The Shop on Main(52)

“Go on. I’m going to finish setting out the food.” Sylvia nodded towards the gaggle of boys playing in the yard.

Owen crossed the yard and got a game of wiffle ball going. There was good natured teasing and laughing going between the boys and the men. He tried to tag Jeremy out at home, but Jeremy plowed into him, knocking him down in the dirt.

Jeremy looked worried. “You, okay?”

“I’m fine. I better learn to get out of the way of the runner, shouldn’t I?”

Jeremy grinned. “Yep.”

Spencer reached a hand down to help him up. “Gotta be quick on your feet with this group.”

Owen stood up and dusted the dirt off. He was having the time of his life at this backyard get-together, tumbles into the dirt and all. He looked up toward the house and saw Bella looking out the window and laughing. He waved to her and grinned.

~ * ~

Jenny watched as Izzy laughed and turned from the window. She came over and joined her friends in the sunroom. Becky Lee had unpacked the whole kitchen—Becky Lee insisted that she knew where everything should logically go. They had all agreed. Who was Izzy to argue with an accomplished cook?

Jenny had put the boys’ things away in their closets. Izzy had repeatedly interrupted the unpacking to regale them with decorating plans for the house. Jenny was sure Izzy would take advantage of the light from every window. Every nook and cranny of the converted carriage house would be exploited.

The three friends sat on the couch, surrounded by more boxes they were ignoring, and sipped on some lemonade.

“I’m so glad school is over for the year and I could help you move.” Jenny put her tired feet up on a box. “I love summers.”

“They seem to go by too quickly though, don’t they?” Izzy tugged a box nearer and put her feet up on it, too.

“Time does go by so fast, doesn’t it? It seems like just yesterday Jenny had Nathan. He was this cute little toddler, just knee high to a grasshopper—I swear it was just last week. Now look at him. He’s driving.” Becky Lee sipped her lemonade.

The friends looked at each other. It had been a long time. They’d gone through a lot together. They knew things about each other that only the three of them knew.

Jenny sat staring at her lemonade, lost in her own thoughts. She’d had a lot to deal with this year with the loss of her husband and trouble with Nathan. She hoped the summer would be a relaxing one, but she had her doubts.

Jenny looked at her two friends and felt her heart warm with gratitude and love for them. She didn’t know how she would have made it through her bumpy life without them along for the ride, supporting her, keeping her secrets.

“So are you going to see Owen again soon?” Becky Lee’s question to Izzy brought Jenny out of her thoughts.

“I have a date with him tomorrow.” Izzy grinned. “You know, if I can find something to wear.”

“I reckon we could help you with that.” Becky Lee said.

“Looks like he’s redeemed himself.” Jenny joined in.

Izzy smiled. “I think he has. I’m glad to see Jake and Owen become friends. It looks like Sylvia has practically adopted him as one of her own.”

“About time you found someone to date who we approve of.” Becky Lee grinned at her friend and raised her glass of lemonade. “To a bright future for our Izzy.”

“I’ll drink to that.” Izzy raised her glass.

Jenny raised her lemonade and the three women clinked their glasses together. “To the best friends ever.”