“You might have.”
“I’d throw it all out,” he stated, looking over her head at what might’ve been his. “That’s the wrong way. There’s some of those daffodils trying to come up on the side of the house. I could dig them up, too. Savannah always liked those when we were kids. And—”
“What?”
“Maybe I’ll pry up a couple floorboards before you tear it down. Between Justin and Savannah, they could make something. She’d like that.”
“There you go.” Bodine leaned back enough to kiss him. “Why don’t we walk around for a minute. See if there’s anything else?”
Before he could answer his phone signaled. “Text from my mother.” He frowned at the readout. “She never texts. She just— Christ, my sister’s in labor.”
“Well, you’ve got to go!” Grabbing his hand, Bodine dragged him back to the horses. “You have to get there.”
“She’s having it at home. Why would anyone do that? There ought to be a law or something. Why is she—”
“Mount up, Skinner.” She said it with a laugh, for a moment seriously adoring him and his pure male fluster. “You can get to your truck in less than ten minutes, and drive there and ask her yourself.”
He swung onto his horse. “Maybe Vanna doesn’t want me in the middle of things.”
“Men are idiots.” Bodine sent Leo into a gallop, knowing Sundown would follow her lead.
*
Her mood high, Bodine strode into the house. She found Clementine at the counter with Alice, peeling potatoes.
“I’m making mashed potatoes. Clementine’s showing me how. I can watch her fry the chicken.”
“And I can eat it,” Bodine said, making Alice duck her head and smile. “Something already smells good.”
“We baked a chocolate cake. I like cooking with Clementine. My house doesn’t have an oven. I couldn’t bake chocolate cake.”
“You’re making me hungry for it.” Bodine poured a glass of wine as her mother came in. “I brought home news,” she announced. “Callen’s sister’s having her baby.”
“That’s happy news,” Maureen said. “You can pour me a glass, and we’ll drink to a healthy baby.”
“I had babies.” Alice continued to peel as she spoke, but her shoulders hunched. “It hurts, and there’s blood, and it hurts more and more. If they’re girls you can’t keep them because they fetch a good price. The sister keeps her girl, but I can’t keep mine.”
She aimed a furious look at Maureen. “My girls would be as pretty as yours. Prettier! It’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not,” Maureen began. “I’m sorry—”
“I don’t want your sorry. I don’t want your sorry. I want my babies. I want my Rory. Why is he yours, too? Why do you get everything?”
“Let’s sit down, Alice.” Bodine moved toward her. “You can show me the scarf you’re making me.”
“No!” For the first time Alice slapped out at Bodine, then rounded on her. “You’re the daughter. I’m the daughter, too! I’m the daughter. Why does she always get everything?”
“That’s enough.” Her own temper fraying, Maureen stepped between them. “That’s enough, Alice.”
“Just shut up. Shut up, shut up! You’re not my boss. Reenie, Reenie, Reenie. Always the good one, always the winner, always, always.” Alice shoved her.
To Bodine’s shock, Maureen shoved Alice right back. “Maybe you should start acting your age. Maybe you should stop whining about everything just like you always did. Maybe you should stop blaming everyone but yourself.”
“I hate you.”
“Yeah, what else is new?”
“Girls!” Cora quick-stepped into the kitchen, Miss Fancy on her heels. “Stop it right now.”
“She started it.” Alice poked a finger at Maureen. “She can’t boss me around, Ma. You always take her side. It’s not fair. How come I have to wash the dishes for a week and she doesn’t? Just because she gets straight As? The teacher doesn’t like me, okay? And I was going to clean my room, Ma, I was! I just forgot. Reenie, Reenie, Reenie’s such a beautiful bride. Well, I’m going to be a movie star. Just you wait and see. Why does she keep her babies? Why?”
Tears flowing, Alice pressed her hands to both sides of her head. “Why, why, why? I don’t understand. Who am I? Who am I? Not the woman in the mirror. No, no, no! The old woman, who is the old woman in the mirror? Who am I?”
“Alice. My Alice.” Cora stepped forward. “Alice Ann Bodine. There now.” With her fingertips, Cora wiped at the tears. “Who am I?”
Bodine felt her own throat close as she watched Alice struggle. “Ma. Ma. I … I was coming home.”
“I know. I know. You’re home now.”
“I don’t feel right. I don’t feel right anywhere in me. Can I go back? Just go back?”
“We’re going to start from here, and it’s going to be all right.”
“Reenie’s mad at me.”
“No, I’m not.” Maureen ran a hand down Alice’s braid. “I’m not mad. I’m glad you’re home, Alice.”
“I was mad. I was mad. I was mad. I can’t remember why. My head hurts.”
“You can lie down awhile,” Cora said. “I’ll sit with you.”
“No. No, I’m making mashed potatoes. Clementine’s teaching me. Clementine … If complaints were a dollar, you’d be a billionaire.”
“That’s right.” Though her eyes shined, Clementine tapped a half-peeled potato. “They won’t peel themselves, girl.”
“I’m going to sit down right beside you, make sure you do a good job.” Miss Fancy walked over, sat on a stool.
“Grammy.” Alice tipped her head to Miss Fancy’s shoulder. “Grammy always smells so good. Where’s Grandpa?”
“He’s up in heaven, darling, taking care of your little Benjamin.”
“Grandpa’s with Benjamin. I don’t have to worry.” As she picked up the peeler, she looked at Maureen, her eyes full of grief. “He’s not my Rory. He’s yours.”
“We’re sisters. We share.”
“I hate to share.”
Now Maureen laughed. “Don’t I know it.”
Behind them, Bodine slid an arm around Cora, spoke softly. “Come on and sit down. You’re shaking. I’ll make you tea.”
“I’d rather have that wine.”
“Sit first.”
Bodine dashed back for the wine, waited until her grandmother wrapped both hands around the bowl of the glass, took a sip.
“She called me ‘Ma.’”
“I know.”
“It’s the first time. She called me ‘Ma,’ and when she looked at me, she remembered. I could see it in her eyes. She’s coming back. Alice is coming back.”
*
Exhausted, confused, and overwhelmed, Callen stepped back into the shack. He tossed his hat and jacket in the vicinity of a chair. Though he deeply wanted a beer, he wanted sleep more. He headed into the bedroom and, dropping down on the bed to pull off his boots, sat on Bodine.
He said “Jesus Christ” inside the few seconds it took him to identify woman rather than God knew what. She rolled upright with a grunt.