Ginny did all right until a woman stopped by their table to extend her sympathy. “We all miss Fred so much. And the service was lovely, so well done.” Her voice was cloying as she patted Ginny’s hand. “If I can do anything for you, please let me know.”

“Thank you, I—I appreciate that.” She held it together until the woman and her friend moved on. Then the tears broke over the dam and she dug in her purse for a tissue.

Amalia handed her one. “It’s okay, you handled it very well.”

“I’ll get the checks,” Roxie whispered. “We’ll see you later.” She and MJ watched the other two head for the car. “My heart hurts so bad for her.” She rolled her lips together. “And all she can do is get through it.”

“I wish I knew a way to help her more.”

“I know. Don’t we all?” She tucked the tip under one of the glasses. “The best thing we can do is listen, let her talk it out and cry it out.”

“It’s just not fair.” MJ slung her purse over her shoulder. “Just not fair.”

“Notes and cards are a real comfort. I can remember one friend, and every week, I got a card from her for several months at least. The best cards were those that shared a memory they had of Greg. I kept them all in a scrapbook.” She half smiled. “I’ve not looked at that book for a long time, but it was a help when I needed it.”

MJ paused, apparently to think. “Perhaps we could help respond to all the cards and donations?”

“Now, that would be a good idea.”

Out in the parking lot, where their cars were parked next to each other, MJ paused again. “What are you doing this afternoon?”

“Paperwork. Have a proposal to put together and clean up on several others. The paperwork is enough to drive Realtors out of business. What all is required with a sale now takes two trees, all single-spaced, and legal-size reams.”

“Better you than me.”

“You want to get paid, you do the paperwork. And I like my lifestyle. You know that old saw, make hay while the sun shines.”

“Or, it never rains but it pours?”

“That too. See you later.”

Driving, Roxie’s thoughts turned to Loren. Nate had called nearly every evening since he’d delivered the rug. He invited her for coffee on Saturday morning. So much for help getting the yard work done. She found herself humming as she drove her convertible into the garage.

Saturday morning when Loren got back from coffee, she found her mother in her office.

“Did you have a good time?”

“I guess. Nate said his father invited us for barbeque at his house tomorrow afternoon, you know like for early supper?”

“And you said?”

“I’d ask you.”

“Do you want to go?”

Loren half shrugged. “I guess.”