“I was wondering when I might see you again,” Jack said, as he handed her change for the bottle of tea and package of cupcakes she’d purchased. “I wanted to thank you for shaming Old Nash into behaving himself.”
“I don’t follow,” she said with a smile.
His grin was wide behind his bushy beard and put color in what little of his cheeks she could see beneath it. “That man hasn’t stolen a single thing from this store since you were in here last. He’s a changed man!”
“Well…hallelujah,” Vivian said with a grin. “I guess some horses can change their spots.”
“I don’t follow…” he said slowly.
A frown pulled at her lips and creased her brows. “Oh…I thought it was one of those Southern sayings…”
He continued frowning for a heartbeat longer and then burst out laughing, his hand slapping the counter. “I’m just pullin’ your leg!”
They had a good laugh and then wished each other a good day, and Vivian was on her way again.
She didn’t make any more stops on the way, knowing that if she didn’t reach Gretta’s house fast, word of her arrival would make it to her ears before she could surprise her.
She should have told Jack to hold his tongue. He wouldn’t, but maybe the request would have filtered down through the grapevine.
Oh well, hindsight was twenty-twenty and all that.
When the old white farm home rose up into view from just beyond the hill, a smile sprouted into place, and Vivian had to control herself, so she didn’t start speeding again. The winding road seemed to stretch on until she questioned if it had gotten longer since she’d been away. But that was stupid. Just like watching the clock made time seem to stand still, her eagerness was making the trip feel longer than it actually was.
The gravel crunching under her tires was music to her ears as Vivian pulled into the drive and made her way up to the house.
It was no surprise when she spotted Gretta sitting in the weathered wicker chair on the porch as if awaiting her arrival, but it was a relief to see that the woman had some color left in her cheeks. She hadn’t realized how worried she was about her until just that moment.
“Okay, who told?” Vivian called out as she parked and threw open the car door.
Gretta rose to her feet, appearing a bit older than she had when Vivian left. She moved slower too, which renewed Vivian’s concern.
“Dead men tell no tales,” she said jovially as she approached the top step.
Vivian held up her hand, a gesture telling her to wait there and she’d come to her. Climbing the steps, she said, “I was hoping to surprise you.”
“I knew you’d be back, one day or the next. Just a matter of time.”
“I forgot, you know everything.” The two embraced, holding on for a while, the days between them feeling deeper than either had expected.
“You won’t be leaving again, I’d guess,” Gretta stated, but there was a question in there.
“I don’t think so,” Vivian told her, casting a fond look around the property. Off in the distance, she could just make out the start of the fencing that surrounded Nash’s property.
She’d tackle that problem later.
“I did some exploring,” she said, returning to the moment, “stretched my wings a bit, but at the end of the day, this was where I wanted to be.”
Gretta beamed, wrinkles littering her face. She patted Vivian’s arm. “I’m happy to hear that. Come, I made tea.”
Vivian wore a private smile as they entered the house together.
She still had a lot to figure out, but she’d come to realize that none of it had to be solved in a day. She had time.
One thing was certain: it was good to be back.
It was good to be home.