Page 9 of Nigel

She had takenclasses in gourmet cooking and quilt making as well as avidlylearning how to take care of a garden.

“I miss hertoo.”

“I know.”Her eyes were shadowed as she stared at him. He had been at a medicalconference out of the country when the news came that she had grownworse. It had happened so quickly that by the time he was able tojump on a flight to get back home, she had died.

It had been pureanguish for him that he had not been able to tell her goodbye. Therest of the family had been at her bedside except him.

“It stillweighs heavily on me. Not seeing her breathe her last.”

“She asked foryou. And told us to tell you that it was okay. That she was at peace.And she was. I sat there after she took her last breath and had tocheck and ask the doctors if they were sure she was gone. She lookedlike she was sleeping.”

“She was such agentle soul.”

“Until she wasnot,” Ava said with a laugh. “Remember when that guy infifth grade bloodied your lips?”

He grinned. “Shecame to the school like an avenging angel, demanding to know whathappened and how the teacher could allow that to happen to her baby.”

He grimaced inremembrance. “It took me a hell of a time to live that down.She had a ferocious temper that she kept under lock and key.”He gave her an assessing look. “Reminds me of you.”

“Nothing gentleabout me.”He cocked his head to stare at her. “Now thatshe is gone. You should seriously think about finding yourself aguy.”

“Hush.”

“Serious Ava.It’s time. You are in your forties.”

“I have notseen anyone I like enough to think about spending time with. You,Lionel and Jeffry have something special. In Jeffry’s case, hadis the operative word. Now he is just whoring around and bangingeverything wearing a skirt.”

Kyle laughed softly.“He loved Angela and when he lost her, it almost destroyed him.I don’t think he is ever going to want to go into anything likethat again.”

“Yeah, you areright and he is married to his job. Michael is grown and Angela isgone. Lord, I miss her. She was good for him.”

“Now you needto find someone who can be there for you.”

“I have threebrothers, sisters-in-law, my niece and nephew. I am good.”

“And when we gohome, you are here alone.”

“You worry toomuch.” Pushing off the blanket, she rose. “There is someleftover pot roast. You game?”

“I am. Wasthere any of the pumpkin pie left?”

“I think so.”

“Need help?”

“No. I am fine.And if you are determined to stay the night, you need to prepare yourroom. I have a lot of junk in one of them and the next two needairing out. Fresh linen in the closet.”

“I think I willbunk in here for the night. I was thinking we could watch a movie.”

“Okay. I willbe right back.”

The kitchen was adream, the yellow tiles above the sink and the long counter in themiddle. A small dining table was at the window and the view there wasstunning.

The rippling bluewater of the pool as well as the explosion of tea roses right underthe window. She and her mother had eaten many breakfasts right hereand argued about current events. Marilyn might not have been formallyeducated, but she kept up with what was happening in the world andshe was an avid reader.

Shaking her head todispel the image of her mother seated around the table or bustlingaround in the kitchen, Ava set about taking out plates and dishingout the food.

Chapter 3

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