Life, Etc. -- Thirty-six

Megan and Rachel walked back to the Book ‘n Brew.  “You know, Megan, I feel disloyal saying this, but since Dad left, Mother has been so much happier.  She is like a different person.”

Megan spoke cautiously, “And how do you feel about that?”

“I couldn’t be happier for her.  Actually, I feel happy down to my toes.” Rachel grinned.  “But I also feel guilty sometimes because it wasn’t like this when Dad lived with us.  He constantly talked about how awful the world is, and wives are working outside the home, and movies bring disobedience.  He was negative about everything.  Dad and Mom didn’t actually fight, but no one ever seemed happy.”

“Sometimes people begin their married lives as one person and change as they get older.”  Megan wanted to be careful not to sound disloyal to Roland Fisher.

“Well, I don’t think my father will ever change.  He’s always talked about loving God so much, but I don’t remember a time when he wasn’t angry about something--either at home or in the world as he called it.”  Rachael went on.  “Mother has changed though.  I don’t remember her being angry, but she looked sad so much of the time.  Now, even when she’s tired, she smiles.  I really hope this works out and Mother can begin a storefront bakery.  It would give her such a sense of independence.  And Mother needs that.”

“You, my dear,” Megan responded, “are very perceptive.  Yes, I agree, your mother needs a sense of independence, of becoming.”

“Yes, I like the way you say that—becoming.  Yeah, that’s it.”

They walked in the shop, and Christopher, hearing their voices, came to the front.  He smiled and turned his usual pink when he looked at Rachael.  “Hi, Megan.  Hi, Rachel.  So, what’s happening with the bakery?”

“Mom and Mr. Wilson are working on financial details right now.”  She hesitated, “Megan, since I’m here is there anything you need done?”

“Wow!  How about you guys just managing things and I’ll take the rest of the day off?”  Megan laughed.  “Actually, I’ll bet Christopher would appreciate help expanding the Children’s Section.  Danny’s story hour has been so popular I want to rearrange shelves so we can have more floor space for the children.”

          Christopher and Rachel disappeared to the back of the store.  Megan could hear them talking about their movie date that evening.

 

          A couple of hours later, the door of the Book ‘n Brew opened.  “Well, shake my hand.  I am now a business woman—a business woman with a building to house my business!”  

 

          “O Mom, that is so cool!”  Rachel ran from the back when she heard her mother's voice.  “So, when do we open?”

          “Well, lots of work remains—scrubbing, cleaning, tearing down a wall, painting. I also have to add ovens and a bigger work space in the kitchen.  And I need to think about décor in the storefront.”

          “You know, I’ll bet Diane would love to help with that.  Also Chloe might want to display some of her art. And I’ll give you the name of the man who coordinated my remodel project here.  I’ll also help with cleaning.”  Megan could feel the excitement she had when her own Book ‘n Brew project began.  It was exhausting but held such promise.

          “I am leasing the building—or at least the downstairs part of it.  I want to talk with the carpenter about expanding the kitchen, and the other room in the back can be used for storage.  I need to see the front door from the kitchen.”

          Megan went to her desk to get the card for the carpenter she’d hired for her remodel.

 

Isabelle followed her and sat down.  “You know, Megan, what happened today almost seemed too easy—discussing how I want to use the building, the rental cost, agreements in the lease.  It just kind of flowed--reminded me of a time Mother and I were in a canoe in Belize riding gently down a quiet stream.   Mother’s face looked so peaceful.  I just wish she were alive so I could tell her my plans.

Megan hugged her friend.  “I’ll bet she knows and is smiling ear to ear right now.”

“Curtis’s mother and I talked on the phone a bit as I worked out details with him.  She was so excited when I told her about my plans.”

“Isabelle, I suspect you’ve had a lot of years when you weren’t able to make decisions for yourself.  I read this morning:  'When life is in balance, a voice from our deepest part will validate us by saying ‘you can do it!’”  

To be continued...