KayKay and Poppie were lifesavers, insisting that Eliza take their car until she found the time to buy one.
“It just sits in that garage for days on end, dear. We rarely use it,” offered Katharine. “You’d be doing us a favor by driving it for a while. A car should be driven, you know. Poppie says that it’s not good for it to sit idle all the time.”
Eliza had just gotten home from work and she was acutely aware that at this moment Mack was now somewhere over the Atlantic. She was too tired and upset to protest, and truth be known, she was very thankful for the offer.
“That’s so generous of you, Katharine. If you really don’t mind, I will take you up on it. The closing is tomorrow, we move in on Saturday and I just haven’t had a minute to even think about getting a car. I promise it won’t be for too long.”
Katharine stared at Eliza with a look of concern in her knowing eyes. She knew all about her daughter-in-law’s relationship with Mack McBride and she approved of it wholeheartedly. It had been five years now since John had died. Much as Katharine struggled every day with the loss of her son, she wanted his widow to have a happy life and find love again. In the short time Eliza had been with Mack, Katharine had seen the difference in Eliza’s demeanor, the way she laughed more easily than she had in years. Mack had been there for Eliza to lean on during the past difficult summer and Katharine had observed his obvious devotion. Janie adored Mack as well and Katharine wanted her grandchild to have a father figure.
She was worried about both mother and child. Just too much was happening at once.
“You keep it as long as you need it, dear,” she said, gathering up her pocketbook, and kissing Eliza on the cheek. “Janie, sweetheart,” she called down the hall toward the child’s bedroom, “KayKay’s leaving now.”
Both women smiled at each other as they heard the rapid little steps approaching from the hallway.
“ ‘Bye, KayKay. Love you.” The small arms held tight around her grandmother’s waist as Katharine leaned down and kissed the top of the sweet-smelling brown head. “Thank you for taking me for my haircut today.” The child beamed, proud of her freshly cut bangs and the purple nail polish that her grandmother had let her have applied on the tiny nailbeds.
“My pleasure, my darling. You’ll be the prettiest girl in kindergarten next week.”
Janie’s face clouded and Eliza stepped in, kneeling down to speak face-to-face with her child.
“Janie, I know you’re a little worried about starting at your new school. All kids are a little worried when they start school. I remember I was. Weren’t you, KayKay?”
Janie looked up at her grandmother skeptically. KayKay didn’t seem like she had ever been afraid of anything.
“I was, Janie,” Katharine nodded solemnly, “but once I got there, I loved it. Kindergarten will be so much fun.” What was the point in telling the child that she used to be so nervous before going to school every morning that she could barely swallow a glass of milk, much less eat the full breakfast her mother set out for her?
Janie’s face told them she wasn’t really buying it. Katharine decided to try to divert the child’s attention.
“Hey, run down to your room and get the new shoes we bought today to show Mommy!” she urged.
The child scampered away obediently and Katharine headed for the door. As she reached for the knob to let herself out, Katharine turned to her daughter-in-law and spoke in a low voice.
“You know, Eliza, I think it’s just as well that the new housekeeper can’t start right away. I think it will be good for Poppie and me to be there when Janie comes home from school in the beginning. I think she’ll feel more secure that way.”
As Janie came trotting back with her small cardboard shoebox, Eliza answered:
“I’ll feel more secure that way, too.”