Meadow Falls by Carolyn Brown

Author:Carolyn Brown [Brown, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Montlake
Published: 2024-01-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Mandy shuffled into the kitchen for breakfast on Sunday morning and sat down at the end of the table. “I’m not going to church this morning. It’s cold and rainy. I’m tired, and Jesus knows I love Him.”

Celeste poured a mugful of coffee and set it in front of her. “I was dreading having to go scrape the ice off the windshield.”

Mandy took a sip and closed her eyes. “That’s the best part of the morning. Thank you, sweetie. But don’t let me keep you girls from going. After last night, the two of you might need to go get a dose of Jesus in you this morning.”

“I didn’t sow any wild oats,” I protested. “All I did was say that Devon was with me, and it wasn’t a real lie. He did drive me there and back to the house—and besides, I believe that Jesus would understand that, so I’m staying home.”

“I’m not going, either,” Celeste declared. “I’d rather cuddle up on the sofa and be lazy. Going to church every time the doors open isn’t our ticket through the Pearly Gates.”

“Why did you say that about wild oats?” Mandy’s weary tone testified that we had kept her out too late the night before.

“Years ago, you told us that most people go out and sow wild oats on Saturday night, then go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure,” I reminded her as I set a plate of pancakes in the middle of the table and took my seat.

She frowned. “Did I say that?”

“More than once,” Celeste answered.

I realized just how tired Mandy was when she didn’t say grace before she forked three pancakes over onto her plate and got busy adding melted butter and maple syrup to them. She had cut off a forkful and was on her way to her mouth when she laid it down and bowed her head. “Sorry about that, God. I guess I’m more worn out than I realized. I didn’t mean to forget You, so thanks for another day that I’m aboveground, thanks for my girls, and for this food. Amen.”

Celeste brought the coffeepot to the table and took her place. “If we’re not leaving the house, then I’m going to save the roast for tomorrow and get out one of those frozen casseroles from the funeral to thaw for lunch today.”

“Why don’t we just have sandwiches?” I suggested.

“Or hot chocolate and popcorn?” Mandy asked.

“We’ll have whatever you want, Granny, if you’ll tell us a story after breakfast,” Celeste told her.

“What do you want to hear?” she asked.

“Will you tell us more about my father and mother’s life after they were married?” I asked.

“And maybe tell me more about my mother,” Celeste said.

“Some things are best left unsaid,” Mandy whispered.

“You told me once that to make it through the present and to be able to enjoy the future, a person needed to understand the past,” I reminded her.

“You are right.” Mandy sighed. “I have trouble remembering what I told you girls when you were growing up.

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