Page 118 of Every Good Thing
Yes.
Can you… will you… have you… Yes, yes, yes.
And not dutifully, but in an affirming way, like life’s a great adventure. Her positivity drew me in and warmed me in its wake.
I only hope my new friend doesn’t catch on to the tension suffocating me.
I take a deep breath. Focus.
I motion to Shakespeare and his friends, occupying the settee to my right. “We have our van! Shakespeare is our official driver, hayride tour guide, and delivery guy. Martin and Rick will handle dishwashing and farm chores. Plus, Shakespeare will secure extra help for Alice.”
“I’m the man with the van and the plan to lend a hand,” he coos, bowing his head.
“I’m ready to put Shakespeare and friends to work on holiday orders,” Alice says.
“Perfect, we can schedule everything via the app,” I say, holding up my iPad, “and he’ll know where he’s needed and when.”
“Nothing to fear, Shakespeare will be there.” He holds up his phone with a woot-woot of triumph.
Marnie claps at his enthusiasm.
I motion toward Ben. “Thanks to Ben for coming up with the van plan.”
He gets brief muted applause since Dot and Cherry refuse to clap—they aren’t fans right now. But he nods slightly and says, “It’s no trouble.”
I refocus on my notes. “Other changes… Oh, this is a big one. I won’t be replanting the garden next spring.”
Alice’s gasp sounds like a gunshot. She even grabs her heart, like she can’t handle the news. “Your beautiful garden?”
My brow pinches, and I wonder if Mom would’ve had the same reaction. I started that garden because of her, the seeds she sent for my birthday, but it’s become too much for me to handle.
“I hate losing it, too, but it’s not profitable and difficult to manage. I’ll create a smaller kitchen garden on the less populated side of the main house, but it won’t be open to the public.”
“Lena, babe, how ‘bout I make you some window boxes for the wraparound deck?” Dot suggests. “It’ll add a garden vibe without the heavy labor.”
“I’d love that. Thanks, Dot.”
“It’s a brave decision,” Mr. Wickers says, “letting go of the old to usher in the new.”
“Um, thanks. It’s not brave but necessary. Change is good if it’s for the right reasons.” My voice falters—too many things are hitting close to home, and they’re made harder with him here. “It’s more important to me to be a better manager and more available to my family than keeping a garden… That’s why I’m also reducing our schedule. Saddletree will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays.”
“Geez, Lena. It’s like a total Saddletree makeover,” Cherry says, “but I agree. It’s just like with dating. You don’t want to be too available.”
“Leave it to you to put it into dating terms, but yes,” I chuckle.
“That’ll be much easier for me with school,” Tessa says.
“I want more time with you, Tessa. So, if you’re free on Tuesday afternoons, we can bake without distractions.”
She sits up in her lawn chair with a half-eaten lemon-mint cupcake in her hand. “Yes, perfect. I want to experiment with you. These things are amazing!”
“Delicious!” Marnie chimes in.
“Thanks. We’ll do all sorts of creating. I’ve left an opening on the menu for a bake of the day—that’s for us, Tessa.”
The way she beams fills me with joy I haven’t felt in a long time. It takes a minute to compose myself and keep from crying.
“But it’s not all about downsizing.” Ruthie hands me a tiny cup, and I pause for a dainty sip, pinky out. “Thanks, honey. I’m expanding one aspect of Saddletree. The support groups.”
