Page 19 of What Remains True
“Can’t blame you there,” said Krissy.
“Well, I do have my limits. I don’t mean to bother you two, but I hoped Merry Anna could help me search the internet for light fixtures. I’ve got pictures of what I’m looking for, but it’s quite the treasure hunt.”
“I’d love to help,” Merry Anna said.
“Can I see the pictures?” Krissy asked.
Tara handed her a folder full of them.
“Wow!” Krissy said as she flipped through them. “These are beautiful.”
“I really want the front lights to make a statement but stay in check with the era that it was designed.”
“You gals are going to have fun without me. I hate to leave, but I have to get to the store,” Krissy lamented. “I can’t wait to see what you pick out.”
“We’ll keep you posted,” Merry Anna said.
Krissy walked back to her car.
“I probably should’ve called first,” Tara said.
“No, she just dropped in too.” Tara and Merry Anna walked around back. “No problem. I was just finishing up out here.” She tucked her gardening tools under the seat in the boat. “Come on inside. Let’s see what we can find.”
Merry Anna walked inside. The air-conditioning was a relief.
Tara took one step inside and stopped. “Oh my goodness.” Tara stood in the living room and turned in a circle. “I know you called this place the bunkhouse, but this really was a bunkhouse.”
“I told you. It was completely furnished, but I’ve softened things a bit with curtains, linens, and pillows. It’s helped.”
“I had no idea.” Tara’s mouth dropped wide as she lookedaround. “It’s actually sort of fun with all the saddles and reins. There’s a lot of rodeo stuff in here. I can see which feminine touches you added. It works.”
“I’m trying, but since I don’t know how long I’ll be here, I’ve been trying to resist spending too much money on things I’ll just leave behind,” Merry Anna explained.
“Now, wait a minute. Don’t tell me you’re not going to stick around.” Tara’s brows twitched with disappointment. “You seem so happy here.”
“I was actually just passing through one day and stopped to get gas. This town is so charming that I ended up staying.” Merry Anna knew that sounded crazy. “It was on a whim, but it was the best decision I’ve made in a long time. Honestly, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I never intended to stay more than a month. It’s already been three.”
“Sometimes those who wander are not lost,” Tara said. “Ever heard that saying? Have no idea who said it, but it’s true. Sometimes you just land where you’re supposed to. I figure that’s how I came to this place. I was led here by something, and I just accepted it.”
Merry Anna pulled up the website for Tara and let her start scrolling through the large inventory of light fixtures. “Help yourself,” Merry Anna said, heading toward the kitchen. “I’m starving. I’m going to grab us a little snack.”
Working at the tiny counter, she made three sandwiches: one pimento cheese, one chicken salad, and a third with cucumber and cream cheese. She cut them in triangles and stacked them intermingled on a plate. It almost looked as though she knew what she was doing. Pleased, she put two glasses of ice on the tray and grabbed the tea pitcher, carrying it all back out to where Tara was busy on the computer.
While pouring the tea, she thought about what Tara hadsaid about everything falling into place the way it was supposed to. Merry Anna had always been a planner. Figure out what you want and make it happen, even if you had to shimmy the edges off the circle to get it to go into the square hole. That had always been her approach. Except for the situation with Kevin, and really she’d been just too beat down to fight that.
The first person who was kind, the first place that was pretty—bam, she dropped anchor. Maybe it wasn’t serendipity but just dumb luck.
She set a glass down next to Tara. “Here you go.”
“Aren’t you the little hostess. Thank you, dear.”
Before they knew it, two hours had passed and Tara must’ve added forty fixtures to her wish list. “How will I ever narrow it down?”
“There are so many to choose from. It’s overwhelming.” Merry Anna looked at the sketches Tara had brought along.
“You’re such a great helper.” Tara rubbed her hands together. “I’m excited to have another opinion.”
“I’m enjoying it. I’ve never done anything like this,” Merry Anna admitted. Her and Kevin’s house had been brand-new when they moved in, but the builder had already made all the preliminary decisions. It was fun listening to Tara talk in contractor terms—hanging lights versus suspended fixtures, carriage style versus lanterns, and so many subtle differences that she would have never known to look for.
