“I couldn’t stand to spend the whole day cooped up in the house with you,” Cricket said.
“Right back at you.” Jennie Sue reached into her tote bag and brought out the paper.
Cricket curled up on the end of the sofa. “Does it have your wedding picture in it this week? I sent it to them in plenty of time.”
“Guess it’s my turn to get caught by the town.” Jennie Sue sat down beside her and laid out the paper on the coffee table. They bent forward, taking turns reading the highlights and the first paragraph or two of each article.
SWEETWATER HOSPITAL GETS NEW NICU WING
An anonymous donor has given the money for the hospital to build a new wing that will care for critically ill babies, to be called the Grace NICU Wing. It will have all the newest equipment and rooms set up for the parents of children to stay at the hospital. Construction could begin as early as next spring, with hopes of a finish date before the end of the year.
“I wonder who that anonymous donor is and if her name is Grace. You know it’s going to drive the folks crazy trying to figure it out, don’t you?” Cricket said.
“While they’re talkin’ about that, they’ll be letting us rest. You still happy with the way we did things?” Jennie Sue asked.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” she answered.
LIBRARY GETS FUNDING
The Bloom Library will have a brand-new children’s corner from a hundred-thousand-dollar donation. Along with a multitude of new books, it will have a cozy new seating area sized for small ones.
“Amos and Rick are both so happy about this, Jennie Sue. He’s a firm believer in reading to children and teaching them to love books,” Cricket said.
“Me, too. I intend to read to my children before they are even born,” Jennie Sue said.
LENDING LIBRARIES GROWING
In the past four months, more than two hundred lending libraries have popped up beside people’s mailboxes in Bloom. The town is setting a precedent for surrounding areas, and several inquiries have been made as to how other small towns can begin a similar program.
“And Rick is happy about this and the fact that a different donation has helped him take the bookmobile to three other towns,” Jennie Sue commented as she turned the page.
“You’re sure doin’ a lot of good with your inheritance.” Cricket leaned over and bumped shoulders with her.
“Well, thank you. I do it in hopes that you won’t hate me,” Jennie Sue said.
“Not damn likely that could ever happen again,” Cricket laughed, and pointed. “Look, you and Rick made the news, and with a picture.”
“We really did. And look at that picture. It’s really good,” Jennie Sue said.
LAWSON AND BAKER WED
Richard Lawson and Jennifer Baker eloped to Las Vegas last weekend and were married in the Double Heart Chapel. They are making their home in Bloom.
“Good picture of y’all, right?” Cricket said. “I did a better job than I did with the one when you got off the bus that first day back in Bloom.”
“Yes, it is. Whatever happened to the ones you took of me back then?” Jennie Sue reached out and touched the newspaper picture, running her finger down the scar on Rick’s face.
“Oh, I still have them. I might need them for blackmail someday. I’m glad you took Lettie, Nadine, and me to Vegas with y’all so we could be there at the wedding. But . . .” She looked around the shop and lowered her voice. “I think maybe you turned a monster loose. They’re planning to go back next weekend and want me to go with them.”
“Go on and have a good time. I can hold down the store while you are gone,” Jennie Sue said.
Cricket turned the page and pointed at the next headline. “Would you look at that?”
SWEETWATER BELLES INDUCT NEW MEMBER
The Sweetwater Belles had a formal ceremony to welcome Danielle Crossett into the club last Friday night, filling the opening left by the death of Charlotte Baker.
“Does that make you sad?” Cricket asked.
“Not one bit. I’m just glad they weren’t able to put me on a guilt trip like they tried to do when I refused to join in Mama’s place. And, speaking of the Belles, look at this one.” Jennie Sue pointed to the next headline.
BABY SHOWER GIVEN
The Sweetwater Belles hosted a baby shower for Belinda Anderson on Sunday afternoon. All twelve members were in attendance.
“I’ll give you a baby shower when the time comes,” Cricket said. “Think that might be anytime soon?”
“How about in seven and a half months?” Jennie Sue laid a hand on her flat stomach.
Cricket turned the page and then gasped. “What did you just say?”
“That I’m six weeks pregnant. Rick wanted to tell you the day I took the test, but I was afraid I’d jinx it until I saw the doctor and he confirmed it. We’ll be out of your house by the time the baby is born, so don’t worry about diapers and sleepless nights,” Jennie Sue told her.
Cricket grabbed her in a fierce hug. “Oh! My! Goodness. I’m so excited I can’t breathe.” She fanned herself with both hands. “This is the best Thanksgiving ever.”
“We’ve got so much to be thankful for, don’t we, sister?” Jennie Sue said.
“What was that about being thankful?” Rick, Lettie, and Nadine all pushed their way into the store.
“I’m going to be an aunt,” Cricket squealed.
Rick crossed the floor and kissed Jennie Sue. “And I’m going to be a dad, and this baby is going to have the best mama in the world.”
“Well, how about that?” Nadine grinned. “We are going to be grandmothers, Lettie.”
“I’ll start knitting a blanket next week.” Lettie fished two dollars from her purse and handed it to Nadine. “A week ago she said you were pregnant, and I told her she’d been listenin’ to the aliens in her sleep.”
Lettie clapped her hands like a little girl. “I’m so happy I could dance a jig, but my old knees would give out.”
“You ready now that we’ve dropped this bombshell on them?” Rick asked.
She put her hand in his. “It’s time, isn’t it?”
“If you are ready, but there’s no rush,” he said.
“Sure you don’t want us to go with you?” Lettie asked.
“No, I need to do this by myself,” she said. “Thanks for helping Cricket with the store today so Rick and I can have the day to ourselves once we get finished.”
“Honey, we’re glad to help,” Nadine said.
“Caddy or truck?” Jennie Sue asked when they were on the sidewalk in front of the store.
“Caddy—you’re carrying precious cargo, and it’s an easier ride,” he said.
She handed him the keys, and he opened the door for her. She fastened the seat belt and looked over her shoulder. Rick had carefully pulled the seat belts around the two silver urns so that they wouldn’t tip over. The tombstones had been in place for months, but Jennie Sue had procrastinated. She’d gone back and forth between burying them or combining the ashes and scattering them somewhere that had been special to them both. In the end she’d decided that burial was the best decision, and what better time to do that than right before Thanksgiving.
“It’s your last ride, Mama, and it seems fitting that it’s in your Caddy,” Jennie Sue whispered as Rick rounded the back of the car and got into the driver’s seat.
They were at the cemetery in only a few minutes. Rick helped her out and then handed her the urn with her mother’s ashes. He picked up Dill’s urn, and together they carried them to the two holes dug to the right depth for that kind of burial.
“One more time,” he said. “You’re sure this is what you want?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “I want them to be here with Emily Grace so I can put flowers on their graves and remember them. I want to bring our children here and tell them about their sister and grandparents,” she said as she knelt down and put the urn inside the hole. “Rest in peace, Mama. You will always be beautiful in everyone’s memories.”