Page 82 of Dear Henry, Love Edith
He had to go. Peg was counting on him.
Looking at his watch, knowing he didn’t have time to waver any longer, he stepped through the door—hesitating just long enough to hear a voice start to count down—then closed it behind him.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“Honey, don’t you think you ought to slow down? That’s your fifth one.”
“I said hit me again, so I suggest you do as I say and hit. Me. Again.” Edith slapped a bill on the counter.
Shooting her a wary look, Julie reluctantly took the cash and dropped it into the register. “Fine. But don’t come crying to me when your pants don’t fit tomorrow.” Julie grabbed another scone from the display case and slid it across the counter to Edith.
Edith bit into it. “What? You going to judge me too?” Crumbs shot down the front of her shirt and onto the floor as she waved her scone. “Et tu, Chester? Et tu?”
Yawning widely, the feline stood, arched its back, then curled into the basket, facing away from Edith. “Oh, I see.You’d rather just turn your back on me. Seems to be a common theme in my life.”
“It really wasn’t that bad, you know.” The grimace on Julie’s face portrayed a different perspective.
“Not that bad.Julie, I was there. I know how bad it was.” Edith shoved the rest of the scone into her mouth and wiped her forearm across her lips. “How much is that strawberry tart on the end?”
“Absolutely not. I am cutting you off.”
“Julie, I made a fool of myself. I need sugar.”
“You were nervous. It happens.”
“I’m not just talking about the interview. I’m talking about this entire summer. How did I get here?”
“Well, honey,” Julie said, wiping her hands on her apron, “I imagine you came in on Route6 like most folks do. Oh, c’mon. That was a tiny bit funny. No?” Sighing, Julie came around the counter and flipped the Open sign to Closed.
“Isn’t it a bit early to be doing that?”
“Not when you’ve eaten up my entire inventory. Besides that, I’m pretty sure your bellyaching would scare off any potential customers I get.”
“I’m not bellyaching. I’m lamenting.”
“Right. Well, how about you do your lamenting while you sweep the floor, considering it was you who left all the crumbs I see standing there.”
“Is this how you treat all your paying customers?”
“No.” Julie smiled and handed Edith a broom. “But it is how I treat my friends.”
Unsure how to respond to that, Edith began sweeping the floor. When she’d cleaned up all the crumbs by the displaycase, she moved to the seating area and swept. Then she found a wet rag and wiped down the tables and chairs while Julie finished cleaning out the display case and coffeepots.
Everything stored away and ready for the next morning, Julie came around the counter, untied her apron, and nodded toward the door. “Let’s go for a walk. Looks nice out and heaven knows you could use the exercise after all the calories you’ve put down this afternoon.”
“I think I’d rather just take a nap.”
“Nope. Friends don’t let friends nap when they’re coming down from a sugar binge. You need to walk it off.” Julie locked the door, then linked her arm through Edith’s. “Here. I’ll even let you choose which direction we go.”
“Really generous of you,” Edith said, squinting first at Julie, then toward the azure sky. No matter her lack of energy at the moment, she couldn’t deny the beauty of the day. Or that a walk might do her some good. “Which direction is it to the park with the botanical garden? I haven’t been there yet.”
Julie unlinked her arm, leaning back to peer at Edith. “That park’s on the other side of town. Do I look like the sort of person who makes a habit of hiking to the other side of town?”
“What did you have in mind then?”
“I don’t know. Around the block a time or two?”
“Oh, c’mon now,friend. If you’re going to drag me out here for a walk, then by golly, we’re going for a walk.” Edith linked Julie’s arm back with her own again. “And just think—the farther we go, the longer you get to hear me lament.”
