“Yes, well, thank you so much for coming here to tell us about your dear mother. We’re so sorry.” Lena’s eagerness as she pushed Katya toward the door was surprising.
As Katya left, she stumbled over something sticking out from beneath the woodpile near the door. Glancing down, she saw a small shoe.
Katya went cold.
A child’s shoe.
Lena kicked it away.
“Lena…” Katya’s voice was shaky. Her eyes slowly lifted, meeting Lena’s guilt–stricken face for one brief, telling moment before Ruslan slammed the door in her face.
27
CASSIE
Illinois, June 2004
Cassie inhaled the sweet summer air and gave a contented sigh. The backyard hummed with bumblebees stopping to sip at each of Bobby’s beautiful flowers. Nearly in full bloom, the yard sparkled with so many colors it almost hurt her eyes to take them all in. She couldn’t imagine a more peaceful setting.
“Your flowers are always so amazing, Bobby.” Cassie picked up the gardening tools and settled down next to the one bare spot in the bed along the back fence. She ran the trowel down the narrow flower bed, creating a neat row. “But isn’t it a little late to be planting sunflower seeds?”
“It’s never too late to try to add beauty to the world.” Even though Bobby sat in a chair and wasn’t actually working in the dirt, there was no question who was in charge. “Go a little longer with that row, Cassie.”
Birdie hopped back and forth on one foot, her excitement infecting them all. “Sunflowers and hollyhocks, sunflowers and hollyhocks. I love planting flowers, Bobby!”
Bobby chuckled. “I know, little bird. Me too. Now, open your hands.”
Birdie held still as Bobby poured a packet of seeds into Birdie’s dimpled hands.
“Put them in the rows Mommy made?” Birdie asked.
When Bobby nodded, Birdie dropped to the ground and placed each seed carefully in its spot, evenly spaced from the last one.
“You’re very good at that.” Bobby beamed at her great-granddaughter.
Birdie nodded in agreement with the unpretentious confidence of the young, making both Cassie and Bobby laugh.
“Now cover them with dirt and pat down gently,” Bobby said.
Birdie worked diligently until the last seed was patted in place, then she jumped up. “I’m going to get a drink of water. Don’t plant any without me!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Cassie grinned. “Come right back out when you’re done.”
Bobby fiddled with the empty seed packet in her lap. “You’re right, Cassie. These seeds may not bloom this year, but it’s worth a try. It’s always worth a try, don’t you think? With flowers and with life.”
So many questions danced on Cassie’s tongue, but she bit them back and finally replied. “I guess that’s what you did, isn’t it? Tried to move on?”
Bobby nodded slowly. “And it’s what you will do too, eventually.”
Damn, she was good at turning the tables. But Cassie wasn’t willing to dive into her own issues now, so she changed the subject.
“What made you decide to plant sunflowers? I thought they made you sad?”
“I decided it was time I stopped disliking them for the bad memories and choose to enjoy them for the good memories. It’s something I’m still working on.” Bobby stared off into the yard, as if actively trying to do what she’d just mentioned.
Birdie tumbled out of the back door and ran toward them, her face beaming. “Guess what? Alina told me she’s happy you’re planting the sunflowers!”
“What?” Bobby’s gnarled knuckles whitened on the arm of her chair.
The hairs on the back of Cassie’s neck stood up, but she ignored the uncomfortable sensation. “Birdie! You shouldn’t make up things like that. It upsets Bobby!”
Birdie’s face crumpled. “I didn’t make up anything.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” Cassie said. But what did she mean? She didn’t really think her daughter was talking to her dead great–aunt in there, did she?
“Because it’s almost my time. That’s why she’s here.” Bobby jerked her gaze toward Cassie. “I need to know you’ll finish reading my things before I go. I need to keep my promise.”
Cassie brushed the dirt off her trembling hands and stood. “Nick should be here any minute. We’re planning on getting through a lot today.”
“Good.” Bobby slowly pulled herself up from her chair. “I’ll go put Birdie down for her nap. I told her I’d read her a story. Then I’ll go rest, too.”