mix of disappointment, then relief sure the postponement was temporary. Jess ended the text with: catch up with u soon .
She also had to admit her continual refusal to grab a coffee, lunch, or dinner could chink away the determination of any hearty soul. That, too, may have played in to the sudden problem at work?
Well, tomorrow she’d go to work in the bakery. She could have gone in today, but told her folks she needed a “recovery” day. Her mom worried she’d mope about and dwell on the day’s meaning. It didn’t take a lot to convince her that yesterday had wiped her out. It did.
How strange she felt more upset over Jess’s message than losing her job. Computers That Run might not have been her dream job, but getting the old heave ho rattled her cage with a good shake to her already battered confidence.
Thoughts of Danny and what she lost fell into an entirely different category. One that would always be private and sad and nostalgic with good memories held close to her heart. A heart, she was surprised to find, that bled less painful than even six months ago.
After two years of being a widow, new hope surged. With it came the assurance that Danny wanted her to find happiness. She sat at the kitchen table, propped her elbows there, and clasped her fingers together. She leaned her forehead against them, closing her eyes, she thanked God for the short yet incredible life and love she had known with Danny and prayed for guidance into her future. Tears burned at the back of her eyes. She prayed for a sign that Jess might be her future.
Her arms collapsed upon the table to rest her head there and sob. After allowing herself a good cry, she stood and got a drink of water. Yes, her heart was on the mend. One good cry might do it today.
Exhaustion overtook her so she went upstairs to take a nap. Upon waking, Madeleine rolled over and drifted back to sleep. By the time she woke a second time, her room had the pall of late afternoon. Unwilling to give in to the temptation of sleeping into the night, she got up to prepare dinner. It was the least she could do. The family would be tired after a busy day at the bakery and there would be no free pass tomorrow. Her cell rang. Belmar Bakery flashed in the ID screen. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi. Wanted you to know I’ve been thinking about you today.”
The two-year anniversary didn’t need to be mentioned. Her family would never forget the date. “Thanks, Mom. I’m good. Sounds busy there.” The familiar buzz of activity made her wish she had gone into the bakery instead of pining the day away.
“It is, but I had to call.” Tension raked across her mom’s voice. “You won’t believe what happened.”
“What?” Madeleine hoped Jess had stopped by to find her.
“Grams dropped an entire tray of warm pies. She almost cried she was so upset with herself. It broke my heart.”
“Grams?”
“I know. It jarred me.” Grams might be a handful, but the family loved every single grumpy, opinionated inch of her.
“Poor Grams. Now I feel guilty I didn’t come in to help.”
“No. That wasn’t my intent. Besides, Dad solved the problem. He has her icing cakes in a quiet corner.”
“God bless Dad. He knows she loves icing.”
“Really. He amazes me sometimes. Anyway. Gotta run. Love you, honey.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
Concerned over Grams, Madeleine hung up the phone. Grams could easily handle one day a week in the bakery, but when the holidays came and everyone picked up the pace, she insisted on more days and hours. Christmas. Easter. Graduation. It didn’t matter. Belmar’s prime historic downtown location and long-standing reputation made the entire staff dead on their feet by day’s end after a holiday.
Of late, she often overheard her mom and dad discuss the sticky issue of convincing Grams to retire without her thinking she wasn’t needed anymore. She had started the bakery with Gramps forty years ago and deserved respect for what they built. It
She also had to admit her continual refusal to grab a coffee, lunch, or dinner could chink away the determination of any hearty soul. That, too, may have played in to the sudden problem at work?
Well, tomorrow she’d go to work in the bakery. She could have gone in today, but told her folks she needed a “recovery” day. Her mom worried she’d mope about and dwell on the day’s meaning. It didn’t take a lot to convince her that yesterday had wiped her out. It did.
How strange she felt more upset over Jess’s message than losing her job. Computers That Run might not have been her dream job, but getting the old heave ho rattled her cage with a good shake to her already battered confidence.
Thoughts of Danny and what she lost fell into an entirely different category. One that would always be private and sad and nostalgic with good memories held close to her heart. A heart, she was surprised to find, that bled less painful than even six months ago.
After two years of being a widow, new hope surged. With it came the assurance that Danny wanted her to find happiness. She sat at the kitchen table, propped her elbows there, and clasped her fingers together. She leaned her forehead against them, closing her eyes, she thanked God for the short yet incredible life and love she had known with Danny and prayed for guidance into her future. Tears burned at the back of her eyes. She prayed for a sign that Jess might be her future.
Her arms collapsed upon the table to rest her head there and sob. After allowing herself a good cry, she stood and got a drink of water. Yes, her heart was on the mend. One good cry might do it today.
Exhaustion overtook her so she went upstairs to take a nap. Upon waking, Madeleine rolled over and drifted back to sleep. By the time she woke a second time, her room had the pall of late afternoon. Unwilling to give in to the temptation of sleeping into the night, she got up to prepare dinner. It was the least she could do. The family would be tired after a busy day at the bakery and there would be no free pass tomorrow. Her cell rang. Belmar Bakery flashed in the ID screen. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi. Wanted you to know I’ve been thinking about you today.”
The two-year anniversary didn’t need to be mentioned. Her family would never forget the date. “Thanks, Mom. I’m good. Sounds busy there.” The familiar buzz of activity made her wish she had gone into the bakery instead of pining the day away.
“It is, but I had to call.” Tension raked across her mom’s voice. “You won’t believe what happened.”
“What?” Madeleine hoped Jess had stopped by to find her.
“Grams dropped an entire tray of warm pies. She almost cried she was so upset with herself. It broke my heart.”
“Grams?”
“I know. It jarred me.” Grams might be a handful, but the family loved every single grumpy, opinionated inch of her.
“Poor Grams. Now I feel guilty I didn’t come in to help.”
“No. That wasn’t my intent. Besides, Dad solved the problem. He has her icing cakes in a quiet corner.”
“God bless Dad. He knows she loves icing.”
“Really. He amazes me sometimes. Anyway. Gotta run. Love you, honey.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
Concerned over Grams, Madeleine hung up the phone. Grams could easily handle one day a week in the bakery, but when the holidays came and everyone picked up the pace, she insisted on more days and hours. Christmas. Easter. Graduation. It didn’t matter. Belmar’s prime historic downtown location and long-standing reputation made the entire staff dead on their feet by day’s end after a holiday.
Of late, she often overheard her mom and dad discuss the sticky issue of convincing Grams to retire without her thinking she wasn’t needed anymore. She had started the bakery with Gramps forty years ago and deserved respect for what they built. It
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