If there was ever a single event that could be at once hilarious, depressing and exhausting, the visit from Grandma Berkey was definitely it. She wore them out. And while her tales were completely plausible, she was clearly not playing with a full deck. She mixed up Krista and Meg, called Charley Louise and asked Jo to fetch her walker—she wanted to go to the sunroom.
It wore Meg out completely and she ate a little something, then went to her room to rest. Charley cleaned up the kitchen and went down to the dock with her phone. Krista opened her laptop on the breakfast bar, looking out the window. She was worried about both of them. Charley seemed to be crumbling under the weight of a broken heart, and Meg, it could not be denied any longer, was not getting better. No matter how many times you asked her how she felt and no matter how many times she answered, “Pretty good actually,” she was dwindling. Her eyes were rarely bright, her coloring sometimes became grayish and she was moving so slowly, so cautiously.
Krista sat before the laptop, trying to decide what to do next because, it appeared, in defiance of all reason, she was the most together member of their merry little group. She had Jake and what resembled a future, even if that was assuming a lot. She glanced down toward the dock to see Charley sitting cross-legged there, staring at her phone. It was an ominous future, she thought, if two people who loved each other could become estranged when exactly the right thing was not spoken in exactly the right way.
She felt grateful. She had health, something prison should have squashed like a bug. She had freedom. And she had a clear mind.
Meg was growing weaker. She would not be taken away from the lake now, Krista knew that. It was late August, Labor Day was almost upon them and the summer and Meg would be finished at about the same time. Poor Charley, Krista thought. Her losses keep growing.
And then a car pulled into the drive, parking behind Charley’s rented SUV. And Krista smiled.
* * *
Charley escaped to the dock the second Meg took to her bed. The three women had gone to their separate corners rather than doing a postmortem on their grandmother’s visit. Old age must be a great deal of work, she found herself thinking. Blessed few live to be beyond eighty-eight with a sound mind and strong body. At the moment she wondered if Grandma’s body was too strong. She needed help to physically get through the day—the simple tasks of washing and making her own food had left her several years ago. Stuck in that big old Grand Avenue manse full of stairs, she’d have fallen to her death in no time. She’d started in assisted living with a part-time nurse, and when she began to wander at night, she was transferred into memory care. Charley had visited a few times when she was home to see Meg. Louise was right—it was a very stylish, comfortable and bright facility while that old Grand Avenue manse had grown moldy and dark.
Charley kept staring at her phone, checking her email and her texts and her voice mail. Could Michael really leave her after all these years? Now? While Meg was so ill? While she was feeling so vulnerable and in such need of his—
She lifted her head at the sound of a vehicle. She hoped her mother and Jo weren’t bringing Grandma back. She turned around and gulped back tears. Michael got out of the car and walked toward her. She stood. She covered her mouth with her hand and she let go, let herself cry. One thing had not changed in twenty-two years. He was the most handsome man she knew.
Her tears came in gulps and her steps were slow and unsteady. He wouldn’t come to tell her goodbye, not Michael. He wasn’t that kind of man. She approached the end of the dock when he stopped, smiled at her and opened his arms. With a cry, she ran to him and filled his arms. She buried her face in his neck and he held her, her feet leaving the ground.
He rubbed her back. “Hey, baby,” he said gently. “Having a bad day?”
“Michael,” she sobbed. “I needed you so much.”
“I’m here,” he said. “I love you.”
“Oh, Michael, are you here to stay?” she asked through her sobs.
He set her down. “No, honey. Just a couple of weeks. I still have a commitment in England. But I’ll be back. This long separation is much too long to be apart.”
She made a sound, a joyful sound, and covered his mouth in a searing kiss, their lips wet from her tears. He chuckled against her lips, held her tighter and returned the kiss. He devoured her like a starving man. When at long last they parted, he whispered, “I can’t remember when I last saw you cry.”
“I thought you were leaving me!” she said with a hiccup of emotion.
“I told you I was in forever, not just until I didn’t get my way.”
“Oh, God,” she said, tears flowing again. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“Now, why would I do that?” he said with a little laugh.
“I wrote you a letter!”
“I know. I got it three days ago. I had to close up my office and the house and make travel arrangements and—” He shook his head disapprovingly. “Really, Charley? A letter? When did we stop talking?”
“I think it was about April,” she said.
He wiped her cheeks. “We’ve talked a hundred times since then.”
“But we argued so much! I didn’t want to argue anymore.”
“But a letter? You could have told me your feelings.”
“I was doing that so badly.”
“Me, too. So I decided to come to you instead of calling or writing you a letter. We’re not going to do that anymore. We’ve always known where we stood with each other. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved. I’m not giving you up that easily.”
She put her head on his shoulder and cried again. He held her close and kissed her tears away. “Is there somewhere we can be alone?” he asked her.
“The boathouse,” she said in a breath.
“I mean, really alone,” he clarified.
“There’s a lock on the door.”
He gently wiped away her tears. “I need some reassurance.”
She laughed through her tears. “Me falling apart isn’t reassurance enough?”
“It’s a good start,” he said. “Your sister and cousin? Will they miss us?”
“Meg is napping. Krista was on her computer. I have so much to tell you.”
“Maybe we can talk a little later. Right now I think my body needs your body.”
She took him by the hand and led him up the stairs to the little room above the boathouse. What a stroke of brilliance it was, finishing this space. Before the door was closed she decided they would stay here together while Michael was visiting. Away from the others, listening to the water.
The beauty of a long, committed and loving relationship is the satisfaction of intimacy between two people, each wanting to please the other. They had many inventive ways of showing each other that pleasure, but none of those would work today. They’d been apart too long, aching for each other too long. Charley laughed as Michael tried to get her out of her clothes without tearing them off her.
Once they were down to bare skin, their hands all over each other, Charley fell back on the bed. Foreplay was completely out of the question and unnecessary; their mutual hunger drove them full speed ahead. “This isn’t going to last nearly long enough,” Michael said. “Charley, it was so hard without you.”
“Let’s not do that again. Whose idea was that? Don’t answer. Just kiss me.”
He spread her thighs and nestled inside her. That stopped him. He didn’t move for a moment, luxuriating in the sensation. “Home,” he said softly. He brushed back her hair and kissed her softly. “This is where I belong.”
“Yes, it is,” she agreed. Her hands on his shoulders, she caressed his beautiful arms and back and chest. And he’d barely begun to move before she exploded into pleasure so lovely her eyes filled with tears yet again.
He kissed her eyelids. “No more crying,” he said. “Just loving. We can steal an hour of just loving.”
“This might kick off a marathon,” she said. “You’ve always been so good at that.”
“You’re good, that’s why,” he said. “Damn, I missed you.”
He started to pull away but she held him. “Not yet,” she said. “Stay a little while longer.”
“I’m heavy,” he said.
“Nah, you’re just right. Wow, that was such a good idea.” She smiled into his eyes. “Makeup sex is my specialty.”
“I think you’ve got it down,” he said. “Want to make up one more time before we go to the house?”
* * *
Krista thought she heard Meg in the bedroom. She leaned her ear against the door to listen and there was a soft moan coming from inside. She tapped on the door and opened it. Meg was rolling her head back and forth, gritting her teeth. She glistened with sweat.
Krista sat on the side of the bed. “You’re in pain,” she said.
“A little bit,” she said. “I have some pain medication in my top drawer. Do you mind?”
“I’ll get it. Just one?”
“I think I’ll throw caution to the wind and have two.”
“Is that all right?” Krista asked. Meg just laughed, though there was little humor in it.
She fetched the pills and a glass of water. She had to help Meg to sit up to take the pills. She fixed a pillow behind her back. Meg leaned back and closed her eyes, breathing steadily.
“How long has this been going on?” Krista asked.
“Oh, it comes and goes.”
“How long, then?”
“A couple of weeks. Maybe a month.”
“How in the world did you manage to hide it?”
“Oxy. Powerful stuff.”
“And you’re getting weaker,” Krista said.
“My balance is off, that’s all,” she said. “I heard a car...”
“Michael is here,” she said. “They hugged and kissed and disappeared into the boathouse. I think they’ll leave us alone for a while.”
“Tell me a story? Tell me what happened that summer. I know you know.”
“In just a minute. Will you excuse me just a minute and I’ll come right back? May I use your phone?”
“Please don’t do anything stupid,” Meg begged. “Please don’t sound the alarm! I’m okay.”
“I’m not going to sound any alarm,” Krista said. “I’m going to get you more pain medication.”
“Oh,” she said, relaxing. “I guess that wouldn’t hurt.”
Krista took the phone and left the room. Although she knew it was prying, she went through Megan’s texts for that day—all from John.
How are you feeling?
I’m fine—stop worrying.
Your appetite?
Excellent. Leave me alone and get back to work. What are you doing today?
ER today, so it will move fast. ILY.
ILY, too. To the moon and back.
Krista fought tears. She sniffed them back bravely. She dialed John. Of course she knew he would answer immediately as the call was coming from Meg’s phone. “Hi, babe,” he said.
“It’s Krista,” she said. “I just gave Meg two pain pills. She was hurting. I think she takes them more than she admits. She’s weak and unsteady and she lied about her appetite—it’s not great. She is eating, though. A little.”
“I’ll come,” he said.
“John, pack for a long visit. And bring some good drugs.”
She heard him sigh into the phone. “Okay.”
Then she took the phone back to Meg. Krista could tell the pills were already kicking in. Meg gave a wan smile. “I heard you,” she said.
“No, you didn’t,” Krista said. “Why didn’t you tell us it was getting bad? You can trust us.”
“I didn’t want the focus to be on me, on my cancer. I wanted you all to focus on getting back on track. Together. Making a family.”
“You’re family, sweetheart. And you’re sick.”
“I’m not leaving,” Meg said. “Damn it, I wanted to see fall. The colors around the lake are so beautiful.”
“Who says you won’t?” Krista asked.
“It’s better if this doesn’t drag out. I have it on good authority that the other side is excellent. I’m not afraid. I have only one fear, really. I hope it’s a silly fear. I hope they have it all worked out. I’m just afraid I’ll miss the people I love, but I bet they have that all worked out.”
“It’ll be okay,” Krista promised. “Anyone who can come up with heaven can figure out the missing people glitch.”
Meg closed her eyes softly. “I thought heaven was right here,” she said. “Even the adventure with Hope.” She opened her eyes. “I guess you should let everyone know what’s happening.”
“Maybe later,” Krista said. “You said you wanted me to tell you the story of that summer. You aren’t going to believe what happened...”
* * *
John slid onto the bed beside Meg, threading his arm under her head. She roused slowly. “Hmm, hello, darling man.”
“Sleeping off the pain pills?” he asked softly, cradling her in his arms.
“They’re very good,” she said sleepily.
“How’s the pain right now?” he asked.
“Muted. I’ll get up for dinner.”
He brushed her fuzzy cap of hair back. “Did you think you were fooling me?”
“Nah. You’ve looked into the eyes of too many patients. I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been thinking about something.”
“What’s that?”
“You should remarry. You’re young. It would be such a waste if you didn’t. But she must be just slightly less wonderful than me. Can we agree on that?”
He kissed her temple. “There will never be anyone as wonderful as you.”
“I know, but if you make an effort, you might get close.” She kissed his chin. “John, I’m sorry. You were the best reason to live. I let you down.”
“No, Meg. No.”
“I’ve learned that dying well can be a lifetime job.” She sighed. “It’s harder than it looks.”
“I’ll do whatever I can,” he said. “I’m very proud of you. I admire you, Meg. You’re the strongest person I know.”
“I hope you’re ready,” she said. “I did everything I could think of to help you get ready. I’d rather it be any other way.”
“I know,” he said. “Me, too.”
“Have I told you how desperately I love you?” she asked.
“God, yes. If there’s one thing we’ve always had, it was the greatest love. I’ll carry it in my heart forever.”
She patted his cheek. “Good. Then do your physician’s magic and make all the little children feel better.”
“I wish I could make you feel better,” he said.
“I’ll be feeling better soon...”