She takes a big bite of mine before she offers Lincoln some of hers. When Lincoln holds out his cone for Gemma to try, she wrinkles her nose.
“Yours is always the same. I’ve tried it a whole bunch of times.”
Chuckling, he pulls one of her braids. “That’s because I like picking what I know I like. What happens if I choose one that tastes nasty?”
She shrugs and licks around her cone before it has a chance to drip on her hand. “Me, Momma, or Gray will eat it, and you can get another one.”
“I’m not sure any of us could eat two whole ice cream cones.”
“I could,” Gray chimes in, almost halfway done with his cone already.
“That’s because you have a bottomless pit for a stomach,” I comment with a laugh.
“Dad always says I have to eat a lot if I want to be big and tough like him when I grow up.”
I try to ignore the pang in my stomach his words cause. I won’t get to see if he does become big and tough like his father.
Sensing where my thoughts have gone, Lincoln reaches over and grabs my free hand, lacing our fingers together. Just the warmth of his palm against mine has the melancholy fading away.
I smile at Gray, the expression genuine. “Well, you don’t have too much longer to go before you’re taller than me, so I have no doubt you’ll follow in your father’s footsteps.”
Forty-five minutes later, my feet are squishing in the sand as Lincoln and I walk hand in hand on the beach. The kids are up ahead of us looking for seashells. We haven’t been able to go as much the last few years with my, Lincoln’s, and the kids’ schedules. I miss it. As kids, one of our families took us all the time. Once we could ourselves, we came even more. And there were many times the local teenagers did bonfires on the beach.
I sigh and relish the gritty sand between my toes. “This feels so good. I miss walking on the beach.”
“We’ll have to do it more often,” Lincoln remarks, his fingers tightening around mine. “Have you spoken with Terri about the clinic?”
“I did. She’s fine with taking things over for a while. I told her there’s a possibility I may be selling it sooner rather than later. She’s interested in purchasing. Since there’s a possibility I may be selling to her, I’m letting her find a part-time vet to take on some of the workload.”
That was a hard phone call to make. I love working with animals, and I love my clinic. But I’m still undecided if I want to go back to work. We don’t need my income from the clinic. Lincoln’s business brings in plenty. My time is limited, and if given the choice, I want to spend every second I have with my family. With my symptoms already getting worse, I’m not sure I should go back to work. Lincoln has left the decision up to me, but I know he would prefer I stay home.
“I know that was a hard decision to make.”
“It was, but I think it’s for the best. Besides, I’ve really liked being home with you and the kids the last few weeks.”
Gemma squeals and we both laugh as Gray chases her around holding a piece of seaweed. She runs over to us and darts behind me and Lincoln.
“Don’t let him get me with that nasty stuff!” she yells, peeking around my waist to keep an eye on her brother.
With a wicked grin, Gray feigns to the left before running to the right. He throws it and it lands on top of her head. Her expression is priceless. Her eyes widen and cross as she looks at the seaweed dangling between her eyes.
“I’m gonna get you for that!” She grabs the slimy weed, like she wasn’t just freaking out about it touching her, and starts chasing after Gray.
I smile and watch two of my favorite people run around being silly.
Lincoln stops and bends down, picking up a shell and dropping it inside the little bucket he’s carrying.
“What are you going to make me?” I ask.
Even to this day, he still makes me things out of the seashells we find. I don’t get them as often as I used to because we don’t come to the beach as often, but I cherish each and every one. Lifting my hand, I finger the one I’ve worn for years. It’s the very first one he gave me.
He grins and shoots me a wink. “That’s for me to know and for you to find out later.”
I stick my tongue out at him. “You suck.”
He lifts my hand and kisses the back of it. “Maybe, but you love me anyway.”
“Always.”
“Forevermore,” he corrects with a smile.
“Forevermore,” I repeat.
“What time are we supposed to drop your parents off at the dock for their cruise next week?”
My brows drop, and I look up at him in confusion, having no clue what he’s talking about. “Cruise? What cruise?”
Pain tightens his features, and I don’t understand why. He stops us, turns to face me, and grabs my other hand.
“Your parents are going on a cruise next week,” he says slowly. “They’ve been planning it since your mom retired last year.”
“Wait. What?” Ringing starts in my ears, and a flush of warmth settles over my face. “Mom hasn’t retired. She’s still working at the post office.”
Lincoln closes his eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a devastated look on his face before. A tight fist wraps around my heart, squeezing it tight. I loathe that look on his face.
In the next minute, I’m yanked forward, and my face lands in his chest. He hugs me so tight he almost takes my breath away. His own ragged breathing hits my ear.
“Lincoln,” I croak. “I don’t—” I stop abruptly when the memory of me talking to Mom yesterday hits me. I stutter out a breath and close my eyes. “Ten in the morning,” I rasp. “We drop them off at the dock at ten o’clock in the morning.”
We stay in each other’s embrace for several long minutes, neither wanting to let the other go.
Pulling in a lungful of air, I let it out slowly and pull my head away from Lincoln’s chest. I lick my lips and look up at him. His eyes glisten in the fading sun, making my own pain double.
I clear my throat, opting to ignore my mishap. “I actually had to threaten Mom with bodily harm for them to still go. She wanted to cancel and go another time.”
It takes him several seconds to respond, and I know he’s trying to get control of his own emotions.
“Go easy on her,” he says gravelly. “I don’t want to give up any time I have with you either. You’re one of her babies. I can’t imagine how hard this is on her.”
“I know,” I say quietly. “But I don’t want her to give up something she’s been wanting to do for years. It’s not fair to her and Dad.”
“None of this is fair to anyone.”
He’s right. It’s not fair to anyone. Mom and Dad are going to lose a daughter. Lincoln is going to lose a wife. And Gray and Gemma are going to lose a mother.
I feel the spasm come on even before my legs stiffen. It starts in my calves and works its way quickly up the rest of my body. My hand tightens in Lincoln’s, and I come to a stop, hoping it will prevent me from falling. It’s no use. My legs buckle of their own accord. Lincoln, recognizing what’s happening, catches me before my knees can hit the sand. Instead of scooping me up like I expected him to do, he gently settles us both on the ground. I sit sideways between his spread legs. For some reason, my eyes settle on the tipped over sand bucket he dropped when he caught me and the seashells spilling out.