Golden Box Book Publishing One Picture: Thousands of Words | Page 71

building she’d left behind. She’d grown up here, watched her parents
age here. So much of her essence was buried inside the depths of the
stone house she and Andy had recently moved into. Even now, even
though there was no fire in the huge hearth in the family room, she
could recall the scent of smoke rising from the chimney. She could
hear the voices, laughter, conversations, so many conversations and
yes, sorrow too. The stone house and the storage buildings and
detached garage beyond were not just familiar memories, they were
safe havens. How many times had she come to this place seeking
comfort, love and recognition?
Wind rustled the trees, rippling her hair and causing her to nestle
the collar around her neck. It rattled a loose gutter on the house. Her
shrewd, contemplating eye caught a slipping tile on the roof and the
chipped paint on the upper window dormers.
Her gaze dropped to lower floor windows that were no longer
glistening clean and the gathering of dusty tree litter along the front
stoop. The flowerbed lining the house foundation and the walk
needed serious tending. She smiled, remembering cleaning those
flowerbeds on numerous occasions. Her mother was a particular
horticulturist wanting absolute perfection. Mom spent hours tending
her flowers indoors and out while Dad had been a bit more lax in
repairs on the house. Hence, the loose gutter and slipping roof tile.
She would find more if she searched. Mom was no longer here to
tend her flowers. Dad was…perhaps there was more work than she
imagined. Perhaps it wasn’t time to take this step just yet…perhaps…
There were disappointments twice before. She wondered if they
would succeed this time. Was it the right thing or should they not
take this step just yet? After their attorney called she wanted to phone
Andy with the news right away; but decided she should wait until this
evening when they could discuss everything in detail. The situation