it was time to use some. During my break at work this morning, I searched through a bed-and-breakfast site and saw Grace Chapel Inn listed. Something about the name just sounded peaceful and quiet and soothing. Also, the name Acorn Hill seemed familiar. I’m not even sure why. Maybe I lived here in an earlier life.” She laughed.
Alice had been trying hard to follow the conversation at the table, but the mention of the name Graves had distracted her. Finally, she said, “You mentioned that your maiden name is Graves. You don’t happen to have a brother by the name of Mark, do you?”
Susan’s eyes opened wide. “Yes, I most certainly do.”
“Is he a vet?”
“You know my brother?”
“Oh, it’s been years,” said Alice. “I thought I recalled that he had a younger sister. I just couldn’t remember your name.”
“Well, it really is a small world,” said Susan. “Now, what was your name again? I know Louise introduced us before dinner, but I must admit that I’ve been so stressed out lately that I seem to be forgetting things. I’m surprised I could even remember my maiden name.”
Alice smiled. “It’s Alice. Alice Howard.”
Susan grew thoughtful. “Weren’t you Mark’s girlfriend?”
Alice felt her cheeks grow warm. “We dated when I was in nursing school.”
“How’s your brother doing?” asked Jane, as if she knew him personally, but Alice suspected she was just trying to extract information that Alice would be too shy to inquire about.
“He’s doing well—awfully busy though. Even though we live in the same city, I hardly ever get to see him. He’s a vet for the zoo. Actually, he’s the head of all the vets.”
“How nice,” said Louise.
“Does he have a family?” asked Jane.
Susan shook her head. “He never married. Of course, he says it’s because he’s married to his work. I suppose that’s not far from the truth. Tom and I used to try to match him upwith some of our women friends, but Mark was forever forgetting to show up or canceling at the last minute. Not too many women can handle being stood up for a sick gorilla.”
They all laughed at this, and Jane continued her line of questioning. “So does he do anything for fun?”
“Mark’s idea of fun is traveling to strange places to treat strange animals.”
“Sounds like he hasn’t changed,” said Alice.
Susan turned and looked at Alice. “Is that what broke you two up?”
Alice shrugged. “It was so long ago. It’s hard to remember exactly what happened.”
“Well, that probably wasn’t it,” said Jane. “Alice loves animals. She’ll stop on an eight-lane freeway to help an injured squirrel.”
Alice tossed Jane a glance.
“Okay, but you
would
for a dog.”
Alice smiled. She could not deny Jane’s statement.
“Isn’t that how you got Waffles?” asked Jane.
“Waffles?” said Susan.
“That’s a dog I had years ago. Just a mutt someone had lost—”
“You mean abandoned,” Louise corrected her. “And anyone who saw the animal could clearly see why. I do not think God ever made an uglier dog.”
“He was a
good
dog,” protested Alice. “Best dog I ever had.”
“Stupid as a stone,” added Louise. “Why, that dog used to chase parked cars.”
“He’d had a head injury,” said Alice.
“One among many,” quipped Louise.
They all laughed again.
“Well, you ladies have been good medicine for me,” said Susan as she blotted her mouth with her napkin. “Just what I needed. And to think one of Mark’s old girlfriends lives here.” Susan stood, thanked them for the delicious meal and excused herself for a walk in the garden.
After the kitchen was cleaned up and evening chores done, the three sisters met for tea in the library. Once settled comfortably, Alice began to read.
November 19, 1925. My father insisted that I contribute my essay contest money to the farm. He said it will be used to “buy seed for next year’s crops,” but then he took off and we have
Alice had been trying hard to follow the conversation at the table, but the mention of the name Graves had distracted her. Finally, she said, “You mentioned that your maiden name is Graves. You don’t happen to have a brother by the name of Mark, do you?”
Susan’s eyes opened wide. “Yes, I most certainly do.”
“Is he a vet?”
“You know my brother?”
“Oh, it’s been years,” said Alice. “I thought I recalled that he had a younger sister. I just couldn’t remember your name.”
“Well, it really is a small world,” said Susan. “Now, what was your name again? I know Louise introduced us before dinner, but I must admit that I’ve been so stressed out lately that I seem to be forgetting things. I’m surprised I could even remember my maiden name.”
Alice smiled. “It’s Alice. Alice Howard.”
Susan grew thoughtful. “Weren’t you Mark’s girlfriend?”
Alice felt her cheeks grow warm. “We dated when I was in nursing school.”
“How’s your brother doing?” asked Jane, as if she knew him personally, but Alice suspected she was just trying to extract information that Alice would be too shy to inquire about.
“He’s doing well—awfully busy though. Even though we live in the same city, I hardly ever get to see him. He’s a vet for the zoo. Actually, he’s the head of all the vets.”
“How nice,” said Louise.
“Does he have a family?” asked Jane.
Susan shook her head. “He never married. Of course, he says it’s because he’s married to his work. I suppose that’s not far from the truth. Tom and I used to try to match him upwith some of our women friends, but Mark was forever forgetting to show up or canceling at the last minute. Not too many women can handle being stood up for a sick gorilla.”
They all laughed at this, and Jane continued her line of questioning. “So does he do anything for fun?”
“Mark’s idea of fun is traveling to strange places to treat strange animals.”
“Sounds like he hasn’t changed,” said Alice.
Susan turned and looked at Alice. “Is that what broke you two up?”
Alice shrugged. “It was so long ago. It’s hard to remember exactly what happened.”
“Well, that probably wasn’t it,” said Jane. “Alice loves animals. She’ll stop on an eight-lane freeway to help an injured squirrel.”
Alice tossed Jane a glance.
“Okay, but you
would
for a dog.”
Alice smiled. She could not deny Jane’s statement.
“Isn’t that how you got Waffles?” asked Jane.
“Waffles?” said Susan.
“That’s a dog I had years ago. Just a mutt someone had lost—”
“You mean abandoned,” Louise corrected her. “And anyone who saw the animal could clearly see why. I do not think God ever made an uglier dog.”
“He was a
good
dog,” protested Alice. “Best dog I ever had.”
“Stupid as a stone,” added Louise. “Why, that dog used to chase parked cars.”
“He’d had a head injury,” said Alice.
“One among many,” quipped Louise.
They all laughed again.
“Well, you ladies have been good medicine for me,” said Susan as she blotted her mouth with her napkin. “Just what I needed. And to think one of Mark’s old girlfriends lives here.” Susan stood, thanked them for the delicious meal and excused herself for a walk in the garden.
After the kitchen was cleaned up and evening chores done, the three sisters met for tea in the library. Once settled comfortably, Alice began to read.
November 19, 1925. My father insisted that I contribute my essay contest money to the farm. He said it will be used to “buy seed for next year’s crops,” but then he took off and we have
Similar Books
