Kismet (28 page)

There are a few seconds of silence as the words sink in, but it doesn’t take long for my mom to lead the celebration. The tears are rolling as everybody stands and starts giving us congratulatory hugs and once everything calms down, Pop calls attention to himself.

“I think that the time has come.”

We all look at him, waiting to see what he has to say.

“It’s time for us to hand over the farm. It needs fresh blood to breathe new life into it.”

I look to my mom who is nodding in agreement. “Parker. Katie. Tommy. It’s time for you guys to save this place.”

“Pop, what’re you talking about?’ Tommy questions.

“I’m saying that Parker, Katie, and you are gonna be the new owners of the farm. If anybody can figure out how to save the horses, it’ll be you guys.”

I look up at my father and ask, “Why Pop?”

“Because, I’ve been waiting my whole life for my children to be ready to carry on my work. And now I know that you’re all ready.”

It didn’t take Mom and Pop long to get out of dodge and, within a few days, the papers were drawn up and we were the officially the new owners of the farm. I think that Pop was just really excited to hand it over to Tommy, Parker, and I. Plus, I think they were both looking forward to not having to worry about things so much. It had been a stressful spring and summer, so they deserved to have a break. They were going to travel for a bit, just to relax and enjoy each other’s company before settling into their new house.

I was nervous at the thought of having this place to look after, but at least I didn’t have to do it alone. Just like I’ve never had to do anything else on my own. I realize now that the loneliest place I’ve been is in my own mind. But here, in the real world, I have Tommy and Parker—always have, and always will.

“Well that’s the last of it,” Tommy says as he places the last box into the moving truck.

The air is cold, fall is well on its way, bringing with it new beginnings. It makes me sad to think that my parents won’t be here with me anymore and I feel the tears start to well in my eyes before I grab Mom, hugging her tight. “How’re you not crying, Mom? Leaving this place, and all your memories?”

She hugs me back, sighing. “Because my time within these walls is over.” She pauses leaning back so that her eyes can look into mine. “I made my memories here, raised my babies, and now it’s time for me to let you do the same.”

Tommy snakes his arm around my neck, pulling me away from Mom. “Besides, you’ll still have me around to keep you company.”

I roll my eyes. I like to act like I’m annoyed that Tommy will still be living here, that Parker and I won’t be able to play house because of him, but the truth is that I’m so thankful that we will all be in this together. Pop has even started up calling us the “Three Musketeers” again. It’s been a long time since we’ve been referred as that, but the truth is it feels good.

We’re saying our good-byes even though Mom and Pop are only moving a few minutes away. They’re just about to get into the truck when Parker pulls into the drive.

In spite of the sadness and the nervousness in my heart, seeing him makes me smile. I look at Mom and Pop who have stopped what they were doing and are looking at me. “What?” I ask, clueless as to why they’ve decided to stare at me.

“It’s just we never thought we’d see you happy again, Gertrude,” Pop says opening the truck door, “let alone
living
.”

“You know, I’ve always hated that you call me that, Pop.”

“Ah, you wouldn’t understand.” He brushes me off with a flick of his wrist. “It’s an old timer thing.”

I’m thinking about what Pop said about seeing me live again when Parker sneaks up behind me, his hands wrap around my waist and he lifts my feet off the ground. “You ready to start learning about all my annoying habits?” he teases, kissing my neck before setting me down.

“It’s true,” Tommy adds. “I spent a week trying to live with him a few years back. He snores, doesn’t know how to pick up after himself, and clips his toenails at the kitchen table. Needless to say, it didn’t work out.”

“That’s okay, “ I purr, spinning myself around in his arms so that we’re hugging. “I’ll take a million annoying habits instead of being without him.”

“Ugh,” Tommy groans. “I can’t believe I’m going to have to live with you two. You’re disgusting.”

“You’re just jealous,” Parker jokes.

“Hardly, I’m going to be an eternal bachelor.”

We all shake our heads. Tommy’s only steady girlfriend had been while he was in high school. She’d ended up cheating on him with another guy on the football team and he never truly got over it, swearing off girlfriends from then on, and he keeping them at a distance. Parker mentioned one time that he thought Tommy was lonely, but Tommy would never admit that. We stand there watching as Mom and Pop say their final good-byes and hop into the truck, waving until they’re finally out of sight. Parker slaps Tommy on the shoulder. “Help me lug my shit inside.”

I follow them in the direction of Parker’s car but veer off and make my way up to the porch to sit on the swing. Tommy and Parker open the trunk and each take a box. When they reach the front door, Parker hold it opened and asks, “You coming in?”

“In a minute.”

“You okay, kiddo?”

“Yeah.”

A smile crosses my lips and he takes me at my word, making his way inside and letting the door close behind him.

I look out to the farm. It’s hard to believe that this place is ours. We’re in charge now.

I never thought that this was how my life would end up. I never thought that I’d be a widow at twenty-five. That my children would die before me. Never in a million years would I imagine that I’d struggle with mutism for a second time. But I did, and it led me back here for a purpose.

It hurts to think that all of this happened for a reason, but I have to believe that there was a bigger plan for my life than I had for myself. I still have to figure out what it is, but there’s no doubt that this is a new beginning for us all.

Tommy and Parker decided to take me to the annual Fall fair. For old times sake at first, but then somehow they convinced me that it would be a good idea to show Onyx. I agreed because was a sucker, and it gave me something positive to focus on besides the relentless morning sickness. My belly is starting to take shape, and it’s slowly becoming more evident that my life is going on.

It’s the end of fall. Winter is just around the corner, and the fair is, and always has been, the last hoorah before we all go into hibernation.

We’re walking around the dirty fairground, Parker gripping my hand like there is no letting go, and I know he means it. I am his and he is mine. We’ve waited too long, and been through too much, to ever consider letting go. We’re in it for the long run now.

Parker and I watch Tommy play the milk bottle game, teasing him as he misses bottle after bottle. “Weren’t you a pitcher?” Parker quips. Tommy spins around, throwing the middle finger in his direction before directing his focus back to the task at hand.

“Katie?” I hear a woman’s voice call out.

I turn around and freeze. A face I never expected to see again was staring right at me, walking in my direction. I spin around to Parker, unsure of how to handle myself. I want to make an escape, but it’s too late. I mess around with my shirt, trying to hide my swollen abdomen. Sighing, I give up—there’s no use in trying to hide the obvious. I’m pregnant, just six months after losing my husband and daughter in a horrific accident. She is going to have a field day with this.

“Katie?” she calls again, this time closer. A hand touches my shoulder and I spin around coming face to face with my past.

“I thought that was you.” She immediately hugs me. “My God, Katie.”

I never thought I’d see Greta Smithe again. She was my best friend in Manchester. We used to trade babysitting. Her kids were practically mine and vice versa. We had barbeques together—her husband and Michael drinking beers while they cooked on the grill.

As she clings to me I shift uneasily in her embrace. It feels strange having her touch me, and it’s not something I’m completely comfortable with. Realizing that she’s the first person, outside of my family and Parker, to hug me does nothing to alleviate my anxiety. If anything it heightens it. But eventually I decide to give in and hug her back.

“I’m so sorry, Katie,” she apologizes as she leans back making eye contact with me. “We all wanted to help you, to be there for you somehow, but we didn’t know how.” She chokes on her emotions, stumbling through her sentences. “Then we’d heard you’d gone back to your hometown and we just didn’t have anyway to get in contact with you.”

“S’okay,” I mutter. “I needed to be alone for a little while anyway.”

The awkwardly long embrace has gone on long enough and we both finally drop our arms, leaving me free to take a step back so that I can touch my arm to Parker’s. I need something to keep me grounded, and Parker has been done that for me ever since I moved back home. Her eyes shift to Parker and Tommy, to my elbow touching him, straight to my obviously pregnant stomach.

The rise and fall of her chest is a giveaway as breath rapidly leaves her lungs, a shocked expression on her face. “Oh, umm. Who’s this?” she asks, her eyes scanning Tommy and Parker’s faces again.

I realize this is my moment, the time for me to shine and take ownership of my life. I don’t care what anyone thinks about me. This is about me. This is my life, not hers. I don’t give a crap what she thinks about me.

“I’m sorry,” I smile, “how rude of me. This is Tommy, my brother.” Tommy reaches out and shakes her hand, they both mumble a quite nice to meet you. “And this,” I gesture to Parker, “this is Parker.”

They shake hands and I can tell she is trying to figure things out so instead of letting her draw her own conclusions, I decide to take control of the situation and air all my dirty laundry for her.

“Greta, Parker has been by my side my whole life. I love him, and I’m doing what Michael and Zoe would have wanted me to do. I’m living.” I pause and place my hand on my stomach. “I’ll never forget them, but I can’t punish myself any longer.”

Warms fingers find their way between mine and Parker gives my hand a squeeze before running his thumb over my bracelet. Greta stands in front of us, her mouth slightly agape, unsure of what to say of do.

“I’m making my second chance count.”

I expect Greta to make me feel bad, guilty perhaps, and maybe she is judging me but she doesn’t say a word. Instead she leans forward giving me another hug. “I’m so glad you’re able to live again. I’d heard the gossip about how bad off you were and I prayed for you everyday. You deserve to live, Katie.” She kisses me on the cheek and smiles. “If I know Michael, and I did, he would’ve wanted this for you.”

Relief washes over me and I nod and return the smile. “I’m glad I saw you, Greta.”

“Me too,” she says before turning away and waving, disappearing into the crowd.

Time stands still while I watch the space where she had been, shocked to the core that I had somehow managed to be so strong. Then I feel him behind me.

His arms slip around my waist, his hands either side of my small belly, his lips touching my ear. “I’m so proud of you,” he whispers.

I nod. I know he is because I am too. “Let’s go show Onyx.”