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“I’m sure you did,” Genevieve replied in a snippy tone. Helen wasn’t one who let a chance to learn juicy details pass her by.
“Willow told me that she’d been dipping her toes back into those waters but intends to go slow. Very slow.”
“And you didn’t tell me about it?”
“She asked me not to.”
Genevieve folded her arms, torn between hurt and curiosity. She pointed out, “You’re telling me now.”
“It was last summer,” Helen said with a shrug. “I figure the statute of limitations has run out on my promise.”
“Hmm.”
Helen gave her sister a considering look. “Hmm, what? I know that tone.”
“I don’t know. Willow’s dating again is just… curious.”
“Because Andy was the great love of her life? You think she should take more time to mourn? You waited an age after David died to go out with a man, as I recall.”
“No, that’s not it at all. Everyone mourns differently, and Willow is the only person who can know when it’s right for her to move on romantically. I just—” Genevieve shrugged. “I’ve spent more time with her in the past year than the previous five years put together. I’m picking up on something… I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is… but I’m beginning to wonder if there’s something she didn’t tell us about her marriage. I wonder if they were having problems.”
“Willow and Andy? Seriously? Why would you think that?”
“Just… I don’t know. There hasn’t been one thing in particular. Little comments she’s made from time to time. They made my antennae go up.”
“You haven’t asked her about it?”
“With my history on the subject? Not hardly.”
“Understandable,” Helen observed with a nod.
Genevieve’s and Willow’s rocky relationship had begun when her eldest daughter first brought Andy Eldridge home to meet the family. At the time, Genevieve and Willow had been very close, and Genevieve had been looking forward to meeting the man who put such bright stars in Willow’s eyes. But unfortunately, Genevieve hadn’t liked Andy that day. Something about him had sent her Spidey senses fluttering. Something struck her as off. She’d mistrusted him and refused to give Willow her blessing.
Willow didn’t take kindly to that. Genevieve’s unfounded suspicions about Andy caused damage to her and Willow’srelationship even to this day. They’d never gotten back to the closeness they’d shared before Andy came into their lives.
Not that Genevieve hadn’t tried. Andy proved himself over time, and Genevieve apologized to both her daughter and her beau for withholding her blessing. And yet Willow never quite forgave her. Their closeness appeared to be a thing permanently in the past. By the time he’d popped the question, Genevieve had been more than ready to dive in and throw a spectacular wedding, which she’d done.
Willow’s attitude had warmed during the wedding planning. The girl had a natural affinity for such a task, and they’d made a good team putting the event together, well, except toward the end when she went a little Bridezilla and didn’t like anything her mother suggested. Nevertheless, Genevieve had begun to believe that their troubles were behind them.
Then, shortly after the honeymoon, Andy accepted a job offer and moved Genevieve’s daughter to Tennessee.
Genevieve never felt like she had a place in Willow’s new life. News that Drew was on his way a short time later both thrilled Genevieve and broke her heart. She’d always dreamed of being a local nana. Learning to be a long-distance grandmother required a change of attitude, but she’d quickly learned to treasure the experience.
Now, though, she lived fifteen minutes from her grands. It had taken disaster for her old dreams to come true. While she never would have wished widowhood on Willow—been there, done that, understood the heartache—she was thrilled to have her babies close. Mostly thrilled, anyway. She’d get this disruption to her new life figured out. “Well, her marriage to Andy isn’t the issue here.”
Helen drummed her fingers against the car door. “Maybenot, but this could be a piece to the puzzle that is Willow. We should feel out Andy’s parents when they come up to help Willow with the kids before Jake’s wedding.”
“No, just let it lie, Helen. I’m happy Willow is dating again. More than anything, I want her to handle widowhood better than I.”
“You did just fine. You raised four awesome children.”
“I did that, and I’m very proud of them.” Genevieve’s lips lifted in a rueful smile as she added, “I wouldn’t have said that this time last year. They weren’t awesome children a year ago.”
“True. The boys, especially, were stubborn mules. If their grandfather had known the damage he would do to your family by the manner in which he bequeathed his ranch to y’all, I wonder if he’d have done things differently.”
“Maybe. It would have been nice to avoid World War Prentice. And yet it worked out in my favor because I moved to Lake in the Clouds, and I love it here.”
“I’m glad. You’re happy, and the Prentice family is better now.”
