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Walt and his faht and by Wednesday all the farewells had been said to Midge He wanted Shelby to pack up and coin River with thes to do," she said "Is Not only does this house need a lot of work-- transition to roup until I’ve had a chance to adjust to the change And," she said, "I’a Bay I’ve been here all my life"
"What would you like to do now?" Vanni asked her
"That’s part of the transition," Shelby said "I don’t know yet People in es too fast--it can be devastating I’ to let myself fall into that trap"
So Walt went about the business of helping Shelby make a list of repairs and renovations that should be done to ain It was paid off now, so Shelby could do with it as she pleased Shelby’s list containedout oldcoverings to replace with new ones Walt’s list was a little ht it was time for new doors and fra fixtures and updated appliances After all, this had been his mother’s home He felt a responsibility to it, he always had He would personally contract most of this work to be done for Shelby
Shelby herself needed so job had been very physical, she hadn’t been getting the right kind of exercise and had gained weight Her complexion was pale and blemished, and she hadn’t bothered with --she’d never had it cut--and she wound a single honey-colored braid around her head to keep it out of the way Shelby had plans for soes, but she didn’t discuss any of that with her fain And she wasn’t sure it was even possible
The Booths left on Friday toShelby was hard But she was adaure out how to have a life that wasn’t consumed by a loved one’s illness
They were about halfway ho off beside the baby in the backseat while Vanni sat up front, staring out the"It was a sad week in many ways," Walt said "But it’s also the end of a sad ti on her own if she hadn’t shouldered so much responsibility by herself for the past few years"
"She has ht, Vanni?" he asked
"Hmm, just a littleyouwith Paul" She turned to look at hied "There’s not too much to talk about, Dad"
"You could help s, you know"
"For instance?"
"Oh, don’t be coy--you stood Paul up to go aith the doctor and if I know anything about you, you’re not that interested in the doctor Hell, you’ve been in a strange mood since Paul left after Mattie was born You knew Paul was co for the weekend--and despite his best efforts to be circu for you"