Read Online When It Rains: The Umbrella Collection by Prudence Hayes - Free Book Online Page B

came to form.  She just turned on her heels and headed back up the driveway into the house.
    “You know, I remember that day like it was yesterday.   I replay it in my head all the time.  Do you?  The look on their faces as I came up to the car is always popping up,” he said as he turned his attention back to me.  He looked straight into my eyes waiting for a reaction, but nothing came. “It has been so long now and I feel that it is time for you to move on,” he said as my watery tears sunk back in and my dry eyes stared daggers into his out of anger. “If you want to talk about it, ever, I am always free and I know this preacher that would be willing to talk to you if you wanted to bring God into your life.  HE has helped me so much.”
    I was angry now, angry that he had the audacity to say that, to imply that God wasn’t already present within my life.   How would he know?  I moved in closer, an inch from his face I pointed my fingers directly at him. 
    “You, a preacher or anyone else for that matter will never tell me how to grieve or will give me a time period in which to get ove r my parent’s death. What, do you want me to do bawl my eyes out on your shoulder, so you can run and tell everyone?” I said as my face grew redder with rage. Then I inserted the before mentioned thought, you know, the one the voice said about maybe it would be good for him to go do something to himself. He didn’t seem to like it that much since he took a few steps backwards with the look of shock on his face.  His mouth fell open then he started making his way back towards his house.
    I began to continue my walk then stopped and turned back at him, “Oh, and Mr. Garrison.”  I yelled and he stopped where he was and turned towards me, “My Mom fucking hated you!”
    I turned on my heels and started off down the road with a smirk appearing on my face. It wasn’t nice to say, but well deserved I thought.   I pictured Mom cheering and clapping up where she is and Dad probably stood with his arms crossed at his chest shaking his head. With those visions in my head, it took me no time at all to get to Marty’s.
    I entered the small store stocked with shelves of food and candy in the middle and refrigerators along the back with and sides filled with sodas, waters, beers and any other type of refreshing liquid.   The cashier stands behind a small counter that is filled with random pieces of gum for sale for a nickel and to the side of that are counters with coffee pots brewing a different kind in each, along with a hotdog and sausage cooker beside them.  As I opened the door I was embraced by the typical sound of a bell which was attached to the door ringing each time a customer opened it. 
    “Hello, Mr. Jones,” I said as I walked up behind him as he was filling the water bottles in one of the refrigerators. He was wearing the usual tan polo shirt with one pocket and the brown pants I remember him wearing when I was younger. He is a good friend of Pops. Mrs. Jones passed away two years ago and he hasn’t really been the same since.   He used to be extremely outgoing and now since her passing he is more introverted and sullen.
    “Nora, looking as beautiful as ever, it has been too long since your last visit. Are you here for your usual?” he asked with a smile.
    “Yes sir, the usual and you do know that I was here last week, right?”
    He stood there thinking for a few seconds, “Ah, yes I remember. Nora, I’m an old man, sometimes it takes me awhile to get the wheels spinning.”
    I could tell he was lying, but I let him slide.  I headed towards the candy aisle after Gary, the cashier, yelled for Mr. Jones and he headed to backroom to receive a phone call he just received.
    I found my sugary lollipops and was perusing the rest of the sweets when I spied someone across the store, someone whom I have been dreading running until for the last year. He was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with some sports teams