Capri’s mother, though, was the first to speak, her voice steady but soft. “Capri, honey, we need to talk.” There was no anger in her tone, just a quiet plea that broke something in Capri’s resolve.
She nodded numbly, her eyes darting away from Nicola’s victorious gaze, and followed her mother and Earl toward the back of the store, where the aisles were quieter, and they could have some semblance of privacy.
As they moved away, Capri could still feel the weight of Nicola’s stare, could hear the murmurs of curiosity from other shoppers who had overheard the exchange. Her mother didn’t say anything until they reached the end of the aisle, where the store opened up into a small seating area with a coffee machine and a few old magazines.
She turned to face Capri, her expression gentle but firm. “I know this is hard for you,” she began, her eyes searching Capri’s for some sign of understanding. “But Earl… he’s been a good friend to me. And I never wanted you to feel like this, but honey…we’re in love.”
Capri wanted to argue. Love? She was a widow of less than a couple of months. No one falls in love this quickly.
She wanted to tell her mother how wrong this all felt, but she couldn’t deny the warmth in her mother’s eyes, the way Earl stood by her side, not pushing, just waiting.
Capri stood there, trying to swallow the lump building in her throat.
For the first time, Capri realized that maybe, just maybe, her mother had found something worth holding on to, even if it wasn’t what Capri wanted to see. The thought left her feeling more lost than ever but also strangely relieved, like maybe she didn’t have to carry all the weight of the past alone.
Capri swallowed hard, her heart pounding as she struggled to process the scene before her. Her mother’s face was filled with indescribable happiness—a joy Capri couldn’t understand, much less accept.
Earl placed a protective arm around her mom’s shoulder. His normally unruly hair was slicked down with product. He’d exchanged his normal overalls for jeans and a button-down shirt. He exchanged glances with her mother. She nodded, and he cleared his throat.
“I’ve asked your mother to marry me.”
Capri felt the ground sway beneath her, the words hitting her like a punch to the gut. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at Earl, the image of him standing there, so polished and out of character, only adding to the surrealness of the moment. His arm around her mother’s shoulders, his hair slicked down, the unfamiliar clothes—everything about him seemed wrong, like a stranger had taken his place. But it wasn’t just the change in his appearance; it was the certainty in his voice, the way he looked at her mother with an affection that was undeniable.
Capri’s chest tightened, her heart pounding in her ears as she struggled to find her voice, to process the shock that rippled through her. But all she could do was stand there, frozen, her mind racing with the implications of his words and the overwhelming realization that nothing—not even the memories of her life with Dick—would ever feel secure or unchanging again.
“Marry you?” she shrieked, not bothering to lower her voice. “That’s ridiculous!” She looked to her mom for confirmation. Surely, she hadn’t just learned her mother planned to remarry—while in the grocery store, no less.
Her mother’s voice cut through the haze, calm and reassuring, but it did little to ease the ache building in Capri’s chest. “I wish we could’ve talked about this sooner,” she said softly, glancing at Earl, who nodded, his expression kind but unreadable. “I wanted to tell you, Capri, but… I didn’t know how.”
Capri clenched her jaw, trying to keep the emotions in check, but the words tumbled out before she could stop them. “How could you move on so fast?” Her voice cracked, betraying the vulnerability she’d been trying so hard to hide. “It hasn’t even been that long, Mom. How can you… how can you do this?”
Her mother’s eyes filled with a sadness that mirrored Capri’s own. “I’m not trying to replace Dick. I could never do that,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I’m still here, Capri. I’m still alive. And I need to find a way to keep living, even if it means finding comfort in someone else.”
Capri looked away, her vision blurring as she tried to hold back tears.
Earl remained silent, his presence a reminder of everything Capri didn’t want to confront. She wanted to lash out, to make her mother understand the depth of her hurt, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she just stood there, feeling the weight of loss and change pressing down on her, suffocating in its inevitability.
Finally, her mother reached out, her touch gentle on Capri’s arm. “We’ll talk more, okay? I don’t want this to be how we leave this conversation. But I need you to know that I care about him, and he cares about me. It’s different, but it doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten Dick.” She looked to Earl. “Neither of us wants to be alone.”
Capri nodded slowly, the fight draining out of her. She couldn’t argue with the truth in her mother’s words, even if it hurt. “I just… I just need some time,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Her mother smiled faintly, understanding. “Take all the time you need, sweetheart.”
As Capri turned to leave, her mind still reeling, she couldn’t help but glance back one last time. Her mother and Earl stood there, not quite touching but connected in a way Capri was beginning to realize she’d have to accept. She walked out of the grocery store, past a gawking Nicola Cavendish; the snide look on her face like alcohol tossed on an open wound.
Outside, the warm June air hit her face, a stark contrast to the chill she felt inside.
Capri stood on the curb, staring out at the quiet town of Thunder Mountain; the familiar streets suddenly feeling foreign. Life was moving on around her, whether she was ready for it or not.
As she walked back to her truck, the realization settled in her bones—nothing would ever be the same again.
9
“Oh, my goodness! You’re kidding, right?” Charlie Grace stopped mid-step. “What do you mean Capri’s mom plans to remarry?”
Lila nodded. “It’s all over town, thanks to Nicola Cavendish. She was there in the Western Drug and General when it happened.” She reached for a pretzel from the bowl on Charlie Grace’s coffee table.
Reva held up both her hands. “Wait, back up. Are you telling me Capri learned of this while in the grocery store?”
