ashes to her chest, Eva slid into the front passenger seat. The next hundred miles or so they rode in virtual silence, Marshall eventually reached over and turned on the music. Marshall seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, Simone was pouting and Eva was on Facebook, chatting with Helen. She told her what Simone had done and she said,
“I really should just go home and let Marshall finish this trip. He has Simone for company…he doesn’t need me.”
“But Henry wanted you to go, and from what you tell me, it sounds like if Marshall had to choose, he would choose you.”
“He might,” Eva said, “But it would be because he loves me like a little sister and family is important to him. I wouldn’t want to be the reason he broke up with his girlfriend.”
“You think that’s as deep as his feelings go for you?” Helen asked. “Henry used to say that Marshall looked like he’d been “bitten by the love bug,” every time he looked at you.”
Eva laughed when she read that and Marshall looked over at her. She tried to see it…but all she saw was a man who loved her like a friend…or a sister.
“I miss those little sayings Henry always seemed to have ready.”
“Just listen, Eva. Every time you meet a new person, it’s a chance to learn something new. Even a child can teach you new things. But, you have to keep an open mind, always. Once you close your mind to new things, you stop living.”
“What cha doin’ over there?” Marshall asked her.
“Just Facebooking,” she said.
“Oh,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
“I do have other friends,” she told him.
Marshall grinned and said, “I know you do, but I’m the best one, right?”
“The best,” she said with a smile. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Simone’s disgusted look. Eva felt small and petty…but Simone’s discomfort made her happy.
She messaged Helen back saying,
“I don’t see that look in his eyes, but that’s okay…most of the time. I’m just blessed to have him in my life. And thank you, I will do my best to keep my mind open.”
“You have a good heart, Eva. Keep that open too.”
“Thanks Helen. I appreciate your kind words. It feels like Henry is still here sometimes.”
“He is, honey. He will always be a part of you, no matter what.”
Finally, just before they reached Mississippi Simone said, in a whiney voice,
“Are we going to stop and eat? If you’re too angry to sit in a restaurant with me, I’ll settle for fast food.”
Marshall didn’t answer her and Eva still sat quietly. Sighing loudly and crossing her arms, Simone slumped back into her seat again. She didn’t perk up until she realized that Marshall was rolling the car into the parking lot of the Natchez Visitor Reception Center. Eva saw Simone sit up again, out of the corner of her eye. Eva knew from the itinerary that Marshall planned on taking a look around the all-glassed overlook of the Mississippi river and picking up brochures that would lead them through the rest of their visit to Mississippi, much of which would be exploring Civil War history and historical homes. Eva almost smiled at the vivid image she had of Simone’s head exploding when she found out.
“What is this place?” Simone asked. “Do they have food here?”
“No, but we won’t stay here long,” was all he said. Simone was still pouting as they followed him towards the building. Simone stood against the wall with her arms folded across her chest while Marshall and Eva looked through the pamphlets and talked to the friendly staff about what else there was to do and see along the Natchez parkway. They were encouraged to walk through the dioramas which were tiny little replicas of antebellum mansions which were a reflection of the 19th century cotton boom and both French and Spanish influences. Marshall and Eva chose to do that, much to Simone’s chagrin. She walked along behind them, sighing loudly at every turn. Eva wanted to strangle her.
“Look
“I really should just go home and let Marshall finish this trip. He has Simone for company…he doesn’t need me.”
“But Henry wanted you to go, and from what you tell me, it sounds like if Marshall had to choose, he would choose you.”
“He might,” Eva said, “But it would be because he loves me like a little sister and family is important to him. I wouldn’t want to be the reason he broke up with his girlfriend.”
“You think that’s as deep as his feelings go for you?” Helen asked. “Henry used to say that Marshall looked like he’d been “bitten by the love bug,” every time he looked at you.”
Eva laughed when she read that and Marshall looked over at her. She tried to see it…but all she saw was a man who loved her like a friend…or a sister.
“I miss those little sayings Henry always seemed to have ready.”
“Just listen, Eva. Every time you meet a new person, it’s a chance to learn something new. Even a child can teach you new things. But, you have to keep an open mind, always. Once you close your mind to new things, you stop living.”
“What cha doin’ over there?” Marshall asked her.
“Just Facebooking,” she said.
“Oh,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
“I do have other friends,” she told him.
Marshall grinned and said, “I know you do, but I’m the best one, right?”
“The best,” she said with a smile. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Simone’s disgusted look. Eva felt small and petty…but Simone’s discomfort made her happy.
She messaged Helen back saying,
“I don’t see that look in his eyes, but that’s okay…most of the time. I’m just blessed to have him in my life. And thank you, I will do my best to keep my mind open.”
“You have a good heart, Eva. Keep that open too.”
“Thanks Helen. I appreciate your kind words. It feels like Henry is still here sometimes.”
“He is, honey. He will always be a part of you, no matter what.”
Finally, just before they reached Mississippi Simone said, in a whiney voice,
“Are we going to stop and eat? If you’re too angry to sit in a restaurant with me, I’ll settle for fast food.”
Marshall didn’t answer her and Eva still sat quietly. Sighing loudly and crossing her arms, Simone slumped back into her seat again. She didn’t perk up until she realized that Marshall was rolling the car into the parking lot of the Natchez Visitor Reception Center. Eva saw Simone sit up again, out of the corner of her eye. Eva knew from the itinerary that Marshall planned on taking a look around the all-glassed overlook of the Mississippi river and picking up brochures that would lead them through the rest of their visit to Mississippi, much of which would be exploring Civil War history and historical homes. Eva almost smiled at the vivid image she had of Simone’s head exploding when she found out.
“What is this place?” Simone asked. “Do they have food here?”
“No, but we won’t stay here long,” was all he said. Simone was still pouting as they followed him towards the building. Simone stood against the wall with her arms folded across her chest while Marshall and Eva looked through the pamphlets and talked to the friendly staff about what else there was to do and see along the Natchez parkway. They were encouraged to walk through the dioramas which were tiny little replicas of antebellum mansions which were a reflection of the 19th century cotton boom and both French and Spanish influences. Marshall and Eva chose to do that, much to Simone’s chagrin. She walked along behind them, sighing loudly at every turn. Eva wanted to strangle her.
“Look
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