Mary put her hands on her hips and looked around at her efforts. She’d customized Adeline’s house to fit her and Levi, but it still retained the qualities Adeline had held dear as well. She’d left the walls painted in the neutral colors Adeline had chosen, and she had no plans to cover the original wood floors. Wallpaper wasn’t allowed, but Mary couldn’t bring herself to tear down or paint over the pink and red floral design in the bathroom yet.
Levi didn’t like phones in the house, so they had compromised by keeping one cell phone for emergencies only. He was also used to wood-burning stoves in the kitchen, but Mary wasn’t giving up her propane-fueled stove and oven. She’d told him if he wanted to eat, those appliances stayed. With his large appetite, he’d conceded on that issue.
She picked up a laundry basket full of towels that needed folding and dumped them on the bed. They’d asked Natalie if she wanted her furniture back. Levi finally told Mary that Natalie had donated it to Adeline, but Natalie said it wasn’t her style. Mary believed her. When she’d visited Natalie’s apartment it was in stark contrast to Mary and Levi’s home. The outdated red furniture was like a splash of the past mingled with present-day things like a TV and fancy gadgets that looked like they might be from the future.
After she folded the clothes and put everything away, Mary took out Adeline’s letter and reread it, like she’d done many times before. Smiling, she put it back in the drawer. There were still tears from time to time, but when grief tried to overwhelm her, she closed her eyes and pictured Percy playing the piano, Adeline sitting in a big red chair nearby.
Levi had more construction jobs than he could count, proving that hard work does pay off, and it turned out he was more talented in that department than his family had given him credit for. He said he still heard piano music in his mind, though he didn’t feel a longing to recreate it but to embrace it for the things it represented. Mary understood. Music had brought them together and eventually to Adeline. Now she heard melodies in her mind, floating on a breeze, or when a bird sang, or in children’s laughter. Mostly, she heard music when her husband smiled and told her how much he loved her.
Since their marriage three weeks ago, they were settling in nicely.
Natalie stopped by every few days. She’d confessed that she had been seeing Levi’s brother, Lucas, and that it was mostly conversations on the phone, but they’d also met for lunch a few times in Shoals. Mary counseled her friend on the dangers associated with the situation, warning her that someone was going to get hurt. But Natalie followed her gut, and Mary had to accept that it was Natalie’s journey, not hers. But Mary did wish she’d listen for Gott’s will as much as she followed her instincts. Lucas seemed to be good for her in that way, so once again, it was hard to understand Gott’s plans.
Lydia and Samuel were expecting their baby in January. As the holidays approached, Lydia’s belly had begun showing. It was mostly hidden by her dress but obvious if she turned or sat a certain way. Their mother had recovered from the embarrassment of the entire situation and was now wrapped up in baby preparations, always knitting or sewing something for the new arrival.
Mary still worried about Lydia, who continued to mope around like she’d lost her best friend, her shoulders slumped, lip rolled under. Mary wondered what life was like for her and Samuel when no one was around. In a group gathering, they barely spoke to each other.
She reminded herself that, just like Natalie, it was Lydia’s journey, her road to travel. She prayed they would choose wisely in ways the Lord would approve of.
Mary opened the front door when she heard Maxwell scratching to get in. He went straight to his bed in front of the fireplace and stretched out in front of the glowing timbers. Mary walked around him and added another log to the fire.
Supper was in the oven and Levi would be home soon. She was cooking chicken enchiladas from a recipe Natalie found for her on the Internet. It wasn’t a meal she would have had at home. Her mother stuck to traditional recipes handed down for generations, just as Levi’s mother had done at their home. Mary didn’t have disdain for dishes with a Mexican flare, but she wasn’t crazy about them either. But recently, Levi told her that he ate chicken enchiladas at a Mexican restaurant during one of his lunch breaks, and that he enjoyed them more than anything he’d ever eaten. This was Mary’s gift to him this evening after he came home from a hard day’s work. Compromise.
She smiled and thought of Adeline as she basked in the wonderful journey she and Levi were on, anxious to see what Gott had planned for them next.