Lib Novel Page 50
“I think you know I can particularly appreciate what an accomplishment it is to organize help in that way,” Ginny said warmly. “When people have been doing chores all day, it’s not easy to get them excited about doing more work of any kind, let alone more farm work. And then I hear it’s an organized effort, like clockwork over there.”
“Jared got most of the volunteers in a single trip to the feed shop,” Cora said, turning to Ginny and shaking her head in wonder. “And he wrote it all down on the back of a library flyer. Sylvester was there, he saw the whole thing.”
“What a lovely example for our boy,” Ginny breathed. “Jared will have him inspired to help his neighbors too.”
“Jared also jumped up onto a chair while he was calling for volunteers,” Cora said flatly. “And Sylvester got into trouble at school for doing the same.”
“It’s natural for him to want to emulate someone he admires,” Ginny said, nodding. “I’m sure he did as he was told when Maggie told him to get down.”
Cora wondered for a moment if word had already gotten around about what happened. But it was clear that Ginny was just guessing. She had probably known Maggie Sullivan since she was a baby, and she certainly knew Sylvester well enough to know how a scene like that would go.
“He also gave another boy a noogie today,” Cora went on. “He learned that from Jared too. I got called in to speak with Principal Tucker.”
“Is that the thing with the hair?” Ginny asked, miming rubbing her knuckles on someone’s head.
“It is,” Cora said, trying not to smile at the idea of Ginny doing something like that to Betty Ann or Shirley.
“In my day we said, Boys will be boys,” Ginny sighed. “But I guess you all don’t subscribe to that way of thinking now.”
“We don’t,” Cora agreed. “Children will act out, but we have to help them learn to behave better—all of them.”
“What did he say when you talked to him about it?” Ginny asked.
“I think he understood,” Cora said. “But impulse control doesn’t develop until they’re older teenagers. For now, I suspect that he’ll be prone to imitating a lot of what he sees.”
“You should talk to Jared about it,” Ginny said, nodding. “I’m sure he’ll want to help.”
Cora wasn’t so sure that Jared’s impulse control was really all that developed. But she bit back that response.
“We’ll be seeing less of him from now on,” she said instead. “He was very kind to help out with the house for a while, but we’re doing fine here now and I’m sure he has plenty of other things to keep him busy.”
“Cora,” Ginny said, sounding surprised. “Aren’t the two of you… seeing each other?”
“No,” Cora said quickly. “Of course not.”
“Why not?” Ginny asked. “And stop fussing with that tea. Come sit and talk to me.”
Cora put down the milk she had been pouring into the server and headed back to the table, wishing she could hide under it. How on earth was she supposed to talk to Arthur’s mother about dating another man?
She sat, and waited, looking down at her hands. But Ginny didn’t say a word.
“I still love Arthur,” Cora said at last, the words pouring out of her. “I think I always will. I thought you would understand that.”
“Of course I do,” Ginny said, covering Cora’s hands with one of her own and squeezing gently. “He was so special to us.”
They were quiet for a moment, and Cora breathed in the scent of the chamomile tea brewing and tried to memorize the warmth of her mother-in-law’s hand on hers. Losing Arthur had made her so aware of everything else in her life that she had to lose.
“When you called me that day,” Ginny said, softly as if she were trying not to wake their shared grief, “I couldn’t believe it. I thought I wouldn’t be able to take my next breath.”
She paused and Cora didn’t have to look up to know Ginny was fighting back tears. They had cried freely together so many times over the last two years.
If she was fighting the tears now, then there was something she badly wanted to say.
“But now that some time has passed, I’ve realized he wouldn’t want me home grieving,” Ginny said softly. “Arthur was a quiet man, but he lived out loud, didn’t he? He woke up every day ready to run. And he worked with all he had, and loved you and Sylvester with all his heart. He was careful, but once he knew what he wanted, he never went after it halfway.”
Cora smiled, though her own eyes were filling with tears now.
“He looked before he leaped, but wow did he leap,” Ginny went on. “Yes, letting something new into your life comes with risks. And yes, it could all be taken away tomorrow. But that’s not a reason to lock yourself up, Cora.”