like a gift to him as well as Carly. She made life fun and meaningful. Yet a flicker of concern tightened in his chest. He had to be careful. He’d already feared her hesitation to plant today was because of something he’d said.
“If we’re finishing the planting tomorrow...” She paused and looked at Carly. “We might have time to go to the park today.”
“The park? Really?” A gleeful giggle escaped Carly. “Can we, Daddy?”
“If we have time, why not?”
Carly jumped in place. “Why not?”
Angie gave him a wink, pleasure filling her face. She hurried down the row, selected a few more perennials, and after he loaded her choices in the cart, he pushed it toward the cashier. Many times things he longed to know flew into his head, but those kinds of questions needed time. Instead he trod lightly. A lifetime didn’t happen in a day. Angie clung to a private past she seemed unwilling to share. He could learn a lesson from her silence. Already he’d revealed too much.
When the doorbell rang Angie hurried from the bedroom and raced down the stairs. Rick must have forgotten something, although she hadn’t noticed anything. Her mind had been on their wonderful day together and how cheery and alive her yard looked.
She swung open the front door, a smile on her lips, but her jaw dropped. “Rema.”
“Did I frighten you?” Rema stared at her, her hand on the screen door handle.
“No, not really.” She regained her senses and pushed open the door. “I wasn’t expecting anyone. I’m a mess.” She gestured to her dusty jeans and soiled knit top. “I’ve spent the day toting flower flats and plants. I was about to take a shower.”
Rema took a step deeper into the house. “I dropped by to give you some brochures about Owosso. Remember? You’d asked and I happened to be near the chamber of commerce, so I stopped.”
Angie grasped the stack of colorful leaflets, pleased Rema had remembered. “Thanks so much.”
“Happy to do it, and I also wanted to tell you how excited I was to see you bringing home all the new plants. They will really make a difference. The previous owner didn’t do much. I think last year he planted marigolds. Yellow ones. They remind me of dandelions.”
Angie chuckled, recalling her conversation with Carly. “They do resemble them a little, but some of the outside critters stay away from them. They don’t like the smell.”
“The critters have better taste than the grouchy neighbor. Now I look forward to seeing lovely flower beds.” Rema grinned, which looked strange on her since her brow was often furrowed with sadness. She took another step toward the living room as if she planned to stay.
Recalling the elderly neighbor’s comment about Rema, Angie didn’t have the heart to turn her out despite her need to shower and change her clothes. “Would you like to come in for a couple of minutes? As you can see, I really need a makeover.”
Rema didn’t respond. As if missing the hint, she took another step deeper inside, her eyes aimed at the living room.
“Let’s go to the kitchen. I hate to sit in there covered with dirt. Anyway, it’s closer to the coffeepot. Or would you prefer a glass of lemonade.”
“Lemonade sounds nice.”
Rema followed her into the kitchen and settled on one of the chairs. “I saw that man again. Your coworker.”
She nodded, not wanting to get into her relationship with Rick. She kept her back to Rema as she pulled glasses from the cabinet and lifted the lemonade pitcher from the refrigerator. When she filled the glasses, she carried them to the table and joined Rema.
“This time he had a little girl with him.”
“Carly. She’s five.”
A faint frown eased to her face. “Is he married?”
The question had a curious tone, not judgmental as much as troubled.
“He’s divorced. It was his wife’s decision, I believe.”
“Divorced.” She pressed her lips together. “I see.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “It’s difficult when children are involved.” She glanced away. “It makes me happy I don’t have children even though I’d always wanted them.”
Angie gathered the puzzle pieces, hoping to decipher the message wrapped up in her comments. “But you’re not divorced, Rema, are you? I thought—”
“No.” She shook her head back and forth as if she forgot how to stop. “No, but I feel as if I am sometimes.”
Another puzzle piece. “I don’t understand.”
“My husband travels for the company, and he has late business meetings when he’s home. I spend much of my time...” She gave her head one more shake and stopped. “Sorry. You don’t want to hear my sad story.”
The comment made her think of Rick’s wife, who traveled for her career. “I have no advice, Rema, but I can listen.” As the words left her mouth, she wished she’d not spoken. But she’d said exactly what a caring person should say. Rick would have listened for hours. She wished she were more like him.
“I think sometimes I scare people away with my negative attitude.” Moisture formed in Rema’s eyes. “I have to learn to make the best of things and not be so suspicious.”
Suspicious. Angie could only guess what that meant, and she steered away from the topic. “Sometimes we spend our time with things that give us pleasure and then feel guilty.” Words flapped from her mouth without thought. She knew so little about being alone, because it didn’t usually bother her. She’d found comfort in the quiet. But had she really enjoyed being alone or only found it an easy answer to her singleness? “Do you have hobbies or activities that you enjoy?”
“No. Trey likes me home...” She faltered. “But a hobby is a good idea.”
Trey wanted her home. Why? The obvious answer made her sick—that he wanted to control his wife a little too much. “Community colleges provide classes for lifelong learning. Libraries offer fun classes—journaling and scrapbooking. Yarn shops teach knitting, and stained-glass stores often have classes. You can even learn to tap-dance.”
Rema chuckled. “I’ll have to give it some thought. Classes could fill up a lonely evening.”
Her heart in her throat, Angie managed a pleasant grin. “You can even learn a job skill. Have you ever thought of—” Her cell phone’s ringtone sounded, and she glanced at the ID. “It’s my mom, Rema. I should answer.”
“Take it and thanks for the ideas.” Rema rose and gave a wave as Angie hit the answer button. “Hi, Mom. My neighbor is just leav—”
“Connie said she called about a nice fellow she knows, but you said you’re dating someone. Why haven’t you told us about this? You know I want—”
“Mom,
