Page 63 of Love's Bloom
Misty and Hazel spread a blanket on the ground beneath a tree and opened the picnic basket Nettie had given them. As curious as she was about the food, Sugar caught sight of a squirrel and took off running.
Chuckling, Misty turned to Hazel. “Guess Sugar will stay busy.” She leaned forward to peer into the basket. “What did Nettie pack for us?”
“A feast,” said Hazel. “I see deviled eggs, sliced tomatoes, a green salad, and a couple of sandwiches.” She started laying the dishes on top of the blanket. “There are cookies, too.”
Misty opened a can of soda and took a long sip. “That tastes delicious after working hard.”
She helped herself to an egg and then took a bite of salad. Both Hazel and she had been quiet as they paddled. Being out on the water, moving smoothly through it was humbling. She thought of native tribes traveling like this many years ago and realized what a precious thing it was to enjoy nature. Now, looking out at the water and the Inn on the other side of the lake, she felt a peacefulness fill her.
“It’s nice that Mrs. Graham allows us to use their property like this,” said Hazel. “You’re lucky, Misty, that she likes you so much. That’s one of my problems with the man my mother would love me to marry back home. His mother is nice to me, but we don’t have a warm relationship.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” said Misty.
“In truth, I think Ron is a bit of a mama’s boy,” said Hazel. “There’s more to it than that, but it’s another reason I’m not interested in him.” She indicated the area around them. “Here, I feel free to be myself.”
“In the end, that’s all you can be,” said Misty. “And, Hazel, I’m very happy you’re here.”
“Me, too,” said Hazel, beaming at her.
They looked up as Susie Graham approached. “I hope you saved some room for a piece of warm carrot cake. It is a favorite of my men.”
“A favorite of mine, too,” said Misty. “Come sit with us.” She patted a place on the blanket next to her. “Susie, this is my friend, Hazel Belmont. Hazel, this is Susie Graham.”
“Lovely to meet you, Hazel.” Smiling with pleasure, Susie handed her the plate with two pieces of cake and lowered herself to the blanket. “It’s good to see you, Misty. What’s new?”
“Did you hear about the wedding?” Misty asked. “Crystal looked like a golden angel.”
“You’ll have to show me pictures when you get them,” said Susie. “When he stopped by to talk to his dad about the business, David mentioned something about Emmett’s father showing up late.”
Misty and Hazel filled Susie in on all the details and Susie, like many others, agreed Senator Chamberlain was a jerk.
“And guess what? Emmett surprised Crystal with a trip to Paris for their honeymoon,” said Misty.
“Rod and I went to Paris for our twentieth anniversary, and it was so much fun. Delicious too. We went to a couple of fancy restaurants that still are my favorite meals.”
Misty knew Rod and David worked hard with the landscaping business, digging and sweating as they completed their jobs. So, an image of Rod eating in restaurants in Paris seemed incongruous. But she loved the idea.
During the course of the conversation, Misty brought up seeing Brody and his father. “Seeing Brody cry while his father called him names, my heart went out to him. I tried to talk to Brody’s father, but he got mad at me and told me to mind my own business. The whole situation is very wrong.”
“Where was Brody’s mother?” asked Susie.
“Apparently, she’s out of the picture. Brody’s father, Harley, told me he’s a single dad.” Misty sighed. “I feel helpless, and yet, when I see and hear what’s happening, it makes me sick.”
Susie reached over and patted her hand. “I understand, but be careful when dealing with a parent’s handling of his child. But, as we’ve talked about, you need to keep an eye on Brody. And certainly, if any physical signs of abuse or neglect are apparent, you must report it to the authorities.”
They talked of other things. Then, with Sugar panting beside her, Misty said, “We probably should head back. Thank you, Susie, for letting us picnic here.”
“It’s my pleasure,” said Susie, standing. “It’s always a pleasure to see you.” She accepted the empty plate she was given and headed toward the house.
“Susie’s cool,” said Hazel, carrying the basket to the canoe.
“Yes, she is,” Misty said, realizing once more how lucky she was to have such a warm, caring woman in her life.
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That evening, David picked Misty up for dinner. “Sugar can come with us. It’ll be good for her to get out of the house.”
“She was running around your parents’ house chasing squirrels when Hazel and I stopped there for a picnic on their property. Your mother gave us warm pieces of her carrot cake,” said Misty. “It was delicious.”
