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enough to do anything else.
"Maybe I will have another long talk with James," Jeanne said. "Maybe you're right--maybe it takes time." "Anything worthwhile does," I said
softly.
She was so involved with her own problems,
she couldn't see the longing in my eyes. She seized
my hands in hers. "Thank you, Ruby. Thank you for
listening and caring."
We hugged and she smiled. Why was it so easy
to help other people feel happy, but so hard to help
myself? I wondered.
"There really is a new dress to show you," I
said, and took her to my closet. Afterward, we joined
Paul and James in the living room and had some afterdinner cordials. Jeanne smiled at me when James put
his arm around her and kissed her on the cheek. He
whispered something in her ear and she turned
crimson. Then they announced they were tired and
had to go home. At the doorway, Jeanne leaned over
to thank me again. From the look in her eyes, I saw
she was excited and happy. Paul and I remained on
the gallery and watched them go to their car and drive
away.
It was a rather clear evening, so that we could
look up at the star-studded sky and see constellations
from one horizon to the other. Paul took my hand. "Want to sit outside awhile?" he asked. I
nodded and we went to the bench. The night was
filled with the monotonous symphony of cicadas
interrupted by the occasional hoot of an owl. "Jeanne wanted some big-sister advice tonight,
didn't she?" he asked.
"Yes, but I'm not sure I'm the one she should
have been asking."
