Chapter Two
Chapter Two
J enna tried to paint, but she was too antsy. Finally, she gave up and made a batch of brownies, because she knew how much Kelly liked them. While they cooled, she waited for her friends on the wide front porch. The texts she had gotten from both Amber and Kelly said that they should be there at noon. Everything was ready for them. Now it was just a matter of waiting.
“Wait is a four-letter word,” she muttered.
“Well, good morning!” Carson rounded the end of the porch.
“No, it’s a great morning,” Jenna answered. “My friends that I only see once a year will be here in a couple of hours. Patience is not one of my strong points.” She motioned toward a second rocking chair. “Have a seat. Want a glass of sweet tea?”
“Don’t have time for either,” Carson said. “Do your friends come from a distance?”
“Kelly drives from Sweetwater, and Amber from Texarkana. We all lived in Lufkin ten years ago. That’s where we became friends,” Jenna answered.
“If they’re that close, why don’t you see them more often?” Carson asked.
“We all have lives and responsibilities, but once a year, we meet here for a week. It’s hard to explain, but . . .”
Carson raised a palm. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
“You weren’t,” Jenna said. “I guess none of us have really found closure, so this week is what helps us find enough peace to keep us going through another year. I just hope the weather is good while they are here.”
“Uncle Victor and I check the weather every morning. So far, so good for today and tomorrow. There’s a chance of rain on Wednesday, but it’s only like forty percent. If we’re optimistic, that means there’s a sixty percent chance that it won’t rain. From the looks of all the vehicles leaving the area, I’ll predict that things will be pretty quiet the next few days.”
“That’s what I saw when I checked things out this morning, too.” Jenna couldn’t remember the last time she was comfortable around a man. Comfort came with trust, and Bryce had taken that away from her.
“So, y’all all met at grief group therapy? Victor told me about your mother. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you for that. The three of us met at grief counseling. I had been served with divorce papers, and my mother died the same day—actually within the same hour. Kelly’s twin sister had passed away of a drug overdose. Amber had had a stillborn child and had complications that resulted in a complete hysterectomy. We bonded, and we still have all these feelings and memories that not many people would understand after a decade. So, we spend a week together every year to remember good times and bad, and then go back home refreshed.”
“That is pretty awesome,” Carson said. “I know a lot of soldiers with PTSD that gather with their old buddies like this whenever they can. Only folks who’ve shared in the same experiences and have endured can understand how it affects a person.”
“That’s the gospel truth in a nutshell,” Jenna said with a nod.
“I should be going,” Carson said. “I’m picking up a vehicle at the ranger station and driving all the way around the lake without Uncle Victor today. My first solo trip.”
“Good luck. Stop by the Seashell Marina for one of their shrimp po’ boys if you haven’t had lunch,” she said. “They are pretty fantastic.”
“I had planned on doing just that. Great minds must really think alike. Why don’t you come with me? You could ride with me, and we would have some lunch. By the time we finished the trip, it would be time for your friends.” He flashed a grin.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” She grabbed her purse and walked with him toward the range station. Back when she was fifteen, he and his folks had stayed in the cabin next door to her place, and then again some years later, right after she had moved to the lake permanently. That first time she had noticed him, she had made excuses to sit on the back porch and pretend to read a book while she watched him jog along the shore every morning. She hadn’t learned until he’d already left that he was joining the Army that summer. The second time was years later, and he looked a lot like he did these days—only his hair was a lot shorter and didn’t have a little bit of gray in the temples. Victor told her after he left that he was being deployed for at least six months, but in those days, she was battling with too much guilt and anger to make friends with anyone.
“What are you thinking about so hard?” he asked when they reached the station and went inside to get keys to a vehicle.
“Just a couple of summers from long ago,” she answered. “I haven’t driven all the way around the lake in months or had a shrimp po’ boy, either. Thank you for curing my impatience.”
He ushered her back outside with his hand on her lower back and opened the truck door for her. She was a little breathless but attributed it to a case of nerves because Kelly and Amber were on the way.
“Shall we roll up the windows and turn on the AC?” he asked.
“No, let’s get the fresh air flowing through.” Jenna stuck her arm out the open window and opened her hand, like she had done when she was a child.
Jenna sat in the truck while Carson made half a dozen stops to do a check on empty cabins, but that only took a few minutes. After the last one, Carson said, “I’m ready to eat. How about you?”
“Impatience breeds hunger,” she said with half a giggle.
“Then let’s have lunch.” He started up the truck and drove to the café. “Shall we eat outside on the patio or go in?”
“Outside, please, at that table closest to the lake,” she answered.
“Okay, then, I’ll go inside and order,” he said, as he snagged a parking place close to the door.
Jenna pulled a bill from her purse. “I’ll treat today, since you rescued me from pacing the floor.”
Carson shook his head. “Aunt Dorena would take a peach tree switch to me if I let a lady pay for dinner.”
“But . . .” she started to argue.
“No buts.” Carson grinned and got out of the truck. “You can grab that table, and I’ll bring out the food. What are you drinking?”
“Sweet tea, please, and thank you, but . . .”
“No buts,” he repeated, as he jogged around the vehicle and opened the door for her.
This is not a date. This is not a date, she told herself as she waited. It’s two new acquaintances having lunch together.
* * *
Two cars slowed down and then turned into the driveway to park behind her SUV. Jenna met her friends in the middle of the yard for a three-way hug.
“I’m so happy y’all are here. Did you have a good trip? Come on inside and . . .” She took a step back and studied both of the women. Kelly’s hair had been prematurely gray ten years ago, but she had always had what her mother called a peaches-and-cream complexion. Today she was absolutely glowing, and her blue eyes danced with excitement. Something was definitely going on, and Jenna couldn’t wait to hear all about it.
Kelly patted her on the back. “Honey, this is our escape, and we look forward to it as much as you do. And I had an uneventful trip. How about you, Amber?”
Amber, the youngest of the trio, opened the back door of her car and took out a suitcase. Like Kelly, she was smiling so big that there was no doubt in Jenna’s mind that she was hiding a big secret. What could both of them be so excited about, and why had they kept it from her when they talked last month?
“Just open road and a lot of country music,” Amber said, as she rolled her suitcase across the yard. “But I was so excited that the two hundred and fifty miles from my place to yours seemed like a thousand today, and bittersweet. I cried the first half hour, because I had to leave Ian and Lisa behind, and then I got excited as ever that I was getting to spend a week here on the lake. I already feel peace settling over me, and we haven’t even gone inside the cabin yet.”
“Me, too,” Kelly agreed.
Amber sniffed the air when she made it to the porch. “Is that soup I smell? I hope it is. Can we eat on the back porch? I’ve envisioned the lake for the last couple of hours, but I’m starving. We could kill two birds with one stone if we take our lunch to the porch.”
“That’s not soup.” Kelly started up the stairs with her suitcase. “That is chocolate for sure.”
“It’s both. I made it for supper, but nothing says we can’t have some right now.” Jenna opened the door to let them enter the house ahead of her. “Y’all toss your suitcases in your rooms, and we’ll have a mid-afternoon early supper out on the porch. Amber is right. The day is too lovely to spend in the house.”
Amber parked her luggage beside the credenza in the foyer and headed for the kitchen. “I’m not even taking mine up until later. I’ve saved some big news for weeks, and I can’t wait to share it with y’all while we have our first lunch together.”
“Me, too!” Kelly yelled as she hurried back downstairs.
“Shotgun!” Amber said. “I get to go first.”
Jenna didn’t have any big news, but she loved all the excitement bouncing around in the cabin. She pulled a plate of assorted cheeses and relishes from the refrigerator and carried it to the picnic table on the back porch. When she returned, Amber was filling three glasses with ice and tea, and Kelly was ladling soup into three bowls.
“This must be something really, really big that you two are keeping from me,” Jenna said. “You are both absolutely glowing with excitement. Have you both bought a cabin on the lake? Are you about to tell me you are moving here permanently?”
Kelly put the bowls on a tray and carried them out to the porch. “That would be good news, and it might happen later when I’m ready to retire. I love the view from here, and the fresh smell of the water and the roses all mixed up together. I’m glad that you came back here to live. This has been the perfect place for our girls’ week every year.”
“Thank you.” Jenna really wanted to kick off the visit with whatever wonderful news that her friends wanted to share, but they seemed to be procrastinating. That could only mean that it was wonderful news for each of them, but maybe it wasn’t going to be something she would love to hear. And she had not missed the past tense in that last sentence that Kelly said. This has been , not this is .
All good things come to an end, but when one door closes, another opens.
She saw that on a wall plaque at the craft fair in Lufkin a few years before and still wished that she had bought it to hang above the credenza in the foyer. “Now, you’ve both teased me long enough. Spit it out.”
Amber raised a finger, swallowed a mouthful of soup, and took a sip of tea. “I’m getting married, and I get two kids, age two and four with the marriage license. I’ve told you all about Ian and Lisa, the two children that I’ve been a nanny for the past year and a half. Well, their father and I finally gave up fighting what we felt in our hearts, and he has proposed. I said yes without even a split second’s hesitation.”
Jenna’s spoon rattled against the wooden picnic table when she dropped it. “We have a conference call once a month, and you didn’t share something this big with us?” She gasped.
“Shame on you, and congratulations at the same time. When . . . how . . .” Kelly stammered, “We need details! You don’t just drop something like that and then go back to eating lunch.”
“His name is Ethan Massey, and he is thirty-five years old. He works in technology for a big company, and . . .” she started, and then ate a couple more bites. “I really am hungry. So, anyway . . .”
“Ethan?” Jenna whispered, and then remembered, “He’s the one that adopted those two little kids when his sister and brother-in-law died in a car wreck, right? We knew you worked for him, but you never said you had feelings for him.”
“Yep,” Amber answered. “Lisa was just six months old, and Ian was two when that happened. Ethan and I finally gave in and admitted we had feelings for each other about six months ago. The kids are spending this week at their grandmother’s, and we’re getting married as soon as I get back to Texarkana. I didn’t want to get married until after we spent our week together, and I wanted to tell y’all my news in person. We’re just having a simple courthouse wedding, and then the next week, we will be moving to Germany, where Ethan will be CEO of the tech firm there.”
A couple of doves cooed off in the distance, and the laughter of two small children taking a walk with their parents down by the water’s edge finally broke the eerie silence that suddenly filled the whole back porch. Jenna had known for a long time that someday life would get in the way of the week that she got to spend with her two friends, but she had truly hoped that wouldn’t be until they were a lot older. Silence hung over the porch like a heavy wet blanket on a cold winter night. Jenna felt the need to say something, and she opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Amber wiped away a tear with a paper napkin. “Someone say something . . . anything. Do you think I’m just marrying Ethan to get to be a mother? Are you about to tell me I’m doing the wrong thing?”
“I’m shocked and happy for you at the same time,” Kelly finally broke the silence. “If you love Ethan, then listen to your heart. You talk so much about those children that there’s no doubt about the love you have for them.”
“I visit my daughter Gloria’s grave every Sunday,” Amber said. “She would have been ten years old this week. I imagine her talking to all her friends and wanting to put pink streaks in her blond hair. I felt guilty for loving Lisa at first, as if Gloria would feel like I was forgetting her. But . . .” She dabbed at her eyes again.
Kelly laid a hand on Amber’s shoulder. “If Gloria had lived, she would have wanted you to be happy. We all have to believe that. Remember what we learned in grief counseling? We have to push back the gray skies of guilt, and let the sunshine in.”
“But what about my weekly visits to her?” Amber’s voice caught in her throat. “She’ll think I have deserted her.”
“She understands, and honey, it’s time to let her go so she can rest in peace,” Kelly said. “At least you had the foresight to bury her in your hometown instead of Lufkin, where you were living with your boyfriend at the time of her birth.”
Jenna thought of her own situation. Was she holding so tightly onto her mother that Marsha couldn’t fly away to a peaceful eternity?
“Thank you,” Amber said. “My mama says that she’ll keep flowers on the grave for me. It will probably be a couple of years before I get back to the States. The kids’ grandparents have promised to fly over to Germany every three months to visit. My mother will try to come for Christmas every year.”
Jenna felt Kelly and Amber staring at her. She needed to say something, but the words still wouldn’t come.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself because life is changing, and be happy for Amber, the pesky voice in her head scolded.
“I’m speechless, but I am so, so happy for you,” Jenna said. “What Kelly said about letting go so our loved ones can rest in peace struck a chord. I realize that I’ve been doing just that with my mama. But we’ll talk about that later. Right now, I want to see pictures of Ian and Lisa. I know you have a gazillion on your phone, and why haven’t you sent more of them to us before now? We’ll expect weekly photos from now on.”
Amber slipped her phone out of the back pocket of her jeans. “I think I was their mommy the minute I laid eyes on them. The nanny job was only supposed to be for a few weeks while I applied for other jobs, but . . .” She shrugged as she passed the phone across the table.
“Oh, no, you don’t!” Kelly moved around to sit beside Jenna. “I want to see them, too.”
“They are precious, and they both have blond hair,” Jenna said, as she flipped through the pictures. So, this would be the last year that Amber would be at the memory cabin for a week. Her good friend was going to have the family she thought would never be possible. Still, she couldn’t help but feel sad that the dynamics of their gathering would change when it was just her and Kelly.
“When I take them to the park to play or to the grocery store, folks often tell me that they can sure tell that I’m their mama,” Amber said, beaming.
“I would probably say the same thing,” Kelly said. “Oh . . . and here’s one with you and Ethan with the kids. He’s one good lookin’ feller. If I was younger, I might steal him from you.”
Amber shook a finger at Kelly. “You could try, but I’d fight a forest fire with a cup of water if anyone tries to get between us.”
Jenna handed the phone back to her. “I’m glad that you’ve found closure for the baby you lost. Now you can have peace and happiness, but I’m going to miss you being here for our week every year.”
“We’ll still talk every month, right?” Amber asked, and then went on without waiting for an answer. “There is a six-hour time difference, so we’ll have to figure everything out, but we will make it work.”
Kelly took a long drink of her tea. “It’s eight hours from here to Africa, and two from there to Germany.”
“Is that your news?” Jenna whispered. “Are you leaving Texas, too?”
“You are going to Africa?” Amber’s eyes widened.
“I’ve leased my house, packed what I need, shipped the rest over to the apartment that the company has ready for me, and am leaving from here. I’ll drive down to the Houston airport next Sunday afternoon, check my rental car in, and meet the rest of my team. Y’all be happy for me, please.” Kelly’s eyes darted from Amber to Jenna.
“What will you be doing?” Amber asked.
“I’ll be the nurse in charge of a new hospital there. We will disperse medical staff to small clinics around the area periodically,” Kelly answered, “and right now, I plan to be there until they force me to retire. I couldn’t make a difference in my sister’s life no matter how hard I tried. But this is my chance to be a help to other folks in need.”
“So this is the last year for our memory cabin visit?” Jenna blinked back tears.
“Don’t be sad,” Amber’s voice quivered.
“I can’t help it, but at the same time, I’m so happy for both of you that I could dance a jig right here on the table,” Jenna said. “Maybe I can learn from your experiences, and finally make peace with my own situation.”
Kelly swiped a tear from her cheek. “I’m going to miss y’all, but we’ll manage to talk every month, and if y’all can ever manage the time, come to Africa. From the pictures I’ve seen of the small area where I’ll be working, it’s a beautiful place.”
“Or Germany,” Amber said.
“Who knows?” Jenna forced a smile. “The future might hold all kinds of wonderful things for us.”
“Well, if all the memories we’ve talked about and made right here is a foretaste of the future, then bring it on,” Kelly said. “I heard a car door slam. Are we expecting someone?”
“Hey, don’t mean to intrude, but I found this on your front porch.” Carson held up a yellow-striped kitten. “Does it belong to one of y’all?”
“It’s not mine, but it’s a cutie,” Amber said.
“Mine, either,” Kelly answered. “I’m allergic to cats, so keep it over there.”
“Carson, this is Kelly”—Jenna nodded across the table—“and . . .”
“And I’m Amber,” she butted in and introduced herself. “And from your shirt, I’m guessing you are the new park ranger that Jenna told us about?”
“Pleased to meet you both,” Carson said, “and yes, Amber, I’m going to be the new resident park ranger. I take over next Monday morning when my uncle leaves.”
“Victor is your uncle?” Kelly asked. “He’s just the sweetest guy ever. He and Dorena usually come over for a little visit while we are here.”
Seems like everything is changing, Jenna thought.
“Well, I’ll leave you to your visiting and take this little guy home with me. If you hear of anyone losing him, just give me a call,” Carson said, “and again, it was nice to meet y’all. Jenna has really looked forward to y’all coming for a visit.”
“So have we,” Kelly said.
“If you can’t find a home for the kitty cat, let me know,” Jenna said. “I could be forced to take him in.”
Carson shook his head and slid a sly wink her way. “I’ve already promised him that I would adopt him if no one comes around to claim him. He seems to like me, and I’ll need something to keep me company when Uncle Victor and Aunt Dorena are gone.”
“What are you going to name him?” Jenna asked.
“Bubba, after my buddy in the service, who lost his life on our last deployment,” Carson answered.
“Sounds like a good Texas name to me.” Jenna was still trying to digest what her two friends had told her without being sad—or maybe a little jealous of their happiness.
“Well, then, y’all enjoy your afternoon. See you around.” He whipped around and disappeared around the corner of the house.
“That is one sexy park ranger,” Amber whispered. “I bet the little old ladies that live here permanently will need his services real often. You should ask him out.”
Kelly fanned her face with the back of her hand. “I would beat your time if I lived here. How long have you known him?”
“Known him, a couple of months,” Jenna answered. “Seen him, twice in years past. His folks stayed in that cabin over there”—she pointed to her right—“for a week when I was fifteen, and then he showed up again right after I moved here permanently. We had lunch together today, but it was not a date.”
“Did he kiss you at the door?” Kelly teased.
“He did not!” Jenna protested.
“Then this one was just friends. When he kisses you at the door, then it’s a date,” Amber said with a smile. “But all joking aside, did he look like that when you were a teenager?”
“Did he have that deep Sam Elliott drawl back then?” Kelly asked.
“He was twenty years younger, but his looks haven’t changed all that much, and I never even spoke to him, so I don’t know about his voice.”
“Well, honey”—Kelly stopped fanning and went back to eating—“you might have been too shy to make a move on him when you were young, and too heartbroken a little later on, but it’s time to move in now before someone else snatches him up. That’s saying that he’s still single. Is he married, or engaged, or in a serious relationship?”
“None of the above, according to Victor,” Jenna answered.
“Then what are you waiting for?” Amber asked.
“Let’s talk about Germany and Africa,” Jenna answered.
“We can do that, but remember, we share everything and we are here for a week, so you might as well get ready to ’fess up,” Kelly told her.