opening the door for Shirley to enter the warm kitchen.
“I presume you’re Lily.”
“Yes, of course.”
With a dazzling smile and a strong booming voice, Shirley proceeded, “Good to meet you in person. You are a pretty one.” Her crystal blue eyes seemed not to miss anything. “Looks like there’s still some city left in you. I’d have been over here sooner, but my hip’s been giving me some trouble. Getting old is no fun at all.”
Lily took Shirley’s arm and guided her into the parlor, then placed the basket on the coffee table. These sisters couldn’t be more different.
“Here, have a seat by the fire, I’ll put some more wood on,” Lily said, helping Shirley into the club chair nearest the warm flames.
Shirley observed the pile of fresh kindling in the corner. “Looks like my sister’s already been here this morning. Leave it to her to be out early getting dirty doing something.”
Lily laughed. “Can I get you something warm to drink?”
“Well, actually, the thermos in the basket is filled with super-rich hot chocolate, and the Tupperware has fresh cinnamon whipped cream.”
“Yumm,” Lily said opening the lid and taking a sniff. “A woman after my own heart. And what’s this? Looks like banana bread. I’ll go get us some cups from the kitchen and slice some of the bread.”
Shirley yelled in after her, “The butter pickle potato salad probably needs to be refrigerated, but the chicken can stay out.”
As Lily emptied the basket, she knew one thing for sure–she’d never go hungry around here. She carried in the cups of hot cocoa and a plate of the bread and sat down beside Shirley. “Thank you for your wonderful welcome. What more could a woman ask for?”
Shirley’s smile lit the room. “I would have brought flowers too, but none are blooming yet. It’s too early in the season, and there’s been too much damn rain.”
The parlor filled with the sweet aroma of warm chocolate and the faint scent of cinnamon. Shirley glared at Lily. “Are you single?”
Lily was taken aback by this direct inquiry about her personal life, and she paused for a moment before answering. “I’m filing for a divorce, actually.”
Shirley didn’t miss a beat. “Have you seen that cute grandson of John McPherson’s next door? He’s a real looker if you ask me. That Ian McPherson doesn’t need a purse or a nurse like some of these single old men here on the island.”
Lily had to think for a minute—a purse…a nurse? Oh she got it—men looking for money or someone to take care of them. Pretty clever, she thought. “I’m not looking for any man right now. I think I’ve had just about enough of them in my life, thank you.”
Shirley eyed her again. “You’re young, you’ll get over that quick enough. Don’t let a good one get away, especially when he’s right next door!”
The thought of that handsome young man right next door was a bit close for comfort.
“So, Lily, what do you plan to do with your time? It can get pretty dull around here, especially in winter.”
Dull sounded fine to her right now. “I haven’t got that far in my plans yet. I’m mostly just getting through each day.”
“We’ll have to fix that,” Shirley said finishing off her last sip of cocoa. “You young people should be having some fun too, unlike my sister, who just can’t stop working. Darn stubborn Betty, still climbing up ladders at her age. Her idea of shopping is a nice trip to the hardware store!”
They heard a knock at the door and Betty poked her head in. “Did I hear someone say my name? I bet that’s you, Shirley, in there talking so loud.”
Lily stood. “Come on in, Betty.”
“She’s already let herself in, uninvited, I might add,” Shirley said.
Betty shook her head dismissively. “What are you girls having, a tea party?”
“It’s cocoa, can’t you smell it?” chirped Shirley.
“Now, now, girls,” Lily said with a laugh. “Would you like some cocoa
“I presume you’re Lily.”
“Yes, of course.”
With a dazzling smile and a strong booming voice, Shirley proceeded, “Good to meet you in person. You are a pretty one.” Her crystal blue eyes seemed not to miss anything. “Looks like there’s still some city left in you. I’d have been over here sooner, but my hip’s been giving me some trouble. Getting old is no fun at all.”
Lily took Shirley’s arm and guided her into the parlor, then placed the basket on the coffee table. These sisters couldn’t be more different.
“Here, have a seat by the fire, I’ll put some more wood on,” Lily said, helping Shirley into the club chair nearest the warm flames.
Shirley observed the pile of fresh kindling in the corner. “Looks like my sister’s already been here this morning. Leave it to her to be out early getting dirty doing something.”
Lily laughed. “Can I get you something warm to drink?”
“Well, actually, the thermos in the basket is filled with super-rich hot chocolate, and the Tupperware has fresh cinnamon whipped cream.”
“Yumm,” Lily said opening the lid and taking a sniff. “A woman after my own heart. And what’s this? Looks like banana bread. I’ll go get us some cups from the kitchen and slice some of the bread.”
Shirley yelled in after her, “The butter pickle potato salad probably needs to be refrigerated, but the chicken can stay out.”
As Lily emptied the basket, she knew one thing for sure–she’d never go hungry around here. She carried in the cups of hot cocoa and a plate of the bread and sat down beside Shirley. “Thank you for your wonderful welcome. What more could a woman ask for?”
Shirley’s smile lit the room. “I would have brought flowers too, but none are blooming yet. It’s too early in the season, and there’s been too much damn rain.”
The parlor filled with the sweet aroma of warm chocolate and the faint scent of cinnamon. Shirley glared at Lily. “Are you single?”
Lily was taken aback by this direct inquiry about her personal life, and she paused for a moment before answering. “I’m filing for a divorce, actually.”
Shirley didn’t miss a beat. “Have you seen that cute grandson of John McPherson’s next door? He’s a real looker if you ask me. That Ian McPherson doesn’t need a purse or a nurse like some of these single old men here on the island.”
Lily had to think for a minute—a purse…a nurse? Oh she got it—men looking for money or someone to take care of them. Pretty clever, she thought. “I’m not looking for any man right now. I think I’ve had just about enough of them in my life, thank you.”
Shirley eyed her again. “You’re young, you’ll get over that quick enough. Don’t let a good one get away, especially when he’s right next door!”
The thought of that handsome young man right next door was a bit close for comfort.
“So, Lily, what do you plan to do with your time? It can get pretty dull around here, especially in winter.”
Dull sounded fine to her right now. “I haven’t got that far in my plans yet. I’m mostly just getting through each day.”
“We’ll have to fix that,” Shirley said finishing off her last sip of cocoa. “You young people should be having some fun too, unlike my sister, who just can’t stop working. Darn stubborn Betty, still climbing up ladders at her age. Her idea of shopping is a nice trip to the hardware store!”
They heard a knock at the door and Betty poked her head in. “Did I hear someone say my name? I bet that’s you, Shirley, in there talking so loud.”
Lily stood. “Come on in, Betty.”
“She’s already let herself in, uninvited, I might add,” Shirley said.
Betty shook her head dismissively. “What are you girls having, a tea party?”
“It’s cocoa, can’t you smell it?” chirped Shirley.
“Now, now, girls,” Lily said with a laugh. “Would you like some cocoa