A Rose for James

I.

The two women slumped into opposing chairs, toeing off their shoes. Two sets of nylon hosed feet plopped onto the coffee table, toes wiggling in relief.

"Ok, Mom, I figured it out."

Anne Possible smiled, "What's that, Kimmie?"

"You didn't need me here for moral support, you just figured out that if you were 'overcome'," Kim made air quotes, "that I would get tagged to give the appreciation speech."

"Worked too, didn't it." Anne chuckled.

"Like a charm. If I had been thinking straight, I would have passed it to Jim or Tim, though. Public speaking has never been my forte."

"You did fine, honey." Anne reassured her.

Kim's looked into her mother's eyes. "Thanks. But now that that's over with, mind telling me the real sitch?"

Anne looked away. "Would you like a cup of coffee, or a soda, Kimmie?"

"Coffee, please. But you're not going to divert me, you know."

Standing, Anne padded toward the kitchen, replying over her shoulder, "I don't intend to, but I need to think a minute."

"Mom." Kim began.

"In a moment, honey."

When Anne returned, she handed Kim her cup, set her own coffee down, then sank back into her chair with a sigh. "Kim, the reason I needed to talk to you is sort of personal. I have a little mystery and..."

"You've met someone!" Kim squealed, "Who is he? Is he a secret admirer? What's his name, no wait, if he's a secret admirer you don't know it yet want me to find out?"

Anne gasped, " What, no..." She might as well have saved her breath. Kim continued to speculate. "KIMMIE!" Anne finally yelled.

Kim blinked, "What? C'mon Mom, we're both married women, you can talk to me about it."

Anne's eyes laughed, "It is not a man. At least I hope it's not a man."

Kim's jaw dropped. "Mother!"

Anne looked puzzled, then choked on a sip of coffee. When she got her breath back she giggled, "How did I come to raise such a dirty minded child? No, Kim, nothing like that."

Kim blinked then began, hesitantly, "Mom, Dad's been gone a while now and..."

"Ten years today, Kim."

"I know, Mom, the ceremony was scheduled for today; the tenth anniversary of Daddie's..." Kim choked.

Anne smiled sympathetically, "That too, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the real reason they renamed it 'The James T. Possible Space Center' was to cozy up to the Bueno Nacho foundation, which your husband happens to control, in the hopes of some more free grants."

"Mother!" Kim giggled, "What a cynical thing to say."

"It was, wasn't it?" Anne laughed.

Kim snorted, "Diversion again, mom? I've lived with the world's greatest distraction all my life, and been married to him for twelve years. I know how to bypass a distraction. What about moving on?"

"Not going to let it go this time, are you, Kimmie?"

"Nope."

Anne sighed, took a delaying sip of coffee, then sat the cup down. "Kimberly, I am not lonely. I have my work, my friends, and an occasional evening out. The single woman, even one as old as I, is always welcome at a party."

Kim shook her head in derision, remembering the many people who had mistaken her 'aging' mother as her sister.

Pointedly ignoring her daughter, Anne continued. "What you don't seem to understand is the relationship I had with your father." Anne's smile gentled in reminiscence. "Kimberly, Jim was my Ron."

Kim's eyes widened in realization.

"Exactly, Kim, so think a minute. If Ron was, God forbid, taken from you, do you think you could replace him? Or even find a substitute?"

Kim shook her head slowly in negation, "No." She finally whispered, "not in ten years, not in a hundred."

Anne reached to pat her daughter's hand. "I'm not saying it will never happen, but I'm satisfied with what I have."

Nodding slowly, Kim finally asked, "If a new admirer isn't the mystery, what is?"

Anne spoke hesitantly, "Kimmie, I never had any doubts about your father while he was alive, but since he died..."

Kim gasped in shock, "You think Daddy was unfaithful?"

"No, I don't. At least, I don't want to, and I want to know.." Anne replied into her cup.

"But what, I mean after ten years how am I..."

"That's why I need you to do me a favor, Kim."

"Anything, Mom, you know that."

"Maybe," Anne said slowly, "I don't think you'll like it."

Kim glowered.

Anne thought of what she was about to say for a long moment. "Kim, someone has been leaving a white rose on your father's grave every Valentine's day since he died. I want you to find out who."