“That’s a bad thing?” Arden laughed.
“Not usually on a honeymoon, but, for us, it was. We had nothing in common but our past. I’ve learned as a geriatric nurse that if you only focus on your past, you’re doomed. You have to honor your past but be focused on the future. You have to believe that there are always happier days to come.”
The words struck Arden in the heart, and she shut her eyes as Jake moved her across the small floor.
“I’m an ‘ex,’ too,” Arden whispered into his ear.
“Can’t spell ‘next’ without it,” he whispered back, holding her closely, until the music stopped. “Band’s taking a break.”
“Oh, my gosh, I’m so sorry,” Arden said, breaking free from his embrace. “I didn’t realize.”
“Seems like you enjoyed dancing,” Jake chuckled.
“Actually,” Arden said. “I did.”
Jake led Arden back to Lolly and Lauren’s table. “Thanks for letting me steal her. It was a lovely evening. I hope we can do it again soon.”
Silence gripped the table. “Tomorrow!” Lolly finally said. “You’re coming by Friday to make sure I’m alive, right? Even though it’s the start of the holiday weekend?”
Jake laughed heartily. “Wouldn’t miss it. Ladies, drive safely. And, Arden? I had a wonderful night.”
Arden’s face flushed, and she fidgeted with her eyeglasses.
“Me, too,” she replied softly.
The ride home was quiet, save for the chorus of early summer peepers that lived in the surrounding farms, fields, and ponds.
Another chorus greeted the Lindsey ladies as soon as they returned to the cabin and Lolly had turned off the Woodie’s engine.
Whooo-dooo-ooooh-ooooh!
Lolly smiled in the darkness and thought of her husband. “I’m wiped out, girls. Off to bed. I love you dearly.”
“Good night, Mom.”
“Good night, Grandma. Thanks for sharing your love story,” Lauren said, hugging her grandmother.
“My pleasure. Night night.”
A few seconds later, Arden and Lauren saw the lights in Lolly’s bedroom come on. The two remained quiet, watching the lake dance in the moonlight, until they could see Lolly crawl into bed and turn off the lights.
“She told you about your grandfather? And the loons?”
“She did. It is so beautiful, Mom. I hope we can both find that one day.”
Whooo-dooo-ooooh-ooooh!
“I’m sorry about my reaction today,” Arden said. “I just want to protect you.”
Her voice surprised the loons, and they took off running across the lake, before awkwardly lifting into the air.
“I know,” Lauren said, nodding at the loons. “But at some point, I just have to take off, like them, no matter how hard it might be to watch. I’ll either fall or fly.”
Arden took her daughter’s hand, Lauren’s bracelet jangling, and the two walked to the end of the dock and dangled their feet into the water, where they talked about first love, risk, and an ache that still called, like the haunting sounds of Fred and Ethel.
part seven
The Ice Cream Cone Charm
To a Sweet Life Filled with a Passion for What You Do
Twenty-four
“Good morning! Happy Memorial Day weekend!”
Lolly pulled an old ceramic mug dotted with blueberries from an open cupboard overflowing with mismatched cups and saucers, and filled Arden’s mug to the brim with coffee.
“How’d you sleep?” Lolly asked, looking at Arden and her white sweatshirt emblazoned with the slogan WE GIVE YOU THE STARS AND THE SWOON underneath the famed Paparazzi logo.
“Like a rock,” Arden replied, blowing on the steaming mug before taking a generous sip. “A rock that had three beers and danced with a complete stranger.”
Arden’s sweet, unguarded admission surprised Lolly and immediately sent her into a fit of giggles, which caused her arm to twitch and scatter the chocolate chips she was sprinkling into the pancake batter across the kitchen floor.
“Oh, my dear! I’m so proud of you. It feels good to have friends and a little fun again, doesn’t it?”
Arden took another sip of coffee and tilted her head, contemplating her mother’s words. “It does.”
Arden hesitated. “And I told Lauren about Clem yesterday, too.”
The new admission surprised Lolly again, causing her to smile brightly. “How did Lauren react?”
“She said she’d never felt closer to me,” Arden said, smiling. “I’m beginning to think she never thought I was human.” Arden’s words were tinged with the regret she felt for waiting so long to open up to her daughter.
Lolly turned to look at her daughter. “Every generation can benefit by learning from the one before,” she said, nodding toward Arden’s sweatshirt. “And I’m sorry to say you can seem closed-off at times, my dear. That job of yours takes up so much of your time and attention.”