The House of Roses (49 page)

“
Come here, sweetheart,” Rita said, lifting the baby from the stroller. Caitlin was inclined to take him, but she knew Rita needed the comfort of her grandson. They all needed reminders of life, of its miracles, and the babies were a welcome distraction.

“
Caitlin,” Liz said softly, and Caitlin turned. “I want you to know how much it meant to Ella that you brought the twins to see her. She told me it would remain one of the greatest moments of her life. Thank you for doing that for her.”

“
You're welcome, Liz,” Caitlin said.

“
Rita, did you do all this?” Maria asked, and Caitlin looked around. She had been so lost in her grief she hadn't noticed anything around her.

“
Mom?” Caitlin said, awestruck.

“
I did this on Sunday,” Rita said, walking toward a collage of photos, surrounded by rose petals. “Liz and Howie brought everything this afternoon.”

“
The painting!” Caitlin said. The painting stood on an easel in the corner, surrounded by arrangements of roses.

“
I've never seen that,” Liz said, looking at her sister, who stared back at her from the canvas. “It's beautiful”

“
My mother painted that,” Caitlin said, and everyone looked at Rita in amazement.

“
You did that?” Nathan asked incredulously.

“
Yes.”

“
You just picked up a paintbrush and did that?” Nathan asked

“
I did. I painted it from a picture, an old picture of my best friend.”

“
You painted it from you heart, Rita,” Liz said, and everyone agreed.

“
I did,” Rita said, smiling at the painting. “That's where Ella lives now. She lives in our hearts.”

“
Can we go back to the funny stuff?” Nathan asked, as he brushed fresh tears from his face.

“
The flowers are beautiful, Mom. Ella would be thrilled,” Caitlin said.

“
I didn't do that one,” Rita said, pointing to a spray of wild flowers in the corner.

“
Who did?”

“
Look at the card.”

Caitlin did. Gently she pushed the flowers aside, and read the card.

My dearest Caitlin. I am sorry for your loss and for your sadness. Such a beautiful heart should never be broken. All my love, Colin.

“
They're from Colin,” Caitlin whispered to her mother, who stood at her side. “Colin sent these.”

“
I know. Promise me something, Cate?”

“
Okay,” Caitlin whispered.

“
When this is over, when we go back to thinking about life again, go to that man and let him love you. He wants to, Caitlin. I can tell.”

“
I know,” Caitlin said. She did know. He loved her, and she loved him. Maybe it was that simple.

The remainder of the evening passed in a blur. The mourners came, in droves, and they were reminded of what a beautiful person Ella was, of how much she was loved. Just before the calling hours came to a close, Caitlin recognized the doctor who had treated her in the tent at the festival. He walked to her mother's side, kissed Rita's cheek, and held both of her hands in his. He lingered there, speaking softly, and before he walked away, he kissed her cheek again, and Rita whispered something in his ear.

Caitlin asked her mother about it in the car as they drove home.

“
Was that the doctor, Mom?”

“
Yes, Caitlin. His name is Stan Fields. He's a good friend.”

“
I saw you talking to him.”

“
I asked him to come tomorrow. I told him I would really like him to be there.”

“
What did he say?”

“
He told me there wasn't any place else he'd rather be.”

“
That's nice, Mom.”

“
It is.”

“
Ella would be pleased.”

“
I know. I heard her voice in my head when he was walking toward me. She is always the voice in my head.”

“
What is it telling you now?” Caitlin asked.

“
She wants us to be happy, Caitlin. That's what she loved about our shop. We made things that brought joy to people. She always said she could picture the smiles, the happiness. That's what she'd want for us, Caitlin. She'd want us to be happy.”

“
Then we should do that for her. We should be happy.”

“
Yes. For Ella.”

“
For Ella.”

Fifty-four

Colin Thomas watched the credits for
Finding Nemo.
They had watched the movie twice, and he was fairly sure he had memorized every line, the name of every actor and every crew member, including the guy who did the catering. He'd watched it, and he'd laughed, and Mia had laughed beside him. What amazed him most is they'd survived. Rosario had been dead for almost a day, and miraculously, they had all survived.

Mia slept in his lap, with her head on his chest. He couldn't believe how much he already loved her, this little girl, his little girl. He thought of Caitlin, and wondered how she was. He knew where she'd been that evening, and he had thought of her often, as the fish had fought their way through the ocean.

Caren slept in the recliner, and carefully Colin stood, with Mia in his arms. He nudged Caren as he passed.

“
Did I miss it?” Caren asked, opening her eyes with a start.

“
It's okay. There's another showing in the morning over cereal.” 

Caren chuckled, and Colin smiled. Mia slept soundly in his  arms.

“
How are you?” Caren asked.

“
I don't know. I think I'm okay. How am I doing, chief?”

“
You're doing fine.”

“
I'm scared shitless.”

“
Colin!”

“
I know. I slipped........, again.”

“
I'll let it go this time.”

“
Thanks.”

“
Where are you going with her?” Caren asked, and Colin wasn't sure.

“
I don't know. We slept in the den the last two nights. The mattress is still there, but I don't want her in there, not tonight. Is it okay if she sleeps upstairs in my room, with me?  Just for tonight?”

“
I think that would be okay.”

“
I'm afraid she'll wake up and look for Rosario.” Colin said, as he gently stroked Mia's hair. “I don't want her to be afraid.”

“
She may be. It will take her a while.”

“
I think I'm her anchor now.”

“
Is she yours?” Caren asked, and Colin was amazed at her intuition.

“
Maybe a little.”

“
I thought so. Take her up with you, but not without Marvin.”

“
Oh, jeez. I forgot Marvin. Do you see him?”

“
Did she leave him in the den?”

“
I don't know.”

Colin walked toward the den with Mia in his arms, and Caren beside him. His hand found the light switch, and the tiny lamp on the table in the corner bathed the room in soft light.

“
He's here,” Caren said, and Colin nodded, feeling his stomach tighten.

Mia had folded her mother's old comforter, and Marvin was lying on top of it. The bear wore the scarf Rosario had bought at the festival in New Hope. Colin watched as Caren picked up the bear, and the comforter.

“
Should I bring this, too?” she asked, holding the blanket to her chest.

“
Yes.”

Fifty-five

Wednesday's weather was fitting. The sky was gray, mirroring their sadness, and rain poured down as they stood together, saying their final goodbyes to the woman they had all loved.

Caitlin stood under a green tent beside the tiny stone that bore the name of Ella's first and only love. The minister spoke softly, but most would never remember what he had said. Ella was gone, and Caitlin stood weeping softly. She listened to the tap, tap, tap of the rain on the tent above their heads, and she knew when her time came, she would miss the rain. She would miss the wind, the smell of the ocean, the sound of laughter. She thought of heaven. Surely if such an amazing place existed, and she believed it did, there would be rain, a gentle breeze, laughter, and for Ella, there would be roses.

Rita stood by her daughter's side, holding tightly to the hand of her friend, Stan Fields. She said nothing, and like Caitlin, she looked lost in thought, and stood quietly sobbing for the friend she had lost.

Caitlin held Hannah tightly to her chest. Nathan stood at her side with Rogan in his arm. Maria stood at his side, weeping softly, and holding tightly to his hand.

Caitlin hadn't wanted to bring the babies on such a rainy afternoon, but there was no one to watch them. Everyone was here.

Liz Parker cried in her husband's arms. The tears slid down his face and he made no move to brush them away. There was no shame, only sadness, as they stood united in grief.  The minister stopped speaking, and closed the bible he held. Together they said the Lord's Prayer, and then suddenly, as quickly as it began, it was over.

Caitlin turned away, and she almost didn't notice him. He stood just outside the tent under a large umbrella, his expression sad. He closed the umbrella, and stepped under the tent. He smiled at her, and weakly, she smiled back. He lifted his hand, and gently he pushed the pink blanket away from his daughter's face.

“
Hannah?” he asked, and Caitlin nodded.

“
I should have told you. How did you know? she asked, looking at him.

His face showed no anger, no confusion, and he simply stared at the baby before looking back into the eyes of the woman he loved.

“
I saw the obituary.”

“
I wrote that,” Caitlin said.

“
It was nicely done.”

“
Thank you. I'm sorry, Colin. I wanted to call you. A hundred times I tried, but I couldn't.”

“
It's okay. We can talk about that another time. They are mine?” he barely whispered, and Caitlin nodded.

“
Where's my son?” he asked, and Caitlin motioned to Nathan. He walked quickly to her side with Rogan in his arm. Colin reached his arms out, and Nathan passed the sleeping child to him.

“
Nathan, this is Colin Thomas. Colin, this is my cousin, Nathan Parker.”

Colin put his hand out, as much as was possible, and Nathan shook it. “It's good to meet you, Nathan. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances, and I am very sorry for your loss.”

“
Thank you,” Nathan said, looking at Colin, and then at Caitlin. “I'll see you at the house,” he said, before kissing his cousin's cheek.

Rita watched them from the other side of the tent. She stood with her hand resting on the cherry coffin. “Did you do this, or did I?” she asked, glancing at the wooden box. “I guess it doesn't matter. Goodbye, my dearest friend,” she whispered. She kissed her fingers and pressed them to the coffin, before walking away.

“
Hello, Colin,” Rita said, as she approached.

“
Hi, Rita. I'm sorry about your friend,” he said softly, and she nodded.

“
Thank you. It was good of you to come,” she said.

“
I'm glad I did.”

“
So am I,” Rita said, and she was. “You're welcome to come to the house. They're saying the rain should pass soon.”

“
I have my daughter, my nanny, and a puppy waiting in the car.”

“
Oh?” Rita replied, before she could stop herself.

“
I adopted a little girl, Rita. It's a long story.”

“
I'd like to hear it sometime, Colin. You're welcome to bring them along. The dog, too.”

“
Thank you, Rita,” Colin said. Rita reached out to touch her grandson's face, and without thinking, she touched his father's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Colin smiled.

Rita hugged her daughter and whispered in her ear. “Remember what we said?” she asked, and Caitlin smiled into her shoulder.

“
I remember,” Caitlin whispered, and when she pulled away, she was smiling.