“Mom said to bring you some tea.” Cooper held out a glass.
“Thanks, sweetie, that sounds good.” Honey patted the edge of the bed. “Can you sit and visit for a bit?”
“Sure, if you want.” Cooper handed her the glass and sat down. “You feeling better?”
“I guess so.” Honey shrugged, determined to play this down. “To be honest, I didn’t feel all that bad. Mostly a bad headache.” She tugged a lock of Cooper’s hair. “This is a pretty shade of green.”
The girl smiled. “You really like it? I did it myself.”
“I think it displays real creativity and individuality.” Honey felt a throb and reached up to touch her swollen forehead.
Cooper narrowed her eyes. “That’s a big lump, Grandma.”
Honey attempted a smile. “Think it’ll knock some sense into me?”
She shrugged. “You really need more sense?”
“I think I do.”
“How’s that?” Cooper leaned forward.
“Well, I did some pondering in the hospital. I think God is trying to tell me something.”
“Seriously? That’s pretty harsh. God whacking you on the head just to tell you something?”
“Not exactly, but I think God is using it.”
“How so?”
“He is reminding me that I can’t do it all.”
“Well, no one can do it all.”
“That’s for sure. But I think I probably try to ... or, at least, I did. Maybe this bump on the head will help me remember I can’t.”
“Yeah. Mom sometimes acts like that too. Like she can do it all. It’s aggravating.”
“Might be hereditary.” Honey poked Cooper’s arm. “So watch out, sweetie pie.”
Cooper laughed. “Don’t worry about me. I don’t evenwantto do it all.” She ran a finger along a quilt square, tracing the seams on the patchwork piece. “Did you make this quilt, Grandma?”
“As a matter of fact, I did.” Honey surveyed the pale shades of fabric, faded from too many times on the clothesline. “Back when your mama was a girl, I got into quilting one winter. This was my first big project. Don’t look too closely though. It’s full of mistakes.”
“Looks pretty good to me.”
“Thanks.” Honey sighed. “Do you know how to sew?”
“No. But I’d like to learn.”
Honey brightened. “Maybe I can give you lessons. When I’m better.”
“Cool.”
Honey reached for Cooper’s hand. “I know you weren’t too excited to come to the farm,” she said cautiously, “but I want you to know how glad I am that you’re here. Thank you for coming. It means the world to me.”
Cooper’s countenance dimmed. “Not to Grandpa.”
“Well, that’s only because he’s so confused. He’s not usually this bad. But stress does that, and today’s been pretty hard on him.”
