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“You know I can’t just drop you at the door and not see my boy, Wilbur.”
We climb out of her car and up onto my side patio. “I have a bottle of wine chilling. Want a glass?”
“Honk.”
“No, not you, Wilbur.” Grace bends down to pet him as I unlock the door. “I’d love a glass.”
I open the door and Wilbur walks in first. “Why does he always have to be first in or out the door?”
“I think he feels like we’re his kids and he’s leading the way. I don’t know. It’s a goose thing, I guess.” We both drop our purses on my couch. “Why don’t you and Wilbur go out to the back patio, and I’ll bring the wine and glasses.”
“Works for me. Come on, Wilbur. Let’s go bond over your pool.” Grace follows Wilbur to the back of my tiny house and out the back door.
I flick on the hanging patio lights, grab the wine from the fridge, and two glasses. I also grab a few treats for Grace to give to Wilbur.
Walking out the back door, I stop in my tracks. “Oh. I get it now.”
Grace tries to take the wine from me, but I pull it away from her. “Get what?”
“I know why you’re trying to make plans for next weekend.”
Instantly, the air gets heavy. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now, can I have my wine, please?” Grace is trying to sound innocent, but I’m not buying it.
“I know what you’re trying to do, Grace, and it’s sweet, but I’m fine. Really.” I hand her a glass of wine.
“I’m not trying to do anything. I just want to have plans to look forward to this week so that work doesn’t suck as much, that’s all.”
I sit down at the patio table, “You don’t have to do this, Grace. Really.”
She sighs, “I know it’s the twentieth anniversary of the fire and your parents’ death this weekend. I don’t want you to be alone for that, okay? So, kill me. I care.”
Twenty years ago, this coming weekend, my parents died in a fire. Our house burned so hot that they couldn’t get out. A fire fighter found me hiding in a closet and pulled me out. I lost everything that day. Everything.
“I appreciate you, Grace. And thank you. I’m looking forward to our night out Friday.”
The air is heavy around us as I realize I haven’t heard my mother's or father’s voice in almost twenty years. Or felt their hugs. I miss them every day and wonder what would have become of my family if that fire never happened. Would my father be mayor like he always dreamed? Would my mom finally have opened that bookstore she always wanted, or would we even still be living in Hibiscus Harbor? Maybe we would have moved to another city or even another state. Maybe I would have had a younger brother or sister.
“What are you thinking about?”
I sigh, “All the ‘what ifs’ if the fire never happened.”
Grace shakes her head, “Don’t do that. There’s no point in that. You’ve grown up to be an amazing woman with her own place, her own business, and even her own goose. Your parents are looking down and are ridiculously proud of you.”
I turn to look at her, “You really think they’re proud of me?”
“Absolutely! Look at what you’ve done. You took your inheritance, built a ridiculously small house, grew a large and successful business, and like you said this morning, you’re happy. That’s all parents want for their kids. You nailed it.” Grace makes the mic drop gesture.
I smirk at her. “I know you’re right. It’s just that I get so insecure sometimes. I just want to make them proud; ya know?”
She nods, “I do.”
“Honk.”
“I’ve been telling her how great she is, Wilbur. Maybe you should, too.”
“Honk.”
Grace and I laugh as we watch Wilbur splash around in his pool and then climb out and shake his tail feathers.
