“I talked to her about counseling too.”
Lexi sucked in a sharp breath. When she brought up counseling, Gwen’s body went rigid and she typically walked out of the room. According to her mom, talking to someone wouldn’t fix a broken heart.
“When I bring up therapy, she says she’s not crazy, just broken.”
“Therapy is for everyone. Broken, glued back together, sagging in the middle, whatever. Your mom used to love socializing. She’s a people person at heart. More than you are.” Maisie poked her in the ribs and Lexi knew she was aiming to lighten the mood.
A little prickle of pain rippled through Lexi’s heart. “She was. Now I can barely get her to go to the grocery store.” Swallowing down her sadness, she gave her friend the truth. “I can’t afford therapy for her.”
Maisie gave her a soft smile, hopped off her stool, and disappeared, only to return a minute later with a brochure. “One of my new clients is hosting a grand opening for her clinic. I did all the photos for the brochures and the interior. She’s a therapist and they have all these programs for people in need. As a widow, your mom counts and can have access to a few sessions on her own before they recommend free group sessions in the community.”
Lexi took the pamphlet, opened it. Her mom had sunk into a deep depression after her dad died. She’d come out of it bit by painstakingly slow bit. But she’d never fully recovered. How did anyone when they’d lost a piece of themselves? Lexi loved her dad and missed him every day but her mom and dad were more than a married couple. They were soul mates. Best friends. Each other’s everything. And when you losteverything, what were you left with?
“Thanks,” Lexi said, closing the pamphlet, a lump forming in her throat.
“It’s worth a try.”
The words echoed in Lexi’s ears, seeming to resonate over every aspect of her life right now. Worth trying.
“Tell me more about your man. I should do engagement photos. His family will likely expect it.”
Lexi slid off her stool, picked up their cups. “No thank you. He’s not my man. Definitely no photos.”
“If you attend events with him, people will photograph you.”
She considered that. “That’s different than setting up photos. How about I go on another date with him and see if there’s really something there and not just a bunch of lust wrapped up in misunderstandings?”
Maisie bit her lip, and Lexi could see she was measuring her words.
“I think you’re more like your mom than you want to be,” Maisie said quietly.
Lexi’s hand froze on the dishwasher handle. “How do you mean?”
“Aside from the obvious stubbornness, you’re a romantic at heart. You don’t want to be. You’ll fight it with everything in you, but the reason Will scares you so much is because you know you could fall the way your parents did. You have so much love to give and you’re so afraid to let it go. To not get it in return.”
Lexi covered her emotions by focusing on her task and avoiding eye contact. “Maybe you should be my mom’s therapist.”
“Nah. I’m too busy with you.”
After a few more minutes of chatting, Lexi walked her friend to the door, hugged her hard, and said good night.
Upstairs, she pulled the blanket from her mom, nudged her awake softly.
As her eyelids fluttered open, Gwen’s soft, sleepy smile faded.
“Hey, Mom,” Lexi whispered.
“Hi, honey.” Gwen sat up. “Did you have a good night?”
“I really did. He’s really nice. He’s funny and smart.”
Gwen’s smile turned genuine, no hint of shadows in her gaze. “Someone’s got a crush.”
As much as it pained her to admit it, Lexi nodded.
Gwen clasped her hands together against her chest. “Oh, that’s the very best part. The beginning before you even know who you’ll be together.”
Definitely a romantic. Her mom, not her.
