Ellie’s garden. “Why, no—of course not.”
She’d pretty much figured that, but had felt compelled to ask anyway. “Do you ever think about it?” After all, he was only in his early fifties, he had a respectable job, a pleasant home, and he was a nice man.
“Well, no, can’t say that I have. I mean—who could ever replace your mother?”
She tilted her head and tried to look cheerful. “I wasn’t suggesting you replace her, but…wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to go out to a movie with on a Saturday night up at the Ambassador? Or to take to the annual Fourth of July cookout at Betty and Ed’s house?”
Her father stayed quiet for a moment, then said, “Don’t you worry about me, Jennygirl —I’m fine just as I am. I’ve got plenty of folks to be with and you know that.”
“I know. I was just thinking that…well, it’s been a long time, Dad. And I’m sure Mom would want you to be happy.”
“Then she’s already got her wish,” he said with another big wink. “You let me know if this air- conditionin ’ gives ya any more problems, and otherwise, I’ll see ya Sunday—about
one o’clock
?”
She relented and let the matter drop. “All right—see you then.” After which she pushed to her feet and gave him a small hug while planting a kiss on his cheek, the tip of his big gray mustache tickling her lip.
As she listened to his car drive away a moment later, she realized she was looking forward to Miss Ellie’s party. Sort of.
A lot of people in Destiny, especially the older residents, were…weirdly stuck in another time. A comforting time. But also a time when…divorce was frowned upon, for any reason—even a cheating husband, she suspected. And she was pretty sure most of them would have heart attacks if they knew what she’d done in the woods last night.
By
ten o’clock
that evening, Jenny felt…almost content. Still aggravated about the whole telescope situation, but she’d spent the day making peace with herself over the sex. Mostly. And as the evening had passed, she’d quit seeing that huge picture of her mother. Mostly.
She’d cooked herself a hamburger and a baked potato on the gas grill on the back patio and sat outside at the picnic table to eat, despite the remaining heat that hadn’t waned at day’s end. Afterward, she wandered over the soft grass in bare feet to an old swing hanging from a maple tree in the side yard, and from there, she’d peered out across the lake, quiet and smooth as glass at that time of the evening, appreciating the peaceful view. She’d glanced over into Miss Ellie’s garden, across the empty green space that sat between their homes, and drank in the profusion of color. She’d listened to birds singing in the trees.
As night had begun to fall, she’d thought longingly of her telescope, but pushed it aside, telling herself that maybe he’d…mail it back to her or something. Of course, that would require him going to a post office. Being seen. Just as bringing it here to leave on her doorstep as she’d hoped earlier would also do. But…maybe he’d be decent enough to get it back to her some other way. She had to keep telling herself that, since she just couldn’t accept losing it the way she had.
Now she sat curled on the couch in a butter yellow cami and jogging pants, the old afghan pulled half over her since the air was going full force again, eating a chocolate chip cookie, and watching some crime show on TV.
Just as the guy on TV, a detective, crept through a dark warehouse where he suspected a crazy burglar was hiding out—a knock came on Jenny’s back door and sent her nearly leaping out of her skin.
Catching her breath, she set her cookie aside and rose to answer, except—who on earth would come to the back door?
A serial killer, she thought.
Or maybe her father, she decided more realistically. He’d come to the back door today, after all.
So she flipped on the outdoor light, then pulled open the
She’d pretty much figured that, but had felt compelled to ask anyway. “Do you ever think about it?” After all, he was only in his early fifties, he had a respectable job, a pleasant home, and he was a nice man.
“Well, no, can’t say that I have. I mean—who could ever replace your mother?”
She tilted her head and tried to look cheerful. “I wasn’t suggesting you replace her, but…wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to go out to a movie with on a Saturday night up at the Ambassador? Or to take to the annual Fourth of July cookout at Betty and Ed’s house?”
Her father stayed quiet for a moment, then said, “Don’t you worry about me, Jennygirl —I’m fine just as I am. I’ve got plenty of folks to be with and you know that.”
“I know. I was just thinking that…well, it’s been a long time, Dad. And I’m sure Mom would want you to be happy.”
“Then she’s already got her wish,” he said with another big wink. “You let me know if this air- conditionin ’ gives ya any more problems, and otherwise, I’ll see ya Sunday—about
one o’clock
?”
She relented and let the matter drop. “All right—see you then.” After which she pushed to her feet and gave him a small hug while planting a kiss on his cheek, the tip of his big gray mustache tickling her lip.
As she listened to his car drive away a moment later, she realized she was looking forward to Miss Ellie’s party. Sort of.
A lot of people in Destiny, especially the older residents, were…weirdly stuck in another time. A comforting time. But also a time when…divorce was frowned upon, for any reason—even a cheating husband, she suspected. And she was pretty sure most of them would have heart attacks if they knew what she’d done in the woods last night.
By
ten o’clock
that evening, Jenny felt…almost content. Still aggravated about the whole telescope situation, but she’d spent the day making peace with herself over the sex. Mostly. And as the evening had passed, she’d quit seeing that huge picture of her mother. Mostly.
She’d cooked herself a hamburger and a baked potato on the gas grill on the back patio and sat outside at the picnic table to eat, despite the remaining heat that hadn’t waned at day’s end. Afterward, she wandered over the soft grass in bare feet to an old swing hanging from a maple tree in the side yard, and from there, she’d peered out across the lake, quiet and smooth as glass at that time of the evening, appreciating the peaceful view. She’d glanced over into Miss Ellie’s garden, across the empty green space that sat between their homes, and drank in the profusion of color. She’d listened to birds singing in the trees.
As night had begun to fall, she’d thought longingly of her telescope, but pushed it aside, telling herself that maybe he’d…mail it back to her or something. Of course, that would require him going to a post office. Being seen. Just as bringing it here to leave on her doorstep as she’d hoped earlier would also do. But…maybe he’d be decent enough to get it back to her some other way. She had to keep telling herself that, since she just couldn’t accept losing it the way she had.
Now she sat curled on the couch in a butter yellow cami and jogging pants, the old afghan pulled half over her since the air was going full force again, eating a chocolate chip cookie, and watching some crime show on TV.
Just as the guy on TV, a detective, crept through a dark warehouse where he suspected a crazy burglar was hiding out—a knock came on Jenny’s back door and sent her nearly leaping out of her skin.
Catching her breath, she set her cookie aside and rose to answer, except—who on earth would come to the back door?
A serial killer, she thought.
Or maybe her father, she decided more realistically. He’d come to the back door today, after all.
So she flipped on the outdoor light, then pulled open the
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