4. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Gene

H earing Lilah's voice over the phone made my heart beat faster. I'm heartbroken that my mother has taken a turn for the worse and the guilt for not being there for her in the past two years is literally eating me alive.

The urgency in Lilah's tone tells me I've got to go back as soon as possible. That means I need to leave my RV here in Texas and take the first plane to Colorado. I'll rent a car there and drive to Woodland Falls. I'm scared I won't get there before my mother passes.

I feel even worse because I want to see Lilah so badly. She's an amazing young woman who has never treated me poorly. No matter what the people of Woodland Falls said about me – all of which was true – her demeanor towards me hasn't changed.

The texts started soon after I left my small town. Every time Lilah visited my mother, she'd give me a report of the visit. After a couple of months I started saying good morning and good night everyday. Then we started sharing more information about one another.

What I didn't share with her, though, was why I became such a bad man in the last years I was major of Woodland Falls. It was just a part I couldn't reveal about myself because it's ugly. When my momma got diagnosed with a degenerative disease five years ago, I all about lost it.

I was angry at the world and having to put her in an assisted living facility was a difficult moment for both of us. That anger turned me into a man I didn't recognize and my mind was full of dark thoughts. If god and the universe didn't care about my family, I wouldn't care about the rest of the world either.

As if by magic, I started attracting a dark element into my life and they all wanted something for nothing. Soon I was using people, blackmailing others and manipulating whoever I could with my charm. It worked well until I crossed the wrong family.

The Hoffers are a tight knit clan of brothers who own a handyman and construction business. I stepped on their toes and those of their loved ones once too often and pretty soon they were after my seat as mayor of the town.

I fought dirty during the campaign, but I still lost. Not by much, mind you, but I lost. It takes forever to drive to Woodland Falls. I'm lost in thought but when I see the sign for the town my heart leaps. I go directly to Blooming Blossoms, Lilah's store.

Grabbing a box of chocolates I got at the airport, I leave my car and walk into the store. It's not as packed with flowers as it normally is, but I imagine that's because of the season. Lilah looks up from her spot behind at the counter and is it my imagination or are her eyes sparkling as if she's actually happy to see me?

"Hey, Lilah."

"Gene! You're back."

It feels like a hugging moment, but she's behind the counter and even though we've become close I respect Lilah and don't want to do anything to hurt our friendship. I stand there looking like a fool without saying anything for the longest time.

"Have you seen your mother yet?"

The question nudges me and I come out of my stupor.

"I came here first. Maybe we can go together?"

She looks at me funny and I realize I have the present in front of me.

"This is for you. A thank you."

She takes it from me and gives me a sad smile.

"You didn't have to do this, Gene. I enjoy visiting with your mother."

"Still…I can't tell you how much your visiting her has eased my troubled mind."

"It's awful that this is happening during the holidays, Gene, but I'm glad you're back. Let me get my purse and coat and then we can go visit your mother."

I watch her go to the back and let go of the breath that I've been holding since I walked in. I didn't know she could get more beautiful than she was, but she has. It's all I can do not to pull her into my arms and kiss her.

Looking around the shop something seems off, but I can't put a finger on what it is. She comes out dressed for the cold and ready to go. I wait for her and walk beside her, then open the door. Lilah flips the shop sign to 'closed' and locks the door behind us.

"Is your RV safe where you left it?"

"Yes."

"Where are you staying?"

"I'm not sure just yet."

I open the car door for her and close it once she's seated and has buckled her seatbelt. I go around and berate myself. This is a sad time in my life, yet I'm secretly sniffing Lilah's hair like a lovesick boy. It smells like peaches, okay?

Spring Brooks is about thirty minutes away from downtown Woodland Falls and I spend the time feeling happy and relaxed because Lilah keeps a running commentary on how things are in town and gives me all the gossip about the people as well.

I didn't know she was a gossip, but it's endearing. I've put this woman up on a pedestal and it's a good thing she's not perfect. Her voice soothes me and when I park at the facility I'm a little sad. I shut down the car but I don't make any movement towards getting out of it.

"How bad is it?" I ask her.

"I'm not a doctor, but…"

"I know, but I want your opinion."

She's quiet for a minute and I start to think she's not going to answer me, when she starts speaking in a soft, low voice.

"I think you need to prepare yourself. She's very different than when you last saw her two years ago, Gene." She hesitates. "She's frail and pale and sometimes I think she isn't breathing because it's so shallow."

Lilah reaches for my hand and envelops it in hers.

"This is going to be a difficult Christmas Gene, but I'm going to be right by your side."

Her eyes shine like tears want to come out, but she holds them back. My own tears are flowing down my face and I realize I need to brace myself for what's coming and the pain that I know will follow.

Thankfully I've got this angel next to me and if she's not careful I might never let her go.