Kendy
I nish emptying the ishwasher an snap the oor into place, contemplating only one glorious thought: The thir Monay o July has nally arrive. For months now, that ate has been
circle on the colorul rooster calenar hanging in the launry
room. I’ve anticipate it almost as much as I’ve anticipate
next Saturay, the ay our only chil is to be marrie.
Maisey an our uture son-in-law shoul be here by six,
reay to sit aroun the kitchen table, enjoying goo oo an
the rest that comes rom being in the presence o those we
love.
I’m setting veggies on the counter when Luke, most
CHAPTER ONE
10
JackinaS tark
helpul o husbans, comes in with the lettuce I orgot when
I bought out the store this morning. He’s talking on his
cell phone but manages a smile as he hans me the plastic
sack.
Is that sympathy I see in his warm brown eyes?
My heart braces itsel.
“Well, be sae,” he says, “an we’ll just see you when you
get here, then.”
He isconnects an shoves his phone into his pocket. “Best
lai plans. They’re getting a late start. Apparently Maisey in’t
get away rom work as soon as she intene.”
“I in’t think she was going in toay.”
“Something came up, I guess. I oubt they’ll be here be-
ore ten.”
I gather the little troop o green onions, carrots, raishes,
celery, an tomatoes that I’ve just eposite on the counter
an return them to the rerigerator. “We can save the sala or tomorrow,” I say. “The pie’s mae; maybe they’ll want a snack when they get here.”
How’s that or a semblance o cheerul acceptance?
Luke smiles again as though he has rea my min.
As a rule, I’ve become pretty goo at acceptance—it’s
calle sel-preservation. It’s also an answer to one o my re-
quently borrowe prayers: “Help me accept the things I can-
not change.” despite the act that Niebuhr’s entire Serenity
Prayer is hanging on my beroom wall, I’m not sure I’ll be able
to attain acceptance on such short notice, not this particular
aternoon.
Luke has bounce back nicely, though. He says the elay
will give him time to clean up his esk properly, an beore
I’ve shut the rerigerator oor, he’s heaing or his home oce.
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