Life, Etc. -- Twenty-nine

After Emily left for school the next morning, Megan found herself again on the deck overlooking the early budding trees of Mrs. Elsworth’s grand yard.  She couldn’t believe how at home she felt in this town that only a few years ago had been completely unknown to her.  She felt new inspiration as the year began its march into spring.  In a couple of weeks, with inventory completed, and now with Chloe’s paintings decorating the walls, Megan felt fresh energy and a sense of hopefulness and gratitude filling her very soul.  Her inspiration was interrupted as the doorbell sounded downstairs.  Who could be coming so early?  It was just after 8 a.m.

When Megan opened the door Stephen stood with his arms out.  “Megan, I just had to say one last goodbye,” as he wrapped his arms around her.

 

“I wanted to see you again, but I didn’t want to cry.  I’m going to miss you so much!”  Megan’s voice caught and her eyes filled with tears.

 

“We will keep in touch!  I promise!  I can’t stay.  Thank you again for the incredible support you’ve been.”  They stood for another few seconds and then Stephen kissed Megan’s forehead—a lovely brotherly sentiment.  He turned and got into the truck and waved as he drove away.  Megan stood watching the exhaust in the cool morning.  Sadness filled her as she walked back upstairs to prepare for work.

That afternoon Rachel began the yearly inventory.  After a few instructions, and with the help of Christopher, the two were soon at work.

 

Megan looked up as Rachel approached.  “Books have the greatest smell!” Rachel said with enthusiasm.

 

“You’re a woman after my own heart!  I think that’s why I had to fulfill my dream of owning a bookshop.  I can detect the presence of books a mile away! So, how do you feel after an afternoon of hard work?”

“It was fun, and Chris is a good teacher.” Rachel said with the slightest pink tinge in her cheeks.  “But there is a lot more to do.”

“If you keep up at this pace, we’ll finish in plenty of time.  Want to have a pastry before you leave?”  Just then Christopher came up with a tray of juice and pastries for each of them.

 

“Your humble servant is here to do your bidding.”  Megan and Rachel rolled their eyes as they reached for one of Isabelle’s goodies.

They turned as the door opened and Isabelle walked in.  “Well, look who’s here!  And what a grin—are you the cat that swallowed the mouse, Isabelle?”

“Do you have a few minutes, Megan?  I want to talk with you.”  Isabelle continued to smile, but Megan could see she was also serious.

“Sure—hey, Guys.  Watch things for me until closing, and I’ll be back, OK?  I'll make some tea.”

 

They stepped into the kitchen and Isabelle squealed!  “Megan, I got my check from the insurance company today!”  Isabelle could hardly contain herself.  “It's for $75,000!”

Megan stood openmouthed.  “That’s fantastic!  So, what are your plans?”

“To be perfectly honest, I’d almost forgotten about it.  I assumed it might be just a minimal figure.  But now I have all kinds of thoughts going around in my head.”  Isabelle’s face glowed with possibilities.  “Do I consider living arrangements—a place to have a bigger kitchen?  Do I rent a building and start a bakery?”

“Probably the best thing is to sleep on these ideas.  Your head will be clearer in the morning.”

“Ah,” Isabelle began hesitantly, “I think I should probably keep this quiet.  I mean, if Roland ever found out, he’d be here in a flash!  This will help Rachel and me put together a future.”

“Absolutely!—I will not say a word.  So, let’s quietly celebrate with you and Rachel having dinner with Emily and me tonight.  We don’t need to say anything except perhaps clink our glasses and wink at each other—our victory sign!”

 

To be continued...

Life, Etc. -- Twenty-eight

“Hey, Kiddo, you sound like you’re having fun.  What’s up?”

“Mom, Mrs. Donnelly asked me to stay for dinner," Emily answered excitedly.  "They’re having pizza!  And we’re going to watch a movie.  I’ll be home by 8 o’clock.  I can stay, can't I?”

“Sounds like fun.  You have a good time—and help clean up, OK?”

“Of course, Mother.”  Megan always knew she’d pushed her daughter’s buttons when Emily called her “Mother” in that don’t-you-think-I-know-anything tone of voice.

“See you by 8, then.”  Megan hung up the phone and decided she’d check on Diane's boys.  They were sitting like statues watching Up, a recently released DVD.

 

As she walked toward the kitchen door, her friends were coming in from the patio.  “It’s starting to get a bit chilly,” Diane said as she shivered.

 

“How about a warm cup of tea?” Megan did not want them to leave.

 

Stephen hesitated.  “I really have to get home and finish packing.  I’m headed to Portland on Tuesday.  Michael’s moving van is arriving there on Wednesday.  I’m renting a U-Haul truck to Portland and towing my car behind it.”

“Could we come over and help you?” Diane asked with enthusiasm.  “Just what you need—three women going through your things.”  They all laughed.

“I appreciate your offer, but I’m organizing what I’ll need in Binghamton, and what will go in storage, etc.  I think I’d better do this myself.”

“OK, but come over for dinner tomorrow night.  In fact, you can all come.”  Megan wasn’t ready to disconnect from her friends.

Diane spoke up first.  “I can’t.  I’ve got a conference call tomorrow evening.  In fact, Kaitlin is babysitting so I won’t be interrupted.”

And I am baking all day.  Got a big order from the bakery in Eugene,” Isabelle followed.

“Well, I’ll say goodbye to you both now.”  Stephen stepped forward to give them each a hug.  He again expressed his appreciation for their support.

Just then Jeremy and Jordan came bounding into the kitchen.  “OK, Guys, let’s get everything put back together and head out,” said Diane, though she, too, was reluctant to leave.

Monday slipped by quickly with much accomplished.  Megan called Rachael and set up times she would come in to work.  As she closed her cell phone, she glanced at Chris.  “You’re as lit up as a Christmas tree, Chris!  What’s that all about?”

“O nothing,” Chris suddenly looked shy and embarrassed.

“Would I be too far off base if I suggested that you’re happy that Rachael will be working with you on inventory?”

 

“O come on--no, of course not.  Well, I mean it will be nice to have help, but I don’t care who it is.”  Megan heard not one ounce of honesty in his voice.

“Christopher!”  Megan almost shouted.  “Rachael is the girl you’re ‘in like’ with, am I right?”

Suddenly Chris’s face turned three shades of red.  “OK, so I think she’s pretty hot.  Well, she is friendly, and really cute!”  The more he spoke, the more his face brightened.

“Chris, you need cold towels on your face or you’re going to pass out!”  Megan found more and more reason to enjoy Chris.  In some ways he was so grown up, but at times like this, he was the 17 year old that she wanted to squeeze.

                              

Just after Megan closed the shop and went upstairs, she heard Stephen open the door and come bounding up the steps.  It felt good to have a friend who felt comfortable enough with their relationship that he could come right in without knocking—if only he weren’t leaving tomorrow.  “You’ve got a lot of energy after working on your packing all day.  Have you cleaned out your office at the church?”

“Everything is done.  I hadn’t really settled in to my church office.  I did much of my work at home.  I mostly used the church to meet with parishioners, so I hadn’t accumulated much there.

“I do have a few plants.  They’re in my car.  Would you like them?  Nothing fancy—just a couple of ivy and a philodendron.”

“Yes, thank you.  I love house plants—OK, not all plants like me, but I’ll give them a try.  I could also use them in the shop.”

 

 After dinner, Stephen and Megan took their coffee into the living room.  While Emily finished her homework, they chatted about possibilities for future visits.

“You know what would be fun, Megan,” Stephan said with a twinkle in his eye, “perhaps we could plan a trip together someplace!”

“Stephen, don’t suggest such a thing unless you’re serious.”  Megan didn’t like to travel alone, but the thought of accompanying Stephen might be the incentive she needed to begin an itinerary.  “I think that’s a great idea, but I can’t get away right now, and you have lots to sort through.  But let’s stay in touch with the idea!”

At 9 o’clock, Stephen left.  He wanted to get a good night’s sleep so he could take off early in the morning.  Chris had helped load his few pieces of furniture and boxes, and tomorrow he’d “slip in his toothbrush.”

Yes, thought Megan, pretty soon he’d be gone.

To be continued...

Life, Etc. -- Twenty-seven

After the last of the members left the church, the elders looked around uncomfortably and one-by-one left.  Isabelle, Diane, and Megan rose from their pew.  Stephen walked toward them and each of the women reached out to hug him.

Megan, feeling a distinct need for comic relief, said, “I think this calls for a drink!”  They all laughed and felt the tension lessen.  “Who can come to my place while I throw together some spaghetti?”

          “I’m not sure my stomach will take any food right now, but the company will be great!”  Stephen’s face looked ashen.

“Emily is spending the day with Kelli.  Where’s Rachael, Isabelle?”

“Well,” began Isabelle, “Rachael asked me if she could stay home from church today.  I think she felt guilty that I was attending alone, but she’s getting to the age where she has to make some choices of her own.  None of us fared well in that department when Roland was with us.  Anyway, she’s doing some homework.  They’re really working her at high school—and she loves it!”

“I’m no parent,” said Stephen, “but I do think it’s important for kids to make some choices.  I’m happy she’s making friends and enjoying school so much!”

                               

Once at Megan’s, they all pitched in and created a more than edible meal.  The downstairs door bell rang and Stephen offered to go down as Diane, Jeremy and Jordan started up the steps.  “Hi, Boys—hope you like spaghetti!”

“Cool, I love it!” Jordan’s face lit up.  “Mom brought some rolls.”

The boys headed into the living room with their kids’ DVDs.  “Not until after lunch, Guys!” Diane yelled as they ran past.

They talked and laughed as they finished lunch preparations.  The earlier tension Stephen felt had dissipated.

With everyone seated, Stephen offered a prayer of gratitude for his friends that he would now be leaving.  Megan felt tears well up in her eyes.  She realized that Stephen’s friendship felt even deeper knowing it would never be romantic.

After lunch, Jeremy and Jordan asked to be excused to watch a movie.  Megan suggested they all take their coffee out onto the deck—after all, 55 degrees didn’t often happen this early in the year.

 

Stephen shared in more detail his upcoming plans.  A sense of melancholy permeated the small group, but they also believed that he was doing what he needed to do.  “OK, enough focus on me.  Isabelle, have you heard from Roland?” 

Megan observed the ease with which her friends moved from one subject to another.  It had been a long time since she’d had such intimate friendships.

“Yes, I got a letter from him a couple of days ago.  He’s insisting that we join him—it’s my Christian duty, etc.  I decided to wait a day or two to respond, but I plan to get a letter off to him tonight saying that I will not be moving from here.”

Megan couldn’t hold back.  “Isabelle, I am really proud of you.  It takes a lot of courage to hold your ground.  I believe your mother’s letter has had more affect on you than you realize.”

“I’ve thought so much about my mother in the last few weeks.  I’ve been reading—finally got myself a library card and I’m checking out books on indigenous beliefs.   They are fascinating.  I’m amazed how much similarity there is with Mayan beliefs.”  Isabelle looked over at Stephen whose eyes stared off as if he were miles away.  “Stephen, I hope I’m not offending you.”

Stephen looked back quickly toward the group. “Absolutely not!” he responded with enthusiasm.  “I’ve had a major problem with the narrow belief system I've been a part of as I’ve tried to deal with my own personal challenges.  It’s as if Christianity has taken very good values, but put them into such a narrow structure—so that in order to fit, our lives must be lived within the smallest framework possible.  Then you have hundreds of different Protestant belief systems and that alone makes each system smaller yet.”

Megan blurted out, “Stephen, how in the hell—pardon my language—have you remained in such a narrow belief system for so long?”

Stephen sighed and drew in a deep breath before responding.  “The more conservative the belief system, the easier it is to hide.”

Megan and Diane looked at Stephen.  Isabelle gave him an affirming look and said, “Stephen is so right.  I believe there are wonderful and very sincere people within Christianity—people who need structure in their lives.  And as a result of that structure they learn to live good, caring and compassionate lives.  But there are also people who use the rules to hide from issues—abuses, addictions, etc.  As long as they follow the rules, there is no need to look deeper.”

Diane and Megan sat taking in what they heard.  Could this actually be coming from the pastor and head elder’s wife?

 

Isabelle continued.  “Much of Christianity teaches that we are born sinners; that we are nothing without Christ, yet when we follow the rules we still cannot acknowledge any personal value.  They preach about the power of the Holy Spirit, but if that isn’t God-ness or, at the very least, goodness within us, what is?”

Just then Megan heard the phone.  She excused herself and went into the kitchen.  Damn, why the interruption when the conversation was just getting interesting?  Megan picked up the receiver and heard Emily’s laughter.

To be continued...

Life, Etc. -- Twenty-six

         Sunday morning Megan drove Emily to Kelli’s and then picked Diane up and they headed for Sunset Baptist Church.  Once in the sanctuary they were surprised to see the very casual wear of the parishioners.

 

Megan looked around.  Dark walnut pews held about 70 people.  A large wooden cross hung at the back of the pulpit, and a beautifully carved speaker’s stand stood to the left.  A choir loft completed the area at the front.  Small stained glass windows lined the sides of the room.

Weddings, funerals and a few Christmas programs dotted Megan’s memories of adult church attendance.  While friends with many who faithfully went to church, Megan herself felt claustrophobic in the environment.  But today it was for Stephen.

Diane and Megan saw Isabelle and waved.  She quickly walked over to her friends.  “What in the world are you doing here?  Aren’t you afraid the roof will fall in?”  Isabelle laughed at her own joke.  Megan and Diane smiled at one another and then back to Isabelle—so pleased that she could make a joke like that.

          “We’re here to listen and support Stephen.  Can we sit with you?”

          “Of course,” and in a whisper she added, “now that Roland isn’t here, I usually sit toward the back.  He always wanted me to be front and center.  I hated that!”

          The women settled in their places as the service began.  After the opening hymn and special music, Stephen walked to the pulpit.

          “Good Morning, Friends," he began.  For several minutes he spoke of a loving Jesus, giving examples of his outreach to those who were considered not acceptable to others.  Then he hesitated for several seconds, and with a change to a more serious demeanor, he continued.  "I have spent many hours thinking and praying about how I want to address you this morning.  As most of you probably already know, I've sent letters to the Church Board stating that I am resigning my position here as your pastor.”  Surprised looks showed on a few faces.  Stephen continued, “Today is my last Sunday here with you.  I will truly miss you because I’ve come to admire you for the way you reach out to others as Jesus did; the way you conduct yourself in business and community services; the way you care for members of this family.

          “I have felt respect from many of you I’ve come to know.  However, my reason for leaving will present you with a new challenge.  Fellow Christians, I am gay.”  Megan could see his hands tightly holding the sides of the pulpit. 

 

“I have been living a lie, and I cannot live a life of integrity if I am living a lie.  I’ve been aware of my sexual orientation since puberty, but any church I attended, at best, called us sinners.  So, in order to be accepted, I kept it hidden.  I married a wonderful woman because I thought the issue was about changing me.  Then I came here after my divorce because I thought living singly would make it all right.  But I still have to face myself in the mirror each day.

          “Christianity is about knowing Jesus as my Savior, and following the commandments He gave of loving the Lord my God and my neighbor as myself but that all is intermingled with living a life of integrity.

          “I know the position conservative Christianity takes regarding homosexuality.  Therefore my resignation will allow you to find someone to replace me whose beliefs follow this community’s position.  I sincerely thank you for your kindnesses and wish you all well.”

          Stephen sat down as an elder uncomfortably came to the pulpit to announce the closing hymn.  The organ began and several families rose and walked toward the rear of the sanctuary.  Megan glanced up at Stephen watching the people walk out of the church door.  Pain shrouded his face.

After the hymn and final prayer, Stephen and the elders followed their usual practice of walking to the rear of the sanctuary to shake hands as members left the service.  Row by row the congregation walked toward Stephen.  Many shook his hand and several older women reached up to hug him.  But many walked swiftly past him.

To be continued...

Life, Etc. -- Twenty-five

The next morning Megan opened the shop door as Stephen stepped out of his car.  “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you!  Come on in and we’ll have some coffee and one of Isabelle’s delicious pastries.”

Stephen smiled and gave her a hug as he entered.  “Is anyone else here, Megan?”

“No just me, Moscato and Gilly.  Is there a problem?”

“I just want to thank you again for last night, Megan.  I called Michael when I got home.  He has suggested that perhaps I think about doing some traveling before settling down.  So I came by to tell you that I will be leaving here as I planned.  However, once I get myself settled in New York, I’m making my trip to Italy.  I have a lot of thinking to do, and need a clear head to make some decisions for my life.  Can you think of any place better than Venice and Florence for that?”

“Are you sure you needed to tell me all this, or are you just gloating?” Megan smiled as she grabbed his hand across the bistro table.  “I think it’s absolutely wonderful!  You do need time.  However, I don’t want you to feel badly that others who care very much about you have to endure the cold, gray skies of Oregon winter.”

“Sorry, Megan, that’s pure jealousy coming out.  I’d see a counselor if I were you.”  They laughed together and it felt good.

Just then Isabelle entered the shop.  “It’s good to see you my Friend.  Come join Stephen and me.  Want some coffee?”  Megan stood up to hug her friend.

“I’d love some.  I’ve been up since early this morning baking.  I haven’t had a chance to thank you for Rachel’s clothes.  She loves them, and I think they’ve changed her personality.”

“Rachel and Kaitlin had a great time shopping.  Reminds me of what I’ll be doing with Emily in a few years.”

“When will Rachel work to pay them off?”  Isabelle wanted to be sure Megan followed through on her work-for-clothes exchange.  Megan had already done so much for them.

“Really, Isabelle, I do need help, and I’ll call in a few days when I get more organized.”

“Megan tells me that you’re baking up a storm with several customers already, Isabelle.  That’s great!”  Stephen hesitated.  “Ah, have you heard that I’ve resigned at Sunset Baptist?”

Isabelle looked shocked, and tears welled up in her eyes.  “What?  Why?  Did you hear from Roland?”

“No, no, Isabelle.  I’ll explain it all in Sunday’s sermon.”

“Stephen, you’ve been so supportive of me.  I want to wish you the very best.”

“Goodness, I’ve got to get going.  I’ll leave these pastries, and I’m off to Eugene for another delivery.”

After Isabelle left, both Stephen and Megan spoke at once and laughed—something they did so easily together.  “OK, you go first, Stephen.”

“I cannot get over the change in Isabelle.  She has personality, her face lights up just looking at people, she’s articulate, and even her clothes seem different.  She has color inside and out.  You and Diane are her saviors.”

“No, I think we both hoped there was some light left in her after all her years of deprivation.  She is an incredible woman—and after hearing her story, I’d say she comes from pretty courageous stock.  Isabelle shared with Diane and me some things about her mother.

“So, when do you take off?”  Megan wanted to know but didn’t want to know.  She’d miss him terribly.

“This Sunday is my last sermon.  I’m going to haul my things up to Michael’s and they’ll be put on his moving van to Binghamton.”

Megan looked at him with sadness.  “How do you plan to tell your

congregation?”

“I’m going to be honest with them.  It’s not an easy subject to

approach under the best of circumstances, and I’m sure many won’t understand, but I’ve been living a lie too long.

 

          “Stephen, I haven’t been to church in years, and have no desire to begin, but would you mind if I come? You’ll know you have one no-holds-barred supporter.”

          “I’d love that, and to be perfectly honest, I hoped you’d suggest it.”

          Stephen left and Megan called Diane.  She answered after the third ring.  “Good, I’m glad I got a hold of you, Diane.  I haven’t seen you in a few days.  Is everything OK?”

          “Jeremy has a bad cold.  He’s home from school today, but if I have to put a faucet on his nose, I’m sending him back tomorrow!  What’s up with you?”

          “Well, I have a favor to ask.  Would you go with me to hear Stephen’s last sermon this Sunday?”

          Megan could hear Diane’s intake of breath.  “Well, I’ll respond with two questions.  First, you’re going to church?  And, why is it his last sermon?”

          “Well, Stephen has resigned at Sunset Baptist and is leaving town, but I’d like you to hear it all from him on Sunday.  Willing to go with me?”

          “Sure.  I think I can.  Let me check on a babysitter for a couple of hours.  What time does the service begin?”

          To be continued...

         

Life, Etc. -- Twenty-four

Just before 6, the bell rang and Emily ran downstairs to answer.  She liked this pastor friend of her mother’s. 

During dinner, they all chatted easily.  Emily talked about The Curse of Addy McMahon, a book she’d just begun.  “It’s by Katie Davis,” Emily proudly announced.

Stephen, obviously impressed with this precocious 10 year old said, “Wow, Emily, I’m not sure I ever knew the authors of books I read at your age!”

“Well, your mother probably didn’t own a book store,” she responded mischievously.

   

Megan promised Emily one game of Rummi Kube before bedtime, and then she could read for half an hour before lights out.

 

After Emily said good night, they settled with cups of tea in the living room.  Megan could feel Stephen tense.  Since it had been his idea to talk with her, she thought she should allow him to begin.  Finally he smiled and said, “Megan, I have something to tell you and I’m nervous.  I’m not sure how to start.”

“Stephen, I realize we’ve not known each other very long, but I assure you that I’m here to listen.   Just tell me whatever it is, and we can go from there.”  Megan tried to put up a strong front, but that’s all it was—a front.  Would he tell her he had feelings for her?  How would she respond?  She definitely liked him, and was flattered if that were the case, but…

“Well, Megan, it’s common knowledge that my wife and I divorced.  Our marriage ended quite cordially.  I know she was hurt, as I was, but after some difficult conversations, we both realized it needed to end.  I decided it would be best to leave the area—divorce in a conservative church community is difficult enough without it involving the pastor.  When I came here—and I know that I did it to escape—I thought maybe I could make things work as a single pastor.  I see now I was only fooling myself."  He hesitated, and then, "Megan, I’m leaving the ministry.”

Megan sat quietly.  While she was completely surprised by what he revealed, she said, “I sense you want to say more.”

He lowered his head and dug his hands into his thighs.  Megan held back the urge to go sit by him and put her arm around his shoulder.

“Megan, I am gay.  At some level, I’ve known it since I was about 10, but I’ve spent all my life denying it.  Getting married was so unfair to my wife—a truly wonderful woman.  I really did think it was something about me that I could change.  And then I figured that being a pastor could change me.  I was so screwed up for so long.  When I came here, I thought that I could just hide myself in ministerial work; I shouldn’t get too involved with the young women in the church anyway; I could make it work.  But I know I’ve been living a lie—and I can’t continue that.”

 

He hesitated, took a breath, and looked into Megan’s face.  She smiled, and realized that he might not understand her reaction.

“Stephen, first of all I want to thank you for trusting me enough to share this.  I told you before that I respect you, and what you’ve said only reinforces that respect.  My heart aches that you’ve had to live a lie because religion doesn’t acknowledge the validity of diversity as I believe God does—not that I know a lot about his rules and regulations.

 

“This has obviously caused you a lot of pain.  So, what’s next?  Will you remain here?  Move?  Where would you go?”  Megan felt selfish.  She realized how much she valued his friendship and didn’t want him to leave.

“Today I mailed a letter to my church board members telling them I am resigning and leaving the area.  You remember Michael, who was here Thanksgiving?  He has been a friend for years.  I think I told you that we met at a ministerial conference.  I didn’t know that he was gay, but suspected it.  Then when I moved here, I met him again at some meetings.  We’ve developed a friendship, and he’s moving to upstate New York to pastor at an Episcopal congregation there.  They are welcoming him as a gay priest.

“Michael has invited me to stay with him while I figure out who I am without a secret life.  We talked long and hard while I was in Portland at Christmas.  I feel badly for leaving, but know that in being honest—which I must do—there will be those who cannot accept information that goes so astray from their conservatively held beliefs.

“I have dealt with my own self-doubts and the Christian belief system for years.  It has been an incredibly painful journey, and many have been hurt.  I have to say that my former wife has probably been the most supportive.

“I’ll be leaving the middle of February.  Arriving in Binghamton, New York in winter is not ideal, but it is a beautiful place—a university town, and just a few hours from New York City.”

Megan felt the atmosphere relax.  “Perhaps someday when I begin to do some traveling, I can visit you and Michael.”  

“We’d love that, though to be honest, I’m not sure where I’ll end up.  Michael is the one who convinced me that I had to be honest with you.  He knew you’d be supportive.  I really am glad I told you.”

Megan gave a little girl smile.  “Stephen, I guess you’re my ‘Will’.”  He looked at her questioningly.

“Well, with admissions in the air, I’ll add mine.  I’ve had a crush on you.  I wasn’t in love but certainly a school-girl-level crush.  So now, like Grace, I have my Will.”  Megan laughed and walked over to Stephen, sat down next to him and put her arms around him.  They hugged for several seconds.

Megan was the first to speak.  “I think this calls for some wine; a time to clink our glasses.  Let’s celebrate my Will and the courage and the integrity it took to come to this place.”  She returned from the kitchen with the wine-filled glasses.  They smiled and toasted to their futures, and sipped in a comfortable silence.

After he left, Megan slipped into Emily’s room, kissed her goodnight and went into her own bedroom.  The duvet felt good as she snuggled under its weight.  Her head buzzed from the glass of wine.  She and Stephen had shared an intimate moment and she wanted to record it in her journal. Unfortunately, within seconds her eyes closed and she fell asleep.

To be continued...

Life, Etc. -- Twenty-three

Chloe’s house was located on a two acre piece of land about a mile

from the Book ‘n Brew.  Megan had seen the house the first time she and Emily drove through Maple Village.  Louise had told her the history of the place.  The house was built in the late 1940’s—probably the first building in Maple Village after World War II.  The same family had lived there until a couple of years ago when the husband died and the wife went to live with a son in Portland.

Chloe opened the door and greeted Megan.  Again, she was impressed by this woman she barely knew, but who exuded such strength and beauty.

“Your house is lovely, Chloe!  I saw some work being done last fall, but didn’t realize the property had sold.”

“I was very fortunate.  I bought the house on a day the owners’ son was here.  Once I signed the papers, he allowed me to make some choices for the remodel in progress.”

Megan looked about her at the dark red/orange front door and the black shutters contrasting with the taupe siding.  The large front porch only added to the character of the home.

“I also chose my own colors for inside paint, carpet and hardwood floors.  He said they might as well be what I want.  It was like having my own house built, except that I have the charm of an older home.  Would you like to look around?”

“I’d love to!”  Even with boxes and furniture that obviously didn’t have their final place, the home felt cozy.

After the tour, Chloe took Megan into a room that measured about 15 x 20.  “This is where I want to have my studio and teach art classes.  It has perfect sunlight, and I love the view from these windows—it’s what sold me on the house.  I think the family added this room because they had four or five small grandchildren all at once.  This was the kid’s room when they visited.”

 

Megan saw numerous canvases along the wall.  “And, here are the pieces I’d like you to consider for the shop.”

“Chloe, these are beautiful!”  Megan couldn’t believe the vibrant colors and designs.  “I mean, they are exquisite!  Are these oil or acrylic?

 

“Most of these are acrylic.  The watercolors are in the other room.”

“I love your work!  I know they’ll sell, and will add such flair and distinction to my shop I’ll hate to have them leave.”  On closer observation, Megan noted, “You said you are Italian.  I see you are continuing the beauty of Italy through your art.”

“I’ve spent quite a lot of time visiting there since moving to the States—sabbaticals and a few vacations.  I think I’m in a rut, so this spring, I want to give more local expression to my work.”

Megan selected numerous canvasses—doorways filled with flowers along narrow streets and fields of sunflowers—and they talked about when Chloe could come into the shop to help determine arrangement.

 

Megan chose several pictures for the “Brew” corner that fit in well with food and snacks and drinks—a colorful outdoor Italian restorante and a picnic scene beside a lake with a lovely Italian villa in the background.  As she stood envisioning the new look of her shop, she remembered the large Italian linen napkins that her college friend, Adair, had brought her.  They would work perfectly made into seat covers for the bistro chairs.

 

“I can’t wait until all these are in place!”  Megan suddenly looked at her watch.  “O, goodness, I have a friend coming for dinner.  I’d better get going.  Thank you so much, Chloe.”

“Hey, thank you, Megan!  This will be a great help in getting my name out in the community.  We’ll complete the paperwork when I come in on Monday.”

 

As Megan left she hoped that this was the beginning of a long friendship.

To be continued...