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“Bernadine! Come on in.” The lady who arrived at the door opened it wide, smiling like she took great pleasure in having visitors.
“We’ll come in, but we’re not staying. We just wanted to deliver a little casserole for you, to try to take the burden off a little bit.”
“That’s so thoughtful of you,” she said as they walked in. “Jim is having a good day today,” she said in a low voice.
Bernadine nodded and bent forward just a bit, her voice pitched so low that Alaska had trouble hearing. “It’s good hearing that. I know it makes it easier on you.”
Agathe smiled and nodded.
Bernadine straightened and turned to Alaska. “This is Alaska, she’s going to be out at the ranch, and she’s marrying Ezra.”
“Oh. Ezra is quite a catch. I love the tall, dark, and silent types.” Agathe smiled a little bit of a dreamy smile. “That’s what caught my eye with Jim. I know his hair is white now, and he’s a little stooped from age, but back in the day, he was quite the dashing soldier, and he stole this country girl’s heart so easily.”
Her voice, with a slight French accent, was melodic and dulcet, and she seemed so friendly and sweet that Alaska had to smile as she carefully took the proffered hand and shook it.
“Ezra definitely is a man of character, and I’m so honored that he’s going to marry me.”
She couldn’t really say that they were madly in love with each other or act like it was a love match. That would be lying. So she didn’t.
Even though she kind of wished she could.
“We have company. That’s nice. And it looks like they brought food. That’s the best kind.” A tall, slightly stooped man, with bright white hair, walked into the room.
“Jim, this is Bernadine, my friend from our aquatics group, and Alaska. She is from the Sweet View Ranch, and she’ll be marrying the oldest brother there, Ezra.”
“Alaska. That’s a great state. Have you ever been there?” Jim said, coming forward with his hand out.
Alaska could see how someone as refined and sweet as Agathe would have been charmed by him. There were definitely signs of the dashing and charming man he used to be. Alaska found herself grinning like a girl as she shook his hand.
“No. I’ve never been there, but I’d like to go sometime.” There were tons of things she’d love to do. Places she’d like to see, but as a mom of two small children and someone who was getting married to a man who was a dedicated rancher, she knew that her life probably wouldn’t be one of travel to exotic locations.
“You won’t regret it. It’s beautiful.”
Jim stepped back and put his arm around Agathe. Obviously, they were still in love after all of the years that had gone by. She could picture them as a young couple, smiling and laughing at each other, seeking a place to be alone together. They seemed like the kind of couple that were happier by themselves. They would never run out of things to talk about and always be interested in making sure that the other one was happy. Both of them seemed like really great people. As Bernadine talked for just a bit before excusing them so they could leave, Alaska wondered if that was how she and Ezra would look after years together. She hoped so.
Chapter 12
“This is really good. Did you make it?” Jim asked as they sat eating the spinach and sun-dried tomato orzo bake that Bernadine and Alaska brought just that morning.
“It is delicious. And no, my friends Bernadine and Alaska brought it this morning.”
“Are you sure? I don’t really remember you making anything like this before, but I don’t know this Bernadine you’re talking about. And Alaska? Isn’t that a state?”
She hated it when his memory faded in and out. Well, she hated it when his memory went out. It made her feel so...ungrounded. Jim had always been a rock. The person that she depended on. They hardly ever went anywhere without the other one, and her whole life centered around him. Especially after he retired. They’d done so many fun things together, and she couldn’t imagine having a better life partner.
Now, when she really needed him, as she was growing older herself, he was leaving her, and he didn’t even know it.
“I’m sure. But I can get the recipe and I can make it. If you like it.”
“Yeah. Do you know how to cook?”
She tried to fight back tears. He used to tease her that she was French so she was an excellent cook, even though when they got married, she really wasn’t. She had learned, because back when she was married, that was what a good wife did. Now, women weren’t expected to know how to cook. She was glad she’d grown up in a different age. Cooking had given her a lot of satisfaction. Even ifit wasn’t the traditional French meals that her mother had made growing up. She’d learned to cook like an American.
“I’ve cooked for you for years.”
“You have?” Jim set his fork on his plate and peered over his glasses at her. “Do I know you?”
She never knew what to say when he asked that question. Obviously he didn’t remember knowing her, and when she said yes, it just confused him more and even upset him, because he couldn’t remember. But if she said no, then he would ask what she was doing in his house. Or, worse, he’d ask where his house was and get up and start off like he was going to go find it.
