Millie

Chapter Nineteen- Nurture it

We had a brief drink of lemonade with Mary, and Wrens Grandma Jameson on the porch. I watched and observed Wren as she told them about her Soccer camp, and the enormous offer she had received to train with the national under twenty threes in California.

Wrens Grandma was thrilled, and Mary smiled at all the right moments, winking at me, and catching me out, when I had realised I was staring at Wren with love hearts for eyes.

She curled her finger at me to come closer, and I obeyed her ask. Wren and her grandmother went inside to gather some snacks for our drive down to Eugene. I moved two seats over to be sat beside Mary.

I lowered into the seat. Mary's hand came from her lap and landed on mine on the arm of the chair. Light as a feather it was.

"It's a beautiful evening Teach" she observed, looking out to the lake.

I followed her gaze and nodded "it is"

"It would make a fantastic night to jump" she mused.

"Jump" I ask, looking sideways to her. "Into the lake" I question.

Her lips lifted ever so "into the next chapter of your story, dum dum"

"Hey" I argue "no calling me dum dum... we've spoken about that. It's a slur when it comes to a teacher"

She pats my hand "nothing dumb about you teach, but when it comes to acts of the heart... I'd have to mark you back a few grades"

I sit forward and look to her "is that so" I ask, with mock offence.

She nods and coughs a little. Her weakness evident in the irregular and fast rise and fall of her chest.

"You adore that girl" she whispers croakily "the way you look at her Millie. It's beautiful. Don't spend too long worrying about the details though. Life is short. If you love her as much as I see in your eyes ... then make her yours... and don't worry about the rest"

"We aren't rushing into it" I explain. "She wants to go slow... and if that's what she needs then I will. It's got to be the right time"

"Understandable" she replied "just spend a little time every day nurturing it. A relationship has to be nurtured or it withers, and sometimes then, sometimes it dies. I explained this to Harper only recently"

I frowned "Harper and Teddy having issues?" I question. That surprised me, they always seemed so in love and affectionate with one another.

She shook her head "not the type that will break them" she assured me. "When couples are together for so long, it happens. You go through life together, and things crop up that test you all the time. Work, kids, money, life. It's like trying to hold on in a hurricane, you know you won't ever let go, but it doesn't mean the fear doesn't set in when the eye of the storm hits"

"So, they're okay" I ask.

She smiled "Yes" she reassured me. "They've been through a lot those girls, Josephine's health battle of course, and a life in the public eye. Nothing is private. Teddy's career change and long hours weren't easy, then of course their daughters teenage years have been nothing short of nail biting, and what happened recently with Wrens biological father. It was hard"

"I had no idea" I say, sitting back in my seat. "I mean, I know it's been a tough time since October with all of that coming out"

She nodded "Harper came and stayed here a couple nights in the early spring, when they fell out. Teddy drove on up here that second morning and declared she couldn't and wouldn't spend a third without her. She wouldn't leave until Harper hashed it out with her. They sat on this porch for three hours, talked it out and went home"