Two sisters, arguing over a guy. Faith could certainly relate. While she’d never told Casey not to marry Scott, she had spent a lot of time away from her sister when she should have been with her.
“I refused to speak to her. I was so angry because Clara always seemed to get everything right in life. She had a way about her that made people like her, and I was the one who had to work for everything I had. So finding someone as wonderful as John had taken me by surprise. I was thrilled that he noticed me, and that he liked the person he saw both inside and out. It annoyed me that Clara couldn’t be happy for me. She was ruining the one great thing that had happened to me. I should’ve just ignored her comment and let time tell the story, but I didn’t. I was too loyal to John. I didn’t want anyone talking badly about him.”
Nan reached out for the photo, so Faith handed it to her. She studied the faces in the picture for a few quiet seconds and then shook her head.
“Clara sent me a letter. She said she wanted to talk. I had the chance right then to respond, tell her I’d love to see her, and make it all better again. But I didn’t. I let her request go unanswered. I still have her letter at home. I was too proud to admit that I’d overreacted. A few months later, I got word that she’d been killed in the train crash. I wish I’d gone to see her…”
“You’ll get to see her again,” Faith said, trying to reassure Nan in the best way she knew how. “She’s up there with Grandpa. She’s with him because now she knows. Time did tell the story, and they’re both waiting for you.”
Nan smiled, her eyes glassy with emotion. “Yes. And I will tell her I’m so sorry the minute I see her. But she’s had to wait an entire lifetime to hear it and I’ve had to wait an entire lifetime to tell her. That’s why I told you that things could be disastrous if we don’t take chances. Life is full of them. Don’t settle in life. If you do, you may miss a golden opportunity. The very worst feeling to carry with you isn’t sadness. It’s regret.”
TWELVE
“Isabella, are you ready?” Casey called out, grabbing Isabella’s sandals. They dangled from her fingers as she slipped her handbag onto her shoulder and slid on her sunglasses. Casey looked amazing. Her outfit was casual but a little over the top for fishing with Jake and his friend. It was probably the most dressed down Casey could be for a fishing trip. Faith sat next to Nan in the breakfast nook as Casey gathered things for their day out.
There was a knock at the door and Faith’s heart started rattling in her chest. Casey opened the door and Jake walked in, his eyes finding hers immediately. His face lifted and he broke into a brilliant smile. It made her heart beat harder. It was so silly to get flustered around him. He wasn’t there for her though, and he’d made it pretty clear that he wasn’t going to ask her out again, so she should just get over it. But for some reason, she couldn’t. She remembered the way he’d looked at her, how he’d smiled as she told him stories, that moment when she’d thought he was going to kiss her and what it felt like when he had. Could that feeling be enough to overpower the niggling worry about the rest?
“Hi, Jake!” Isabella said, running into the room. “Where are we fishing today?”
“Well, my buddy couldn’t come, so it’s just me.” He squatted down to her level. “I’m going to take you to a pier down the road. Does that sound like fun?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never done it,” she said earnestly.
He chuckled. “Well, I hope you will like it, but if you don’t, I’m sure your mom will bring some sand toys and a swimsuit for you and we can go swimming. The water’s really nice today.”
Faith worried about today when she knew she shouldn’t. Casey was just so beautiful and Isabella so adorable. How could anyone not love the two of them? Jake would be the perfect person to make Casey feel at ease, to take her mind off of Scott. And sitting on her chest was the nagging thought that Casey had had no problems dating Scott. What would stop her from dating Jake?
Jake greeted Faith.
“Hi,” she replied, wishing she could say more, but what could she say?
Jake had already opened the door and was heading out. He had his hand on Casey’s back in a guiding way, but their closeness worried Faith. Casey smiled at him, making small talk, but the door was closing. “Have fun!” she said as animatedly as she could.
“Okay!” Casey grabbed the door and said with a smile.
Jake waved one more time and then the door shut and they were gone. Faith tipped her head back and took in a deep breath. She didn’t want to think about how easily Casey would make conversation with him in the car or how Isabella would melt his heart. She didn’t want to ponder whether Casey would delight in his development plans, and welcome his wealth. Casey would talk to him, make him laugh, tell him little stories about herself in a way that made her life seem so interesting. She was good at that. Faith tried not to think about it as she grabbed her handbag. She’d decided to spend the day sorting Nan’s photos and getting them into albums. She needed something to stop her imagination from running wild and to keep her from dwelling on her thoughts. She’d better get a move on if she wanted to spend any time on the beach this afternoon.
On her way out the door, she peeked her head in to her mom’s room. “Need anything from town?” she asked. “I’m going to get photo albums for Nan’s pictures.”
“Why don’t you pick up some party supplies,” her mom said. “That would be great.”
“Party supplies? Like matching paper plates and napkins?”
“Yes. And get some balloons and streamers too.”
Faith giggled. “She’s ninety years old, Mom. Does she want all that for her birthday?”
“Don’t we all want someone to make a fuss over us on our birthday?”
Her mom was good at making a fuss over everyone. She had always tried hard to make the girls feel special, and birthdays were a big deal. She hadn’t been able to lavish them with presents or anything, but she’d given them what she could, and she’d made them feel great on that day. On Faith’s birthday, she would wake to the floor of her room filled with balloons or her door decorated, paper streamers hanging down from the doorway. Then her mom would make a breakfast of her choice, and, waiting at her spot at the table, Faith would find a birthday card to start her day. When she got home, there would always be something special left on her bed—a new book, a nice sweater, something. Then, when Nan could come over, they would all share a big, fancy cake, with candles. As she blew them out, her mom made everyone sing “Happy Birthday,” even when they’d gotten older. They’d eat far too much until their bellies ached, then her mom would tuck her in to bed and ask her how her birthday was. She didn’t want to know what her favorite part was or if she liked the cake. Instead she’d simply asked, “Did you feel special today? You deserve to feel special.”
“Okay, Mom. I’ll get the party supplies. Anything in particular?”
“You of all people know what Nan likes.”
“I’ll see what I can find.”
Faith returned with five shopping bags dangling heavily on her arms as she slid the key into the lock and opened the door. Nan was at the kitchen table. She walked over and dropped her arms, the bags falling to the floor with a thud.
