Page 79 of Raging Fires

“Really?” Kelli looked up. “I didn’t figure she would this year.”

“She just texted me that she’s blasting out email invitations to everyone. She says it’s the best way to honor Pops.” He sighed and rested his head against the couch. “Seems like another wake to me. Like the first one wasn’t bad enough.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry.” Kelli understood the way he felt. Things like this were cathartic for Gran and probably for a lot of other people, but not for Jake. For him, it was like ripping a scab off a wound. “Maybe if you talked to her...”

Jake snorted. “We’re talking about Gran here. Once she gets an idea in her head, there’s no stopping her.”

“True. I’ll need to add the liquor to the Blue’s order that week. I was already planning to close the bar early, like Pops always did.” Kelli jotted down a reminder on her phone, then went over to her emails to see if Gran had already sent the invitation.

There was nothing from Gran, but her eye was caught by another message, and she opened it. She read it, frowning.

“What’s up?” Jake asked. “You’re doing that face.”

“What face?”

“You know, the one where you’re arguing with yourself.”

Kelli sighed. “I got an email from my mother.” Kelli had replied to her mother’s letter, and they had exchanged a few e-mails over the past few weeks.

“Ah. Let me guess—she’s coming to Phoenix.”

“She wants to. It’s a nice letter. She’s not guilting me or anything.” Kelli handed Jake her phone. “She’s doing AA. She’s at the step where you have to apologize or whatever to all the people you hurt with your drinking.”

“Well, you’d be the main one, all right.”

“Apparently she’s been working up to seeing me. She’s done it with a couple of friends and her last ex-boyfriend. And now she wants to tell me… I don’t know, how much she screwed up or something, how much she regrets it. I mean, she’s asking my permission, so that’s good. And she’s not saying she’s going to stay here.”

“But you think she will,” Jake guessed.

“I don’t know. Our emails have been okay. It’s been two months since she first wrote me, and apparently she’s stayed sober all that time.”

“That’s good for her. It doesn’t mean you have to help her.”

“I know. But she is my mother, and it looks like she’s changed. It seems like people should have a chance to redeem themselves.” Kelli looked over at him.

“Like us.”

“Yeah.” She nodded.

“Look. I’m glad as hell you gave me another chance, but that doesn’t mean you have to do that with everyone.” Jake opened his arm to her, and she slid over, snuggling up against him.

Kelli wanted the security and warmth of his arms even more than she normally did. “Do you think I should tell her to come?”

“I don’t think that’s the important thing. I think the real question is: Do you want her to come?”

“I’m not sure. I think I do, sort of. Maybe, if she’s changed, we could have some sort of a relationship. I don’t think we’re going to be close. We’re not going to be besties like Naomi and her mother are. But at least we might have something… I could talk to her sometimes, send her photos. A Facebook mom.”

“But?” Jake said when she didn’t go on.

“But what if she hasn’t changed? What if it turns out she just wants money or a place to live? I’m happy right now. Things are good, you know?”

“They’re great,” he agreed, giving her that laid-back smile.

“So what if her visiting changes that? What if it messes us up?”

“Why would it mess us up?” Jake asked.

Kelli moved away a little, turning to look him in the face. “She might ask you for money or come over to the house drunk and ranting about something. And what if she stays until Gran’s July 4th barbeque? Or does something embarrassing in front of your team?”