Make Me Yours

“What’s that, Eleanor?” I can play her game, but I can’t keep my voice from sounding like a robot.

She looks up at me with a knowing smile. “I found this Tawny Port from Prager Winery in the cabinet. Sandy and Remi got it for me when they traveled to Napa on their honeymoon.”

My throat tightens, and I have to hand it to her. She got me.

I’ll be damned if I let her know it, though. “That’s really cool. You never opened it?”

“No. It’s a very rare wine… Just like theirs was a very rare love.” She sighs like she’s being so innocent. “We should open it and enjoy it after dinner tonight before it passes it’s prime.”

My lips press together, and my stomach hurts, thinking of how that will go. Not that I want to replace Lillie’s mom, not at all. I don’t want Remi to be sad. I don’t want things to be strange between us.

“After Sandy died, he said he’d never love again.” Eleanor’s tone is wistful.

An ache is in my throat, and I don’t know why my silly eyes heat. “Never is a long time. Remi was twenty-six when she died?”

“They both were.” Her eyes aren’t on me.

I sound weak, but I think about my therapy training. “Grief recovery isn’t about forgetting the past. It’s about remembering with joy, not pain.”

She continues like it’s not tearing up my heart. “I wonder if Remi will even remember that trip.”

“His honeymoon? I’m sure it’s something he’ll always remember.” I’m ready to go to my room now.

“He seems to be forgetting a lot of things these days.” She gives me a pointed glare, but I don’t want to fight this battle. Ever.

“I’m sure it will always be very special to him.”

Remi cuts us off just as I’m leaving the living room. “Hey!”

That dimple is in his cheek, and he looks genuinely glad to see me.

It makes me want to cry.

Which is a ridiculous response to seeing him after hearing his mother-in-law talking about his honeymoon. Remi and I are not serious. I shouldn’t feel anything about Eleanor dragging out old tokens of his past life.

His brow furrows when he sees my face. “Everything okay? Where’s Lillie?”

“Everything’s fine.” I manage a smile, but his expression isn’t buying it.

“Daddy!” Lillie comes running inside from the patio. “Are we going to Dipper’s now?”

“Sure, honeybun. Ruby, want to come with us?”

I shake my head. “It’s your special time, remember?”

“You can go, Ruby!” Lillie grabs my hand. “You don’t have to eat the ice cream. You can have a cookie.”

Remi turns to his mother in law. “Eleanor? Would you like to join us?”

“Oh, no.” She waves a hand in front of her face. “You go and have fun. I’m just doing a little cleaning.”

Is that what it’s called now?

“Then we’ll be back in what? An hour?” He looks at me, and the dimple is back.

I almost sigh. He’s so good looking. “An hour should be plenty of time.”

Lillie grabs his hand and takes off running toward the door.