Toni's Vow by Kay Cornelius

Author:Kay Cornelius
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-02-11T16:00:00+00:00

Twelve

In the last few days before leaving on her retirement cruise, Evelyn spent as much time as she could with David and the children, as well as making herself available for Toni. Although Evelyn had officially retired, she graciously made sure that Toni could handle everything that might come her way at the DHR.

The first few nights of that week, Toni came home to find David and the children there for supper. Along with food, Evelyn skillfully gave the children a few needed lessons in table manners—reminding Toni of her own similar experience as Evelyn’s ward. Toni learned that Evelyn also took them to the offices of her medical doctor and dentist, introduced them to the staff, and picked up new patient forms for David to fill out. “It’ll save time to complete these now,” she advised David. On every form, Toni was listed as the backup person to be notified in an emergency, since Evelyn wouldn’t always be in town.

On Wednesday, Evelyn went with David to register the children in their new schools. Josh seemed impressed when David mentioned they would be in the same schools he had attended as a child.

That night at supper, Mandy aired a major complaint. “They start school too soon here. We didn’t go back until after Labor Day in Virginia. It’s not fair.”

“That means you’ll get out earlier next summer,” Toni pointed out.

“The schools are all air conditioned now, so going back in August doesn’t make any difference. Now, when I was in school. . . ,” Evelyn began.

“Spare us the ancient history,” David teased.

The night before Evelyn was to leave, David invited them to come to the condo for his “killer chili,” apparently the only main dish he knew how to make. Toni had a good excuse not to go, since Thursday night was the time for Community Church’s fellowship supper, prayer meeting, and choir practice.

“Can’t you play hooky one time?” Evelyn asked.

“We’re getting some new music, and I really should be there. Besides, it’s the last time you’ll be with David and the children for awhile, and that should be a family time.”

“It would be with you there. You may not realize it, but you’re are as much a part of the Trent family as if you’d been born into it.”

Perhaps to you, Evelyn. I doubt the other Trents would agree.

❧

After extensive planning, which involved the aid of David and several travel agents, Evelyn was finally about to fulfill her dream to travel to faraway places and Toni would truly be on her own at work. On the third Friday in August, Toni joined Evelyn on her front porch swing—now surrounded by her new luggage—and waited for David to arrive to take her to the Chattanooga airport.

Toni looked at the itinerary Evelyn had organized with her usual efficiency. Today she would fly to Miami, the port where her Caribbean cruise would begin. After the cruise, Evelyn would travel cross-country by train to spend some time in California with her recently widowed college roommate.

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