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I felt like I should curtsey or take a bow or so, but instead, I just nodded to Luke’s parents I wanted to ht me up better than that So I cleared the plates and took them to the kitchen Mrs Maddox told me not to worry about it, but I ith Luke, and it was Luke’s party He would never have left them with the cleanup The least I could do was run soathered silverhile Luke’s ether we loaded the big dishwasher in silence I wanted to apologize for Ryan, but there didn’t seein that speech So I rinsed and loaded plates and silverhile she put the glasses in to soak I was drying off my hands with a dish tohen Mrs Maddox put her hand on my arm
“I used to go to Ladies Club at the church with your mama She always raised the prettiest daffodils But I can believe standing here that the best thing she raised was you I want my son to be happy, Sarah Jo He’s the ood husband to you Don’t look so surprised You can’t think he doesn’t mean to marry you after all this That boy hasn’t had on a jacket and tie in I can’t tell you when And I’ll tell you one randbabies to rock And I don’t give a danant, I’d start knitting booties and brag to all randdaughter they ever saw I’ll consider it e, Sarah Jo, to love your babies twice as much because your mama can’t be here to rock them herself”
Her hand was onwith tears I sed hard, once and then twice, but I couldn’t speak Finally, I just hugged her She rubbed my back while I cried It just made me cry harder, because my mama always did that, rubbedall mothers did? Would I do that natural as could be e had a baby? A baby With Luke Maddox I’ll be damned if that didn’t sound better than any idea I ever heard
Finally, I pulled back and wipedaway smeared with mascara I swiped under my eyes as best I could and cleared ed to croak out
“Call me Lucy,” she said with a sot his personality fro her in the eyes, and I knew it didn’t come from his daddy’s side
I started putting spoons in the dishwasher Then I heard the scanner fro silverware on the cabinet in a puddle and went to the office to listen
The dispatcher was upgrading an automobile fire in Pendleton to include a spread to nearby warehouse storage on the waterfront The St Joliffe fire depart called in to assist from over the county line because they needed s down on the waterfront I shut my eyes and tried not to remember every damn scene of Backdraft—that fireman movie that scared the crap out of me when Ryan and Luke watched it over and over as kids I shook my head to clear the o I loadedhis remarks about poor Ryan I dropped hi lass of water
“Where are you in such a hurry to go?”
“I’ to wait for Luke”
“You’re not going to that fire, are you?” he fretted
“No That would be stupid, and I’d be in the way I’ to wait for him at his house”
“You intend to stay there?”
“Yes, I do”
“Then you don’t need to bother co you wantin’ to date the boy, but stayin’ over before you’re proper ainst me” His jaas set, his eyes narrow and mean
I’d spent ave up ood enough I stared hiy to ether, for me to help my dad and my brother fix all their troubles But I had tried to fill her shoes, and they didn’t fit ured if I couldn’t live her life for her, I could at least go on and live mine