When she was a child she had hated when adults said,You’ll understand when you’re older.But now she gotit. Some things just didn’t make sense to a nine-year-old worldview.
“Let’s have pancakes,” Gael said, hopping up.
Pancakes, on the other hand, always made perfect sense.
“Okay,” she told him. “Go get ready and we’ll head down.”
While Gael brushed his teeth and got dressed, she headed to her room to straighten up. She had checked with the airline, but they couldn’t move up her ticket, so they would be going home the day after tomorrow, as planned. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t get organized and pack a few things now.
A few minutes later, she and Gael headed downstairs. The air smelled like maple syrup and cinnamon. Trudy and Ward were singing along with the radio in the kitchen, keeping up pretty well with Brenda Lee on “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
Gael stole a glance at Jenny and smiled conspiratorially. He didn’t want to interrupt their good time either.
She could only smile back, charmed as usual by her son. He had such a fun sense of humor, and he was honestly a good judge of human character.
“Ho, there,” Ward said, noticing them and headed into the dining room. “We’ve got company for breakfast today.”
“Good morning, you two,” Trudy said as she followed him.
“Want to help me get some more firewood, Gael?” Ward asked. “If it’s okay with your mom?”
“Yes,” Gael said, his eyes lighting up.
“Of course,” Jenny said, nodding to Ward.
The two of them pulled on coats and headed out to the little structure Ward had built to keep the wood dry.
“How are you holding up?” Trudy asked Jenny softly.
“You know?” Jenny asked, but it was clear that she did.
“It’s a small town,” Trudy said apologetically. “I’m sorry your secret came out. But aren’t you and Erik seeing each other for real now?”
“I was hoping it would work out,” Jenny said. “But I could tell by the way he was talking to Samantha that it’s probably too much for him. I’m just… a lot, I guess—too much baggage.”
“You can’t mean Gael,” Trudy said, looking scandalized.
“I lost my husband a few years ago,” Jenny admitted. “I’m not sure I’ll ever really be over it.”
Trudy’s beautiful eyes filled with tears, and she nodded slowly.
“I lost my Phillip,” she said softly. “I can tell you right now that I won’t ever stop missing him.”
“It doesn’t go away,” Jenny said softly, stating out loud what she already knew was true.
“It doesn’t,” Trudy agreed. “That’s not how love works. But Ward understands, and he respects my feelings. You’d be surprised how much room your heart has when it comes to love. Life is complicated, and love can be complicated too, and none the worse for it.”
“I thought Erik understood,” Jenny said. “We talked about it, and he was so kind. But… well, it’s okay. I’m glad I got to hear how he felt so I wouldn’t waste a moment chasing a daydream. I have a good life. Gael and I will be just fine.”
“You have a wonderful family,” Trudy agreed with a warm smile. “Erik would have been lucky to be a part of it. And you never know what the future holds.”
“I guess I have to agree with you there,” Jenny said, laughing. She certainly never would have imagined herself in Pennsylvania at a country inn on New Year’s Eve with her adopted son, having a heart-to-heart talk with someone she had met a week ago.
“Want to help me bring out the breakfast things?” Trudy asked.
Jenny nodded, glad for the distraction, and they both headed to the kitchen and carried out a tray of beautiful golden pancakes and a tray with dishes of fruit, bacon, and a carafe of warm maple syrup.
By the time Ward and Gael were back and had unloaded their armloads of wood into the recessedshelves by the library fireplace, breakfast was ready to be served.
