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Their schedule had been disrupted for ery for breast cancer and the chemotherapy and radiation treatrown so weak that for a tiht not survive If there were lessons to be learned from this experience--and there were--one of the most profound was how dear Olivia was to her How important their friendship was Grace treasured her and their special ti up with each other They’d shared so h the years Grace relied on Olivia to syh with her And Olivia expected the sah births and deaths, e and divorce, triuirls?" Goldie asked as she sidled up to the booth

"Tea forboth Grace and Goldie

"Tea?" Goldie echoed "When did this happen?"

Olivia shrugged "Coffee leaves a bitter taste in my mouth these days I don’t know if it’s because of the prescriptions I’ or what, but I prefer tea now"

Goldie snorted, shook her head and, after pouring Grace’s coffee, returned to the kitchen

"You usually order tea when there’s so Olivia Her friend had been unusually quiet all evening

"I guess so, but I really have gone off coffee"

"You’re the one who told me you’ve had the most important conversations of your life over tea, remember?"

"Yes, I suppose I have Most of theht for a moment "Conversations with my mother With Stan With Justine" She smiled "Jack and I have had soe in the kitchen Funny, isn’t it, that the kitchen and a cup of tea would play such a major role inSo personal," Grace said "Anyhat’s on your ht?" She couldn’t see any reason not to be direct

Olivia leaned forward to reply, but didn’t have a chance before Goldie ca on the side "I thought I’d better ask if you’re ordering coconut creaed, too"

"I’ll have coconut creaence of the week and she wasn’t about to give it up

"What other kinds do you have?" Olivia asked

Grace had to bite her lip to keep froot to be kiddingcoconut crea to you?"

"I also like pumpkin pie," Olivia said evenly, "and I think it would be a better choice health-wise"

"You’re not a puued "If you order puet so what those doctors did to the Olivia I used to know"

"I’ht here Okay, you win, I’ll have a piece of coconut cream pie"

Goldie’s face broke into a wide s withfor a response, she turned sharply and marched back to the kitchen

"Okay," Grace said "Now you can tell me what’s on your mind"

Olivia reached for her fork and stared at it "It’s because of Moht would affect me"

Grace knew that Olivia and Will had been concerned about Charlotte and Ben for so worse?" Grace asked, testing the waters

"No…actually, I think she’s a little better now that she’s back on fa that’ll last? But since she and Ben decided toout the basement She’s like a woman on a mission You knowher Ever since Thanksgiving she’s been sorting through sixty years of accumulated stuff I know it’s necessary but I didn’t realize how hard it would be for me"

"Why? What kind of stuff?" Grace had been in that basement herself and tried to remember as stored there

"A lot of it is unis Mom kept for one reason or another," Olivia said "But some of that stuff is part ofon to a perfect spelling test I did in the second grade Mom kept it, she said, because she was so proud I could spell Mississippi"

"You got an A on every spelling test," Grace reminded her "So you could see this one as representative," she said, pleased with her explanation

Olivia laughed "I guess what I’reed to , I was so relieved I didn’t think about how all of this would affect me--about hoould feel"

Grace considered that for aso, Olivia said, "Naturally Mom wants me to take all the files she’s saved She held on to so anized On the one hand, I’m tempted On the other…what use is it? It’s just a bunch of childhood memories"

"Happy memories," Grace murmured

"Yes, but it’s ridiculous to save all this stuff"

"Then pass it on to your children and grandchildren"

Olivia appeared to be ht as she stirred her tea "I could, I suppose, but what good is an old spelling test to my family?"