Page 5 of Love, Magic and Misfortune
Violet grinned. “You’re feeling pretty salty about that comment, huh?”
“I am.”
“Good,” Violet said. “That’ll teach you.”
3
Now
“Why are there specific visiting hours? Isn’t he in the house all the time?” Violet flipped the little notepaper over in her hand. It was two-sided and filled with Gloria Marie’s unmistakable handwriting. Gram had also organized her will, land deed and all remaining documents into a neat folder in a bedroom dresser drawer.
Violet leaned her head back and closed her eyes, exhaling and listening to the rain pitter-pattering against the car. She missed her grandmother’s voice and the very soul and essence of her being. Her physical presence. But the absence of Gloria Marie’s voice—that self-assured and bright tone singing over her, always encouraging her, comforting her—created an unexpected chasm in the center of Violet’s chest. A hole that might never again be filled.
She took another breath in the rainy silence, opening her eyes and staring at the note in her hands just as a ray of gray sunlight caused the surrounding slick pavement of the parking lot to glow. On the backside of the handwritten note, her grandmother had written two sentences:Live the life you really want, sweet pea. I love you.
“The life I want…” What did she want, exactly? Violet glanced around, taking in the mundane view of the local grocery store with its faded green scalloped awning. The line of bright red grocery carts neatly arranged out front and dripping with water. Today was particularly gray, with raindrops pelting against the windshield before racing down in long streams. Quiet tears from the sky to match her melancholy.
After several days of crying and staying huddled within the loving comfort of Gram’s cottage, Violet finally mustered the energy to go out. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t in agreement with her decision. Autumn was officially settling in and having its way.
Violet knew that she wanted to be here, in this village. It was her home and she loved it. The wild, grassy fields swaying in the summertime, all stretched out around Gram’s cottage and framed by thick woods. The flowers blooming in spring like fireworks, and the way the snow flattened everything down in winter—a heavy, fluffy comforter. All around, the jagged bluish-purple mountains acted as a loving fortress, protecting the town’s inhabitants. She wanted to be here, but she wanted to be free, too.
What does that mean? What does it look like?
Her phone buzzed and she pursed her lips. This. This long leash wasnotfreedom. Reaching inside her bag, she groaned and pulled her mobile out to glance at the screen.
[Janet: Did you send me the estimates for the T-shirt order?]
Violet switched over to her email to verify, then typed out a text before hitting send.
[Yes. I sent it in an email on Monday at 2:47 p.m.]
Three days ago, mind you. Not that they were in a time-crunch to get the T-shirts ordered. Except theywere, as had been emphasized by her bosses in earlier meetings.
[Janet: Well, I don’t see it.]
“Did you even look?” Rolling her eyes, Violet quickly flipped back to her email, found the correspondence in question and re-forwarded it to her boss. Yes, she could have just texted the info, but… Proof.
[I just re-sent it to your email. Please let me know you received it.]
Dropping her hands and the phone in her lap, Violet contemplated. She needed something hearty and warm to eat tonight. Some kind of baked casserole with molten cheese. Lasagna? After a moment, her phone buzzed in her grip.
[Janet: Got it. Thanks. Let’s place the order.]
[Will do.]
Violet punched the necessary information into the website and placed the order. When finished, she twisted around for her umbrella in the back seat, drew up the hood of her raincoat and grabbed the door handle. Her phone buzzed again—over and over.
[Karen: What’s happening with the T-shirts?]
[Karen: Don’t order them yet!]
[Karen: They’re way too expensive!!]
[Karen: Should we look into a cheaper alternative??]
[Karen: My cousin might be able to print T-shirts for us.]
[Karen: He has a thing in his garage.]
