father cut in with a vaguely sheepish look, “about that, I’ve been meaning to tell you. He did stop by.”
Andy rounded on him. “Luke was here?”
“You’ve beenmeaningto tell her?” Davis cried.
Timothy turned his phone around, so they could see his notes screen.
Action Items Tuesday:
