Chapter 58
Ten years ago
Emily Lawrence waited for Granny to walk down to the dock that evening. Granny was chaos embodied, but she did have a routine.
She often sat on the dock at night and read a book. Emily watched as the older woman exited her house, book in hand and an
unlit cigarette in her mouth. She waited a few minutes and then left her own house, making her way down to the lake.
“I saw you watching me from your window,” Granny said before Emily had a chance to say anything.
“How do you do that?” Emily asked.
“I have many talents” was all Granny said. She motioned for Emily to sit in the Adirondack chair next to her.
Emily sat down and stared at the lake in front of her. She’d never liked the lake. She didn’t like any body of water that
she couldn’t see the bottom of. She didn’t like the way it waited there, dark and cool, lurking in every corner of the town.
When she’d told her father that, he’d laughed and called her a worrywart. Maybe she was.
“Did you come out here to chat or glare at the water?” Granny asked.
Emily sighed. “I guess you know we’re moving back to Chicago after Benjamin’s graduation.”
“I’ve heard,” Granny replied.
“I took a teaching job back at my old school,” Emily continued.
“Clay Creek’s not quite as fancy as the private school,” Granny said. She didn’t look away from her book, but Emily saw the smirk on the other woman’s face.
“You know, Granny...” Emily said. Granny looked over at Emily in surprise. She’d always refused to call her Granny and
insisted on using her given name, Violet. “I don’t think I’m too good for this place.”
“Oh, no?” Granny asked.
Emily shook her head. “No. And I don’t think my son is too good, either.”
This time, Granny looked at Emily. “That’s a mighty fine thing to say now that you’ve ensured he’s going to college halfway
across the country.”
“That’s always been his plan,” Emily said. “I support him, always, just like I know you support Mylie.”
“That I do,” Granny replied.
“We both want what’s best for them,” Emily said, her voice quiet.
“I don’t always know what’s best for Mylie,” Granny admitted. “That girl is so determined to carve her own path.”
“She’s headstrong,” Emily agreed. “But I like that.”
“You’re alike in some ways,” Granny said, giving Emily a smile. “Both of you want your own way all of the time.”
Emily huffed a laugh. “I just wanted you to know, before I left, that I am so glad the Mason women are our neighbors. I couldn’t
have picked a better friend for Benjamin if I tried.”
“Mylie is going to miss him,” Granny said, reaching out to take Emily’s hand. “We’ll miss you both.”
“We aren’t going to sell the house,” Emily said, wiping a tear from the corner of one eye. “I’ve decided to keep it for now...
just in case.”
“In case what?” Granny asked.
“In case,” Emily said, giving Granny a knowing smile, “Benjamin ever comes to his senses.”