Page 41 of The Party Line

“What time should I be here?”

“No set time. You can use that day to get moved in and settled, and actually begin work on Monday.”

“Thank you, again,” Gina Lou said as she walked out across the yard and disappeared into the dark.

I picked up the last of the beers in the carton and took a step toward the house. “Good night, Jasper. Thank you for saving the evening.”

“Don’t thank me,” he said. “You are able to take care of yourself. I was just the one with the fire power. What are you going to do now?”

“Call Connor and tell him thanks for supper.”

“Why would you do that?” Jasper scolded. “He was right in amongst all the trouble that got stirred up tonight. He’s a good man but seems to me like all the local folks are way too interested in this property.”

“Maybe you are right,” I agreed and decided to wait until the next day to call him.

Chapter Thirteen

How can sadness and happiness fill my heart at the same time?I wondered as I tossed my purse on the floorboard of Mama’s truck and slid into the passenger’s seat. Was this the way Aunt Gracie had felt when she yearned to go see the world yet was anchored to the house and land?

“You look conflicted,” Mama said. “What’s wrong? Is it Connor? Are you having regrets about hiring Gina Lou?”

“How do you do that?” I asked.

“What?”

“Know when something is bothering me?”

She started up the engine and backed out of the driveway. “It’s built into a mama’s DNA. So fess up, kiddo. What is it?”

“I’m glad you are finally going on a vacation,” I said, “but you’ve always been at home. I want you to go, and at the same time I don’t want you to be gone.”

She reached across the console and laid a hand on my shoulder. “I read a story one time that was about a person who had regrets on her deathbed. Her husband of more than fifty years told her that half of his heart was going with her but that half of her heart stayed with him. He made a promise that he would go see the mountains in the wintertime when the snow was knee deep. He would wade through it so that she could see it through his eyes and the half of a heart that was still hers that beat in his chest.”

“What has that got to do with you being gone?” I asked.

“There was a bond between me and you and Gracie. It’s not like a married couple, but it’s there. What either of us do for the rest of our lives gives her the ability to see—”

“—the beach and hear the ocean waves,” I butted in before she could finish.

“When did she tell you about that being something she wanted to do?” Mama asked.

“It was in one of her notes that she left behind.” I went on to tell her about what I’d found in Gracie’s closet.

“Maybe someday we’ll go to the beach and let her see it.” Mama choked up. “Until then, I’m only a phone call away anytime you want to talk ... but I can call this whole thing off if—”

“No!” I said before she could even finish. “You and Annie both deserve this and need it. I would feel guilty if you stayed home because I was being selfish. Just remember that Aunt Gracie really liked Hank Williams—take time to really look at everything if you go to the museum.”

“Family first,” Mama said. “Aunt Gracie taught me that by example.”

“She was so right—and what kind of daughter would I be if I told you to stay home? I want you to go. Gina Lou will be helping me take care of things. Lord knows, the dust bunnies in the garage have grandchildren. Aunt Gracie and Jasper haven’t been able to take care of it in years.”

Mamas weren’t the only ones to understand facial expressions. I could see hers shift into worry mode in an instant.

“And Connor?” she asked.

“I don’t know about Connor, but I’m not rushing anything. I promise I will be careful. Right now we are friends ...” Just saying his name caused my pulse to kick up a notch or two.

“Do I hear abut?” she asked.

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