~ Clay

Lucinda and Conrad Barnes.

Beloved Parents, Grandparents and Friends.

Together Forever. At Peace.

I run my fingers over the letters of the single tombstone as I kneel before it, the flowers I’ve bought – white lilies, my Grandma’s favorite – already laid.

The last time I saw them both was in San Diego, a few weeks before Mom died. She didn’t want them to see her suffering. She didn’t want to cause them any more suffering but that time, Mom was feeling better and she told me she felt like it was her last reprieve. She said maybe God was giving her one more chance to make things right. So she asked Grandma and Grandpa to come.

They did. And they talked. I spoke to them as well. I remember asking them about Andrea and all they said was that she was a strong girl and that she would survive and I would, too. I knew then that I had ruined everything for us.

That was the last time I saw them. They didn’t come to Mom’s funeral. Mom didn’t want them to. And I didn’t go to their funerals. I heard about their deaths, though, through my aunt, who’s also already gone now. She said that they died within days of each other, my Grandma first. Probably, Grandpa couldn’t bear to be left behind after so many decades of living together.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye,” I whisper.

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” I can almost hear my Grandma saying with that big smile of hers.

Even when her teeth had fallen off, she kept on smiling.

And my Grandpa? I can almost feel his hand on my back, giving me an encouraging pat. He didn’t talk much but when he did, the words usually meant a lot. He wasn’t affectionate, either. Those loving gestures were reserved for Grandma but even in those once-in-a-while pats on the back or squeezes of the shoulder, I could feel his care and his understanding, his love.

They were good people. Truly, they were. The best people I knew. They taught me all about love. That’s why I was able to fall in love with Andrea.

I can only hope that just like them, Andrea and I won’t tire of loving each other.

Together forever.

“Andrea and I were meant to be together, after all, Grandma.”

Right now, she must still be in the kitchen, peeling more potatoes, making stuffing for the turkey, baking a pie or doing whatever it is her mother is asking her to do. And Rose is helping her, wearing her old apron. She said she’s Mommy’s little helper’s.

Who knows? This might help the three of them forge an unforgettable bond.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Grandma, Grandpa. I’m sure the two of you are having a feast there.”

I place my hand on the stone once more then get up.

“I’ll try to visit you every Thanksgiving.”

After that, I put my hands in the pockets of my trench coat and leave, passing by the other tombstones, many of which have been coated by the dried autumn leaves that have left their branches. Soon, they will be covered with snow, like everything else in this town. I can already tell from the chill in the breeze that winter is coming.

A few steps out of the cemetery, I pause, my phone vibrating. I take it out and find a message from Andrea, telling me that she needs tomato sauce.

I type ‘OK’ as I head to my car.

I guess I have one more stop to make. Well, I was going to go drive around the town anyway.

It takes me a while to find a grocery that’s still open, and then one that has tomato sauce. Finally, I find one that still has a few cans and I grab the whole lot.

I go back to my car, tossing the paper bag on the passenger seat as I slip into the driver’s seat. I’m about to start the engine, too, but then I notice someone familiar in the car parked a few slots away.

Rachel.

She’s behind the driver’s seat, her hands on the wheel even though her car is at a standstill and even from afar, I can tell she’s crying.

I frown.

She might have been acting mean to me but she still is my sister-in-law. If Andrea were here, she wouldn’t just drive away.

Putting my keys back in my pocket, I get out of my car and walk toward hers.

I tap on the window of the passenger seat. “Hey. Are you alright?”

Quickly, she dries her eyes then scowls at me. “Oh, it’s just you.”

“Yeah, just me so you can keep crying all you want,” I tell her.

She snorts.

I open the door and slide into the empty seat next to her. “I’ve got ears, too, so if you need to get things off your chest, I’ll listen.”

She narrows her eyes at me suspiciously before folding her arms over her chest. For a moment, she doesn’t speak, just sniffing and blowing her nose in the silence of the car.

Finally, she speaks. “Why are men so insensitive?”

I’m quite sure it’s a rhetorical question so I don’t answer.

“All I wanted was for Dan to call me, to show me he still cares. It’s Thanksgiving, after all.”

“Well, maybe he’ll call tonight.”

Rachel snorts.

“Where is he working again?”

“Detroit,” she answers. “It’s not that far away but still, he won’t come home.”

“When’s the last time he was home?”

“Two months ago. We just fought.”

“You didn’t talk about it?”

“I followed him to Detroit after. We talked. I thought things were okay.” She sighs. “But it seems that things are never going to be okay.”

I shift in my seat. “Why do you think that? What went wrong?”

She looks at me. “Do you think I’d know? What? Do you think I’m the one who did something wrong, too? That this is all my fault?”

“Whoa.” I raise a hand. “I’m not accusing you of anything, Rachel. I was just asking.”

“Well, I don’t know the answer. As far as I know, we just drifted apart. We went back to being strangers. Who knows? Maybe we were always strangers. Maybe we didn’t really know each other well.”

I look at her, saying nothing.

Suddenly, she laughs.

I feel puzzled. “What’s funny?”

“Me,” she answers. “I’ve been so mean to you, trying to act like I know everything about love and men, trying to tear you and Andrea apart, but look at me. I’m the one who’s foolish, miserable, weak and broken. I’ve been trying to act like a concerned older sister but you know what? The truth is I’m just jealous.”

I raise my eyebrows. Rachel is jealous?

“I’m jealous because you didn’t give up on each other, because you got back together, because it seems like the two of you were never apart. You’re still perfect for each other, except now you’re horny for each other, too.”

I give a sheepish grin.

“Yeah. Don’t think I don’t notice the way you two lovebirds look at each other.”

“Sorry,” I mumble half-heartedly.

“Did Dan and I use to look to at each other that way? I don’t know. Definitely not anymore. I can’t even remember the last time we had sex.”

Okay. I’m not sure I want to hear that part of the story.

“What I’m saying is I’m jealous of what you and Andrea have because I know it’s real. If you still love each other after all these years, it must be. If the two of you had simply forgotten about each other, then that would have been a tragedy. But this? Going separate ways only to find each other again and fall in love again in spite of everything – it’s a love story. It’s one I’ll never have.”

I shrug. “Who knows? Dan may still come around. The two of you can have your own second chance at love.”

“Can we?” Rachel sighs. “It feels like we’ve already given up on each other.”

“Well, there was a time when I gave up on Andrea, too.”

“Was there?” She looks at me. “I was the one who picked up the phone, you know, when you called.”

My eyes grow wide.

“That was you, wasn’t it?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“Even though you said nothing, I knew it was you and I felt how much you wanted to talk to Andrea, how you wanted to be back with her. I didn’t tell her, of course, but I felt it. I knew you hadn’t given up.”

“But I did after. I told myself I had to let her go.”

“But you didn’t really. Or you would never have found her again and tried to win her back.”

Maybe that’s true. I couldn’t really let Andrea go.

“Maybe you just have to talk to Dan, like really talk to him,” I suggest. “If the two of you think that giving up is for the best then both of you should. But if either of you think that there’s still hope, if either of you still believe you belong together, then you should fight for it.”

Rachel falls silent again. Then she chuckles.

“Wow. I definitely never thought you’d be giving me romantic advice.”

I rub my knees. “I’m just trying to help.”

“Well, thanks.” She takes a deep breath. “I don’t know if it will help, but I do feel a little better.”

“Good.”

She looks around. “So, what are you doing here? Wait. Let me guess. Did Andrea ask you to buy something?”

“Tomato sauce,” I answer.

She chuckles. “Mom asked me to buy the same thing. I guess she didn’t trust you to get it.”

“I’m still working at regaining her trust.”

“So, did you get it?”

“It’s in the car.” I point my thumb to the SUV.

“You didn’t get some booze, too, did you?”

“I believe your Dad has enough beer.”

“Nah. I think I’ll grab a bottle of wine.” She pats me on the shoulder. “You better go get those cans of tomato sauce back to the kitchen before they send the cavalry.”

I nod. “Right. We wouldn’t want that.”

I open the door and get out of the car.

“I’ll see you at dinner?”

“Yeah, probably before then. Mom would kill me if I missed it. Besides, I was told I’d get to hear all about how you and Andrea got back together and I have to admit I’m curious to know all the details.”