“Bull crap,” Fanny Lou said. “Society changes, but women’s bodies don’t. After thirty that little nest of eggs you got inside you begins to shrivel up. So if you want a lot of kids, you’d better marry a man who’s already got a few to give you a head start, and then have one every two years until there ain’t no more eggs.”

Jody could practically hear her biological clock ticking. “Lots of women don’t have babies until they’re in their thirties, nowadays.”

“Ah, Granny, us big girls provide more warmth for that little nest of eggs than skinny girls,” Mitzi laughed.

“Hey, now,” Jody scolded.

“Honey, you’re a plus-sized girl trapped in a skinny girl’s body. You’ll break free of that cage in a year or so,” Mitzi told her.

Jody giggled. “I hope so. I liked me better when I was a little bigger.”

“I should be going,” Fanny Lou said. “I’m meeting my book club at the café at five. I’ll see y’all when it’s over.” Fanny Lou’s knees popped when she stood up. “Gettin’ old ain’t for sissies, girls. Only the strong get to do it.”

“We’re not planning to start until seven, so that works great, and you are not old.” Mitzi gave her grandmother a hug. “You’ll still be drivin’ that old truck out there and helping run this town when you’re a hundred.”

“I hope so, darlin’.” Fanny Lou picked up her hat and shoved it down on her head.

When they heard the back door shut, Jody whispered, “Is she really going to her book club dressed like that? Where does she shop anyway?”

“Garage sales. Goodwill. Thrift stores. Last time she was in a real dress shop was at my dad’s cousin’s wedding. She fussed about the price of the outfit for a full year. But then she redid her will to say that she would be buried in it,” Mitzi laughed.

“Good Lord!” Jody gasped as she got up and moved toward the foyer. “She’s a hoot. You’re so lucky to have her in your life, Mitzi.”

“I know it,” Mitzi said. “When my mother died, I couldn’t have gotten through it without her. It was tough on her, losing her only child, and at the time I thought I was helping her. She stepped into the mother role without me even realizing that she was the one doing the heavy lifting when it came to grief.”

“That’s the way it should be.” Jody nodded. “I’ve decided that I can choose not to be like my mother. Someday I do want a baby, just not right now. I was so glad to see that negative sign I almost squealed. Does that make a lick of sense?”

“It does to me,” Mitzi said.