Page 71 of The Magic of Sea Glass
“Oh?” She went around and climbed into the driver’s side, peering at Joe in her rearview mirror.
“There was only one person in my life who called me Joe, and that was my wife. It took me a long time, but eventually, I realized that I was more me with her than with anyone, so the next time I introduced myself to someone, I said my name was Joe. I’ve been Joe ever since.”
She twisted around while Brody got into the car. “Do you still miss her?”
“Like crazy. But she’s right here with me. She sends me signs.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was having a low moment one night and in my anguish, I cried out, ‘Penelope, I miss you so much. Are you here?’ I fell back onto the bed and, out of nowhere, a penny rolled down the pillow toward my cheek, hitting it like a little kiss. It wouldn’t be a big deal except that ‘Penny’ was my nickname for her.”
Lauren immediately thought of Mary’s story about Frank and the quarter. Certainly, the two of them finding coins couldn’t be their loved ones from heaven. “And you don’t think it was a coincidence?” she asked.
“At first I did. Until I told her to show me more. That day, I was walking along the street when I noticed a fountain that we’d never gone over to. A gut feeling told me, ‘Go over there and look inside.’ I did, and it was full of pennies. No other coin—only pennies. Every time I need her, she sends me pennies. They show up whenever I think about her—on sidewalks, tables, everywhere. I even saw one shining at the end of our favorite pier once.”
“I’ve never heard that story,” Brody said.
Joe shrugged. “It’s sort of personal. I don’t just offer it up to people.”
“It’s lovely,” Lauren said, everything in her body wanting to believe it could be true.
NINETEEN
“Here’s your cell phone,” Brody said. “It’s fully charged in case you need me. I’ll be back to check on you later tonight.” Lauren made her way to Joe’s front door, the two of them leaving the old man in his favorite chair, armed with a few healthy snack options and a large bottle of water.
“You don’t need to do that,” Joe called.
“I will anyway.” Brody winked at Lauren and opened the door.
“Think he’ll be okay?” she asked, looking back at the small fishing cottage that Joe called home as they headed to her car.
“Yeah, he’ll be fine. We’re only a few streets over from my house if he needs anything at all, and I’ll swing by a couple of times to make sure.” He opened the passenger door to her car and got in.
Lauren drove toward Brody’s house, taking the two turns to drop him off.
“I have an idea for the tuxedo. Why don’t you come in so I can show you what I’m thinking?” he offered.
“All right, but I should text Mary to be sure she doesn’t need me.” Lauren pulled up next to the Winnebago and fired off a message. Mary came back, telling her business was slow and to take as much time as she needed, so she thanked her and dropped the phone into her handbag.
“All good?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She opened the car door. “I did check with the other groomsmen. They all have white button-down shirts. You all could go casual and ditch the jackets. It’s a beach wedding so you could pull it off. Do you have a white shirt of any kind?”
“I don’t think so, but I might have something that works.”
“Okay, well, it can be different, since you’re the best man. The bridesmaids are wearing pale blue. Do you have a blue or light gray formal shirt, by chance?”
“That’s what I wanted to show you. I do have a blue one at the back of my closet that my dad bought for me. I wore it once to a museum exhibit he asked me to attend.”
She walked around the car, and met him on the porch. “Speaking of your dad, how do you feel about him coming tomorrow?”
Brody shrugged. “It’s fine, if he even shows. Stephanie always liked him. I think they bonded because she’s the academic type like he is. She spent time with him, going over all the colleges she wanted to apply to while I threw out a few applications just to appease him and went on about my business.”
“Did you ever try to see his point of view?”
“No.” He unlocked the door and Milton greeted him with a bark and a wagging tail. “Why would I, when he never tried to see mine?”
“Fair enough.” She followed him inside.
