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Chapter Twenty-Three
Maathered her wits after the long, tre, Maone
Of course she was, she thought with a weary sigh Lucille no doubt sneaked out at the first sign of the stor door to her for herself on one elbow, Mamaw craned her neck and peeked in She saw that the bed had not been slept in She’d heard the girls chatting like pies in the other room until she’d fallen asleep She wondered how late they’d stayed up She hoped it had been one of those all-night bonding experiences that would stay with the them close despite the distance between them
The house was silent Mamaw slipped into her pink silk robe and slippers, then went into her bathroo her face and brushing her teeth, adding h her hair She opened theand felt the breeze, carrying with it the scent of pluff mud and an earthy sweetness from the storm
She slipped into underwear, a pair of soft pants, and a tunic, then went out into the living rooh the s Peering out, she surveyed the store She was especially anxious about the ancient live oak tree that do over the house were always a worry She sain the old tree had weathered the strong winds Good ol’ tree, she thought with affection
It would be a good day, she thought with a light step as she ht tie that the house was still so quiet She busied herself rinds into the machine and water into the teakettle Then she put two pieces of whole grain bread into the toaster Hu a nameless tune, Mamaw pulled out the floral tray that was Lucille’s favorite and set out a Li teacup and saucer, and silver She put the kettle on the stove and hurried out the front door to collect the newspaper The pavers were soaked through and the scattered leaves of trees and shrubs littered the ground like dead soldiers after a war There was cleanup to be done later in the day, she thought As she glanced at the cottage, all was quiet She was glad Lucille was still asleep
The kettle histling when she returned to the kitchen and the rich aroma of fresh coffee filled the air She poured herself a cup, then set about preparing Lucille’s breakfast She ate so little these days, Mamaw had to tempt her with her favorite foods and a nice presentation If she served her several small meals a day, Lucille ate ht She plucked the hot toast fro the butter that bothered Lucille’s sto of her favorite blackberry jam over the bread Next she filled a boith blueberries, poured the tea, then arranged it all prettily on the tray Lucille, for all her no-nonsense brashness, liked pretty things
Hu its weight She th of an old woh the house, navigating doors, steps, pavers, and gravel to cross the driveway to Lucille’s cottage She set the tray on the porch table, knocked as a courtesy, then opened the door
"Lucille! It’s e, hu the cheery tune "Breakfast," she called out as she made her way down the hall to Lucille’s bedrooe crepuscular light
She pushed open the bedroom door with her shoulder "The stor when she saw that Lucille was still asleep in her bed Poor thing, she thought She ht Maht, and turned to approach the bed
She stopped short Suddenly, all her joy drained froht, Lucille lay on her back, her arms at her sides, her head tilted toward the s Mao cold Lucille was not asleep She appeared to be looking out at the er saw
Mamaw’s heart beat like a trapped bird’s as she stepped closer to the bed She hesitatingly stretched out her arm and laid a hand on Lucille’s chest There was no heartbeat She lay still, her gaze vacant and erasp Lucille’s hand Her body was not yet cold Despair i? If only I hadn’t dallied If I’d hurried, if I’d woken just a little earlierShe was alone when she passed With a choked cry, Maht Lucille’s hand to her mouth and kissed it, then held it close to her breast I didn’t get to say good-bye
After she had sat by Lucille’s bedside for so blankly at the shell that had housed her dearest friend, Mae She paused at the threshold of the porch, leaning against the white pillar She stared out at a world that, though in many as the sa, was now sorasp it She knew Lucille was dying, realized the end would co It still didn’t seeht her hand to her throat as her practical nature took stock There were things to do, phone calls to make She was, sadly, experienced in in, she thought But she couldn’t so y she’d felt only a short while ago when she was rustling through the kitchen had fled, leaving her feeling so very old Nuht of her deadened heartchair Water had pooled in the seat She was beyond caring She eased into the seat, feeling the cold darief There could be no grief worse than the death of one’s only child Yet she’d survived When Edward had passed a year after Parker, she thought she’d go mad She didn’t believe she could continue Or want to It was Lucille who had nursed her back, ould not allow her toAnd again, she’d persevered