Do you remember making gum wrapper chains when you were a kid? If not, have you seen the movie 28 Days with Sandra Bullock? Hold that thought. I'll get back to it. During the summer, I have found that I tend to do more crafts than other times of the year. I finished an afghan I started at Christmas time. A friend taught me how to make rag rugs that are really easy and durable. I crocheted door mat and a tote bag out of plastic grocery bags. I love the idea of getting something for nothi...
Heat in Iowa is oppressive. Heat in Maryland is demoralizing. Heat in moister regions of the country is a sticky, wet violation, like the frotteur on a crowded bus. In Arizona, yes, it's really, really freaking hot, and yes, it's a dry heat. Arizona heat is more like an overbearing co-worker who stands a little too close and talks a little too loud. One can easily escape. It's not the heat, it's the light. The light is unforgiving. Every flaw is on display. It's surgery lighting, dentist chai...
Tom returned to Two Rivers late the next night. When Lily woke up she saw his sorry looking little pick up in the yard and the storm flag up. Jared and Anna had planned on inviting friends over that afternoon, so they were pouting. “Why can’t we at least have a TV like normal people?” Jared demanded. “Mr. Abbot says it lowers your IQ, and you can’t afford that,” Anna taunted. “Shut up.” “You shut up.” Lily had had enough drama to last her at least a month, so of course, Frank chose th...
Azalea showed up at the kitchen door one afternoon with Suzie on her hip. Once again she had been crying herself blotchy. “Geez, Zaya, two words: waterproof mascara.” Azalea laughed in spite of herself. When Lily had seen to it that Frank’s needs were net for the time being, she brewed some red bush tea for herself and her sister and made toast and apple juice for her niece. The sisters sat quietly for a long time and Lily fought the urge to start the conversation. Finally, Azalea took a...
“I don’t swim,” Frank told Lily. “Ridiculous. How can you have that beautiful pool in your backyard and not swim? It would be the best thing for you.” “I said I don’t swim,” he repeated emphatically. “Why?” Lily persisted. “None of your darn business.” Lily dropped it for the day. She would talk to Tom or Claudia and get them to tag team Frank until he agreed to get his sorry old joints into the pool. It would be the best physical therapy imaginable, one that was not feasible for most fo...
The swimming season in Lake Michigan is very short. Young Frank rarely wasted a day of it. Frank’s father decided to build him the pool house when he realized that his son was not only enthusiastic about swimming, he was also fast. The pool house was a great glass greenhouse that not only housed potted citrus trees and other food producing plants, it also contained a beautiful black and white tiled swimming pool. It was the length of a competition pool but only about six feet wide. That was...
Lily scheduled a working lunch with Arthur to crunch numbers and to get his advice. That evening, she discussed with Anna and Jared her decision to take the job. As expected, Jared was petulant and Anna tried to compensate by being perfect and perky. Anna’s hands were getting chapped from too much washing, but that was a worry for another day. The following Sunday, she summoned “the fam” for dinner and cards so she could break the news. As expected, everybody already knew. “Well, I think i...
Lily parked in the circular drive and pulled the antique doorbell. She was greeted by a sweet-faced, white haired woman. Although she had to be over eighty years old, with a tell-tale osteoporosis hump, her face was smooth. Aside from a few crinkles at the eyes when she smiled, this woman was wrinkle-free. She must have been quite a looker in her prime. The old woman looked at Lily and said, “You must be the care-giver that Bellin sent.” “Yes, Ma’am. I’m Lily Costello.” “And well brought-...
Monday, Lily slept. She slept like a dead thing. She awoke refreshed and realized that she was deeply relieved. She had hated every minute of what the children called the Baby-Man job. Most nights there was nothing to do. She would clean the apartment quickly and then turn her attention to whatever she had brought in her tote bag to do. She knitted socks and scarves. She did all of her holiday baking and candy making. Shopped online. She did all of her studying at work. The first few months...
Camellia was a dancer. She rose through the corps de ballet and became a soloist with the Chicago Ballet. This is where Arthur Rose first saw her and felt a powerful sense of déjà vu. When she appeared at church the very next morning, he knew that she would be his wife. Sometimes Arthur thought that she had married him for his floral surname. It was only when she was dancing that he glimpsed the ecstasy of which she was capable. Camellia Rose continued to dance until the first pregnancy showe...
“You can’t afford me. I’m moving to Arizona to live with Dad.” Jared had barely allowed Lily to get out of the car in Violet’s driveway before he made this announcement. This she did not need. “Stow it, Jared. You can express your adolescent angst later.” She knew it was the wrong way to deal with him. Parenting experts would be appalled. Too bad. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he countered. Lily bent so that her nose was nearly brushing his and growled, “Look it up.” Which of course mad...
“Here Honey, I circled these for you.” Iris handed Lily the Help Wanted ads in the Sunday Press-Gazette. “Wow, Iris, that’s great! I lost my job less than five hours ago and you’ve already found me a new one. Here’s the muffin tin I borrowed; it’s been in my car for weeks. So who ratted me out?” “Mother called. I’m just trying to help. Heaven knows you can’t count on Derek to come through.” “Can we let Derek off the hook for this one?” “Well if he was working, you and the kids would be s...
Lily was at the sink when Derek came in, slipped his arms around her waist and started nibbling her neck. “Did you come home for a little matinee d’amour?” she asked. “If that’s French for a nooner, then yes.” He took her hands and led her upstairs. Their choreography had been developed over thirteen years of marriage. Twenty minutes later the phone rang. Arthur’s office was on the caller ID. “Don’t answer that!” Derek said a little too sharply. “It’s Dad. Maybe they need you back at ...
Lily couldn’t talk to Azalea right now; she wanted to kick Azalea right in the ass. Sam had pulled up at 6:30 that morning and honked the horn. Azalea had scooped up Susie and run out to him. Violet would be full of advice and Iris would rail. She needed somebody reasonable to talk to. “Hello, Mother. Is Dad around?” “Yes he is, Lily, why do you want him?” Lily really did not need “the Drama from the Mama” right now. “I have an investment question.” “On the Sabbath?” “Can I talk to D...
“Did everyone sign in? Good.” Sandy stood in the living room of Capable Living’s headquarters. The employees sat on the furniture or the floor depending on who arrived before whom. Sandy stared at her clipboard for several minutes before she began, “Capable Living has changed hands. The parent company Sunny View sold Capable Living to an HMO out of Wausau. The new owners are bringing in their own caregivers for the second shift.” There was a general outcry. Lily raised her hand, “Sandy you...