Page 58 of Halstead House

Ana nodded. “Maybe longer. I have no idea how long it takes for broken rear ends to heal.”

“It was pretty fun, though, right?” I asked her as she once again leaned into a stretch. “I mean, the temperature couldn’t have been above eighty, and the breeze was so nice.”

“Yep, blowing on your bare neck.”

“Chignons save the day once again.” I wiggled my head at her. “Plus, I got to see a lot of fun things I’d never seen before.”

“Like your friend crying on a sidewalk and rubbing her derriere in the Historic District, and then again by the harbor, and then again on the seawall?”

I beamed. “Exactly. Treasured memories I will keep forever.”

Ana stood straight and pulled a face. “If they’re going to put electricity in a bike it should be for a massaging seat.”

“With a heater.”

“No. I refuse to add bum sweat to soreness.” She pulled a face that made me laugh. “I’m glad you had a good time. Maybe this was karma for all the terrible things I’ve been making you do lately.”

“You won’t get an argument from me,” I replied straight-faced.

“If you’d just let your hair down, I could stop all this nonsense,” she grumped.

“Are you saying your therapy sessions will end when my hair hangs down?”

“I’ve gotten you to stop with your lists, you’re willing to go with the flow on adventures, you aren’t apologizing for every little thing you do, so yes. Your darn hair is all that’s left.”

“Why didn’t you say so?”

“I did say so. This very morning.”

I reached up and pulled all the pins from my hair, ran my fingers through it, and let it fall loose. “There you go. Mission accomplished. No more bum fractures for us. You win”

Ana let out a big sigh and gazed upwards. “Finally. Thank heavens it’s finally happened. I need a stinking nap.”

“May I remind you that you picked today’s activity?”

“By all means, remind me. As long as you remember that I may leave you an unpleasant surprise in your bed.”

I wrinkled my nose. “I’m afraid to ask, but I have to know. Do you keep unpleasant things in the housekeeping room in case someone defies you?”

“No yet, but I like where you’re going with that idea. Sadly, right now all my brain power is focused on healing the deep bruising I’m experiencing in lower areas of my body.”

“Those pedals were too hard for your tender feet?”

Ana rolled her eyes. “When did you get so sassy?”

“When you started teaching me to be.”

“I’ve created a monster.” Ana began walking again toward the house.

“Yes, but a monster with flowing hair who’s never even heard the wordchignon,” I teased.

Ana laughed and reached for me, wrapping her arms around my waist in a spontaneous hug. I hugged her back without thinking, enjoying the quick exchange and understanding the value of it. All joking aside, Ana really had nudged me onto the path of loosening up and becoming courageous. She’d even taught me how to have engaging conversations with others. I loved her for it.

“I take it back,” she said when she released me. “I’ve created the perfect version of you. Watch out, world, Grace Burke is coming for you.”

“People in Providence won’t know what to make of me,” I cheered.

Ana’s face immediately fell. “I keep forgetting that you’re not here forever. It seems wrong somehow.”

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