CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
DANI
Dani was amazed at the number of customers who came and went at the Collister’s vegetable stand. Mary Lou handled the cash register, while Dani bagged the produce, jams, honey, and other items customers bought. In between sales, Dani and Mary Lou freshened displays and chatted with people. Usually, one of Brad’s two sisters or the high school kids hired for the summer would help. But it was a holiday weekend, and they had made plans with their families. A well-deserved break for them.
Dani was happy to help. The Collister family was close knit, and she wanted to be part of it. Both of Brad’s parents, Mary Lou and her husband, Joe, were kind, decent, hardworking people who freely gave their love and support to their children.
The time to attend Whitney’s play came and went. Though Dani was disappointed, she didn’t show it. There was no way she could leave Mary Lou with only one other helper.
“It’ll slow down after suppertime,” said Mary Lou. “Then we’ll be busy getting food on the table for you and Brad, Joe, and me. A real quiet time with only the four of us, but sometimes that’s nice too. Gives us a chance to talk. And I thought you might like to see some of our family photos.”
Dani brightened. “I’d love that. Thanks.”
Mary Lou’s prediction came true as fewer and fewer people arrived at the vegetable stand as the afternoon lengthened and then drew to an end.
“You stay and close up and I’ll go start dinner, okay?” said Mary Lou.
“No problem,” said Dani. Mary Lou was a terrific cook, and Dani couldn’t wait to see what she’d come up with next.
She closed the barn door and went to work straightening displays, removing any vegetables that wouldn’t last another day, and placing them in a bag to carry up to the house. She made sure the refrigerators were working properly and the displays inside them were fine. Next, she swept the floor. Then, certain no late customers would arrive, she put the cash and receipts in a special bag provided by a local bank and carried it and the sack of veggies up to the house.
When she entered the kitchen, the smell of fried chicken was tantalizing. She handed the vegetables and money to Mary Lou and said, “What can I do to help?”
“Carry the cheese and crackers out to the porch. Brad and his father are having beer, but I thought you might like a glass of wine. I’ll be out as soon as I take these last pieces of chicken out of the frying pan. The rest of the dinner is already done.”
Dani walked through the lovely, restored farmhouse to the wide front porch, eager to see the men. They’d been working on a project in the fields. Dani admired Brad’s commitment to his family. Joe and Mary Lou worked hard, but they were beginning to age and needed help.
“Ah, here she comes,” said Brad, smiling at her. He stood and offered her a place on a two-seat couch. “Sit. I’ll go get the wine for you and Mom.”
Dani set down the plate of appetizers on a table beside Joe and lowered herself onto the couch.
“How’d it go in the store today?” he asked her.
“It was busy. But that makes it fun,” Dani said. She smiled as Brad returned with wine for her.
“Mom will be here shortly,” he said, handing her the glass and taking a seat next to her. He swung an arm around her and squeezed, making her laugh as she balanced the glass of wine in her hand.
“Sorry,” he said, and winked at her.
Mary Lou walked onto the porch and sat in the rocking chair next to Joe’s. She lifted her glass in the air. “Here’s to us. Happiness and health.”
“To us,” Dani said with the men.
“Many thanks to the two of you for stepping in to help us this holiday weekend,” said Joe.
“We really appreciate it. Aaron and the girls had other plans for today and this evening, and it’s only right for them to have time to themselves. We realize as time goes by and families have their own plans, the day will come when Joe and I will need to sell the farm,” said Mary Lou. “But not for years to come.”
“We’re thinking of hiring more help,” Joe said. “All in time.”
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After a delicious summertime meal of fried chicken, potato salad, fresh sliced tomatoes with chopped basil, and slices of cold watermelon for dessert, Mary Lou took Dani aside.
“I thought you’d like to see old family photos. Joe’s mother did that for me one time, and I’ve never forgotten how treasured that made me feel. And, Dani, you are a true treasure. We’re so happy you and Brad are engaged and will marry soon.”
Dani’s vision blurred. She accepted the hug Mary Lou gave her and then stood back. “There are so many awful stories about mothers-in-law, but none of it could ever be true for you. I’m so lucky.”
Mary Lou gave her a pat on the shoulder and a wide smile. “We both are.”
She walked over to a bookshelf in the living room and lifted down a wide leather book.
“The album begins twenty years ago after we first bought the farm. Joe and I were in a mid-life crisis and wanted to do something different with our lives. We had the family we wanted—two boys and two girls—and wanted them to have a better life. So, we moved from Boston to the farm and haven’t looked back with regret.”
They sat together on the couch, and Mary Lou began pointing out the kids, who were in their teens in the photos. Dani loved seeing pictures of them and imagined what children she and Brad would have one day would look like.
She came upon a couple of photos of the group with a young man who looked to be in his twenties. “Who’s that?”
“Alexander, my sister’s son. Such a sad story. He came to help us one summer between the end of college and his first job in New York City. Everyone loved Alex. He was a great young man.”
“What happened?” Dani asked, intrigued by the handsome man smiling at the camera.
“His job was in the twin towers in New York City and started right after Labor Day in September 2011.”
Cold chills ran over Dani’s body. “Oh, my god! He was in one of the buildings that went down on September 11th?”
Mary Lou nodded solemnly. “My sister never got over it. He was far too young to die in such a horrible, horrible way. It was a huge shock to all of us. He was the kind of person you can never forget.”
“I’m so sorry. I remember the videos and how shocked we all were. It changed so many things,” said Dani.
“Yes, it did. It made me realize how happy I was to have changed my life from comfortable housewife and mother to a farmwife. I think it made a lot of people think differently about life and happiness.” Mary Lou shook her head. “My parents thought Joe and I made a big mistake by buying the farm. But it’s proved to be an excellent choice for us and our kids.”
“GG kept running the inn even when others thought she was crazy. I’m glad she did. For her and for all of us,” said Dani.
“Life sure is funny,” said Mary Lou. “Full of surprises.”
“This summer has been full of a lot of surprises for me and my sisters,” said Dani. “Happy ones.”
“I’m so pleased for you,” said Mary Lou, giving her a warm smile.
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That night, as Dani cuddled with Brad in bed, she talked about the photo album and the people she’d seen there.
“Your mother told me about your cousin, Alex. It’s such a tragic story,” said Dani. “It makes me wonder how I’d feel if a child of mine were to die. I can’t imagine such a tragedy. She said your aunt was never the same.”
Brad rubbed her back. “Life is about taking chances. You have to live with the good and the bad. That’s why I’m so happy we found one another.”
“Me, too,” said Dani lifting her face to his. Soon all her worries dissolved into gratefulness for all the love they began to share.