Page 59 of Still Love You

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Willow

I ring the bell at Silas' house but the door's unlocked so I just go in. Growing up, I never rang the bell or knocked. I'd just walk in as though I lived here, because I practically did. I was always hanging out here with Silas.

"Diane? It's Willow. I brought your car back." I follow the sound of scissors dropping and find her in the spare bedroom where she makes her jewelry.

Her jewelry supplies are scattered all over the house and the garage. She even has stuff stashed in the bathroom. It drives me crazy. I just want to organize it all in neat little boxes with labels, then make a detailed inventory of each and every item. Once I even offered to do that for her and she quickly turned me down. She loves the chaos. She says it fuels her creativity.

Diane is sitting on the floor, her supplies spread out all over the place. Her wiry black hair is knotted behind her head and she's wearing wide-legged bright blue pants made out of some silky fabric and an oversized yellow t-shirt with a scooped neckline. She and Martin have plenty of money but she loves shopping at second-hand stores so that's where she gets all her clothes.

"How was lunch?" she asks as she uses mini pliers to secure beads onto a chain.

"Good, but your son said I didn't give him enough food."

She laughs. "That boy's stomach is a bottomless pit. And being outside working all day gives him an even bigger appetite."

I plop down on the worn recliner in the corner of the room. It was one of Martin's contributions when he moved in with Diane years ago.

"I feel bad. I made Silas a cucumber and hummus sandwich and now he's probably starving. But it's all we had and I didn't have time to go to the store."

"Go now. You can take my car."

"I thought you needed it to go to an appointment."

"It was cancelled, so the car's yours."

"Thanks, but I can't today. The money jar is empty."

My parents have a money jar where they keep cash for groceries, gas, and whatever else we need. They like paying with cash. They have a credit card but never use it. It's only for emergencies.

"Let me give you some money," Diane says. "You can take my car and run to the store."

"Don't worry about it," I tell her. "I'll ask my dad for money and go tomorrow."

Diane has this sad look on her face. Why does she look so sad?

"Diane, are you okay?"

She snaps out of it and smiles. "Yes. Sorry. My mind drifted off for a moment." She holds up a blue beaded necklace on a gold chain. "What do you think?"

I don't want to tell her this, but the necklace is kind of ugly. It looks like something an old lady would wear, which makes sense. Diane has a lot of old lady customers.

"You don't like it," she says, setting it down.

"It's not really my style, but I think older women would like it."

"I think so too. That's why I made it. Next week, I'm setting up a booth at a vendor fair hosted by the senior center."

"My mom should sell her lotions there."

My mom makes homemade soaps and lotions but she doesn't sell them. She just makes them and gives them away as gifts. She also makes an all-natural healing salve that is amazing. It reduces swelling and speeds healing of cuts, bruises, bug bites. I keep telling her to sell it but she doesn't think anyone would buy it.

"There's still space left for more vendors," Diane says. "But I doubt your mom could get off work."

"I could do it. What day is it?"

"Next Wednesday afternoon. But does your mom have enough to sell?"

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