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What if one day Spencer was transferred? He’d been transferred here to work. Who’s to say he wouldn’t be transferred somewhere else? Would she be expected to go with him?
Jonathon came back to them. “We’re all set. The mortician is taking care of it all.”
Sean nodded. “Thanks Jon. I guess we’re all set then.”
She inhaled deeply. “I guess.”
Sean started walking to their mother, her arm still wrapped around his. She looked into Spencer’s eyes as they neared, and she wondered how much he could hear. It was terribly quiet in this room. It made it even more depressing than it was. Which was saying a lot.
Jon helped their mom stand up. “We’re all set, Mom. They’ll take care of everything from here. All we need to do is rest today. Tomorrow will be hard enough.”
Slowly, her mom turned and held on to Jon’s arm and they proceeded up the stairs. Sean followed behind them. Spencer wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s get out of here. It’s creepy.”
“Agreed.”
As they ascended the stairs, her mind floated around so many topics, she almost felt dizzy. What she wouldn’t give for some rest. But...
Spencer helped her into the truck and jumped in behind the wheel. “Where to?”
She frowned slightly. “My mom’s. I guess neighbors and church friends have been dropping by nonstop and bringing food and drinks. We need to be there to help her out.”
“Will do.”
He put the truck into drive and onto the road. “You can leave me there if you want. I should be safe with so many people around. Colt wouldn’t dare do anything in front of everyone.”
He shook his handsome head. “I’m not leaving you alone. For as much as your safety means to me, I wouldn’t leave you alone. And since we’re together and I want to support you, I can’t leave you alone in a time like this. I’ll be your rock.”
Her eyes welled with tears, and she silently chided herself for being weak. Just when she thought the crying was over, it wasn’t.
45
His mom came to visit with Lara, cookies in tow. They stood together in the kitchen as they brought in food and took care of removing the foil coverings and setting it out on the table. They replenished dishes as they emptied and as neighbors brought more food. She and Lara worked efficiently and calmly.
For his part, he was introduced as Kenna’s boyfriend, Kenna’s young man, Kenna’s man over and over. He’d met so many people from this town and others, he wouldn’t remember their names.
He looked across the small living room to Kenna. She was speaking with an older lady who nodded her head, then patted Kenna on the shoulder and stepped away. Kenna took a deep breath and caught his eye.
Her weary smile told him volumes about how she felt right now. He moved to close the distance between them, stepping around small groups of people talking and those carrying plates of food to a chair or sofa.
When he was close enough to touch her, he pulled her into his arms and held her close. Her arms wrapped around his waist. They stood quietly for a few moments before she pulled away.
She tilted her head, and he grinned. “How are you doing?”
She shrugged. “Good.” She leaned closer and whispered. “It’s just so draining.”
He only nodded in response, because he didn’t know. But he felt tired of this right now too, and he’d only met Howie on his deathbed. Navigating the well-wishers and barrage of questions coming at her about the time of the service, and how she was doing and, mostly, was she staying here to keep the business going? He tried not listening to that answer because he wasn’t ready to hear the response if she said she was leaving.
That thought right there made his heart feel like a hot rock had fallen on it. It hurt. A lot.
He shook his head to remove those thoughts and kissed the top of her head. “Have you eaten, honey?”
“No. I was waiting for you.”
“Let’s go eat now while there seems to be a lull.”
She chuckled. “This is a lull?”
