Read Online The Guest Book by Marybeth Whalen - Free Book Online Page A

loved this,” she said.
    Macy’s own eyes filled with sudden tears. All these years and his presence was still just a thought away, filling up the space at a moment’s notice. “Yes,” she managed. “He would’ve for sure.”
    “Do you think this was a good idea?” Brenda’s voice sounded as small and uncertain as Emma’s did when she’d had a bad dream. She turned to look out at the yard once more.
    Macy could smell the ocean, teeming with life and depth, now so close to her. This is where life happens, her dad had once told her. So much life contained here, he’d said. Macy could use some life in her life.
    She wrapped her arm tightly around Brenda’s thin shoulders. “No doubt about it. It was the perfect thing to do.”
    “Do you really think that, or are you just trying to make me feel better?” Brenda asked, her blue eyes glassy from unshed tears.
    Macy thought about the hope that had filled her in the car, the giddiness that kept welling up inside of her. No matter how fleeting it had been, it was there. “I really think that.” She held Brenda’s gaze and nodded. “I do.”
    She took the moment they had and asked the question that had been bugging her since the day her mom had announced this trip. “Why are taking down the pictures of Dad?”
    Brenda’s expression changed, and she turned around and went back inside. Macy followed her.
    “I thought at first you were just cleaning in there,” Macy continued, as she slid the glass door shut behind them, the outside temperature remarkably different from the climate inside, “but you haven’t put them back up.”
    Brenda started pulling things out of a box of food items in the kitchen, her back to Macy. For a moment she said nothing while Macy waited, the unidentified bag still clutched in her fist. Finally Brenda turned to face her daughter.
    “To be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t ask sooner.” She fell silent, choosing her next words with care. “I guess I’m just taking small steps toward … changing some things. We’ve had the shrine for long enough.” She held up her hand when Macy started to argue over her mother’s use of her private joke with Max. “I’m not deaf, Mace. I’ve known for quite some time what you guys call it.” Her smile faded and her voice got quiet. “And it’s time to let it go. A little bit at a time.”
    Macy’s eyes widened at her mother’s revelation. Coming back here. Taking down the shrine. Things were changing.
    “Well,” she managed, “I think that’s good. A step in the right direction.”
    She gave her mother her bravest smile. She wanted to say the right thing, to give Brenda the support she needed. But she’d be lying if she didn’t admit that the change scared her. She may not have liked the shrine or Brenda’s lasting grief, but it was what she knew. The familiarity of it gave her a senseof security. She thought of Avis’s caution to not always go for what was comfortable, safe, known. It was true of Chase … and this. She had to give the people she loved the freedom to venture down their own paths, even if their path was unknown and uncomfortable for Macy.
    But she couldn’t address any of that yet. With a smile she waved the strange food bag at Brenda. “Now, if you could just explain to me what this is.”
    “They’re prunes,” Brenda said, and giggled. “You know how much Emma likes stewed prunes for breakfast. I just tossed them in the box.”
    Macy started to laugh as she shook her head at her mother. “Only you, Mom. Only you would pack prunes for a beach trip.”
    “Well, regularity is important no matter where you are,” Brenda quipped.
    “TMI, Mom. TMI!” Macy said, as she left her mom in the kitchen with a smile on her face.
    She found Emma sitting in the den, talking on Macy’s cell phone. And just like that, Macy’s smile faded.
    “It’s Daddy!” Emma said, handing Macy the phone before she could argue or make an excuse not to talk to Chase. She