Her mom used to say look to the water. Whenever something went wrong in a day, she’d say “Look to the water, it’ll soothe you.” They were island people so finding water had been easy. Bee was in the big city now. Soothing had been hard to come by until she discovered the shower spa. That’s what she called the ritual. It started obviously enough, after a hard day fighting overwhelming sorrow Bee had got Read more
Celine didn’t chat up customers for the tips but she did manage to save a few dollars for herself. She liked the compliments on her English and the taste of camaraderie while she tempted them with the sweets menu. Gilles gave hard stares if it sounded like flirting. She was happy to focus on the women. Celine was happy to inhale the invigorating scent of coffee and cinnamon all day. Gilles hated the touch of Read more
It’s the only peace she gets now. A few minutes at the new cafe when she walks down the hill for Momma’s daily paper. Momma still refuses to let them deliver it to the house even though the Baylor boy has long since given up the route. Even his son has outgrown delivering papers. Momma likes sending Amanda on the errand. Momma doesn’t remember any of the news she reads but she’s had the habit Read more
Marie-Helene was trying to understand the words coming out of the blonde woman’s mouth. The perfect white teeth distracted her. Marie-Helene didn’t understand why the woman was thanking her so profusely – it was just a bed. An old lumpy bed that was wider than a single but not spacious enough for two. The woman had wolf-blue eyes and explained in crude french she was happy she wouldn’t have to sleep on the street. Marie-Helene recognized Read more
They say you can never go home. Penny had a lot of opinions but didn’t have one about that dictum. Mainly because she didn’t really remember any one place as being home. They changed too often and they never felt homey – getting used to a place only meant she’d be there for a shorter time. But she did have happy memories. The best memories were always of meals, like the Thanksgiving that the lady Read more
If Kara had a quarter for every time a guy spoke to her cleavage – she’d have roughly $3, 276. This isn’t as much as she’d have expected but its an honest appraisal based on a weekly average starting from the age of fourteen when the wonder of hormones changed her life. Kara is very specific about money, this sum is not inconsequential. She knows exactly how much she needs to pay back her stepfather Read more
There is no doubt it’s falling out. The latest natural elixir (vegetable oil with Aniseed) has no impact on the increasing amount of scalp showing through his jet black curls. Dee has convinced him licorice root is the key to healthy bones and hair. Apparently bones and hair are fortified by the same vitamins, and prescriptions for deficiencies often mirror ingredients. Roger tried his mother’s osteoporosis medication but suffered a seriously adverse reaction. He remembers Read more
I am. I am very worried. No one else is, but I am. They’ve been cleaning house and leaving what they don’t want on the sidewalk. It started with books, old hardcover titles acquired at book signings but not worth keeping anymore. Another morning it was an old milk crate with seventies soul music. It was picked through and empty by noon. Each day there are boxes or piles of things from a different room Read more