Page 86 of What Remains True
She put her things away, then pulled back the curtain and watched Adam drive over to his house across the way. His life was going through a metamorphosis more elaborate than that of a butterfly. She watched until he and Zan were in his house, and then she washed the blue butterfly from her cheek and climbed into bed.
I love my life here.
The next evening, Merry Anna harvested the first tomatoes from the SSFresh Veggies,and they were beautiful. She cut one into thin slices, piling them high in a sandwich for Tara. Shewrapped it up, then hopped into her car. On her way down, Merry Anna saw Tara racing toward the car.
Merry Anna swung into Tara’s driveway and lowered her car window. “Everything okay?”
“Marvelous,” Tara said. “The new front doors were delivered today. You’ve got to come see them.”
“You scared me, the way you ran out! I was getting ready to stop by anyway.” She pulled her keys from the ignition and got out.
Tara herded her inside. The new doors were propped up against the wall in the living room.
“Wow! Can’t miss those doors,” Merry Anna said. “They look huge in here.” She’d just entered through a standard single door, but this was a set of double doors with seeded glass.
“I decided to splurge,” Tara admitted. “It means hiring someone to open up the front and install them, but I think it will really showcase this place.”
“You’re so right. And the light will change this room too.”
“It will.”
“I can’t wait to see them installed,” Merry Anna said.
“I went for those big carriage lights for the front too.”
“The high-dollar ones you loved so much?”
Tara gave a sheepish grin. “Yes. I kept going back to them. I really think they’ll be the crowning touch.”
“Well, if anyone deserves it, Tara, it’s you. You’re working so hard on this place. You are an amazing woman. I don’t know how you do it all.”
“I’m an old lady with lots of experience. Hey, I picked up a couple of those Moravian chicken pies today at the farmers market. Never frozen. I got you one.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” She already had two in herfreezer, but it was such a nice gesture that she accepted it without complaint.
“I know. That’s why I did. Thought maybe you could call Adam and invite him and Zan to dinner.”
“I’ll do that.” Merry Anna hitched the tote from her shoulder. “I brought you something.” She took the wax-paper-wrapped tomato sandwich from her purse. “The first tomato. A sandwich, as promised.”
Tara rose on her toes, then snagged the food from her. “I’ve been waiting so long for this!”
“Tell me about it. I was beginning to think I’d never get a tomato before the birds or bugs did.”
“Ah, there are little tricks that I’m sure your Feed & Seed friend can teach you about gardening.” Tara held the sandwich in her hand. “I’m having this right now. You better go, else Adam will have already fed that little one. Kids eat early. Remember, I raised three children. I know a thing or two about that.”
“You? I had no idea. Well, I need pointers.”
“Happy to help, my sweet neighbor. You just ask me anything. I’ve got experiences galore, and for what I don’t have experience, I have an opinion.”
Merry Anna knew that already. Tara gave the best unsolicited advice. “Okay, well, I’m going to text Adam right now, then get this in the oven.” She picked up the pie and motioned toward the door.
“You have fun. Enjoy every moment this life tosses in front of you. It’s the only way to really live.”
“Thank you, Tara.” She hugged her. “You are so special to me.”
“Get out of here.”
She texted Adam, inviting him and Zan over for dinner,then drove home and preheated the oven. It didn’t take long for the bunkhouse to start smelling like home cooking. She’d all but given up on Adam responding to the invite, when her phone rang.
