Forever a Family

“The pitcher’s in the middle on the right.”

“Lemons in the fruit drawer?”

Amused, Olivia hid her smile. If this was Kate not helping, she could only imagine when she pitched in wholeheartedly. “So is something making you antsy?”

“Afraid so. Do you want to sit at the table?” Kate gestured to the round table. “Kitchens always seem friendlier to me.”

“Cozy.” The word popped out. Funny—she hadn’t thought anything had been cozy for so long. She reached into a cabinet and pulled out a box of coconut macaroons.

After they’d settled at the table, it didn’t take long to pour the tea, squeeze a few slices of lemon.

“You’re probably wondering why I showed up without calling,” Kate began. “But I’m desperate.”

Olivia raised her eyebrows.

Kate immediately scrunched hers together. “I don’t mean for company. That came out all wrong. I get this way when I’m frazzled. Did I ever tell you how I met Tucker?”

Olivia shook her head.

“I won’t go into detail, but I was frazzled to the max. Still amazes me that he ever proposed.” Kate’s green eyes softened. “Sorry, I also go in about a hundred different directions when I feel like this.”

“Like what?” Olivia prompted gently.

“Sorry, it’s about a project I’m working on. Or not working on, I should say. I’ve been commissioned to do a new painting.”

“You’re an artist?”

“You didn’t know?” Kate’s surprise glided into a smile. “I trained first as an artist, then in restoration. I primarily worked on museum pieces. Now they give me referrals for different types of work. That’s how this family found me.” Kate stopped abruptly. “I don’t know why I assumed you would know I’m an artist. We haven’t really talked a lot. I know—” her chipper voice changed notes “—that it hasn’t been easy for you.” She met Olivia’s eyes. “I don’t know what I would do if I ever lost Tucker.” Amazingly, she wiped away a tear.

And Olivia reached out. “It’s all right.”

“No, it’s not. But I suppose you can’t say that, that it’s awful, I mean. You always have to be brave for your son.”

“You know Joey?”

Kate’s eyes darkened and her expression dimmed. “Not really. Not firsthand.”

The school theft. Of course the sheriff had been informed. Olivia felt the heat that suddenly colored her face.

“Please don’t be embarrassed. If Alyssa lost her dad... She already lost her first mother. Her world would just about end.”

Confused, Olivia tried to remember what she could about Kate’s family and came up blank. “You’re not Alyssa’s mother?”

“Her mother died when she was ten. I met Tucker about two years later. Since then, I’ve been her mom.”

Olivia instinctively sensed that theirs was a true mother/daughter relationship. “That’s lovely. I don’t think I’ve ever really seen that happen before. Becoming a child’s real parent after a death, I mean.”

“I was...I am very fortunate. It’s hard to imagine that anyone else can take on that role once you’ve lost your spouse.” Absently, Kate circled the top of her tea glass with one finger. “That’s how Tucker felt. It’s how I imagine anyone would feel when they really love the person they’ve lost.”

Olivia’s throat tightened.

“I’m sorry. I’ve made you think even more about your late husband.” Kate’s sunny exterior now wilted in remorse.

“No. I was talking to his picture when you arrived.” Olivia again imagined how foolish she must have looked, yet she sensed Kate wouldn’t laugh, wouldn’t judge. “So he was already on my mind.”

Kate reached out a friendly hand. “Is it loneliness or something else?”

Olivia sighed. “Joey. How I’m going to handle him with Ted gone. I never could have imagined him stealing. I understood when he cut classes because he couldn’t face people, but this... It’s not the way he was raised.”

“Of course it wasn’t. But how do we teach our children the way to act once they lose a parent?”

Olivia looked down. “Tucker’s job—surely that has moments of fear. Was Alyssa taught to know that?”

“He’s her hero. She’s old enough to know his job can be dangerous, but it’s not something we dwell on.” Concern filled Kate’s eyes. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Olivia. Tucker’s told me about kids who haven’t handled the loss as well as Joey has. You have to be overwhelmed, suddenly becoming a single parent after years of being able to turn to your husband for support.”

Throat still tight, Olivia agreed. “I feel like I’m disappointing Ted, that he’d be horrified at how I’ve handled things.”

“I didn’t know Ted,” Kate replied honestly. “But as sure as I’m sitting here, I know he would understand. Men are usually more crippled by losing their wives.”

Olivia pulled herself out of her self-pity. “It’s weird. Before you came, I was just thinking that maybe if I’d reached out, made more friends, that Joey wouldn’t have gotten into trouble.”

“You can’t know one way or the other. But I’d recommend getting him involved with the youth group at the Community Church. The activities—”

“I don’t mean to be rude, but that’s not an option.”

Kate paused, then sighed. “Tucker felt the same way about his faith.”

“Besides, Joey has community-service work that takes all his time. He’s volunteering at Harrison Veterinary.”

“At Zeke’s?” Enthusiasm bounced back into Kate’s voice. “That’s great!”

“You know him?”

“Of course. He delivered my puppies.” She laughed. “Well, my dog’s puppies, I should say. Nice, nice man. Never could figure out how he’s managed to stay single.”

Olivia tried to think of a sensible reply. Not able to come up with one, she sipped her tea instead.

Kate checked her watch. “I didn’t mean to stay so long. I came to ask a favor.”

Olivia couldn’t imagine what it could be. “Oh?”

“It’s about your dad.”

“Really?”

“You sound surprised.”

“That’s because I am,” Olivia admitted. Her father had never been one to mingle into what he called “town life.” So accustomed to military forts, the Colonel would have retired on one if it had been possible.