Shenanigans by Heather Smith

Author:Heather Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Southport, North Carolina, humorous, Christian Fiction, Women's Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Inspirational, Seniors, Retirement Community, humor, faith
Publisher: Heather Smith
Published: 2020-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Sunday, October 28

“Amy Lynn, I need to talk to you.”

Lavinia stood outside the office door. She was reminded of old times, when Amy Lynn lived under Lavinia’s roof instead of the other way around. She’d be in her room studying, or listening to music, or talking on the telephone. Lavinia would stand outside the bedroom door waiting for permission to enter, so as not to evoke teenage wrath.

“What is it, Mama? I’m working on my State Boards and I have two weeks left to put my portfolio together.” The teenage attitude was still there. She looked up from the desk and gave her mother unspoken permission to enter before redirecting focus to the computer screen.

Lavinia entered the small spare bedroom-turned-office only a few steps. The early morning sun cast a beam of light across the desk. Dust particles danced in the beam, just above the stacks of papers that Amy Lynn had been shuffling. A half-eaten snack cake and crumbs—remnants of Amy Lynn’s breakfast—lay on a plastic wrapper on the corner of the desk.

She stood there, quiet, until Amy Lynn looked up again.

Lavinia was startled to suddenly realize how much her daughter had aged. Her once sparkling blue eyes were dim and fine lines had settled in around them. Her hair had thinned—so slightly that only a mother would notice. She kept the grays away with at-home hair dye and never took time for the salon. It hadn’t been trimmed in months, evident from the split ends. Her hands were unmanicured, with nails of all different shapes and lengths, a couple of them chewed to the quick.

Not long ago, Lavinia had enjoyed girl days with Amy Lynn. After manicures and pedicures at the salon, Lavinia took Amy Lynn to the mall and she would get her makeup done at the cosmetic counter of the department store. Younger Amy Lynn loved getting all dolled up.

Despite her current imperfections, she was still Lavinia’s beautiful little doll. The sun was setting on Amy Lynn’s youth, but there was still daylight.

Noticing the changes in her daughter made Lavinia forget her purpose in Amy Lynn’s office. She thought about her own thirty- and forty-something face, remembering how it had seemed to change every five years or so, overnight each time. She’d go to bed looking a certain way and wake up looking five years older. Now she saw it happening to Amy Lynn.

“Mama?” Amy Lynn looked impatient. “Mama, what is it? I’m busy.”

“I’m sorry, dear. But I have something I need to tell you.” She walked to the desk and stood with her fingertips pressed into the wood. She looked into Amy Lynn’s eyes and paused to make sure she was ready to listen.

“Well, what is it?” Amy Lynn said.

Lavinia took a deep breath. “I came to tell you that it doesn’t matter whether you believe me or not.” Amy Lynn sat up straighter, her expression melting from impatient to surprised. “About the Oreos. About Wendy Wisengood. It doesn’t matter. I love you regardless,” Lavinia continued.

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