Thirty-Five

As soon as they opened the back door to the gallery, a black cat with white paws streaked towards them and started rubbing herself against Judith’s leg.

April reached down and picked up the cat, cooing at her as if she was a baby, and after a moment’s hesitation, Mittens snuggled into her arms and purred. April felt as if her heart would burst and smiled at Judith with the smile Judith had not seen for years.

“I see why they call her Mittens,” April said, holding up one of the four white paws. “And why people come to see her.”

Apparently happy to meet a stranger, Mittens rubbed her face against April’s and purred even louder.

Judith led the two of them into a tiny kitchen, and as soon as Mittens saw the bag of cat food, she was down on the floor, looking up expectantly with large green eyes. April’s heart melted even more.

“May I stay all day with her?”

“Of course,” Judith said. “Cindy’s staff, Mimi and Janet, can use the help, and you could learn all about what Cindy is doing here. You might have some ideas to make it even better.

“The gallery opens in an hour. I’ll show you around, introduce you to the staff, and then leave you here with Miss Mittens. I’ll pick you up at the end of the day and take you to dinner. Or call me if you want to leave earlier than that.”

April took a deep breath, looked around the tidy kitchen, walked out into the gallery, and spun in a circle. “No, I think I will be fine being here all day.”

More than fine, she said to herself.

Here there was beauty and creativity. Outside the gallery windows, she could see the town that she had loved. She could explore the streets, learn about Cindy’s art business, play with a cat, even sit in the coffee shop that now existed across the street and read a book.

The day was entirely hers to do with it what she wanted. There was no one expecting her to prepare a meal or clean the house or be home at a specific time. She’d meet strangers. She’d make new friends. The whole day stretched before her, filled with things that she had not realized she had missed.

Until that moment, it had not occurred to her that she spent most of her life pleasing her husband. It was time to find out what pleased her. The thought of it was both exhilarating and terrifying.

By the time Judith finished showing April around the gallery, the back door had opened, and two young women entered, smiling at Judith and at Mittens as she curled around both their legs in greeting.

Judith introduced April as an old friend to both her and Cindy and explained that April would help around the gallery until Cindy got back. Would Janet and Mimi show her the ropes?

”Ask me to do anything,” April said. “I am eager to be helpful and learn as much as I can.”

Both women smiled and shook her hand.

“We would love some help,” the tall one named Mimi said.

“Are you an artist?” the shorter one named Janet asked.

April took a deep breath and then smiled. “I don’t know. But I do know this feels like home to me.”

“Well then, welcome home,” Janet said, and Mimi nodded in agreement.

“On that note,” Judith said, “I’ll leave you three to your day. Call me if you need anything.”

“Right, boss!” Janet said, mock saluting her. Judith laughed and said, “And don’t you go forgetting it!”

“Don’t worry,” Janet said, seeing April’s face. “Judith knows we love her. Cindy owns the gallery, of course, but everyone knows Judith makes sure it runs well. Actually, I think she makes sure the whole town runs well. I want to grow up to be just like her.”

April smiled at the two of them and said, “I think I do too!”

Ron was not happy. After all, he had driven to this hated town, expecting to find April at Judith’s, and instead found an empty house. With cameras. That meant that Judith knew he was there, and he didn’t know where she was. He didn’t like that dynamic at all.

Knowing that Judith would see his face on the camera, he waved to one and mouthed, “See you later,” to it, hoping it appeared friendly and not ominous.

He needed to get over his anger at April for leaving and making him come back here. He used to love this town. Maybe he could at least like it again. And being angry at April would not get him what he wanted.

Driving away from Judith’s, Ron knew he should call April and let her know he was there like any adult would. But he wanted April to call him. She was the one who left. She should be the one to call. And because Judith would see him on the cameras, she should call him too.

But then, he thought, she probably didn’t have my cell.

Calm down, Ron told himself. This was not a good way to start his apology to April. Because that was what he had come to town to do. Apologize and then bring April home.

If she wouldn’t come with him, he’d have to adjust to what she wanted. In the meantime, he’d get some lunch, maybe walk through the old campus, and then go back to Judith’s and wait for their return.

Ron didn’t want to apologize over the phone. He wanted April to see that he meant it, that he loved her and couldn’t live without her. And besides, what would the children say if they found out their mother had driven to Spring Falls without him?

He’d have to make sure they understood he had agreed to it, which meant he needed to get the simmering rage he felt under control and make himself believe this was what he wanted.

Control was something he practiced. He was proud that he could control himself and the world around him. But despite all his control over everything else, it was April he needed.

And if he couldn’t control her, maybe he would have to adjust to what she needed so that they could be happy again. The idea didn’t appeal to him, but he couldn’t lose her.

In her car, Judith’s Blink app from the camera buzzed. Yes, Ron had arrived. Just as she expected. However, she’d make sure that April had at least one day to herself before having to decide what to do about Ron.

Putting the phone away, she drove to her office, planning out what needed to be done that day because she had a feeling that things were about ready to move into new territories both in Spring Falls and in Pittsfield.

Marsha had called her about the woman coming to see them later that day. And she had agreed with Marsha that it would be wonderful if the woman named Grace brought grace with her, but neither of them expected that would be the case.

Yes, today was a pivotal day for everyone. But where it would take them was anyone’s guess.