“You know, I’m surprised that man allows himself to eat while he drives,” Vivian said with a chuckle.
“Oh, he’s probably got some perfect system where he only ever takes a bite at stoplights or stop signs.” Sally laughed. “What was he saying? What does he want you to think on?”
Vivian sighed, sitting back down at the table and taking a sip of her coffee. “Something I’d rather not think about, I’m afraid. Would you like me to get you a cup of coffee?”
“Very smooth change of subject,” Sally said with a wink. “But I can get myself a cup. Why don’t we go sit at the counter together and have a girl chat? You’re always there to encourage me when I’m feeling low. Whatever this is, we can talk about it.”
“Oh, I probably should,” Vivian groaned and then smiled. “Okay. You’ve convinced me. Let’s sit at the counter and have a girl chat.”
Sally got herself a steaming hot cup of coffee, and the two friends sat down side by side at the counter. Winking slyly, Alexis slid a couple of slices of apple pie in front of them.
“Day old,” she explained. “Got to get rid of them somehow, right?”
Vivian laughed. “Thanks, honey. These will hit the spot.”
“Okay,” Sally said, leaning in toward Vivian as soon as they’d both eaten a bite of the rich, tangy pie. “Tell me all about this thing that you’d rather not be thinking about. In my experience, if there’s something we don’t want to think about, we should wait until we can think about it out loud with someone we love and trust.”
“Well, that’s definitely you for me.” Vivian smiled gratefully at her friend. “You remember Frank left us all those gambling debts, right?”
Sally nodded sympathetically.
“Well, the other day I was cleaning out the attic and I found a shoebox inside one of our old keepsake chests. It was full of money. Thousands of dollars.”
Sally gasped and clapped a hand to her mouth. “What on earth?”
“I know. There was also a note from Frank. It was clear that he meant to use that money to pay off his debts, but I guess he was hoping to do it all at once. He never told me about it, and even though in theory it’s a good thing, it’s just dragging up all my old feelings of betrayal—and it makes me so upset to think that we almost lost the pub just because he didn’t tell me about that money. The kids pulled through with the fundraiser, but we had the money all along, and I just wish we’d known. We were all so scared we were going to lose The Lighthouse Grill.”
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry.” Sally shook her head. “I can’t even imagine how complicated your emotions must be right now. That’s so hard.”
“Thank you.” Vivian took another bite out of her slice of apple pie and sighed. “Definitely complicated. And what I’m left with is all this money that I have no idea what to do with.That’s what Terrence and I were talking about just now. I guess they’re holding a meeting tonight to talk about all of the things in Rosewood Beach that need funding. I suggested that I donate the money to our town, but he said that I should wait and put it toward something specific. That way I’ll know exactly what the money is being used for.”
Sally nodded. “Oh, I agree. That’s your money, and Frank probably worked hard to make sure you got it. I know nobody likes the way he went about doing it, but remember that money is yours, given to you by love. You should use it for a purpose that you choose.”
Vivian shook her head. “But that’s just the problem, Sally. I don’t know what to use the money for. I keep thinking about it, and I have absolutely no idea.”
Sally smiled reassuringly at her friend. “When the time is right, you’ll know where the money should go. You’ll find some cause where it will be of the most help, or will make your family really happy, and you’ll feel some peace about it.”
Vivian sighed. “I hope you’re right.”
“I know I’m right. Besides, remember that you don’t have to use all the money for the same thing.” She patted Vivian’s hand. “Just give it some time.”
“I know, but I hate thinking about it. And I can’t seem to evade it.”
Sally looked her square in the eyes. “You’ve got to forgive Frank. Once you’ve managed that, it’ll feel easier to think about the money.”
“It’s not that I don’t forgive him –” Vivian paused. She realized that Sally was right, and that under her pain and disappointment was still a little resentment toward her husband. She sighed. “You’re right. I bet it’ll stop eating at me so much once I do that.”
Sally nodded. “And I know it’s hard. But just try to remember how much he cared about you. None of us are perfect, and we all need forgiving. He tried to be a good man for you, and there’s plenty of people out there that don’t even try.”
Vivian nodded. “You’re right. I just—I feel like I lost the man he was to me all these years. I blame this new Frank, who almost seems like a stranger, for doing that to me.”
“But you haven’t lost the man he was all these years. He’s still that person, you just know a little more about him now. Just because he wasn’t as good as you thought he was doesn’t mean he wasn’t wonderful.”
Vivian felt unexpected tears spring into her eyes, and she felt grateful for her good friend, who was guiding her through such a tricky situation so well. “You’re so right, Sally. Plenty of people have had to forgive more than this. I need to let go of my resentment and focus on what I loved about him. Our marriage had plenty of ups and downs and there were many things I had to forgive him for along the way. I just didn’t expect to be facing the last one without him by my side.”
“His love is still with you. And I know it’s hard to, but I think you can think of that money as his love in physical form.”
Vivian reached over and hugged her friend tightly. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
