Dearest Dorothy, Are We There Yet? by Charlene Ann Baumbich

Author:Charlene Ann Baumbich
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626813908
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2014-09-29T16:00:00+00:00

13

Dorothy had invited Josh and Katie back to her farm for lunch, but Katie declined, needing some space. Dorothy accepted Katie’s refusal but insisted that everyone attending the funeral be invited back to her farm afterward. Although Katie wasn’t very keen on the idea, Dorothy’s argument finally became persuasive.

“Katie, honey, folks around here are used to being fed after a funeral, usually at someone’s home. It’s something we not only plan on but also enjoy. Obviously, child, you are not going to invite anyone back to this place,” she said as she motioned toward Aunt Tess’s now locked-up house. “Please let me serve you in this way. We’ll just have Pastor make the announcement. Everybody in town knows where I live. There won’t be any unnecessary explaining to do. Besides, I enjoy gathering everyone together. It would make me happy to know I helped send off an old friend.”

“Come on, Mom. Sounds like a good idea to me. Besides, I’ve never been on a farm!”

After exploring alternatives in her head, Katie decided to follow Dorothy’s suggestion rather than be stuck with a group of Partonvillers waiting like lost sheep, all looking to her for direction. And heaven forbid someone suggest they adjourn to Harry’s!

“Okay. I’ll take you up on the offer. But I insist I pay for the groceries.”

“Deal,” Dorothy said, knowing full well that she’d better stop while she was ahead. “Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take care of all of it. You can either follow me out to the farm after the services or ride with me and I’ll bring you back afterward. I’d love for you both to just pack up your bags and stay with me for as long as you like while you’re here finishing your business, but I understand you need your privacy. Besides, I’m happy for Jessica and Paul to have the booking. I’d love to see them make a decent go of that place and reap the rewards for all the hard-work seeds they’ve sown.”

Katie pictured trying to follow Dorothy’s speeding bullet of a car. And to ride with her, well, that wasn’t a choice! No one should be riding with that woman, not even her own dog! She made a mental note to have Dorothy just give her directions when the time came.

“I’ll see you at the wake tonight, honey. I wouldn’t expect too many to show up. It’s Wednesday. Softball practice. You can count on me, though. I’m just the cheerleader.” She walked to her car and flung open the back door. Sheba, who had been sitting patiently at her heels during this discussion, leapt right in. Dorothy folded herself in next, slammed the door, fired up the engine, stomped on the gas and spit roadside gravel every which direction, a few stones pelting the front of Katie’s big Lexus. In a flash, she was out of sight.

Josh laughed, then summed up the entire moment in one short sentence: “Ride ’em, cowgirl!”

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