“The guys ordered them.”
One biker shouted from the driveway:
“They look great!”
Cole yelled back:
“She specifically said no shirts!”
The biker shrugged.
“Too late!”
Lily ran over.
“I want one.”
Cole pointed toward the biker.
“See what you've done?”
Rachel was still laughing when Cole’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“Excuse me.”
He walked toward the curb.
Rachel watched him.
His shoulders, so enormous from behind, suddenly looked tired.
Old.
Grief did that.
Made age appear unexpectedly.
Lily climbed onto the porch step beside her mother.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Was Megan his kid?”
“Yes.”
“She died?”
Rachel nodded.
Lily thought.
“Like maybe me?”
Rachel’s entire body tightened.
“No.”
Too fast.
Lily looked at her.
Rachel corrected herself.
“You're sick.”
“The doctors are helping.”
“I know.”
“But people die from it.”
Rachel could not lie.
She had promised herself she would never lie about illness.
Simplify.
Protect.
But not lie.
“Yes.”
Lily stared toward Cole.
“Was he there?”
“When Megan died?”
“Yes.”
“I think so.”
Lily looked down.
“Was she scared?”
Rachel did not know.
Before she could answer, Cole returned.
He had heard.
He stopped.
Lily looked up.
“Was Megan scared?”
Cole stood silently.
Then crouched.
“Yes.”
Rachel held her breath.
Cole continued.
“She was scared.”
Lily’s eyes lowered.
“But you know what else?”
“What?”
“She was funny.”
“Even scared?”
“Especially scared.”
“She made fun of my beard.”
Lily looked at it.
“It is big.”
“I know.”
“She told the nurse I looked like a bear who lost his forest.”
Lily giggled.
Cole smiled.
“She was scared and brave at the same time.”
Lily frowned.
“How?”
“Being brave doesn't mean you're not scared.”
“It means you're scared and still do the next thing.”
Lily thought.
“Like needles?”
“Exactly.”
“I cry.”
“Megan did too.”
“Really?”
“Sometimes.”
Lily seemed relieved.
Cole reached into his vest.
Removed something small.
A friendship bracelet.
Faded purple and blue thread.
Plastic beads spelled:
M
He held it.
“Megan made this when she was twelve.”
Rachel watched.
Cole looked toward Lily.
“I’ve carried it since she died.”
Lily stared.
“You want me to have it?”
Cole’s face changed.