Free Happy People Read and Drink Coffee by Agnès Martin-Lugand Page B

can assure you.”
    I left to find Postman Pat. He’d taken off out of sight again. I ran towards the path that led to the cottages. I was always afraid that he’d get hit by a car, or worse, that Edward would come back to find his dog wandering around.
    I caught him and pulled him by the collar to take him back to the beach. At that very moment, Edward’s Land Rover pulled up in front of the cottages. To prove I could really control the dog, I held on to him firmly until his master was standing next to us. He was jumping all over Edward, who was looking daggers at me. We stood there staring at each other while the dog ran back and forth between us.
    A high-pitched scream rang out. Judith ran over to us. She leaped onto her brother. I thought I could see the glimpse of a smile on Edward’s face. She finally let him go. She took hold of his chin and stared at him, frowning.
    â€œYou don’t look so good.”
    â€œStop that.”
    He broke free and turned toward me.
    â€œThanks for the dog.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.”
    Judith started applauding, looking back and forth at each of us.
    â€œHell! What a conversation! Edward, you put more than two words together. And you, Diane, you’re more chatty than usual.”
    I shrugged my shoulders.
    â€œJudith, that’s enough,” Edward groaned.
    â€œOh, stop your moaning!”
    â€œAbby and Jack are waiting for us.”
    â€œLet me say goodbye to my new friend.”
    Edward raised his eyes to heaven and went on ahead. Judith wrapped her arms around me.
    â€œI’m coming back in two weeks for Christmas vacation. I’ll come and see you and you’ll confess all.”
    â€œI don’t think so.”
    I hugged her back; being with this young woman did me good.
    I stayed on the beach and watched them leave. Judith was prancing about next to her brother, happy to be with him. And he seemed happy too, in his own way.

5
    I hadn’t heard from Felix in over a week. That was the last straw; now I was the one who wanted to get hold of him. After three tries, he finally answered the phone.
    â€œDiane, I’ve got too much to do!”
    â€œHello to you, too!”
    â€œTalk fast; I’ve got so many things to get ready for Christmas.”
    â€œWhat are you planning?”
    â€œYour parents told me you weren’t coming home for Christmas. They invited me over but I said no. They’d try to exorcise me again. Instead, it’s going to be a beach party in Mykonos.”
    â€œReally? OK.”
    â€œI’ll call you when I get back.”
    He hung up. I stood for a few moments with the phone against my ear. It just gets better and better. Out of sight, out of mind. The fact that my parents didn’t try to convince me to come home for the holidays was hardly surprising. Their depressed, widowed daughter would have spoiled their sociable dinner. But Felix dropping me, that was a harder pill to swallow.
    Bright winter sunshine filled the living room—like I’d never seen before—and yet, I didn’t have the energy to go out. The approaching Christmas merriment filled me with gloomy thoughts. Someone knocking on my door forced me out of my armchair. I went to answer it. Judith was dressed like one of Santa’s little helpers, the sexy version. She threw her arms around my neck.
    â€œWhat are you doing locked away indoors in such gorgeous weather? Get your gloves on and we’ll go for a walk.”
    â€œYou’re kind, but no thanks.”
    â€œYou think I’m giving you a choice,” she said, pushing me towards the coat closet.
    She pulled a hat down on my head, picked up my keys and locked the cottage door.
    She sang all the Christmas songs—out of tune. I laughed, in spite of myself. Judith produced a miracle of sorts. She got me to walk along the entire bay and through Mulranny to drag me over to Abby and Jack’s place.
    â€œWe’re