Letting Misery Go by Michelle Larks

Author:Michelle Larks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 2011-11-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

While the Wilcox and Johnson families were departing from Daniel’s house, Alice and Ruth were sitting in Alice’s breakfast nook, rehashing the happenings of their day. Ruth filled Alice in about the financing meeting.

“You know, Sarah and Naomi are at Daniel’s house participating in the family meeting,” Ruth commented. “Sarah has been working on Daniel all week, trying to persuade him to keep custody of the boys.”

“I know. Fred went there too, to give Daniel moral support,” Alice replied. They had just finished the dinner Ruth had prepared. Stir-fry chicken and a baked potato for herself, and chicken soup for Alice. They were sipping on sweetened raspberry tea.

“I brought fresh strawberries for dessert, if you can keep them down. I know the medication you’re taking sometimes makes you nauseous,” Ruth said, rubbing her hands together. She stood up and removed the strawberries from the refrigerator. She put some inside a bowl, sprinkled sugar on them, and poured a little milk on them. “Do you need anything?” she asked.

“No, I’m good,” Alice replied. “You told me all about the meeting at church, but you didn’t say anything about your lunch date with Aron. What are you waiting for? Give me the gossip, girl.”

Alice’s remark caused Ruth to throw back her head and laugh. Alice sounded just like she did when the two were teenagers. Ruth put a strawberry in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed it.

“Well, it’s not too much to tell you,” Ruth said artlessly as she laid her fork on the side of the plate.

“You’ve been grinning like the cat that ate the canary since you got here. So don’t even try to insult my intelligence by saying there’s nothing to tell me,” Alice twitted her friend.

“I had a really good time, Allie. Aron is a true gentleman. He was gallant, opening and closing the car door for me, and pulling out my chair when we went inside Izola’s. The conversation was good, like it always is. I enjoyed myself,” Ruth confessed. “Listen to me, I sound like a young girl.”

“No,” Alice corrected her friend, “you sound like someone who is long overdue in meeting someone who treats you nicely.”

“It’s a bit early for you to say that.” Ruth picked up another strawberry and popped it into her mouth.

“Girl, please. You know you want to see that man. Who are you trying to fool?”

“You’re right.” Ruth exhaled loudly. “I’m not fooling anyone except myself. On the one hand, it feels weird, seeing and talking to another man, after being with Daniel for more than half my life. And then on the other hand, I am truly enjoying myself. Aron and I talk on the telephone almost every evening, so we’re really getting to know each other.”

“You need to discard the last piece of your emotional baggage,” Alice advised. “Take it to the Salvation Army and leave it there. Daniel moved on, and it’s time you did the same.”

“My head knows what you’re saying is right, but my heart is scared.

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