Aprons on a Clothesline by Traci DePree

Author:Traci DePree [DePree, Traci]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-72934-7
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2005-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

August wheeled Virginia to the main doors of the nursing home. He pushed the large round button to open them, then wheeled her into the bright sunshine. He wasn’t sure how Virginia would react to his surprise. He hoped she’d like it, that she’d see it for what it was—an offer of friendship. He felt a connection with her, maybe because she reminded him of Willa. She had Willa’s honesty, always tempered by kindness. The same kindness he’d just witnessed Virginia extend to Violet Johnson. He wondered what had brought about the lift in Virginia’s spirits.

“Did you get permission to bring me out here?” Virginia said.

“I stopped asking permission for anything when I hit seventy. Live a little, Virginia.” He knew he was smirking.

They moved down the walk. The green parklike lawn spread before them. Under a tall elm tree, a red and white checked tablecloth was laid out. On it a picnic basket and place settings for two kept company. “What is this?” Virginia said.

“I figured you deserve a break from nursing-home food. I’m not a bad cook, if I do say so myself.”

He pulled the wheelchair alongside the arrangement and produced a tray with legs, which he set on Virginia’s lap.

“This is too much, August.” Her hand touched her collarbone.

“Nonsense. You’d do it for a friend.” He set the plate and silverware before her, then lifted a steaming casserole dish from the picnic basket. “Besides, what’s easier than chicken-stuffing hotdish?”

August lifted the lid from the dish of stuffing, diced chicken, cream-of-mushroom soup, onions, and cheese. The scent of sage and onions wafted into the air.

“You remind me of my son, David,” Virginia said. “He got very good at cooking after his wife died.”

“I was the cook of the family even before Willa’s death.” He served Virginia a good-sized portion and set it before her with a glass of sparkling apple juice. “Willa liked to cook, mind you. We did it together. She taught me to flambé with the best of them.”

“I doubt Roy could’ve boiled water. The kitchen was my territory! He was afraid to venture in there!”

“So, you’re an in-charge woman, are you?” His brow lifted.

Virginia laughed. “Not quite that bad. But we had our definite roles. We understood them and didn’t mind that. There was never any problem.”

“We had our roles too. But once the kids were grown…” He motioned for her to eat and dished a serving for himself.

“Where are the kids now?” Virginia said.

“My son Skip and his wife, Maggie, live here in Lake Emily. The other three have scattered to the winds. I have one in Maine, another in Florida, and my daughter’s in Seattle.”

“You couldn’t get much farther apart without leaving the country.” Virginia sighed. “I miss my two all the time. Sometimes I wonder if I raised them right.”

“Why do you say that?” August leaned forward.

“They’re so far away, and why? What’s so important that they couldn’t stay nearby? That my own children chose to leave me? Did I raise them to chase money? I hope not.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.