Bridge to a Distant Star - Carolyn Williford [37]
They were both silent for a few moments. The only sounds in the room were their quiet breathing and the steady ticking of Colleen’s bedside clock.
“Does that help?” Maureen asked, searching her daughter’s face again.
A barely perceptible nod of her head, and then, “I love you, Mom.”
Maureen could barely see as she leaned over and kissed the top of Colleen’s head, her hand caressing the ponytail. “I love you too, sweetie.”
Though it had been bright and sunny the entire week before, Friday dawned miserably; they awakened to a dense fog with drizzly rain. Bill expressed some concern about Maureen’s driving in such awful weather, but she was optimistic the sun would be out by noon. “That’s what all the forecasters are saying,” she calmly pointed out. “Sunshine by noon. So I figure this has got to clear up soon.”
As Bill buckled Aubrey into her car seat, he tugged on an ear and then kissed her.
“Will you miss me, Daddy?”
“Better believe it.”
“And Rabbit, too?”
“Even more than you.”
Aubrey frowned, then burst into a big smile. “You’re just teasing, Daddy. I know you’ll miss me most!”
“You’re just too smart—like your Mommy, huh?”
He pulled Maureen into his arms, a touch of insecurity and tenderness still apparent in the look he gave her. She felt a sudden surge of love, realizing how much she was still in love with him. “You’ll be all right? Colleen promised me she’d take good care of you.”
“She mentioned pizza. Burgers and tacos. That what you mean?”
Maureen smiled. “To a teenager, that’s probably as good as it gets.”
Colleen came down the steps into the garage and they both turned to look at her. “I, um … I hope you have a good time.” She moved toward Maureen, reaching out to offer a hug. The unexpected gift brought the uncomfortable lump back to Maureen’s throat. Peering over the top of her daughter’s head, she looked into Bill’s face and smiled contentedly. She kissed the top of Colleen’s head before Colleen pushed away, muttering, “I gotta finish getting ready for school. Bye, little squirt,” she called to Aubrey, throwing her a quick kiss with a wave of one hand.
Maureen watched Colleen’s every move until she was out of sight and then turned her attention back to Bill. “As soon as I get to the hotel, I’ll call you. Then I need to ring Emilie. Ask her to forgive me.”
Bill nodded. “Good idea. And if Ed leaves her again?”
“Then Sherry, Nessa, and I will be there for her. I’m calling Sherry and Nessa also, by the way. To tell them what amazing friends they’ve been—how much they’ve given me all these years.”
“Sounds like you’ll be spending all your time on the phone,” Bill teased.
She sighed. “Oh, not so much. ’Cause after that, I’m spending time with Aubrey. And God. I plan to spend most of my weekend talking with him.”
Bill pulled her to him again, murmuring, “Gonna miss you. I love you, honey.”
“Oh, Bill. I love you too. You know that, right?”
His answer was a tender kiss, and it was with some regret that Maureen let go, climbed into the van, and backed out into the waiting murkiness. Flicking on the windshield wipers, Maureen watched while her view of Bill misted over, cleared, and misted again in the steady rhythm of the blades. She waved at him one last time. Took a deep breath and turned to wink at Aubrey.
“Okay, Lolly Pops. Ready to go?”
“Me and Rabbit, too.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Maureen caught a glimpse of bright blue in the front magnolia tree. “Oh, Aubrey, look!” she cried out delightedly, pointing toward the pair. “It’s … it’s the bluebirds, and there are two—a papa and a mama.”
Aubrey squirmed