“I can call the minister from St. Paul’s for you. I know a lot of those words, Lola. I can get out the Bible, and we can read it together,” Mandy said, her voice sounding desperate. Anthony wrung his hands as he looked everywhere but at the two women.

“No, no, it wouldn’t be the same. It should be my son saying those words to me. It isn’t going to happen, so we need to move on here,” Lola said as she dabbed at her eyes.

“Do you want to get up now? It’s a beautiful day out. You could sit out on the terrace for a while. We could have a gin and tonic and pretend like it’s the old days.”

“Yes, let’s do that. What’s she doing now?”

Mandy walked over to the window. “She’s gone. I guess she’s somewhere on the grounds, or else she’s in the house.

“What would you like to wear today, Lola? Let’s go with something cheerful. I’ll help you to the bathroom and pick something out.”

“What would I do without you, Mandy?”

“You’d do just fine, Lola. Let’s not go down that road today. You don’t really want scones, do you?”

“Good Lord, no. I’ll take the muffin with jelly. Perhaps Cady and Atlas will join us. You’re right, it is a beautiful day.” Lola craned her neck to see out onto the third-floor terrace, where colorful summer chairs and brilliant pots of flowers bordered the railing. She loved sitting on the terrace on warm summer evenings, with her memories and the fireflies. She wondered if she would make it through the summer. Just let me do it one more time, she pleaded silently. Just one more time.

Amy Hollister Chambers opened the door of the bakery, a tiny bell tinkling overhead. She loved the quaint little shop, with the green-checkered curtains on the windows and the little soda-fountain tables with the matching tablecloths. The smell of freshly made bread had no equal as far as she was concerned. Some days, especially when she was dieting, she stopped by just to sniff or to chat with Julie Ambrose, an old school chum who was co-owner of the bakery with Betty Donovan.

“Hey, girl, you’re late today. All the goodies are gone. We just have bread left,” a smiling Julie said, wiping her hands on her flour specked apron. “How about a cup of coffee?”

“Sounds fine to me. Are you sure you don’t have any eclairs left? I got behind today and didn’t have time to make dessert. My kids will freak out if they don’t have something sweet after dinner. Especially tonight since we’re having liver and onions. Arnie loves liver, and I have to make it once in a while to keep him happy. All I need is three,” she cajoled.

“Sorry, Amy. Guess you’re going to have to make some instant pudding. Stick some vanilla wafers in it, and they’ll be happy. Pete Danson bought the last six about thirty minutes ago. He said he was going to eat them all. I thought that was rather strange since he said he just came in for a loaf of bread.”