there?"
"Sure," I said.
"Okay good," Lexi said, "We need to go now because I still have to take a shower and straighten my hair. David Taylor's having a party afterward and he invited Jared and Graham and them."
"They're sophomores!" Tara said cracking up.
"They're juniors now," Lexi said, "and it doesn't matter anyway—hot is hot no matter what grade you're in."
Unfortunately, Lexi had some of my mother's traits when it came to guys. What I mean to say is that she tended to like guys who didn't necessarily treat her like a lady. She and my mom were both talking about a different guy every time I turned around, and none of them were ever what I'd consider to be a good catch.
"Lexi, don't go falling in love before Monday," I said.
"I'm not in love," she laughed. "I'm just planning on having a little fun on graduation night… Oh, and speaking of having fun—please don't let Mom yell and get all crazy and embarrass me when they call my name tonight."
Chapter 3
I woke up bright and early the next morning. It was Saturday and I typically worked the morning shift at the hardware store, so I guess my body was just used to it. Lexi and my mom were both sleeping, so rather than tiptoe around the house trying not to wake them, I decided to go to Mrs. Williams' house.
My mom or Lexi must have gotten into the leftover cake and snacks sometime during the night because the Tupperware container was lying on the bar and was totally empty except for some crumbs.
There were dishes everywhere. The countertops and sink were full of them. I stared at the mess contemplating whether or not I should clean it up, but decided instead to just wash Mrs. Williams' container so I could bring it back to her—I'd deal with the rest of it when I got home later.
It took me about ten minutes to get to her house, and the whole way, I thought about the fact that it might be the last time I went there. For that matter, it might be the last time I ever saw Mrs. Williams. She was eighty-two years old, and I assumed a twelve-hour trip down the interstate to San Francisco wasn't something she'd be doing. I didn't know when, if ever, I'd be coming back to Greensboro. Those types of thoughts had me in a melancholy mood by the time I reached her house. She'd become a beloved friend, and I hated to think that this might be the last time I'd see her.
I told myself to pretend it wasn't true, and put on my best fake smile as I walked up the steps to her front door. She had a cast iron doorknocker in the shape of a flower, and I gave it two taps before I heard her little dog start to bark. She opened the door a few seconds later. Margo, the toy poodle, was in her arms and there was a big smile on her face. "Come on in, Laney," she said, standing back to let me pass.
I reached in to hug them both as I came in. "I brought your cake pan," I said. "It's empty if that tells you anything about how much we liked your cake."
She chuckled and turned to head toward the kitchen. I followed her. "Just set it right there on the bar, sweetheart. Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"I'd love one," I said. I sat the container down and she sat down the dog who took off down the hall. "I don't want you to have to make a whole pot just for me, though."
"I was planning on making a cup for myself anyway."
"In that case…" I said, laughing a little as I sat on a barstool. The laugh was pretty-much fake. The comfort and love I felt at her house had me feeling sadder than ever. I was far more comfortable at her house than I was at my own, and it showed by how much time I'd spent over here during the last two years.
She was a regular at the hardware store, and during one of our conversations, I asked her about her stained glass hobby. She asked if I wanted to learn how to do it, and the rest, as they say, was history. I hadn't anticipated being this sad at the thought of leaving her behind, but as I sat at her bar watching her make coffee, I felt overwhelmed with