Cadence continued reading Lily’s words. “This is my final letter—I dictate it during the decay of autumn. You are all familiar with this time of a happy thanksgiving and waiting for the first snow to fall. The smell of moldering leaves and vegetation is fragrant in the heavy air saturated with change and transformation. One could say this rotting aroma is almost pleasant. And why not? Isn’t this season a part of all the four? It fulfills its purpose, too—nature is always beautiful in its final season before winter, though it is also cruel in its realities.”
Eva let the meaning of Lily’s words settle into her heart. Of course, Cole’s momma wasn’t just speaking of autumn, but of the nature of life. Lily was also a poet, it seemed, very reflective of the world they lived in and the one to come.
“The flowers are dying, though the roots are good. Rest assured, they will bloom again. They are not truly dead, though the vine has withered away. My love is like that as well—always alive. Even if you no longer feel my arms around you, know that I will continually embrace you.
You must believe! My love will be with you always, though the ground hardens as the cold settles in. This season of preparation is all part of the plan. This waiting too shall pass, and with it, shall the winter be ushered in, followed by a brilliant spring when we shall meet again.”
That sentiment was so beautiful.
Eva squirmed, wondering how appropriate it really was that she should be sharing this moment with Cole’s family and closest friends, listening in on a mother’s last words to her loved ones. Coming here unannounced might’ve been a dumb move. Picking up the phone to ask Cole if he’d be comfortable with her being at his momma’s memorial would’ve made this better.
Her silly romantic side wanted to surprise him.
Apparently West’snon-romantic side did too.
She wasn’t supposed to be here. Looking over at West, she squeezed his arm. “I should go,” she whispered to him.
He gave her a distracted look. “No,” he hissed. “Let’s just get through this memorial, and we’ll figure this out.” That’s when she noticed how stiff he’d gotten. In fact, every part of him was as rigid as a board.
Oh no! The sentimentality of the memorial was setting him off.
Eva hadn’t liked how hard and jaded West had turned after his momma had died. Some of that was part of his mourning process, but still something had felt off. West always turned angry when normal people got sad. And now, his profile looked chiseled from granite as his eyes narrowed on Cadence reading from the letter: “I have waited too long for this heart that didn’t want to come, and I often wondered if it could possibly replace the one I have now anyway, for in mine was so much love for you. How could I find one that has brought me as much joy as this one?”
West flinched then glared at the ground. His hands pressed into each other until the knuckles turned white.
Eva bit her lip. He’d been impossible to deal with before, but now as she watched him, she realized that he was steeling himself against his momma’s every word.
“I have a message for my boys. To my dearest Hudson, West, Nash, Porter, Cole… and Jase; this is for you too, my love. As God does allow, I will watch over you as an angel.”
Well, West might fight his momma on her angelic mission every step of the way, and he’d never let Eva in, either, and besides! Eva had her own problems. She had officially crashed a funeral. Had she forgotten who she was? Who would want the heiress of a corrupt empire at the memorial of the most beloved lady in town? Trout’s daughter! Eva cringed, feeling like the splinter in a sore thumb that everyone wanted gone… now.
She sighed, forcing herself to stay still and not cause a scene.
Eva and West were quite the pair, weren’t they? Maybe theydidbelong together, except she could no longer put up with all that pain masked as sarcasm.
Tuning out West’s almost palpable resentment as best as she could, she glanced back at Cole. The snapdragon quivered in his strong hands as he took everything in. The petals knocked up against his knees. Cole was wearing those jeans she’d given him. He wouldn’t do that if he’d completely thrown out the idea of them being together, would he?
He might.
Still, he looked good. Kylee was still leaning too close to him. Cole seemed to have forgotten all about her, maybe Eva too, as he bent forward, listening.
“I want my boys to remember that my prayers have always been with you. And now that we are no longer together, I plead with you to know God as I do. He sees you as I see you—my perfect, beautiful sons—strong, capable, virtuous, loving, protective—men of God. These were the ones I raised, and I am proud as you become what you were always meant to be, day by day. Never forget that it is only by God’s Grace that you will truly reach the potential that I know is inside each of you. God’s grace is like my love—given freely, if you just accept it.”
West straightened. “Okay,” he muttered to Eva. “We’ll sneak out the back.”
Not a chance. Not like this. Eva might not fit in with the rest of Lily’s friends and family, but she’d never do the woman such a disservice as to aid and abet her errant son’s escape from her memorial.
Her hand went over West’s arm to keep him in place. “Don’t even think about it,” she whispered. “I’m not kidding here.”
“Let the beauty of this garden remind you of my love, though always remember that God’s love is even greater still. Warmly, your momma, your wife, your friend, your Lily,” finished Cadence.
West sighed softly. “She should’ve fought harder,” he muttered.
Eva glanced over at his pale face.
Oh no, he was wrong. Lily was still fighting.
Some things a momma never gave up on.