Free Against the Odds by Brenda Kennedy Page A

that she needs. I’ll be gone a lot
longer than I intended to be. Sue assures me she has enough to keep
Leah’s mind occupied while I’m away.  
    I go to the florist first before going to the
cemetery. I stay longer than usual. It’s been awhile since I have
been here and I have a lot to tell Jamie. I lay her pink roses and
her wildflowers down and I explain out loud to Jamie about the
angel the Chelsea got for her. I’m not sure anyone is close by
enough to hear me, but I don’t care. I always speak aloud when I’m
here talking to Jamie. I remove the weeds and the leaves from
around her tombstone. Leah usually does that and I can tell it’s
been awhile since Leah has been here. I take a picture of the
gravesite to show Leah. 
    Next, I make all the runs that Sue has marked
down. Some of these things are things she could have done, but I’m
glad she included me. This is big and Leah will be excited, so, of
course, I wanted to be involved in it, too.  
    I go into the bookstore
and everything seems to be running smoothly. Bethany and Dove are
working the counter and I am surprised to see Jo walk out of the
back room. She is wearing an apron that says, Team Josephine. I get an idea and
put it to memory to discuss it with Sue and my mom, later. I
reassure everyone that Leah is fine and that we appreciate all they
are doing to help out at the shop. Bethany hands me a stack of
books and Jo gives me the deposits from the last few days. The shop
is busy and I know Leah will be excited to hear it. Bethany is
working the register and doesn’t have much time to
talk.  
    Last of all, I get the ice
cream. I get several pints of Ben and Jerry’s brand of different
flavors. Actually, I get two pints of every flavor. If Leah doesn’t
eat it, I will — after the championship
fight. I also pick up some board games and some cards for me and
Leah to play later. We still have a long way to go and I’m worried
she’ll get bored and depressed.  
    I put everything away and hand Leah her ice
cream and a spoon. “What took you so long?” she jokes and she puts
a large spoonful into her mouth. 
    I say, “Be careful, you’ll get a…” 
     “ Freezy head,” she
interrupts, squinting her eyes closed.  
    Before Sue leaves, I tell her about the apron
the Jo was wearing. I also tell her about my idea and she likes it.
“Do you think we can pull it off for Saturday?” I
ask.  
    “ It doesn’t give us much
time, but I think we can get everything together. I’ll know today
if Saturday is doable.” 
    “ Great, thank you. If you
need anything, let me know.” 
     “ I’ll call you
later, Robert, Just take care of Leah,” she says before
leaving.  
    Always, I think to myself.  
    This week Leah and I
played chess, ate ice cream, read and she called Dove to see if she
would bring over the books, receipts, and the deposits every week.
Dove says she can do it on Saturday. So, on Saturday, I help Leah
with her shower and she insists on wearing a sundress and not
pajama’s. She says if Dove comes over she wants to be dressed. I
don’t argue with her. I spend the day cleaning while Leah sits
there. I know she wants to do something. I asked her would she like
to start knitting and she throws a pillow at me. I was just trying to help, I swear. She makes me fold the blankets and put the
pillows away. I know she wants it to look like she is fine when
Dove comes over. Although Leah is still lying around, she appears
to be just relaxing. I know this is the look she is trying for. The
doorbell rings and Leah sits up a little straighter on the
couch.  
    I take a deep breath before opening the door.
Thankfully in walks Mom and Sue, first. If Leah gets mad, I want
them to take some of Leah’s wrath, too. Leah smiles when she sees
them and thankfully she smiles even bigger when the others walk in
after them.  
    Today is the baby’s gender
reveal party. Everyone walks in wearing either a pink or a blue
shirt that says Team