“You’ll get no denial from me,” Sara replied, inhaling slowly, deeply of the fragranced air of newly mowed grass, so thankful she’d found the strength she hadn’t been aware she had.
Dana turned her brown eyes to Sara. They were warm and bright. “You look like her, but you also have your father’s chin and eyes and his quiet manner. I’ve always found the ones that are the quietest make the most of their words when they do talk.”
Sara smiled, touching the cross necklace she wore around her neck, thinking of her parents and her husband. “Cole was like that. He didn’t have to say much to get his point across.”
“I met him.”
She blinked, surprised. “You did?”
“At your wedding. I’m not surprised you don’t remember. You only had eyes for him. But his brother, I remember, only had eyes for you. Cole was the embodiment of happiness and his brother was a perfect imitation of brooding. Except when you looked at him. Then he lit up.”
Sara shifted, suddenly hotter than she’d been a moment before. She hated knowing Lincoln had been loving her and hurting because of it, for so long. It made her feel guilty, though she’d had no idea of his feelings for her at the time. But Cole had known. That must have twisted him up inside. Sara hung her head and rubbed her forehead, weary of the past.
“Don’t feel remorseful. We don’t choose who we love. Love chooses us. You love him now. That’s all that matters.”
Sara reached over and took Dana’s leathery hand, squeezing it. “I’m not ready to go, not yet. I want to spend a little more time with you, if that’s okay?”
Dana’s eyes watered and she hastily swiped a hand across them, scowling. “If you really think you need to. What’s an old lady got that a young strapping man doesn’t?”
A smile teased Sara’s lips. “Well, for the moment…me. If you’ll let me stay.”
“Of course I’ll let you stay,” Dana replied gruffly. “I expect you to bring your man friend around sometime too so I drool over him. I don’t get much action these days.”
“Deal.” Laughing, Sara got to her feet and helped Dana up, then reached down to fold up the blanket. She tucked it under her arm, saying, “Much action?”
“Never you mind. Come on. You can help me oversee the cleaning ladies. I think one of them has been snitching soap and I aim to catch the thief.” Her eyes sparkled in anticipation and Sara laughed again, wrapping her arm around Dana’s thin shoulders as they walked back to the red and brown brick rambling structure called Newman Motel.
18
“I expect you to visit within the next few months. I’ve gotten used to you being around. I also need my eye candy fix and your Lincoln will do.”
Sara put the last of her bags in the trunk of the Pontiac and closed it, turning to lean her hips against it. She crossed her arms, squinting under the glare of the August sun. A smile on her lips, she met the fluorescent pink and orange clothed Dana head on. Her hair was teased exceptionally high today in honor of Sara’s departure.
“My Lincoln?”
“Well, he isn’t mine and I know he isn’t anyone else’s. Boy calls every day and says nothing. Crazy lovesick fool.” Dana shook her head, but a smile curved her lips. “He’s yours,” she said definitively.
Warmth trickled through her at the thought. She hoped he was. The phone calls hadn’t ceased as the time had drawn out, giving her encouragement that Lincoln loved her still, that maybe, even though it wasn’t right of her to expect or want him to, he was waiting for her. She felt like she’d been waiting for him for so long as well.
“I promise I will be here within one month, not two. I’ll miss seeing you too much if I go any longer than that. Maybe you could come visit me in Boscobel as well.”
Dana dabbed at her eyes with a wadded up tissue, smearing her makeup. “Well. If you insist.”
Sara reached over to wrap her in a tight hug. Dana’s flowery scent amplified with her nearness and caused a small twinge of homesickness for her in Sara’s chest even though she hadn’t left yet. Sara vowed, “I do.”
The wind blew, scattering fallen leaves and waving tree limbs as though Waupun was saying its own farewell to Sara. She smiled, feeling a closure she hadn’t known was possible. This time away had healed her; not completely, but enough.
“I’m old, Sara. I’ve known a lot of people. I’ve loved a lot. Hell, I’ve married a lot. But you,” Dana patted her cheek, “you’re my girl. I’m glad you picked up the phone and decided to call me. I think I got as much out of our time together as you did, if not more. I always wanted a daughter. You’ll do.”
“Only I’m more like a granddaughter,” Sara teased around the tears burning her eyes.
“Hush,” Dana said, reaching up to kiss Sara’s cheek, her lips papery thin and cool. “I didn’t say how old I was.”
“I’ll call you,” Sara promised, unable to resist the pull to hug her friend once more. She kissed her tight cheek, already missing her.