“Hello, you two,” Harper said as she sat down at the table. She looked at them with a sly expression. “What a pair of lovebirds you are. I haven’t seen you two sit this close in... Actually, I never have. It’s amazing to see.”
Madge exchanged a look with Don as he squeezed her hand. “We’re glad you approve,” she said seriously.
Harper slipped out of her brown leather jacket and hung it over the back of her chair. “I’m glad you could meet with me on short notice.” When Anita started to come over, she shook her head. “Rusty should be here in a few minutes. I’ll wait until he arrives. There’s something I want you to know first.” She looked at each of them. “I closed down my real-estate office.”
“Temporarily?” Madge asked, stunned.
“No. For good. I’m not giving up being an agent, though. Just going to work part-time until I figure things out. I do have three clients that I need to work with first, but after that I’m going to shut it down and work from home.”
“Does Rusty know about this?” Madge asked.
Harper nodded, then looked to see her father’s reaction. When she had introduced her parents to Rusty shortly after they started dating, Don had given him the third degree. Rusty had handled it well, and they’d even gone fishing together before the cold weather set in.
“Are you going to have enough to live on?” Don asked.
“Yes. I already have a new income stream.” Harper sat up straight. “I’m selling my baked goods here.”
“Really?” Madge said.
“Is that going to be enough?” Don added.
“If I curb my spending and pinch my pennies, yes. My wardrobe will take a hit, but I was spending too much on clothes anyway. I also sold my Mercedes.”
“What?” they both exclaimed at the same time.
“But that’s your dream car,” her mother said.
“It was. But dreams change. Rusty’s letting me drive Lois until I get another car.”
“Lois?” Don looked confused.
“Are you sure about all this?” Madge asked. She didn’t care about Lois. She wanted to make sure Harper had thought through her decision. “You’ve worked so hard for your business, and you loved that car.”
“Positive,” Harper said, every syllable filled with confidence. “I love baking, and with the free time I now have, I can do something other than work until I fall into bed. Although I can’t promise I won’t give in to temptation and buy cute shoes every once in a while. Oh, there’s Rusty.” She waved for him to come over.
Madge watched as Rusty took off his beanie and finger-combed his hair, then stuck the hat in the pocket of his hoodie as he approached the table. When Rusty sat down, Don said, “What’s a Lois?”
“2010 Accord. Treat a car right, she’ll treat you right.”
“I agree,” Don said. “Felt that way about the planes I flew.”
For the next two hours, the four of them talked, andMadge didn’t even mind that Don and Rusty almost exclusively discussed planes and cars. Harper didn’t seem bothered, either, and it gave Madge and her more time to talk about Harper’s plans. By the time they had to leave, Madge felt more connected to her family than ever before and more optimistic about the future. Rusty was a wonderful young man, and she’d never seen her daughter so happy.
“We should make this a regular thing,” Harper said.
Don helped Madge into her coat. “I agree. Once a month, for sure. If not more often.”
“See you both on Thanksgiving,” Madge said. They had made plans to meet at Madge’s house for the holiday.
“I’ll bring the pumpkin pie.” Harper grinned.
With a last round of handshakes and hugs, they parted ways.
“They’re pretty smitten with each other.” Don glanced at Madge as he drove away and smiled. “Remember those days?”
“Yes.” And now she could think back on them without resentment, without obsessing about what she’d lost or given up. But there was one thing she still needed to do. “Don?” she said as he slowed at a red light.
He brought the car to a stop. “Yes?”
