“How’s things out at Medicine Creek?” Greta asked as she cut two large pieces of cake and set them on the tray.
“Fine. Greta, have you ever seen Wayne Poulin get any mail from away?”
Wayne had been boarding at Greta’s for nearly fifteen years, and Emma had been thinking about Wayne, and Kelly, and Ben’s letter.
“Sure. He gets lots of mail from away. He corresponds with other foresters all over the world. Why?”
“Would you have noticed if he ever got any mail that could have been from … from Kelly?”
Greta stopped fussing with her dishes and looked over at Emma, sorrow etching her aged face. “No, child. I know he’s said Kelly has written him, but I haven’t seen any letters like that.”
Emma shrugged. “I was just wondering.”
Greta walked over and set her hand on Emma’s shoulder. “Kelly would have written you, not Wayne. I don’t believe anything he’s said about her. He was mighty upset when she left, and he’s still telling people she’ll come back to him. It’s his pride speaking, Emma Jean.”
Emma nodded agreement. “I thought so. But I wondered.”
“Been shopping, I see,” Greta said as her foot touched the bags Emma had brought in. “What’d ya get?”
With a grand flourish, Emma picked up one of the bags and plopped it on the table. “When have I ever gone to Bangor and not brought something back for you?” she asked, reaching into the bag and leaving her hand there.
“Don’t tease me, Emma Jean. I’m too old for games.”
Emma scowled and pulled her hand back out. “Then you’re probably too old for what I brought you. I’ll just to give it to Mikey.”
Greta sat down and grabbed the bag. “That overgrown boy’s not getting my gift,” she scolded as she reached inside. She squealed when her hand came out gripping a book. “Stephen King’s newest! Oh boy. I’m gonna be scared silly tonight!”
Emma shook her head. “I don’t know how you can sleep in this creaky old house after reading his stuff.”
Greta was hugging the book to her bosom and grinning from ear to ear. “I met him once, you know.”
She’d heard this story a thousand times already,
but Emma dutifully answered the unspoken request. “Really?”
“Sable and I were shopping in that bookstore in downtown Bangor. You know, the one that has allhis books. And he was there! He autographed one for me and one for Sable.” Greta was positively glowing, her eyes shining as she tried to look knowledgeable. “He’s a regular person, you know. No airs about him. He walks around town as if he’s nobody.”
Emma reached for the pot of tea so she wouldn’t roll her eyes. “I didn’t sleep for a week when I read that book you lent me.”
Greta reached back in the bag and found the rest of her surprise—linen towels with moose on them. “Oh, Emma Jean, you shouldn’t have.”
Emma had intended to keep them, but on the flight home she had given herself a good talking to, reminding herself that old dreams were better left unresurrected.
“Oh, Em, they’re beautiful. They’re too nice to use, though.”
“You could cover your rising bread with them,” Emma suggested. “Or just hang them here in the kitchen for looks.”
Greta set the towels on the table and patted them as she leaned over and looked at the other bag on the floor. “What’s in that one?” she asked, raising her brow.
Emma picked up the shiny black plastic bag and sat it on her lap. “Um, I bought a dress. For the dance tonight.”
Silence stole across the table and Emma finally looked up to find Greta staring at her, utterly surprised. Then the old woman waved at Emma to show her the dress.
“By the color of your face, missy, I’d say this dress is not your usual style.” She cocked her head at her. “Or is it your date that’s got you blushing?”
Emma did roll her eyes then. Leave it to Greta to sink her teeth into the heart of the matter. “Mikey’s been visiting you.”
“With amazing tales about a long-lost father,” Greta confirmed with a nod. “He’s more excited than a cat stuck in a mouse hole.” She picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup. “Go on, Emma Jean,” she continued. “Show me the dress.”
“I … I’m not going to wear it. I don’t know what possessed me to buy it.”
“A good-looking man possessed you, if I remember Benjamin Sinclair.” She covered her cheeks with frail hands. “Land sakes, that boy was handsome.”
“He’s no longer a boy, Greta. He grew a foot taller and two feet wider, and he’s got a beard Paul Bunyan would envy.”
“You gonna pull that dress out, or are you trying to wrinkle it to death?”
Emma finally opened the bag and slowly pulled out the scarlet sheath she had purchased.
“Oh my.”
Determined to show just how silly she was, Emma held the dress up to her chest. It wasn’t all that long on the bottom, and not too tall on the top, either. It was cut low in the back and held up by two narrow straps.
“Stand up and show me,” Greta demanded, motioning with her hand and standing herself. “Oh Lord, that’s a sight I’ve waited years to see.”
“What?”
Walking around the table and taking the dress to hold it up to Emma’s shoulders, Greta smiled and shook her head. Emma stared at the woman who came up to her chin, and swore under her breath when she noticed the sheen in her friend’s eyes.
“I’ve been waiting twenty-four years for you to come to your senses, Emma Jean. This is you. The real you. This dress was made for your beauty.”
Emma snorted and sat back down. “I was temporarily insane when I bought it. That is notme. I’m flannel and denim and hiking boots.”
Greta reached into the bag and pulled out the matching shoes. “These could have been a bit taller in the heel,” she said with a sigh. “But I suppose anything sexier and you would have broken your neck.”
“I’m not wearing the dress, Greta.”
“Of course you are, child. And you’ll put your hair up all nice and feminine-like, and you’ll wear your mother’s pearls.”
Emma gave her a horrified look. “I’ll be laughed right out of the dance hall!”
“Oh, posh. It’s time the menfolk around here got woken up.” Greta laid the dress over a chair and sat down. “It’s about time youwoke up.”
“I’ll look like I’m trying to impress … people.”
“Not people, Emma Jean. Just one man.”
“I sure as heck don’t want to impress Ben.” She sat her cup in the saucer with a clink. “Are you forgetting everything he’s done?”
Greta stared at her. “What has he done, exactly?”
“He got my sister pregnant and then walked away.”
“Did he? According to Michael, Ben Sinclair walked away from a confused young girl, not a pregnant one. He didn’t know, Emma. That makes a mighty big difference in my book.”
“Rumor has it he blew up the dam.”
All Emma got for that unworthy statement was a good glare.
“He’s going to cause trouble, Greta. And he’s going to take Mikey away.”
“Maybe not.” The old woman smiled at her. “Once he sees you in that dress.”
“Greta!”
“Oh, eat your cake, Emma Jean.”
Emma picked up her fork and drove it rather forcefully into the huge piece of cake. But she didn’t get the dessert halfway to her mouth before the back door slammed open and Mikey walked in.
“I’m here, Aunt Greta. What’s to eat?” he hollered to the entire house. “Oh. Hi, Nem. Back from your pilgrimage already?”
“That’s no way to come barging in here. And wipe your feet,” Emma said.
With the negligence of a teenager, he made a showing of scuffing his feet on the rug before he sauntered up to the table and examined its contents. He reached to pull out a chair, but stopped when his hand landed on the dress.