Page 12 of Grace Notes
Her hair is green today, reminding me of warm summer days. There’s a knowing look in her eye as she looks at me, and when she smiles, my chest doesn’t feel like an elephant is weighing down on it.
I love this woman. She’s become an important part of my life.
“Ladies,” Mrs. Evert says sternly, turning to look at them. Her brows are narrowed as she clucks her tongue. “I think we’ve asked enough questions for today. Go about your business.”
To my surprise, the group disperses, with only a few ladies grumbling about Mrs. Evert being bossy.
And once they are gone, Mrs. Evert turns back to me, concern wrinkling the corner of her eyes. “There’s sweet teaand strawberry shortcake at my house. I’ll see you there in ten minutes.”
Then she walks away, not giving me a chance to say no.
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It takes me nine minutes instead of ten to get to Mrs. Evert’s house. Even though I debated not coming, I’m not stupid enough to turn down a piece of her strawberry shortcake.
She’s sitting in a rocking chair on her porch, waiting for me, when I pull into her drive, just like she was a year ago when she gave me the first piece of advice that started to change my marriage for the better.
We’d sat here that day, and she’d demanded that I go on a date with my husband. I was afraid of losing Brooks more than I already had, but I took her advice. And there hasn’t been a day that’s passed that I regretted it.
The rocking chair creaks against the wooden porch, rocking back and forth as I walk up the stairs.
“Am I getting a friendly lecture with this piece of cake, too?” I ask good-naturedly.
Her lips part into a smile, one that is born of years of scheming. “You know me too well, darling girl.”
I sigh, sinking into the rocking chair beside her. “I thought so.”
“Let’s start with what’s got you down in the dumps, and then I can offer my sage advice.”
My rocking chair creaks with hers, and I run my hand over the wood of the armrest, praying I don’t get a splinter. “We might be here all day.”
She laughs, a sound almost as crazy as her hair. “Good thing I’ve got the time, then.”
For a moment, my lips lift in a smile, the lightness of her laugh seeping into me, but then I remember Avery’s face as she cried this morning and my smile falls.
“I just can’t help but wonder if I’m making the wrong decisions.”
“Decisions for the vow renewal?”
I shake my head. “No. Yes. A little.”
“That’s a lot of uncertainty in that statement.”
The snort I let out is anything but lady-like. “That’s because that’s all I am—uncertain. I wanted this vow renewal because I wanted to celebrate this new phase in mine and Brooks’s life, but now I can’t help but wonder if it’s just causing extra stress—taking away from where my focus really needs to be.”
“And where do you think it should be?” Mrs. Evert asks, reaching over and handing me a slice of her cake.
I take it from her, picking up the fork and shoveling some of it into my mouth. The sweetness of the strawberries fills my mouth with a burst of flavor, and if I wasn’t so worried about my daughter, this might have solved all my problems.
“At home with my daughter. She’s struggling right now, and I can’t help her if I’m not around.”
“What is she struggling with?”
“Brooks’s Dad is sick—we just don’t know how bad yet, and she’s—she’s angry in a way I’ve never seen her before. It scares me.”
Mrs. Evert hums, pushing her toes up and down on the ground. The sound is comforting in a way I didn’t know I needed it to be. “You know—I know a lot of people who make anger out to be a bad thing, but they just aren’t right.”
The older woman doesn’t notice me staring at her or the confusion pulling my brows together. She just goes right on rocking and sipping on her sweet tea.
