Page 11 of The Friendly Fall

Marilyn nods. “Oh yes, she’s a tough little thing. I do think it’s a bit sore—though not nearly as sore as her ego,” she adds with a laugh. “We’re just thankful that Nick was able to pull her out so easily! You should’ve seen those muscles at work. Impressive, I’d say.”

“It’s all the woodworking,” Mom chirps, being the chatty Cathy that she is. She’s always been one to chit-chat with the customers, while I prefer to just get to the point and help out if needed.

Marilyn turns her head in my direction, her eyes lighting up. “And there you are, in the flesh.” There’s something about the look on her face that reminds me of the way my mother was just talking to me.

“Here I am,” I answer, giving her a polite smile.

“And you’re actually just the man I’m looking for,” she says, her bright glittery red blouse nearly blinding me. “I was hoping that you might be able to fix my ramp.”

I nod, seeing the gleam of satisfaction in my mom’s eyes. “Yeah, I’d be more than happy to repair it for you. It’s pretty rough—”

“Yeah, and I don’t wantElizafalling through it again,” Ms. Marilyn interjects, her emphasis on her pretty granddaughter making my mind wander.

“I can come over this evening and take care of it for you. I’m not sure what all I’ll need until I take a closer look, but I can at least get it patched up for temporary use.”

“What time are you thinking?” Marilyn chimes. “I usually make dinner around five-thirty, if you’d like to join us.”

“I really appreciate the offer, but I’ve gotta help some of the kids with their float for the parade. I’ll probably be over to your house a little too late for dinner.”

To be honest, I’m a little disappointed about missing a chance to have dinner with Eliza … but I made a promise.

“Well, I’ll be sure to at least save some dessert for ya,” Ms. Marilyn says, giving me a bright smile. “I’m sure thankful for your son, Martha,” she says to my mom. “I don’t know how this town would make it without him always being around to help out us old folks.”

“He’s a good guy.” Mom shoots me a look before returning her attention to Marilyn. “What about your granddaughter? Where’s she from?”

“Oh, she’s from Chicago.” Ms. Marilyn beams, leaning against one of the shelves. “She was working in marketing for some big ole tech company, but it didn’t work out. Her sexist boss laid her off and then her boyfriend had the nerve to break up with her the same day—leaving her unemployedandalone. Needless to say, she just needed a fresh start. Well, that and you know how my son Rob can be. He always thinks I’m old and decrepit, so he suggested she shouldcome live with me.”

For some reason, out of everything Ms. Marilyn just said, I mostly zero in on one thing: Eliza is single.

And I feel like a pig for it.

I need to keep my wits about me before I embarrass myself.

“Oh, your son just cares about you,” Mom comments lightly. “But it sounds like Eliza has had a rough go. Hopefully this reset will do her some good. Is she here to stay? Because this town sure could use some more young people.”

Ms. Marilyn shrugs. “I don’t know, but it sure would be nice if she decided to. It’s been a long time since I’ve had family close, since my husband passed nearly ten years ago.”

I roll my shoulders as the grief threatens to slip in. I lost my father fifteen years ago, and even still, anytime someone brings up death, it feels a bit like poking an open wound. I always catch myself wondering what life would be like now had it not happened.

“I’ll make sure to be over to your place as soon as I finish up with the float. It might be close to six-thirty or seven, if that’s okay with you, Ms. Marilyn?”

“Of course,” she says with a nod. “We stay up pretty late at my house, you know. Last night we made it till eleven o’clock. Can you imagine that? I felt like a teenager again.”

I laugh along with my mom, seeing the joy on the elderly woman’s face. Regardless of Eliza’s reasons, it’s clear that Ms. Marilyn is more than happy to have her there.

“Well, I suppose I’ve taken up enough of your time already,” Ms. Marilyn says with a sigh. “I ought to let you get back to it. I’llsee you this evening, Nick, and I’m sure I’ll see you at church on Sunday, Martha.”

“Of course,” Mom says with a smile. “Have a nice day and enjoy your time with your granddaughter.”

“Oh, I will!” she calls over her shoulder as she disappears out the door.

“Well, well, well…” Mom turns to me with an eyebrow raised. “I think fixing Marilyn’s ramp is fate.”

“Oh jeez,” I groan, shaking my head at her. “You act like I’mnottheonlyhandyman in town. You know as well as I do that it’s not uncommon for me to fix access ramps.”

“No, but it’s not every day that you get to work on the ramp where there’s a lovely young lady present.”

“Who wasjustbroken up with,” I point out; a fact suddenly sinking in for the first time. “She probably doesn’t have any interest in dating right now, and I wouldn’t ask her on a date this soon, anyway.”

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