Page 2 of Dear Henry, Love Edith
“One of Sharon’s cousins who lives in Pittsburgh.”
“Who’s Sharon?”
“You know Sharon,” Kat scolded.
He smiled. He did know Sharon. In a town like Westshire,Illinois, everybody knew everybody. Once he found the Cubs game on the flat-screen and noted the score, his smile turned into a groan.
“Oh, come on. It won’t be that bad.”
“Nothing could be that bad,” he muttered, punching off the game.
“What?”
“Nothing. What’s this lady’s name again?”
“Edith.She’s a nurse. Or used to be a nurse. I’m sure she’s retired by now. Sharon said she’s a widow. She probably spends all her time volunteering because it’s the only way she can cope with the loss of her one true love.” Kat sighed. “Isn’t that so romantic?”
Henry rolled his eyes. His thirty-year-old niece sounded worse than a lovestruck teenager. She would probably find the Three Stooges romantic if she ever watched them. “How soon until your kitchen’s fixed again?”
“Soon enough. But it’s not as if you can climb stairs yet anyway. Someone may as well put all that remodeling you did to good use. Besides, you can’t throw a little old widow out on the street. We both know Jesus frowns on that one. And really, between your morning therapy sessions and work hours, you probably won’t even see her. How’s your leg doing, by the way?”
Better than his pride. “It’s still attached.”
“When I think about how much worse it could have been—”
“Don’t.”Please.Last thing he needed was to rehash what a fool he made of himself the first week taking over his family’s painting and construction company. Yeah, the injury couldhave happened to anybody. But he wasn’t anybody. And as the man in charge now, he couldn’t afford another misstep. Not in this town. Not after all the time it had taken to get back on his feet in the first place.
“Look, if this old lady needs a place to crash for a few nights, fine. Just so long as she stays upstairs and out of my way.”
“Thank you!”
“But as soon as your house is ready—”
“She’s gone. Promise.”
Henry sighed into the phone. “After all this time, how do you still do it?”
“Do what?”
“Get me to cave to anything you ask.”
Kat chuckled. “That’s the power nieces have over their uncles—especially nieces who are only two years younger. Thanks again,UncleHenry.”
“Why am I already regretting this?”
Edith read the email again.
Hi Edith! Hope you landed safely. There’s been a slight change of plans. One of my kitchen pipes decided to spring a leak on me. I know. Great, huh? So I’m afraid my house is more appropriate for FEMA than visitors. Don’t worry though. My sweet uncle Henry lives close by and has graciously offered to host you for as long as needed. He hasn’t been able to climb the stairs for some time now, so you’ll have the entire second floorto yourself. Make yourself at home. I’ll let you know when my house is habitable again. Sorry for all the last-minute changes.
Kat
PS—My uncle really is a sweet man, but you know how bachelors get set in their ways. If he gives you any trouble, just tell him he’ll have to answer to me. That ought to scare him! Ha!
Edith clicked her phone off and sank against the seat of her rental car. Why couldn’t anything in her life ever go as planned?
She blew a layer of hair away from her eyes, wondering for the hundredth time if she’d made a mistake. Honey-colored strands fluttered back down, catching on her eyelashes. “I mean, really, Edith?” she muttered to herself.“Bangs?”
If she were going to go through a quarter-life crisis, couldn’t she at least have been brave enough to get a tattoo?
