Dare stood and went to place a kiss on her cheek. “And you’d look just as beautiful, Mom.”
She smacked him lightly on the shoulder, but a pleased expression lit up her face. “You go finish that sandwich.”
Cora drank it all in. She’d forgotten how much she missed this family interaction. As she thought about all the things she must have missed in their lives, her contentment gave way to sadness.
When she and Grey ended their marriage, Cora lost more than a husband and her best friend, she’d lost all the people she considered family as well.
~*~
Grey laughed hard as he and Dare remembered one of the pranks he’d pulled in school. He was relieved to see that Cora seemed comfortable.
Conversation switched to summer vacations as they reminisced about warmer weather. Dare held up a finger. “Do you remember that one time when we all went camping when we were little, and we’d take turns in the hammock?” She crossed her arms in front of her. “We’d pull the hammock closed and then see if we could stay in while the others tried to swing the hammock hard enough to knock us out.”
Mom shook her head. “You boys were always finding ways to hurt each other. It’s a wonder you all made it through childhood without more broken bones.”
Grey finished his sandwich and glanced at Cora. She was laughing with the rest of them, but there was an echo of sadness in her eyes. He was surprised when his first instinct was to reach for her hand. He seriously doubted she’d welcome the sentiment.
He wondered if all their talk about childhood memories was what was making her so sad. He and Cora had spent a lot of time talking about Cora’s childhood. Technically, her parents had kept her fed and clothed, and Cora had a room of her own with a few things in it. But it wasn’t enough. She’d missed out on so much.
Her parents were emotionally withdrawn. They shared nothing of their love or lives with Cora. She might as well have grown up alone, and Grey had often wished he’d met her before junior high.
His family—with the exception of Flynn—had welcomed her with open arms, and she’d jumped right into them back then. Who did she have in her life now? Was she as alone now as she was before they’d met? Or had she replaced him and his family?
Mom changed the subject by asking Cora more about her job. “That sounds wonderful, Cora. I’m sure that isn’t an easy job. Do you put IVs in and everything?”
Cora’s eyes brightened as she spoke about a job she was clearly passionate about. “I do anything to help my patients, from drawing blood to putting in IVs. I see my job as being that bridge between them and the doctor and making them feel more comfortable during a scary or uncertain time in their lives. I know what a difference that can make.”
When they were in high school, Cora had struggled with what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Once they got married, she seemed content with a part-time job at one of the local office supply stores. He’d never expected her to take an interest in the medical field, but it clearly agreed with her.
Cora had finished her meal. She and Mom decided to go to the kitchen and organize food into coolers to set outside in the snow.
Grey watched as she left the room and could see her in the kitchen as they talked. He didn’t realize he was still looking at the door she’d exited through until Dare reached over and kicked him in the shin.
Grey winced. “What was that for?”
“I figured you might like to know you’re staring at your ex-wife.” He raised and lowered his eyebrows several times for effect. “Something you want to share with the group?”
“Nope.” Anyone else would hear Grey’s tone of voice and know the topic was no longer open for discussion. Anyone but Dare, that is.
Dare glanced over to Flynn and Abby as they played with Zac. “Flynn clearly isn’t happy she’s here.”
“Yeah, well he’s not happy about a lot of things.” Maybe that was rude, but it didn’t make it untrue. “The way I figure it, this is a weekend to honor Grandpa. If he wanted Cora here, that should be enough.”
“Agreed.” Dare kicked him in the leg again. “Way to build a bridge and get over it all, bro.”
“I’m serious, Dare. If you don’t stop kicking me, I’m going to knock you right out the front door and into a snowbank.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Dare gave him a look that lived up to his name. A moment or two later, he tipped his head toward the kitchen. “Seriously, though. What’s it like seeing her again?”
That wasn’t an easy question to answer. “It feels like it’s been a dozen years, and yet just yesterday at the same time.” Grey changed the subject to horses and roping, which took his little brother’s attention away from Cora.
At one point, Grey noticed Mom come out and ask Flynn something before he followed her back into the kitchen. Moments later, Grey looked up again to see Flynn and Cora talking. Immediately on alert, he stayed seated, uncertain what kind of conversation they were having. He’d hoped Flynn would keep his negative comments to himself. Based on his body language, and the way Cora’s expression went from neutral to pained, it was clear it was too much to ask of Flynn.
Grey interrupted Dare. “Hey, I’m going to go make sure everything’s okay in there.”
Dare’s gaze went to the kitchen and he sobered. “When it comes to Flynn, there’s a fine line between concerned big brother and bully.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ll see you later.”
