Coming Home to the Mountain: Complete Edition

13. Lemon

CHAPTER 13

Lemon

A lone in my room, I let the tears fall freely, confused at what just happened, but realizing I should have seen it coming.

Anchor told me in several different ways that the idea of commitment, of family, of settling down overwhelmed him.

And then not only did my brothers crash my birthday yesterday, I brought him home to meet my father the day after we made love.

It's a lot. All of it is. And I wish that things would've gone differently. Because with him gone, alone in my bedroom, I realize that I love him.

I love a man who can't offer me what I need or want: a forever.

Even with this realization, I can't focus on myself right now. I need to focus on Grandma Rosie. I shower and dress quickly. My phone buzzes with texts from my family, letting me know that the visiting hours are open. Mom calls and I pick up on the first ring. "Hey, Mom," I say, my voice cracking.

She mistakes the emotion for thinking about Grandma, which is what I’m trying to focus on instead of Anchor.

"Oh, Lemon," she says, "I wish we were there. I think we're going to fly home."

"Have you talked to Dad today?" I ask. "Maybe don't rush home from your trip just yet. Dad sounded really optimistic yesterday."

"I know," Mom says, "but it's hard to focus on anything good right now when I know you guys are going through so much."

"How's Fig handling it all?"

I ask, knowing she and Grandma Rosie have always had a tight bond. All of us kids have with our grandma. She's been a part of our lives since the day we took our first breaths. Life without her feels unbearable. She's the matriarch of the Rough family.

“She’s right here, and she is as good as she can be. We just wish we could be there to dole out hugs.” Mom sighs.“Will you call me after you see Grandma? I've tried to talk to your father, but it's hard to get a clear idea of how things really are going. He is always the optimist. I know I can count on you to tell me the truth."

"Of course," I say, "I would never let you down."

"Thank you, sweetheart," Mom says. "And, well, that was quite an unexpected birthday, wasn't it?”

My voice is tight, taught, as I try to find words. "It was a lot, Mom," I confess. "I met this guy at the lake, our new neighbor, Anchor, and I thought it was something real, something special, but…"

"Honey, what happened?” Mom asks.

I sit down on my bed, talking to her, brushing the tears from my eyes. "Mom, I gave him my heart."

"Oh baby," Mom says. "Where is he now?"

"He just left. He's had a really hard time with family stuff. His parents died when he was young, and he's been on his own ever since. I think meeting the family last night and everything going on with Grandma, I think it was just too much for him. He couldn't handle it. He doesn't think he can be the man I need."

"But you think he's the man for you?" Mom asks. "Oh, Lemon. Now I really wish I were there." I hear Fig in the background. "Your sister wants to say hello."

"Have I been on speakerphone this whole time?” I ask.

"Yes,” Mom says. "Sorry, Lemon. I didn't realize it was going to get so personal."

"Lem," Fig says.

"Hey," I say, "sorry your spring break trip to LA isn't going as planned."

"Don't think about me, Lemon. You always think about everybody else."

I swallow, knowing she is right.

"So right now, I need you to go see Grandma and give Mom and me an update. Let us know if we need to fly home right away or not. Okay?"

"I know. That's what Mom just asked me to do," I say.

"But, Lem, if this guy melted your heart, then you can't let him go. You know how Grandma Rosie would always tell us to go for a walk and clear our heads? Maybe walk to the hospital, clear your head.”

I start to cry. “I’m scared, Fig. Of losing him.”

“He might be scared of meeting Dad and all our brothers, but what guy wouldn't be? And if he doesn't understand what home means, what family means, well, Lem, maybe you are the perfect girl for him because you know what it means deep down in your bones. Maybe you're what this man's been missing his whole life."

Tears fall down my face, refusing to stop. "You got all that from what I just said, because I hardly told you anything about Anchor at all."

"His name's Anchor?" Fig asks.

"Yeah," I say.

"Ah," Fig sighs. "His name's Anchor but he doesn't know how to drop his own and stay put. Lemon, I think it's destiny. You can be his anchor ."

"Since when are you talking about falling in love?" I say. " Miss I'm Never Going to Get Married ."

"That's what I say about myself, but it's not what I say about you, Lem. You've wanted to be a mom and a wife since you were little. If this guy was special enough to have, well, whatever you guys had together, I'm just thinking he's probably one of a kind."

"Thanks," I say. "I love you both so much, and I miss you. I'm going to go to the hospital right now and I'll let you know what's going on."

"We’ll be here waiting," Mom says. "Truly, Lemon, you're going to give us the truth in ways none of your brothers or your father are capable of. Us Rough girls have to stick together."

I end the phone call, choosing to hold on to a little bit of hope. Maybe Anchor left this morning, but that doesn't necessarily mean he left for good. Maybe Fig's right. Maybe I need to fight for the happily ever after I've been thinking about my whole life. Maybe Anchor needs me to do that for him.

Shortly after, I leave my home and walk the few blocks to Home Sick Urgent Care. I wave to the nurses’ station as they lead me to the room where Grandma's been sleeping overnight.

Outside her door, Dad and Mac are talking to Grandpa.

"Hey," I say. "How is she?" I give Grandpa Woody a big hug, squeezing him tight.

"Well, you go see for yourself, sweetheart," he says with a smile.

My eyebrows lift, realizing these men aren't going to give me any more. "Love you," I say as I walk past them, pulling open the door to Grandma's room.

And there she is, sitting up in bed, sipping out of a straw from a cup of water. She sets it down when she sees me. "Oh, Lemon,” she says, "you're just who I was hoping to see."

"Grandma Rosie, are you doing okay?"

"Oh, baby girl, I'm doing okay now. They tell me I have to go to a rehabilitation center, but it's an hour away. You know how I need to be at home."

"Grandma, you need to do what the doctor says. I'm just so glad you're all right.”

"Turns out I scared everyone pretty bad yesterday. I didn't mean to do it, especially not on my Lemon's birthday."

"It's okay," I say, sitting on the edge of her hospital bed, brushing her hair aside. "Grandma, I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you..."

She takes my hand, holding me still. "I thought so too. Turns out the doctors here in Home are pretty good, and I think your grandpa keeping vigil for me all night is exactly what I needed. The power of love is a mighty thing.”

“That’s what I was thinking," I say with a soft smile. "I imagined Grandpa here with you and it made me feel at peace last night knowing you wouldn't be alone, that he'd be at your side."

"Lem, look at you. You're usually so sensible, but right now you seem downright sentimental."

I smile, tears in my eyes. "I am sentimental. It's something new I'm experiencing, but…"

"What is it?" she asks.

"Well,” I admit, “I fell in love with a man named Anchor and..."

"And what?" Grandma asks.

"I don't know if he feels the same way."

"Well, you need to find out if he does. If it's love you feel, then you need to make sure this man knows you're not going anywhere."

I smile. "That's just what Fig told me."

"Fig?" Grandma presses a hand to her chest, a smile on her face. "That girl is giving solid advice like that? I admit to being a little surprised. That old soul?"

I smile. "That's what I was thinking."I appreciate how Grandma has always seen Fig as an old soul, not the wild child.

"So where is this man? What happened to him? And how did this happen so fast? I think I saw you last week when you brought over my groceries, and I didn't hear anything about a man then."

"It happened a few days ago out at Stout Lake."

"At Stout Lake?" Grandma gasps. "Oh, sweetie, you know that's where your grandfather proposed to me."

"I do know," I say. "I remember that story well. You've been telling me since I was a little girl."

Grandma beams with pride. "He proposed out on that rowboat in the middle of that lake. It was beautiful."

I smile, thinking how I was in that very rowboat with Anchor. "I'm scared I'm not going to get the happily ever after I'm looking for."

"Well, then he's not the right man for you," she says.

Just then the door opens and the idea of my brothers breaking up another important moment of my life makes me want to yell.

But it isn't any of my family at all.

It's Anchor, here with a bouquet of flowers, a solemn look on his face. "Lemon, can I come in? Your grandpa said you were here."

"Are you Lemon’s man?" Grandma asks.

I bite my bottom lip.

"You told her about me?"

I nod. "My family doesn't keep much to themselves."

"So I'm realizing," he says, walking toward the hospital bed.

The fact that he's here makes me wonder what else he has in store. "You brought me flowers?" I ask, looking at the bouquet.

He shakes his head. "No, silly, these are for your grandma.” Facing her, he smiles. “I got you roses, Rosie. I figured with your name you might like them.”

"They're beautiful," Grandma Rosie says.

Anchor sets them on a table next to her bed. "I'm Anchor, by the way, the man who fell in love with your granddaughter. I know you're supposed to ask the father for permission, but Lemon tells me you're the matriarch. What do you think of me and Lemon getting married, of her being my forever?"

Grandma Rosie takes him in, looks him up and down. "Lemon told me you met at the lake."

He nods. "That's right."

"I'll have to tell you what that lake means to me and my husband. It's where we said I love you for the first time, and later, the place he proposed."

Anchor smiles. "You don't say."

She sighs contentedly. "I think there's something special about the fact the two of you met there too. And if you're asking my blessing to marry this beautiful woman, you have it. I believe in love at first sight, and my son Redford does too so I am guessing he won’t object. I met the love of my life when I was seven years old."

Anchor reaches for my hand. I squeeze it, dumbstruck by the words he just spoke. Marry me? My whole world shifts into focus, my fear subsides, my future in front of me. Anchor chooses me.

"Lucky woman," Anchor says to Rosie.

She beams. "Indeed. And turns out you're a lucky man."

"A fool too," he says, looking at Grandma, and then his eyes land on mine. "I'm sorry, Lemon. I got scared this morning. I got scared of what loving you might mean—that I wouldn't be good enough for you. That I’d let you down.But I think together we could do anything. Hell, you could start your interior design business. We could have a family in that lovely cottage of yours. We could grow old together." He looks over at Grandma. "If only we get to be as lucky as Rosie here."

"I know you've seen loss," I say to Anchor, my hands tight in his, "and I know my life seems pretty perfect compared to the heartache you faced. But I don't want you to be scared of the fact my story has been sweet and yours has been sour. Maybe we can just write our own story together, a new one."

"I feel like what you're saying right now is a proposal.”

“Do you want me to propose?" I ask with a laugh.

He grins. "I'm not opposed to it. But for the record, I brought up marriage first. Just so we’re clear that I was all in on this idea."

My world brightens, becomes whole, in one conversation. "Will you marry me, Anchor? The man I just met two days ago, who caught my heart and soul and took my breath away. Will you be my husband?"

He pulls a ring out of his pocket, a glittering diamond, an oval cut. It's big and beautiful. And he takes my finger, sliding it on. Grandma covers her mouth, gasping, tears in her eyes.

"Well, this day just got better," she says, hand on her heart.

"Marry me, Lemon Rough. Teach me what it means to be a family man. And I promise you, I will never leave your side."

"I thought I was the one doing the proposing," I say as Anchor pulls me up from the bed, draws me into his arms, and holds me tight. "I love you," I tell him for the very first time.

"I love you more, Lemon. And I'll love you forever."

When we leave the hospital, my family is downright gobsmacked.

One, they just met Anchor.

Two, apparently no one ever really thought I would get married.

Mac and Graham and Reuben are looking at me like I'm crazy. And I am. Crazy in love.

Anchor and I return to my house. Our house, maybe?

And he doesn't wait to get me in bed. With the door closed, I lean against it. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me deeply.

"Forgive me for this morning," he says. "Please, please, please."

"It's already forgotten. You leaving showed me what I want. And god, Anchor, all I want is you."

He smiles down at me and then he lifts me up by the waist. And I wrap my legs around his body as he carries me into the bedroom, toward the bed.

I rip that shirt of his off and I tug down those pants, eager, ready, thrilled.

"Oh shit," I say, "I think I should call my mom and sister."

“You saying that in this moment?" he asks with a chuckle.

"I think they'd want to know I'm engaged and that Grandma's okay. Maybe reverse that order," I say with a laugh.

"I know we're half naked, but there will be plenty of time to finish this business," he says, planting a kiss on my nose.

I reach for my phone, happy to tell the Rough girls my good news.