7

 

Savor the moment. Don’t endure it.

 

Ten minutes after Sage exited with his gift for Lezlie, newlyweds Moselle and Eric Todd bounced through the front door.

“Well, don’t you look all tanned and happy?” Lanae greeted them.

Her niece and new nephew-in-law gave her a hug from each side. As she stepped back, Moselle asked, “Where’s Mom?”

“I think Rainn just dropped off Mia, so they’re out back saying good-bye.”

“We’re here now. Hi, guys.” Geneva rushed in for the requisite hugs. “You’ve lost weight.”

Moselle and Eric exchanged silent communication. Moselle presented the picture of a blushing bride, red hair and green eyes so like her mother’s as a young woman. Lanae had to remind herself of the year.

“Would you believe I went jogging on the beach with Eric?”

“What kind of honeymoon escapade is that, for crying out loud?” Geneva waved her graceful hand in the air.

Lanae joined the fray. “Can’t imagine running on the beach for exercise. A beach is for serenity. To me, a sports bra is like a girdle for the ribcage.”

Eric rolled his eyes. The women laughed because they got the reference.

After more laughs and hugs for Mia, who waited her turn by rubbing her wrists across her hip bones, Eric jostled Moselle close against his side. He planted a rousing kiss on his bride. Then he waved himself out the door.

Lanae sighed inside, imagined such a moment shared with Sage, and had a hard time tuning back in.

Moselle announced, “The beaches and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean were great. But home is where my heart is. Frivolities memory boxes await.”

“Now, honey. Your heart needs to be anywhere Eric is.”

Mia accidentally bumped into Geneva, trapping her hand against the counter. She grimaced in pain.

“I thought you were on a new arthritis med, sis.”

Geneva tossed away Lanae’s concern with a smile then nodded to the customer entering through the front door.

During the lull in traffic flow following the lunch hour, Lanae latched on to her idea of shopping guidelines for men. She approached Moselle and Geneva where they were cleaning up the coffee counter. No way was she going to wait for their Monday business meeting.

“What do you two think of a shopping guide, or suggestion sheet or brochure, a manual of sorts, for men seeking gift items here in Frivolities?”

Moselle stared off as though she was trying to decipher handwriting on a wall.

“I’ll never forget the way Eric reacted when he saw all those pictures of you, Moselle,” Geneva responded first.

“He told me later he had to wade through the froufrou to get to me. And then I was more than he could handle.”

“You still are,” Lanae and Geneva chorused.

Lanae shot a glance toward the referred corner where painted green vines crawled up the wall, surrounding an antique armoire. Fancy-framed pictures of Moselle rested on shelving gussied up by Lanae’s doilies in varied sizes and designs.

“And Rainn. If he hadn’t tasted your coffee, Mom, I doubt he would have come through the door.”

“Let’s think about their reactions, and comments of other men who have ventured in, and jot down ideas. Use your card drawing talents, Moselle, see what you come up with for marketing.” Lanae had to raise her voice on the last four words because Moselle got busy at the espresso machine, swooshing and whirring to make her favored frothy latte.

“How does a shopping list compare with greeting cards?” Moselle yelled.

“I just cleaned that up!” Geneva gave her daughter a jab with her elbow.

“Haven’t had my latte yet today. I’m a big enough girl to clean up after myself.”

“Girls, girls,” Lanae teased.

The bell above the entry door gave its tinkle and the three looked up. A striking, tall redhead walked through. She strode toward them in a no-nonsense manner and stuck out her hand, eyes never leaving Lanae’s.

“From Dad’s description, I’m going to guess you’re Lanae. I had a day to myself and didn’t know what to do. Dad suggested I check out Frivolities in Platteville. So here I am.”

Sage-colored eyes, Lanae noticed right off. The freckles and red hair must have come from her mother.

Lanae swallowed, wondering what else Sage may have said. This had been quite a day.

“Lezlie Diamond. Sage is my dad.”

“Welcome to Frivolities,” Lanae, Geneva, and Moselle trilled in trio.

Laughter broke up any underlying nervousness.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Lezlie. Sage told me you and Jaxson are his whole life.”

“Besides horses,” Lezlie said with a rounding of her expressive lavender-blue eyes. A cloud of something else entered her expression but cleared as though the sun had popped out.

Lanae guessed Lezlie and Moselle to be close to the same age. Sage hadn’t said. She couldn’t imagine Moselle with a teenaged son.

“Are you interested in seeing anything special? Or would you like some coffee and then an opportunity to browse on your own?”

“I’d love some coffee.”

Geneva turned to her chrome and brass coffeemaker, ready for action. “Today’s special flavor is hazelnut, but I can give you regular blend with flavor. Or latte or cappuccino. What do you like?”

“I would love anything creamy and rich. The black stuff at the hospital where I work gets old.”

Moselle looked as though she had walked into the middle of a play not knowing what had happened on stage before her entrance.

“Honey, this is Sage Diamond’s daughter, Lezlie. I’ll tell you about Sage later. And Lezlie, this is my sister, Geneva, and her daughter, Moselle.” Lanae turned to Mia, who pulled at the bottom of Lanae’s apron, seeking attention. “And this little minx is Mia Harris.”

Mia didn’t look at Lezlie, stating instead, “I’m thirsty, too.”

Geneva had balked at the idea of caring for an autistic child when Rainn gained custody of his niece and moved Mia to Platteville. Geneva had come to terms with the idea of looking forward to grandmothering, rather than mothering. But loving Rainn, and then falling in love with the little girl, had changed her mind.

Lanae guided Mia by the shoulders over to the small refrigerator underneath the counter. But her ears tuned in as Lezlie explained for Moselle’s benefit.

“My dad and Lanae met when he advertised an antique vanity that used to be my grandmother’s. Dad told me about Frivolities, this chick place that scares him. By the way, I love it!” Lezlie continued. “I dropped my son, Jaxson, off at Dad’s acreage. It’s the first Saturday he hasn’t been with his friends since school started.”

“And he didn’t want to spend it with you?” Geneva put in with a laugh.

Lezlie smiled her thanks as she accepted the Frivolities mug filled with mocha. “Smells heavenly. It’s more like I didn’t want to spend the day with my son. I’ve been working some extra hours in Lincoln, where I’m a nurse. Mornings and evenings I get enough of Jaxson’s teen testosterone.” She sipped, gaze checking out Frivolities over the wide rim. “Mmm. This is lovely. Coffee and shop. Tell me about it, please.”

“We think of it as a God-thing.”

Lanae grinned over how much Moselle sounded like her elders.

“I’m all ears. Well, and taste buds, right now.” Lezlie took another sip of the hot liquid.

“Geneva and I are both widows,” Lanae chimed. “I don’t know how much your dad told you, but I used to live on a ranch in western Nebraska. Geneva and I saw the ad for this building, and ta dah: Frivolities.”

“I’ll say it again. I love it. I could hide myself here just checking everything out.”

“That’s what we like to hear. Moselle moved from Kansas City where she used to work in an antique store and for a card company. She has a degree in art and uses her talent to create new items from old things. She’s found her niche here now with a paint brush and other tools. Moselle returned to Platteville after I got seriously ill. That’s a story for another day.” Lanae picked up a fancy shadow box and held it against her chest. “I am so proud of Moselle for using her God-given talents and coming up with the signature Frivolities item. We call them Memory Boxes.”

She caught the eyes of all women within hearing and continued. “Frivolities Memory Boxes reflect the three of us. As you can see, each of us contributes. This one began with a quilted design block from Geneva. North Carolina Lily is the pattern, I think. Moselle, the glue-gun queen, worked in her glued-on beads, buttons, and sequins. Embellishments, you know. You’d be amazed what catches her fancy.” Lanae ran a loving hand over the boxed frame. “Then this one is topped off around the edge here with my crocheted rosettes and embroidered trim.”

Lezlie took in the ramble with a smile. “Do you mind if I meander on my own? There’s so much to see. I’m not looking for anything in particular at the moment. But I’m sure I can find lots of interesting goodies.”

“Be our guest.” Lanae waved a hand. “Just give me a holler if you need anything from the ceiling.”

“You have a lot of inventory, that’s for sure,” Lezlie said, scanning the merchandise above their heads. She indicated the lathe where a burgundy velvet garland was hanging off-kilter from the ceiling trellis. “And I have to hand it to you for the way it’s all over for customers to see.” Lezlie took another sip and grinned at Geneva. “This coffee is so good it’s dreamy.”

Like your dad’s eyes and mellow voice.

“Before you look around, and while you enjoy your drink, would you like to see the vanity I just finished?” Lanae invited.

At Lezlie’s nod, Lanae led the way to the back storeroom.

“That’s our dress-up corner.” She pointed to an area where old, and a few new, hats, purses, shawls, beads, gloves, and boas were bunched and hanging from a wall divider.

“I’ll bet little girls love that.”

“And some grown-up little girls,” Lanae added, wondering what Lezlie’s mother had been like.

Lezlie paused to study a display of rainbow, butterfly, and dragonfly Christmas ornaments. She made them tinkle with the back of her fingers.

Lanae recognized the little-girl wonder. “Have you ever heard a butterfly?”

Lezlie gave her an out-of-your-gourd look.

“I’m serious. When there’s not one hint of breeze and the air is thick with humidity, a butterfly’s wings are noisy. I can’t count the times I’ve had one land on me, when I was suspended in time by their tickling touch. Its feelers, sensors, or tentacles, whatever they are called, sipped the moisture from my skin.”

Maybe Sage would understand, him being a horse whisperer and all. Lanae tried not to smile at Lezlie’s you’re-one-crazy-woman look. They walked past the door to the loft stairs and on through the office.

“You must have a connection with butterflies the way my dad does with horses. Lezlie ran a hand over the back of the sofa and said, “Every office should have a couch like this. Better than hospital-plastic, especially with a color the same as my dad’s name.”

“I’ve seen that green referred to as celadon, something similar to celery. But I’ll call it sage from now on. Your hospital furniture probably helps keep staff awake at night.”

“I’m sure you’re right about that,” Lezlie agreed with a hearty laugh.

Lanae nodded toward the sofa as she held the door open for Lezlie. “The sofa, though, I’ll look at differently from now on, thinking of your dad. It’s been a comfort, kind of a solace after the hectic attack of Frivolities on the eyes and ears.”

They shared another laugh. Lanae added, “Not really. The wild colors and goofy stuff just make me smile.” Why couldn’t she shake her flustered desire to make a perfect impression on Sage’s daughter?

The vanity stood alone in the back storage room, shining and giving off a hint of chemical smell.

“As soon as I can’t smell the polyurethane anymore, I’m going to set the vanity in the display window out front.”

“It’s lovely. Is it dry?”

At Lanae’s nod, Lezlie set her mug on the workbench. She trilled her hand over the smooth oak finish. “Dad will be pleased. It looks wonderful. I’m into the chrome and Formica, and white-pine look of about fifty years ago. I just couldn’t see this dresser in my home.”

“Good for Frivolities, then, huh?” With pounding heart, Lanae grew serious. “Did your dad tell you about the letters I found in a hidden drawer?”

“No way.”

“Yes, way.” Lanae slid the drawer out then slapped the heel of her hand against her forehead. “Would you believe, I drove all the way to his place and the letters are even now on the front seat of my car?”

“Everybody has a lot on their minds.” Lezlie picked up the secret drawer and investigated its curious depth. “So, tell me about the letters. Where were they exactly?”

“This is where I met Katherine and Ted.” Lanae reached into the hole left by the vacant drawer. “Bend over and watch my fingers.”

Lezlie appeared lost in thought for a moment. Frowning, she exchanged the drawer for her mug, tracing the Frivolities logo. “Katherine. Ted. I’ve never heard either of these names. Dad told me about Great-grandma Juanita naming my grandma and great-aunts.”

“The purple flower names.” Lanae filled in the pause.

“Right. But Katherine and Ted draw a blank.”

“Well, as soon as I have some free time, my mission is to discover who they are. The mystery is bugging me at all hours of the day and night.”

Along with thoughts of your father.

“Since the vanity was in my family, I’d love to help search. I have Internet service on my phone, so I could do some online searches any time, any place.”

“Now, why didn’t I think of that?” Lanae raised her gaze to the painted ductwork before leading Lezlie back through the office to the sales floor of Frivolities. “I doubt I’ll ever get used to how fast technology has changed the world.”

Geneva was hanging up the phone. She turned and joined them. “It’s an age thing.”

Lanae added, “We didn’t grow up with this modern techie stuff so we think written tomes rather than keystrokes.”

“Like Dick and Jane,” the sisters chimed.

“Excuse me?”

“That’s the name of the primer we learned to read from,” Geneva explained, with an airy wave of her hand.

“Technology may not be what it’s all cracked up to be,” Lezlie said with a smile. “I think it’s pretty sweet, this love letter concept in the day of e-mail, and social media.”

Lanae smiled at that. “You just take all the time you want to look around, and remember to ask if you need anything.” She indicated one of the display windows. “That’s where the vanity will go.”

“I’m already drawn to what you ladies have made for yourselves here. Of course, I’ll have to check out turtles and other critters. Frogs, maybe, or some other whimsical animals.”

“We do have country items. Authentic looking, as well as fantasy. I miss living and working in the country so much I suggested we stock some reminders of the outdoors.”

Lezlie squared her arms in the air, elbows at her sides. “This is a no-brainer, if you miss it so much, Lanae. Dad loves to have the horses ridden, and he can’t ride four horses every day. I’m inviting you out to ride tomorrow afternoon.”

“Sage won’t mind?”

“I’ll tell Dad when I pick up Jaxson. As for now, I’m shopping.” Lezlie put action to her words and began to wander.

Moselle grabbed Lanae’s elbow and pulled her into the office. “OK, give me the scoop.”

Lanae told her all about the vanity, purposely ignoring the hint to hear about Sage.

“Just think, Aunt Lanae, you could be meeting a bunch of losers from those singles ads. Instead, answering the ad for the vanity introduced you to Sage.” Moselle danced a little jig and twirled Lanae around. “I can’t wait to meet your guy with the gorgeous eyes. He’s bound to be something, judging by what you’ve just told me. Besides, I like his daughter.”

 

****

 

“So, Dad, is Ted someone in our family? Who the heck is Katherine? Have you been holding out on me about family history? Are you keeping some grave, dark secret from Jaxson and me?”

Sage felt his cheeks burn with the guilt of omission. Good thing he held on to his summer tan. “Why in the world do you want to go backward? Jax is doing fine in life. He couldn’t care less about long gone people from the past.”

“Uh, reality check here, Dad. You are stuck in the past. You stopped moving forward when Mom died. That’s half my life. Sooner or later, the mind, body, and spirit will atrophy from all that negative energy you try to hide. Yet, it’s evident to me. You need to start living again. Remember, you can’t take a horse into your arms for a comforting hug.”

Jaxson cracked up, laughing so hard even his ears turned red.

Sage didn’t feel like laughing. Lezlie was way too serious when she looked him in the eye. She was on a roll.

“My son and I have taken zeroes for grades in elementary school because you found some excuse not to help with family trees. The most I got out of you was your parents’ names. Other than my grandma was Violet and my granddad Myron, I only had Sage and Becca.”

She was definitely on a roll. He let her get it out. “Christians aren’t supposed to swear, but I swear it’s like you are half here. Half-minded, even. And you aren’t old enough to have half-heimers yet.”

Sage lowered his eyes to his boots and cocked his left ear toward his shoulder. Nothing like being told off by your own kid. His neck cracked when he moved his head to the right.

“By the way, I invited Lanae to come out and ride tomorrow. I know you’ll be here.”

That brought him front and center. He stared at Lezlie, too stunned to sputter a protest.

Lezlie’s words ran through his mind. You stopped moving forward when Mom died.

Was it so obvious that he stopped caring about life sixteen years ago? All this time he thought he’d kept to himself how much he missed Becca.

Would he be able to keep the family secret to himself?

“I’m glad Lanae found those letters. I want to find out who wrote them, Dad. If there’s a Ted in the family, I want to know. Jaxson needs to know about this side of the family, too. He has no dad, remember?”

 

****

 

They can keep their talk to themselves. Gossip is for small minded people.

 

 

June 17, 1960

Friday a.m.

 

Dearest Teddy — xxxx

Thought I’d drop you a few lines and let you know why I couldn’t make it last night. Will tell you more when I see you. I was so spitting mad.

But I’ve seen you that mad. Only difference, I’ll tell you why, yet you never have said what gets you so riled up. I can guess. I’ve heard some talk about your father.

My dad refused to let me leave the house. You’d think that at my age I’d have some freedom. And I work so hard for him. I sweat for the family business.

All I did was drop a tray of freshly frosted doughnuts, ordered by the banker for a special meeting. There were more than enough doughnuts on the shelf. I got them frosted and they were on time, but the way he reacted, a person would think I’d killed someone.

Just one of those things.

This looks like another grand day and me with so much work to do again. I worked from about 3:30 in the morning yesterday, until 3:30 in the afternoon. Then, I went home and fixed supper for my folks. I barely had time to get ready to leave, but my cantankerous father took the car keys.

What kept me going through the night were thoughts of you. I closed my eyes and imagined us together on our special country road. I get all worked up thinking about what your kisses do to me. I’m sorry if that’s too forward. But Ted, I want you to take me away from this place so we can be together forever.

Will it really be two long weeks before you are in Platteville again? I would think your father could do without your help more often than that.

But no one works on the Fourth of July.

So, I’ll be seeing you then. Be good, sweet, and bye-bye. Lots of love and kisses to you, my dear.

 

Lovingly yours, and always yours,

Katherine

 

P.S. How’s the neck? I didn’t like the look of that bruise. Take good care of yourself. Until I can kiss it for you, Here’re xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on paper.

 

 

Lanae ignored the falling tears, cradled her stomach, where Katherine’s yearning had created a churning of her own.

A longing for love.

A desire to be with Sage.

She pictured the young Katherine and Teddy in an antique car, stopped on a country road with a myriad of stars overhead. Would those eyes of Teddy’s be visible by moonlight?

Would those eyes of Sage’s be visible by moonlight?

Lanae imagined herself in a car, parked somewhere, sharing kisses with Sage.

The fantasy soon had her choked with longing, and reminded her of how much she had missed over the years. The pull for close contact with a man was almost tangible, entailing much more than the intimacy of physical love. An emotional attachment had resurfaced in her own life, one she hadn’t missed until this moment.

No one else would do, Sage was the only one to complete her human loneliness and fill the emptiness. She knew it as surely as there were words printed on the page held in her shaky hands.

Cease, Lanae. And with that word, like a bolt from the Spirit, came the words, “Cease striving and know that I am God.”

Oh, You are that, Father. And You created me and Sage and emotions. You created soul mates for relationships You ordain. Why am I so restless?

She’d done fine for a lot of years without a man. And even if marriage was God’s future plan for her, He’d remain her All-in-All.

She ran a hand over the copy of the letter. The originals remained in a travel caddy in the front seat of her car.

Who are you, Katherine?

And who is your beloved Teddy?

She had to find out. The phone directory would be a good source. Or, she could search town history. The Historical Society had come up with a centennial book in recent years. Maybe something on record would reveal who owned the bakery that closed long before Lanae started high school. Since her mom had been a great cook, the bakery was one store she had never entered as a girl.

And if Sage didn’t like what she planned, he could go jump in the Platte River.

Probably wouldn’t hurt him to get woken up, to come to life in cold rushing water.