Back Home Again by Melody Carlson

Author:Melody Carlson [Carlson, Melody]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Guideposts
Published: 0100-12-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Alice arrived home to find Jane and Louise at something of a standoff. From the partially opened door, Louise appeared to be cloistered in her bedroom, surrounded by a number of crates. Jane was clanking around in the kitchen, apparently reorganizing, but Alice felt there was an inordinate amount of banging pots and slamming drawers going on. One thing seemed clear, neither of them appeared willing to talk just now. Certainly not to one another, and they didn’t offer much more than a slightly disgruntled greeting to Alice.

Alice felt bewildered by her sisters’ behavior and not quite comfortable in her own house. For the first time in ages, she found herself knocking on Aunt Ethel’s door.

“Hello, dear,” said Aunt Ethel, peering over Alice’s shoulder with curiosity. “What brings you over here?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Alice sighed and then held up her hands in a somewhat hopeless gesture.

“Well, do come in, dear.” Aunt Ethel held the door open wide. “It’s chilly out there tonight.”

Without waiting for an invitation to sit, Alice flopped down onto her aunt’s overstuffed velvet couch. “I thought maybe you might know what’s going on.”

“Oh, are Jane and Louise still feuding?”

Alice nodded.

Aunt Ethel snickered slightly as she lowered herself into a padded rocker. “Those two.”

“They’re both so upset that neither one of them will speak—not even to me. I just don’t get it.”

“Well, I happened to pop in over there earlier today and I suddenly found myself caught in the middle of their little disagreement.”

“I’m guessing it was about the wallpaper.” Alice shook her head in disbelief.

“The wallpaper, the paint colors, you name it and those two don’t agree on it.” Aunt Ethel wore her I-told-you-so expression as she contentedly folded her hands in her lap and rocked back and forth.

“I don’t see why they won’t at least talk to me. It doesn’t seem fair that they should shut me out.”

Aunt Ethel cleared her throat and then patted her hair. “Well, maybe it has to do with what I told them earlier.”

Alice groaned. “Oh, no, what did you tell them, Aunt Ethel?”

“Just that it wasn’t fair to constantly stick you in the middle.” She leaned forward and peered at Alice. “I told them that I think that it’s been taking a toll on you and that they should learn how to settle their petty differences without endlessly putting you into the thick of it. It’s just not right!”

“I don’t mind really. I’d rather be in the middle of it than on the outside while they both fuss and fume.”

“They are grown women and should be able to resolve these little spats on their own. You’re a busy woman, Alice. You have your job and your church responsibilities. You certainly can’t be expected to play nursemaid to two overgrown—”

“Aunt Ethel, I appreciate your concern for me. I really do.” For the second time today, Alice felt tears filling her eyes. “You’re not wrong either. It has been a little stressful lately.”

Her aunt nodded with satisfaction.

“I’m sure that it’s helping me to appreciate that I decided to work fewer hours.

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