August (The Year of The Change Book 2) (9 page)

Between doctor stories, I peeked at Destiny who kept her eyes closed. At one point, I swore I heard her humming while Emma and Clara discussed the older woman’s digestive problems.

After we'd been there for an hour, the room felt stuffy and I wondered if the windows were ever opened. The day was beautiful when we came in. If the woman would just breathe fresh air once in a while, she’d probably feel better.

Clara’s round belly shook from laughter. With a big smile, she turned her dimpled, red cheeks to my friend. “You’ve grown into quite the young lady. I still think of you as the big eyed, little girl that you were when you moved to Talkeetna.”

Destiny smiled stiffly.

Clara turned her bright eyes on me. “You’re a very beautiful young lady, yourself.”

“Thank you.” I stammered. I wasn’t expecting that.

She winked at Emma. “I have three handsome grandsons about your ages. You must meet them.” She looked us up and down. “You two look strong and my grandsons will make very good husbands.”

“Now Clara, these girls are a little young to be thinking of husbands.”

“Nonsense! It’s never too soon to be thinking of your future. Besides, if they wait too long my grandsons will be snatched up already.” She snapped her fingers for emphasis. “I’ll make dinner and you can meet here.”

Destiny sat up straight, eyes wide. There was no sparkle to her stare.

Emma cleared her throat. “Your grandsons will be going to the new high school, will they not?”

“Ya, and Wilhelm will be a senior.”

Emma waved a hand. “Then that settles it. The girls will look for them when school starts.” She grinned conspiratorially. “Perhaps the girls will accidentally bump into them in the hall.” Clara giggled. “We do not want to scare the boys off, now do we?”

Emma asked Clara about her back and the gnome was off on another track. Destiny flopped back against the chair and closed her eyes. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. Soon, she looked as though she’d fallen asleep, but as soon as Emma announced it was time to go, she reanimated and leapt to her feet gathering dishes. Placing the kitten on the couch, I helped her take the cups and saucers to the kitchen. The kitty followed, mewing at my feet.

Safely out of ear shot I stopped her manic rushing. "Are you alright?"

"No. Between the conversation, the smell and no air flow I've been fighting with my stomach. I need to get out of here!"

"I'm sorry you don't feel well."

"You must have an iron stomach."

"Yeah, you could say that." Understatement.

As we returned to the living room, Destiny drew me over to a table littered with framed family photos. She pointed out three chubby cheeked gnome boys. She raised her brows at me.

I looked closer. Clara’s eyesight must be failing. Still, I had to admit, I didn’t care what they looked like. I really didn’t mind meeting her gnome grandsons that surely would be much shorter than me … after The Change. Besides, nobody looks good in school pictures – I took another look – hopefully.

Emma was already at the front door, so we said our good-byes and slipped out ahead of her. Poindexter tried to follow, but Clara caught him with lightning speed. I looked at the little gnome one more time before I turned and followed Destiny who edged down the crumbling sidewalk.

"Sylvia?"

I looked back to see Clara juggling the squirming kitten. "Yes, Clara?"

"Whatever you do, don't go in the attic. Three people were murdered up there."

"Now, Clara." Emma edged past the plump woman, throwing her an exasperated look.

"Think what you want Emma, but better safe than sorry."

I hurried to catch up with Destiny who actually cracked a smile.

"Clara, I hope you feel better." Destiny’s grandmother backed down the steps.

"Thank you, Emma, but it’s all part of growing old. Someday you'll understand."

"Yes, and that lesson becomes clearer every year."

"I don't know how you can say that, you don't look like you've aged a day since I've met you."

"Oh, Clara, you are always so kind to me. Good-bye, old friend."

"Bye, Emma."

The walk to the Suburban wasn't fast enough for Destiny. She beat us both and climbed into the front, putting her head back and closing her eyes.

After starting the engine Emma touched her granddaughter’s forehead. "Are you alright, dear?"

Destiny slowly rolled her head to look over briefly. "I'll survive."

"The next stop will not be as bad."

"Who's next?"

“Anna Mae."

"Oh, thank goodness, I don't think I could take another one like Clara."

Emma laughed and hit the gas.

"Sorry about the haunted house talk, Sylvia. Clara's whole family is very superstitious and they feed off each other."

"It's okay. I can understand why people would think it was haunted. It used to look like it was right out of a zombie movie." I shuddered at the memory.

"Thanks to you and your family, your house is no longer an eyesore. I doubt if you will have any kids breaking into it this year."

I was right. Our monster was the dare house.

A Clear View

Only a few blocks away, Emma pulled up in front of a stout, red brick house that was barely more than a square. The walkway was neat and all the gardens were clean and full of flowers. Not too much, not too little, just right. A bright, cheery spring wreath hung on the door below a beveled glass window, while two rocking chairs stood sentinel on the small porch. A wicker table between them begged for a tray of lemonade and cookies to share with good friends. Or maybe that was my stomach pleading again.

The door opened. A slender woman with short, curly hair appeared behind the screen door.

"Emma!"

"Hello, Anna Mae, I have brought my granddaughter Destiny and our new neighbor, Sylvia."

Anna Mae held the door open for us and a medium dog bounded out, demanding my attention.

"Welcome to my home, Destiny and Sylvia. Don't let Peanut bother you, just push her down. Go straight down the hall to the living room."

The two women embraced and whispered. I hurried away to give them some privacy. Peanut stayed at my side and put her paws on my leg every time I hesitated to look at the pictures that hung along the short hall. The large and small frames gave a quick glimpse of what must be her extended family.

The hall ended abruptly and opened into a spacious room with a sparse furniture arrangement. A small couch was flanked by two wingback chairs nudged into a circle with a round coffee table in the middle for conversation. If it hadn't been for the open windows, there wouldn't have been any light. After Clara's house with the gazillion hot lamps, it was very relaxing. When settled into one of the wingback chairs, I realized there weren't any lamps at all. One overhead ceiling light was all there was, and that was off.

The older women entered the living room where our hostess excused herself and went to the kitchen in the back of the house. Emma put her basket on the coffee table and relaxed into the cushions of the couch. A light breeze rushed through the small room, intent on a window in one of the bedrooms on the other side of the house.

Destiny smiled. "This is more like it."

Anna Mae returned with a tray laden with a tea pot and cups.

"I hope everyone likes Madagascar Red."

"That is a lovely tea and it will go nicely with the cookies I brought."

Cookies
! My stomach leapt straight into begging. It was embarrassing and even more so when everyone turned to look at me. Stupid stomach. I pretended it wasn't me and looked around the room. They laughed. I didn't fool anyone.

"Is the coffee table clear?"

"Let me move my basket." Emma put the basket on the floor under the coffee table. "There, now it is clear."

Anna Mae placed the tray on the edge and pushed it to the middle, feeling her way with her fingers as she went. When she was satisfied with the placement, she sat and felt across the cups to the tea pot. Finding the handle, she lifted it and a cup.

"Tell me when, Emma." She tipped the pot and the warm tea filled the cup.

"That will be good."

Anna Mae replaced the teapot on the tray and handed the cup to Emma, who took it and handed it to Destiny, who got up and brought it to me.

The question must’ve been flashing on my face because Destiny nodded with a smile. Anna Mae was blind. I never would’ve guessed by just looking at her.

I sipped my tea and watched her pour three more cups. Not even a drop missed its mark. My grandmother, after she lost her sight, wouldn't pour for someone else because she had to stick her finger inside the cup to tell when it was full. She’d withdrawn and stopped doing many things that she loved to do. Even her walking was hesitant and fearful, whereas, Anna Mae looked comfortable with all her movements.

Emma opened the tin with the cookies and passed them around.

Anna Mae sipped her tea. "I've met Destiny many times, but I don't believe I've met Sylvia before."

My mouth was full so Emma answered. "Sylvia and her family just moved here from Oklahoma."

"Oklahoma? Oh, then you must be related to the plant manager."

The cookie slid down my throat. "Yes, ma’am, he's my father."

"I've heard good things about him. Everyone I've talked to is impressed and is hoping he'll do a better job than the last manager. So which house did you move into?"

"Next door to the Petersons." I took another cookie.

"The Stuttermans moved?"

"No, Anna Mae, they bought the Graneros' house."

Anna Mae's brows shot up, but her voice remained calm and steady. "Oh ... how do you like it?"

She seemed to take it better than Clara. Although, the crease on her forehead made me wonder if she thought it was haunted, too.

"At first it was a pretty scary place, but since we cleaned and fixed it up, it’s not so bad. The painters are almost done with the outside so it doesn't look like a haunted house anymore." Hopefully that would settle her fears.

"That's good." Anna Mae sipped her tea.

Emma touched her arm. "Yes, it is once again a beautiful home. Do you remember when the Rev. Graneros and his wife lived there?"

"Oh, yes, Mrs. Graneros kept all those gardens full of flowers. The whole neighborhood smelled sweet all summer." She smiled and had that faraway look on her face like Gram used to get. "It's too bad their grandson inherited it."

"Yes, Samuel never was the gardener his grandmother and father were."

Anna Mae sighed. "He didn't fix anything either. It was almost painful to watch the house fall into disrepair."

Emma nodded.

“So, Sylvia, is your mother excited about the yard?”

“Yes.” I swallowed the cookie. “We’re getting new sod front and back.”

“How about the flower gardens, what does she have planned for them?” She leaned slightly forward and listened intently.

“I don’t know that Sue has anything planned, she’s not much of a gardener.”

Anna Mae’s brows pulled together.

Not wanting to disappoint this nice woman, I cleared my throat and tried not to lie too much. “So, it may take her a while before she knows what to do.”

She nodded and relaxed while she sipped her tea.

I looked to Emma.
Did I handle that alright?
Emma smiled and passed the cookie tin to me.

The thing was, I’m the one who would love to bring the old gardens back to their glory. Gram always had the most beautiful flower beds and let me help her. She taught me everything I knew.

Destiny straightened. “What were the gardens like when Mrs. Graneros tended them?”

Anna Mae leaned back with a smile. “They were glorious. We don’t have a long growing season, but her gardens had flowers from the time the crocuses pushed through the melting ice, until the first heavy snow completely covered the mums.”

The time flew by with the older women telling us about the Graneros and their legendary gardens. It made me itch to renovate the flowerbeds in the front yard. I loved the smell of fresh turned soil. When my stomach said it didn’t like soil, I reminded it that soil is where good things to eat grew. It decided soil wasn’t so bad after all.

Emma announced the time was late.

I didn’t want to leave. I would have to find a reason to come back and visit Anna Mae.

“Sylvia and Destiny, you must come back on a Sunday so I can introduce you to my grandson. He lives close by. My daughter says he’s quite handsome. Unfortunately, my daughter is very prejudice. He’s probably plain like his father, but he’s not spoiled. He knows how to work hard and he’s already been accepted to the university in Juneau after he graduates in the spring. He’s a good boy. I’m proud of him.”

“Thank you, Anna Mae, I’d like to meet him. I don’t date yet, but next year when I’m seventeen I could meet him.”

Destiny huffed, “I don’t date yet, either.” She glowered at the floor.

I laughed at her martyrdom.

“Well, then, I’ll tell Samuel I’ve made a date for him for next year. When’s your birthday?”

“December thirty-first.”

“A New Year’s eve baby, hmmm. Okay, January we have a date.” She laughed.

I liked Anna Mae. We said our good-byes and piled into the Suburban.

Maybe I would have a better chance with a plainer boy who wasn't so spoiled. Every time I tried to have a thought about someone else, Eli's image would pop into my mind, shining brightly, making me smile. I tried unsuccessfully to beat back the hope that I had a chance of being with him. He was too old for me and way out of my league.