Page 26 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

"Don't have kids."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"I'm serious."

The boys reached the sidewalk just as the bus rounded the corner.

"See?" Tasha said proudly. "Late... but never too late."

She kissed both boys on the forehead and watched them get on the bus. Once the bus left, she let out a big sigh.

"Now I can finally drink my coffee while it's still hot."

"You deserve two cups."

"I deserve a vacation."

She laughed, waved, and went back inside. I smiled. It was easy to like her.

A few minutes later, I heard another garage door open. Jade stepped out, looking put-together, with a travel mug in one hand and her laptop bag in the other. She noticed me immediately.

"You've officially become a porch person."

"I enjoy my mornings."

"So do I, when I’m not about to go bill these folks by the hour." She glanced at her watch.

"Have a good day."

"You too."

She got into her Mercedes and drove away right as my phone hit 6:45.

It was just another routine, another small piece of the neighborhood. Then I noticed some movement across the street.

Camille.

She stepped onto her porch with a metal watering can, even though the sprinklers were already running in her flowerbeds.

She moved slowly from one planter to the next, talking quietly to each flower as she watered them.

I couldn’t hear what she was saying. She smiled to herself, as if she was still talking to someone only she could hear. When she saw me, she waved.

"Good morning!"

"Morning."

"Settling in alright?"

"I think we're finally getting there."

"I'm glad." She smiled, then returned to her flowers.

I kept watching her, even though I didn’t really have a reason. She wasn’t doing anything special. Actually, it was the opposite. She just looked content. Some people spend years looking for that kind of peace. I wondered what it must feel like.

The front door opened behind me.

"There you are."