Free The House on Persimmon Road by Jackie Weger

same applies to you.”
    “I know, but I’m older, and I’ve had a wonderful life. I can adjust because I can take myself back to better times. Memories, you know.”
    “I have a few good memories myself.”
    “You do?” Pauline was genuinely surprised. “With Philip?”
    Justine laughed. “Mother, on that note, I think I’ll leave it to you. I’m going to put on some makeup. See if you can find Pip, will you?”
    “I’m certain he wants to stay here.”
    “You’re certain?”
    Pauline examined an imaginary hangnail. “I do believe that fishing trip is on. There’s a creek or a river nearby.” Justine nodded and sighed. She could forbid Pip to go and unleash no telling what kind of havoc. Highsmith wasn’t the man she would choose for Pip to emulate, but then, neither was Pip’s own father…now. Considering the situation of the moment, any male companionship would be a boon for Pip. If necessary, she could put the skids on it later, gently.
    It dawned on Justine that Pauline probably wanted her gone so there would be no confrontation between Justine and Tucker Highsmith when he came to collect Pip. Pauline need not have worried on that front. Before she’d drifted to sleep last night, she had given the man a moment’s thought. She had been a tad harsh on him. If and when the opportunity arose, she meant to apologize. There was no good reason to leave him with the impression that she was a bitter and foolish divorcee. After all, they were neighbors.
    “I don’t suppose it’ll hurt anything for Pip to go fishing,” she said. “The attention will do him good.”
    “Of course it will. Now go along. Do take your time.”
    “Mother?”
    “Yes, dear?”
    Justine lifted a hand, and let it fall. “For some obscure reason, I feel bested.”
    “You’re just not used to things going well. Now they are. Accept it.”
    “The same way you’re suddenly accepting of Agnes?”
    “I’m beginning to understand her. And we do have something in common for the first time. We’re both widows.”
    Justine didn’t think it the prudent moment to mention there had been grandchildren in common for eleven-plus years.
    “Whatever the reason, Mother, I’m pleased.”
    “You’re going to be even more pleased when I tell you that I’ve thought of a way to get some money for the communal purse. It came to me last night when I was trying to get used to all the creaks and thumps this old house makes at night.”
    “How?”
    “I’ll tell you after I’ve worked out the details.”
    “It isn’t illegal, is it?”
    “Why should you think that?”
    “My suspicious nature and your ambiguity.”
    “Justine, go shopping. I’ve got to find that eyesore of a rag Agnes calls a sweater. I don’t want her coming down with pneumonia. We’ve got work to do.”
    “Eyesore of a rag, Mother?”
    “It slipped. I’ve never been fond of purple. Tell the truth, have you?”
    Justine laughed. “Some truths are better left unsaid.”
    “I love your laugh, Justine. It’s such a gay, throaty sound.”
    “Why, thank you, Mother.”
    “You still need to lose five pounds.”
    “Why do you keep saying that? I don’t see it!”
    Pauline waved in the direction of her daughter’s derriere. “That’s because you’re always walking away from it.”
    “Next time,” Justine said, “I’ll stop while I’m ahead.”
    Excusing herself, Justine disappeared into her bedroom for makeup, car keys, and purse. On her way out she glanced over her - shoulder into the armoire mirror. Maybe there was just the tiniest hint of spread there. Her mind’s eye carried her five years into the future until she was visualizing hips over which she could not tug a pair of hose.
    Cottage cheese. Lots of it!
    —  •  —
    “You just want to get close to the mother without a tadpole hanging on a teat,” grumbled Wheeler.
    “Dad, I didn’t tell the boy I’d take him fishing. He asked me what there was to do around here, and I said the river’s