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“It gets better.”
I didn’t believe the words I had spoken because it had been months and it wasn’t getting better. I missed Austin so much that it physically hurt sometimes. Two months and he would be getting married. Edith and I hadn’t seen each other in three weeks and planned to call her to set up a lunch date.
Chapter 16
“That horrid woman wants to have a horse and carriage to the church. Can you believe?”
I was having lunch with Edith, and she was complaining about Jessie. It was the week before Thanksgiving, and she’d just arrived back from a week spent in Los Angeles with Austin.
“It’s not my style, but it is her wedding.”
“She’s spending my grandson’s money like it’s water. She redecorated his man cave, and I know he hates it though he won’t say.”
“She moved in?”
“After the wedding, but she’s making changes now.”
“Austin loves her, so he’ll let her do what she wants.”
“I’m not so sure sometimes. He took me out to lunch without her, thank God, and he kept asking me about you.”
I raised my eyebrows. “He did?”
“He wanted to know if you were dating and that you were happy.”
“Well I think I’ve given up on dating, but I am happy. At least I try to be.”
She put her napkin to her mouth and coughed hard then crumpled it up into her lap. I frowned because I thought I saw pink on the paper like there was blood.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine. I think I have a cold coming on.”
She coughed several more times throughout the meal, which made me worry there was something she wasn’t telling me. I watched her and looked for staining on the napkins she shoved into her purse.
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” she asked.
“My friend Kurt invited me to his house. He’s having a Friendsgiving.”
Edith narrowed her eyes. “What’s that?”
“It’s where friends get together for Thanksgiving. We’re all bringing a dish and Kurt will make the turkey.”
“That’s lovely, dear. I’m so glad you have some friends. You can’t continue spending all your time with an eighty-one-year-old lady.”
I grasped her hand. “I love spending time with you.”
“You need some people your own age.”
“I like people of all ages, especially you.”
I squeezed her hand. I hoped Edith wasn’t sick. I think Austin would be devastated if anything happened to her.
Edith was sick and went into the hospital right after Thanksgiving. She had lung cancer, and it was aggressive. I cried when I found out, but not in her presence. Austin texted me to let me know. I was with Marc, and he held me until I was all cried out. I loved Edith. She was the type of mother I wish mine were.
Marc took me to the hospital to see Edith. She looked so much frailer than when I’d seen her a week before. I was sitting with her and holding her hand when Austin startled me. I didn’t know that he was in New York. He smiled at me, and I rose so he could sit next to Edith. Instead, he pulled me into his arms and gave me a tight hug, whispering into my ear.
“Thank you for coming.”
