A Family Affair: The Secret by Mary Campisi

Author:Mary Campisi [Mary Campisi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mary Campisi Books, LLC
Published: 2016-01-05T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Angie knelt in the front flowerbed of the Heart Sent, patted soil into place. She’d offered to transplant the petunias so Mimi wouldn’t have to worry about them going another day in their plastic containers. Mimi said the poor things could only survive so long without a good home, no different from a person. She had a point there. Mimi Pendergrass had a lot of opinions on why the world spun the way it did and most had to do with people and forgiveness. No sense asking if a heartache made her say that because it was obvious that heartache was at the front and center of the woman’s thoughts. What Angie didn’t know and didn’t know if she wanted to know, was how many heartaches had she lived through.

“I see Mimi’s trying to convert you.” Angie squinted, looked up, and shielded her gaze against the sun. A very pregnant Gina Reed stared down at her, and if it were possible, she looked bigger than she had the other day.

“Hey, Gina.” Angie stood, gloved hands at her side. “I actually offered to transplant these for her. Kind of gives Mimi a break and it relaxes me.”

Gina’s expression turned curious, her voice lighter. “You’re a flower junkie?”

“Heck yeah. You should see my flowers at home. I’m a little obsessive about the whole process: the planting, dividing, harvesting seeds, all of it. My dad says my mother was a big perennial flower lover.”

“No kidding?” Gina rested both hands on her belly, shifted from one foot to the other. “Do you press your flowers?”

Angie shook her head. “Never got around to it, but I should.” It would be too late this year because by the time she got home, fall would be long gone, taking with it the last of the flowers and leaves. “Do you want to sit? I can get you a chair from the porch.”

“That would be great.” Gina sighed, tucked a lock of dark hair behind her ear. “I’m ready to have this baby.”

“I can’t imagine.” Angie took in the woman’s belly, her swollen ankles, the puffiness around her face. “Hold on.” She hurried up the porch steps, lifted the rocking chair, and carried it down the steps. “Here. Sit down. Do you want to put your feet up? I can get you a stool. I think Mimi has—”

“I’m fine.” Gina laughed and eased into the rocker. “Don’t fuss over me. I’m not used to it and my husband already does enough fussing for twenty.”

Mimi Pendergrass said Ben Reed rubbed his wife’s feet at night, read to their baby, brought her fresh fruit from ten miles away, and had a jewelry designer friend in Philadelphia create a special necklace that he planned to give Gina when the baby was born. That was a lot of emotion, and it made Angie queasy. She pushed the thoughts aside and said, “Mimi should be back soon.”

“I didn’t come to see Mimi; I’m here to see you.”

“Oh.” Angie cleared her throat, waited. “Okay.

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