me help.” The wind tried to rip her words away, but Trudy’s nod told Lisa she’d heard. Together, they managed to get the box settled in the trunk.
The older woman forced a smile through her slowly freezing tears. “Thanks, hon. I’m just so—”
“I know.” She got Trudy’s arms into her coat and helped her zip it up. “Where are you going now?”
Trudy shrugged and looked out over the nearly empty parking lot. Marco’s car was the only other one left. “I guess...home.”
“So, you do have one.” Lisa joked, trying to make the woman smile. It almost worked. “How about I buy you a coffee?” She pulled her own coat closer around her. “I’m—I’m not ready to be alone yet.”
Trudy appeared relieved. “Me, either. But I’ll buy my own. We’re both going to be without a paycheck soon.”
“Come on.” Lisa headed to her car. “I’ll drive.”
Trudy shook her head. “I’ll take my car.” She looked back over her shoulder. “I don’t want to come back here to get it.”
“I understand.” Lisa headed to her car and they each drove to the coffee shop down the street. Lisa pulled into her usual spot, her eyes taking in the familiar facade. How many times had she come here on break or for lunch? This might be her last visit. Lisa blinked her eyes. It wouldn’t do any good to sob in her coffee.
Trudy pulled up beside her, and they braved the weather again to step into the warm, coffee-scented café. It was busy—the whirr of the coffee machines, the soft conversations and the piped-in music filled the air around them. So familiar.
Trudy squared her shoulders and shoved the gigantic purse up more firmly on her shoulder. “I don’t know about you,” she looked sideways at Lisa, “but I’m going to just pretend this is my lunch break.”
“Denial sounds like a lovely plan.” Lisa nodded and followed Trudy to one of the back booths. It might be a long lunch break today.
“Hey, ladies.” Mindy, the young waitress who worked here most days, carried the coffee carafe to the table with a smile. “The usual?” she asked Trudy.
“I—I’m not sure yet.”
Mindy’s smile faded. “Are you okay?”
Trudy’s eyes filled with tears, and Lisa put her hand over Trudy’s. She looked up at Mindy. “Yes, the usual for Trudy. And I’ll take...” She glanced at the menu in front of her. “I’ll take a number three.” It was a big meal but why not? She had to eat today. They both did.
“Sure.” Mindy nodded. “I’ll get those started.” She left and headed to the kitchen.
“I’m sorry,” Trudy whispered. “I’m being silly. It’s not as if I can’t afford to retire or take some time off.”
That didn’t surprise Lisa. Trudy worked constantly. When did she have time to spend any of the money Marco had paid her? And he’d paid her well.
“But?” she prompted.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself.” She shrugged. “Work is all I have. My kids have scattered around the country. My husband is gone. I’m—” Trudy picked up her napkin and wiped her eyes. “I’m all alone.”
That explained why Trudy was always at work. “No, you’re not. You’ve got me.”
“Thank you, dear, you’re sweet, but you have your own life. You have things to do. I’m sure you’ll get another job soon.”
Mindy appeared just then, setting tall ice waters in front of them. Once she left again, Trudy tried to smile at Lisa.
“You’ll be busy job hunting yourself,” Lisa pointed out.
“I doubt I’ll have much luck. Few companies want to hire someone over fifty, much less over sixty.”
“There’s a lot to be said for experience.”
“I agree. But they don’t always think like we do.”
Trudy’s sadness gave Lisa something to focus on, to work on. So, for the next hour as they ate, she tried to cheer the other woman up.
Finally, when Mindy had brought their checks and cleared away most of the dishes, they couldn’t stall any longer. Trudy sighed and glanced out the window. “I guess I should be getting home to Fred and Ethel.”
Lisa nearly gave herself whiplash staring at the woman. “Who?” Trudy didn’t have any family at home—hadn’t she just said as much?
Trudy hesitated only an instant before the words spilled from her lips. “My prize-winning cockatoos.” For the first time all day, a genuine smile formed on Trudy’s face. She reached for her phone. “Here.” She turned the screen toward Lisa.
Two big white birds, with bright blue rims around their eyes and a plume of feathers on each of their heads, posed for the camera. “I—” Lisa was stunned. “You never even mentioned them before.”
“Oh, dear, of course not.” Trudy’s smile faded, and she leaned closer to Lisa, lowering her voice. “The competition is fierce, and my pair are now quite valuable. I couldn’t risk anything happening to them.”
“Oh.” Lisa frowned, too. “Why are you telling me now?”
Trudy shrugged. “I’m so proud of them. And it is hard to stay quiet about something this exciting. I trust you. You’ve really helped me today. Thank you.”
Trudy slid her finger over the screen. “Here we are when I won Grand Champion with them last year.”
“That’s stunning.” And they were. But so was the fact that Trudy had never said a word about them.
Lisa smiled. “You asked me what you should do now?” She pointed at the phone. “Focus on that.” She reached out and squeezed the woman’s hand. “Do what you enjoy. You’ve earned it.”
Trudy nodded, and this time her smile didn’t fade. “Thank you, dear. I’m going to miss you.”
“Oh, you’re not rid of me yet. But I need to get going, as well. My mom asked me to help her with something.”
“What’s that, dear?”
“My grandfather lives up in Telluride. This is a good excuse to go see what he’s up to. She hasn’t heard from him for a while and she’s a bit concerned.” That was putting it mildly.
“Oh, my dear, I hope he’s okay.”
Lisa smiled. “I’m sure he is. My mother worries about him, but he loves those mountains. Me, too.”
Trudy gathered up her purse. “That sounds like a great idea.” She stood, and Lisa followed. “I’m so glad we did this.”
After a heartfelt hug, they settled their bills and headed to their cars. Lisa watched until Trudy had
