AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Really? How so?”
“They like the chase dear, and boy was he relentless in it. He chased me all the way up the aisle.”
“Sounds to me like he was smitten from the get-go.”
“We both were truth be told. Right up until the day he died.”
“How long were you both married?”
“Sixty years.”
“Wow, sixty years is a long time.”
“When it’s filled with love and laughter time has no bearing.”
“What about you dear. Do you have someone special in your life yet?”
Taken aback I say, “Not yet maybe someday in the future though.”
“A nice girl like you needs to watch out. Love has the ability to hit you when you least expect it,” she says with sadness.
My heart breaks for her. Burying a husband is one thing but to bury a child is another.
“That’s why my Caleb is so special to me. He’s all I have left,” she says sadly. “Do you want to see a picture of him?”
“I would love that,” I say slightly confused because it’s the same picture she just showed me a few minutes ago.
“That’s my daughter Lily. Wasn’t she beautiful?” she asks as though she’s showing me it for the first time.
“She really is. She has your eyes too.”
“Your very kind dear. You have beautiful eyes too. Hazel but there’s a hint of green in them when they catch the light,” she tells me.
“Thank you,” I reply graciously.
“Who was it you were here to see again?”
“Caleb.”
“Oh yes, that’s right. It’s always nice to see Caleb’s friends come by. Would you care for a slice of apple pie whilst you wait for him? His friend’s mom should be dropping him home from school any minute now.
Just then it clicks. She was talking about her memory. My grandfather had something similar. Alzheimer’s disease I think mom said it was called. He would become forgetful and misplace his things all the time.
An old antique clock on the mantel chimes.
“I better get going. My parents will be wondering where I am.”
“Oh goodness yes child, never keep your parents waiting because they’ll only worry.” she says slowly rising from the chair walking into the kitchen. “Please take them home a slice of pie before you go. Everything is always sweeter with a slice of pie.”
“There’s plenty to go around,” she reassures when I ask if she’s sure there will be enough left for her.
I thank her saying my goodbyes holding a large slice of apple pie in a container.
I’m exhausted when I get home, my brain doing over time with the events of the past few weeks. I wonder where Caleb was today just as a text comes in from Lexy.
LEXY: I overheard Eric tell mom that Saint wouldn’t be joining us again. Apparently him and Caleb had to go out of town for the night on business.
LEXY: Maybe that’s why he hasn’t called or texted you?
