Authors: Fern Michaels

Kentucky Sunrise (10 page)

BOOK: Kentucky Sunrise

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“If he can get past his fear, it just might work. No one can help him with that, Fanny. He's got to work through it, but I think he's already working on it. Now, how is Marcus?”

“Marcus is doing nicely. He was sorry he couldn't come. He said he will be ready to do some visiting by September, so if you invite us back, we'll be here. I'm really looking forward to seeing Ruby and Metaxas. They are two of the most wonderful people walking this earth. I'm glad they ended up here and love what they're doing. Oh, Nealy, you should see my mountain. It is the most beautiful spot on this whole earth, thanks to Metaxas. When it burned, I wanted to die. And just like that, when the conditions were right, and the ground cooled down, Metaxas replanted the entire mountain. When are you going to ask me, Nealy?”

Nealy looked bewildered. “Ask you what, Fanny?”

“If there's room at the center for Emmie?”

“No, Fanny, I'm not going to ask you. I won't say the thought didn't cross my mind. We'll manage. I think Emmie needs to be close to home. It's all so devastating. It doesn't look rosy. Everything happens in threes. First it was me, now Emmie. I wonder what will be next.”

“You can't think like that, Nealy. I remember what we all went through with Sunny. I swear to you, I thought my heart broke in two. You never get used to it, but you learn to live with it. She was so young. Just like Emmie. There's room, Nealy. We can take her back with us. I'd like you to come along. We're family, and as such, we have to help one another. All I've done is think about Emmie since the moment you told me of her condition. Mind-set is all-important, Nealy. Iris, Sage's wife, suggested Gabby stay with them on the mountain so they can take her to see her mother on the weekends. Iris and Sage love children. The more the merrier. It worked so well with Jake. There's no reason it won't work with Gabby. You take care of my grandson, and my family will take care of your granddaughter. Will you at least think about it?”

Tears welled in Nealy's eyes. “Of course I'll think about it. In the end, it has to be Emmie's decision. I don't see her leaving here. She can be very stubborn. Then again, I could be wrong.”

Fanny smiled. “Like the young people say today, I think it's in the bag. Sunny and Harry are revving her up as we speak. Sometimes, seeing the results of the center is worth more than a million words.”

“Oh, Fanny, how did you handle it? I'm so torn up over this.”

Fanny shrugged. “I had to take it one day at a time. I fell apart, too, but in the end, you have to be strong. Sunny's husband left her when he found out she had MS. Then he was going to sue her to get custody of the children. That's when I called in the big guns, and he went away peacefully. Jake hasn't seen or heard from him since he was four years old. He's married now, with children of his own. He's a doctor. You'd think he would have had a little more compassion where his wife was concerned. You learn to accept what you can't change. You have family now, Nealy. We're all here for you, Emmie, and Gabby.”

Nealy knuckled her eyes. She squeezed Fanny's hand. “Yes, we're family. That pretty much says it all. I think it's time for us to meander up to the house. Before you know it, the barbecue will be ready. The band will be starting up, and the festivities will begin.”

“I didn't know you were having a band, Nealy.”

Nealy laughed. “They call themselves a band. It's a group of my employees. Ooops, Emmie's employees. They consist of three harmonica players, a drummer, and someone who whistles. Emmie said they're great!”

“Well, if you ever want a band, talk to Sunny. She's on a first-name basis with Dallas Lord and the Canyon River Band. According to her, they're right up there with someone named Matchbox and the Spiderlegs.”

“God, I feel old,” Nealy groaned. “I never heard of them. I'm a Sinatra and Elvis fan.”

Fanny linked her arm with Nealy's. “I met both of them when they performed at Babylon. They were absolutely wonderful. Frank was such a gentleman, and Elvis was so shy and polite. Magnificent performers. Sell-out crowds. Those were the days, but you know what, Nealy, I don't want them back. There was simply too much heartache back in those good old days. By the way, I love that husband of yours.”

“Me, too.” Nealy laughed. “He's the best thing that ever happened to me. Oh, look, there's Nick!”

“Ma!” He was running toward her, his arms outstretched. Nealy ran straight for him. Her feet left the ground as he swung her around and around until she was dizzy.

“Oh, Nick, it's so good to see you. Is everything okay? Are you setting the legal world on fire? How long can you stay? My goodness, where are my manners. Say hello to Fanny, Nick.”

“Nice to see you, Aunt Fanny. You're looking prettier each time I see you.”

“Now, this is a man with a keen eye,” Fanny said, and laughed as the three of them walked up the path to the house.

Before they reached the back door, Nick looked down at his mother. “Ma, tell me what to expect when I see Emmie. I don't want to blow it here. Tell me the worst so I know what I'm dealing with.”

Nealy told him and watched his face go ashen. “She's had it for a while, Mom. I remember once she couldn't hold the watering can when she was sprinkling her patch of grass. She never complained, though, and sluffed it off. She kept the aspirin bottle on the kitchen shelf, and I remember thinking she took a lot of them. God, how did this happen? What can I do?”

Nealy shook her head. “We'll talk later. Go on the porch and talk to her. I want to see about refreshments for our guests.”

Fanny lowered herself to the top step on the back porch. She looked around. “It's so pretty, Nealy, with all the colorful flowers and hanging baskets. Most people don't do much with their back porches, but I like this. I think it's as nice as your front porch.

“There's something I don't understand. If Emmie had this condition, why didn't she do something about it earlier?”

“It's my fault, Fanny. From the time Nick and Emmie were old enough to understand, I drilled into their heads they had to work through the pain. I meant things like sore muscles, charley horses, and the like. Not
real
pain. This is all my fault. Emmie was doing what I taught her to do. How could I have been so damn stupid? How, Fanny?”

“You were doing what someone told you to do. I'm sure your . . . Josh Coleman told you to work through the pain. He didn't sound like a man who wanted to know anyone wasn't feeling well or was sore from working all day. Maud and Jess were old-timers and believed a shot of whiskey was the cure-all for everything. You can't blame yourself entirely, Nealy. Emmie is a grown woman, and as such she has to take responsibility for her own well-being. We're talking about denial here. I went through it, Sunny went through it, and so did the Texas branch of the family. I don't want you thinking you have a monopoly on stupidity here. Nor do I want to see you packing your bags for a guilt trip. I've been around the block more times than I care to remember, and I know what I'm talking about.”

Both women watched as a hummingbird swooped down to suck at one of the luscious flowers. A pale yellow butterfly circled and swirled before it, too, settled on one of the colorful blooms. Off in the distance, one of the barn dogs let loose with a loud howl. The hummingbird and the butterfly took wing at the same moment. The barking continued, a sign that something was amiss in one of the barns. Nealy shrugged it off. It could be something as simple as a mouse scurrying down the breezeway, or it could be something as sinister as a horse in trouble. If it were the latter, one of the workers would have rung the bell.

“Is there really room at the center for Emmie, Fanny?”

“There's room. You won't like the rules at first, and neither will Emmie, but they work. Sunny is the living proof. She's getting worse. I would give my life for her if it would do any good. Through it all, she remains very brave. I think it's mostly for my benefit. I wish you could have known her when she was younger. She was like golden sunshine. There wasn't anything she couldn't do, and she was totally fearless. I have these horrible nightmares about her.”

Fanny's voice turned fretful when she said, “I know I'm an old woman now, and Sunny is aging, too, so that may be part of it. Her prognosis is not good. I don't want to bury one of my children. I don't think I could handle that.”

“Oh, Fanny, that isn't going to happen. Sunny is a fighter. You just have to look at her to know that. Every day modern medicine is making giant strides in cases like hers. You said it's all in the mind-set. You need to listen to your own words. And on that thought, I think we need to join the rest of the family. Oooh, look at that butterfly. I don't think I ever saw a pink-and-brown one before.”

They watched as a steady stream of butterflies made an appearance in the little flower garden. White ones, yellow ones, blue ones tinged with black, and the beautiful pink one. Some were big and some were small and delicate.

“They're like our children, aren't they, Nealy? The big ones are robust and strong, and their wings are wide. The little ones look so fragile and delicate, like Sunny and Emmie. I suppose you can liken anything to anything. Does that make sense?”

“It does to me,” Nealy said, standing up. She reached down for Fanny's hand. She, too, was thin and fragile, like her daughter. She shuddered under the warm sun as she wondered what the future held in store for her and her family.

“I think you're right, it's time to join the others. I think I hear your band warming up,” Fanny said, a catch in her voice.

It was almost dusk when Nealy settled herself in one of the Adirondack chairs next to Maggie Tanaka. “That was a pretty decent softball game,” she said. She patted her stomach. “I'm stuffed. I can't remember the last time I ate that much.”

“I had doubles of everything. You throw a good barbecue, Nealy. Would you look at those guys?” Maggie laughed as she pointed to the ballplayers stretched out in the bluegrass. “I think the game kicked their butts. It's also probably the most exercise any of them has had in years. I am, of course, speaking of just our family. Your employees have it all together and won the day. Our guys were like slugs compared to the farm team. Twenty-seven to two is not a good score.”

“They had fun. By tomorrow they'll put a spin on it that you won't recognize.” Nealy grinned.

“It's so nice to have the whole family here. Next time we have to make sure all the grandkids, kids, and spouses can come. I never realized how busy kids' lives are. There's either some kind of lesson or some party they absolutely must attend. They have schedules. Do you believe that? I realize now I didn't give everyone enough notice. That's a failing of mine. I always say, next time I'll do better. I get so caught up in things and time gets away from me.”

Maggie sipped from her glass of ginger ale. “We're all alike when it comes to things like that. I'm notorious for thinking I did or said something when all I did was think about it. It's called having senior moments. They usually hit you around the time you hit the big five-oh.” She changed the subject abruptly. “Is there anything I or any members of the family can do for Emmie?”

“No, but thanks for asking. Fanny wants me to take her to that fabulous center they built in Las Vegas. It has to be Emmie's decision, not mine.”

“It's really a state-of-the-art fantastic rehab center. It's been written up all over the world. If they can't help her, no one can. They have a top-notch dedicated staff. If Fanny can get you in, snap it up. I understand the waiting list is years into the future. It's just like everything else in life, Nealy. It's not what you know, it's who you know. RA is not something to ignore.”

Nealy plucked at a blade of grass. “We used to whistle with these. I wish you could all stay a bit longer. A one-day visit hardly seems enough, and I'm glad you all agreed to come even if it was just for the day. I understand everyone has a busy life, but it would be nice to just lounge around and talk for days and days.”

“Next year, let's do our family reunion in Hawaii. We have the room, and the Pacific Ocean is right below the house. You'll love it. The kids can run on the beach, and something is always going on for the young people. By the way, Nealy, I think it's wonderful what you're doing for Jake.”

“I think he might have what it takes. Only time will tell. He seems like a fine young man.”

“This family has certainly had its share of tragedies,” Maggie said, her eyes on the ballplayers, who were moaning and groaning as they struggled to their feet. “It was a delightful day, Nealy, and for that, I'm grateful. It seems lately the only time the family gets together is when tragedy strikes or there's a funeral.”

Nealy grimaced. “I think I have to find my husband so I can start playing hostess.”

“Run along, dear, I'm going to join Fanny and Ruby and catch up on the latest gossip,” Maggie said.

BOOK: Kentucky Sunrise

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