Max stepped outside, closing the door softly behind him. They could hear the crunch of gravel beneath his feet as he circled the barn to Anna and Jose’s cottage.

Hannah sat alone at the table fingering a spoon, running her fingers along its edge and pressing her thumb into the smooth roundness of the bowl. Her mind shifted to Zachary and his totally irresponsible behavior, and then to the office and her Oriental garden, delayed due to too much rain and her aching knees. Reaching under the table, she rubbed her knees. The steps in both houses were getting to be too much for her, but saying so would bring the issue to a head. Well, sooner or later she must deal with these confounded knees. She’d discuss it with Grace, ask her to go with her to the orthopedic specialist. Hannah pushed up from the table. She needed to go home and talk to Grace.

“Anna, please tell Sarina I’m over at the other house,” Hannah said. “Ask her to bring Sarah over there.”

35

Life Goes On

Sitting on the porch step, the puppy, Carole, snuggled against Grace’s thigh. Benji lay on his belly, four legs splayed, and gnawed on a bone. The licks from Carole’s soft pink tongue were warm and wet against Grace’s hand. Hannah said dogs licked you not because they loved you but because they enjoyed the taste of salt or minerals on your skin. What a sad thought! It was far better to think of licks and enthusiastic wagging of a tail as reciprocated affection.

Grace looked down at the puppy. Carole rewarded her with a look Grace was certain was total affection. “Why did I ever wait this long to get a dog?” Grace asked.

Thump, thump, thump went Carole’s tail.

“You are so smart,” Grace said. “You know I’m talking to you and that I love you.”

It was a lovely, honeysuckle-smelling, lazy day. High on the mountains the wind huffed and puffed, scattering puffy white clouds. Grace had forgotten to lower the blinds in her room last night, and the morning sun streaming through her window had awakened her way too early. She had lain in bed awhile thinking of nothing in particular, then decided to get up and do some much-needed mending, until it was time to dress, eat, and take the puppies to the vet.

Grace had carried the sewing basket to the living room along with a skirt that needed hemming, two shirts of Hannah’s she had agreed to sew buttons on, and her housedress, whose pockets had holes. This had taken longer than anticipated and when she was done, Grace set the basket aside and headed for the kitchen. She was hungry.