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Chapters (53)
  1. Cover
  2. Everyone loves the ladies of Covington!
  3. Also by Joan Medlicott
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright
  6. Dedication
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. 38
  46. 39
  47. 40
  48. 41
  49. 42
  50. 43
  51. 44
  52. 45
  53. Discussion Questions

“Sarina, it would break Max’s heart if you left. He loves you. He may not say those words. He’s not easy with words, but he loves you dearly and that baby is the light of his life.”

Briefly, a smile hovered at the corners of Sarina’s lips. “I will stay, then, and I will try not to make a fuss, a scene like today.”

“Make all the scenes you need to make. I’m well aware of how much this hurts, and it takes time to heal the pain. We’re here to help.”

“I will go to Sarah now. I thank you, Hannah, for coming and talking to me and helping me.” She threw her arms about Hannah and for a moment rested against her, and Hannah held her, wondering that she loved this girl as much as she loved her own daughters.

37

Hannah’s Surgery

In June, Hannah underwent outpatient surgery on her knees. Afterward, she would tell everyone that it was a snap and that the staff had been kinder and more efficient than in any medical facility she had ever been in. Hannah stayed in the guest room downstairs and was up and about the day after surgery, though she moved slowly and carefully. Having given herself permission to take a week off from work, she slept late, caught up on gardening magazines and novels she had been meaning to read.

Max was in and out, and this day he arrived at noon and settled into the glider-rocker, his long legs stretched out before him.

“Medicine has sure come a long way,” Hannah said. “If I’d known it would be so easy and this painless, I’d have had this surgery a long time ago.”

“You’ve been walking around in pain for months, and you didn’t say anything to me.” Max slapped the side of his head. “And I’m such an oaf that I didn’t see that? I am really sorry.”

She looked at him, her eyes tender. “Don’t be sorry, my love. It’s not your fault. I’m a stoic, remember, stiff upper lip, that sort of thing. I didn’t want anyone to know. I was scared about doing this.”

“Well, honey, I’m glad it’s over and behind you.”

“So am I.”

“Soon you’ll be climbing mountains.” Max grew sober, remembering Zachary and his aborted mountain climb. He wondered where his son was and what he was doing. It was weeks since he had left, and no one had heard from him. He changed the subject. “Sarina seems to be doing better, wouldn’t you say?”