room might change, it might grow, but not in the same way.”
She understood what her mother-in-law was saying, and there was certainly truth to it. “We get one life and no one has endless choices.”
Cricket was quiet for a moment. “I know you think we’re living in some kind of gilded cage, but it’s a good life. Do you know what the best thing about it is?”
She glanced over at the bags. “The shopping?”
Cricket grinned, an expression that made her look younger. “Oh, that’s fun, but no. The best thing is that I rarely have to feel helpless.”
Recent history had disproven that. “I would bet you felt helpless when you lost your husband, when you found out you had cancer.”
“Death is inevitable, my dear. I wish Ross and I had more time. We didn’t get to enjoy each other the way we should have.” Cricket was quiet for a moment, as though she was trying to figure out how much to say. “We had a lot of trouble at the beginning of our marriage. I don’t think either of us took it as seriously as we should have. My husband was a good man, but he wasn’t a perfect man. We struggled a lot to find out how it could work between us. As for the cancer, yes, that was terrible, but I had it better than most. There are things we can’t change, but that’s not what I mean. Every human being will face things they have no power over. Every creature, really. Like this one. She would have died, likely, if someone with the means to save her hadn’t come along. There’s something terrible about seeing a problem and not being able to solve it.”
Sylvie turned to the woman who had very likely made it possible for her to go to Tulane. “Like a girl who can’t afford college?”
Cricket practically glowed in the afternoon light, and there was such joy in her eyes. “Yes, love, that’s what I mean. Seeing smart, ambitious children who are only held back by their lack of funds can make a person feel helpless. I didn’t understand that until I got here, you know. In Dallas, I was insulated. There was a lot of diversity there, but in my world, everyone was wealthy. Here, I can’t ignore it. It’s not something I read about in the paper. It’s something people I’ve come to care about experience. And I don’t have to feel helpless. I can make up a scholarship and those brilliant children who were so kind to my own son could go to any school they wanted.”
Sylvie snapped her fingers. “I knew Andre didn’t get in on his own. He did not have the grades.”
Cricket sat up a bit straighter. “Your brother’s talents made up for his lack of a studious mind. He’s an artist. He only needed a bit of help to get his work in front of the right people.”
Sylvie moved over to the small sofa Cricket was sitting on and sank down beside her. “The two brilliant kids thank you. I know what you mean by helping. When I got to DC, I thought that was what I wanted. I found it to be hollow. I know everyone thinks it was a huge step down to come here and take over city hall, but I think I want to stay. I can make a difference here.” She needed to be completely honest with her mother-in-law. “I’m never going to be happy as a stay-at-home mom. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the work they do . . .”
Cricket waved her off. “No one expects you to. I rather think Rene likes the fact that his wife is capable of handling this whole town. He intends to back you wherever you choose to go and whatever you want to do. I overheard him talking about putting a small landing strip on part of the estate.”
In case she wanted to go into state legislature. “That’s premature. I’m happy here for now. I want to get the town’s infrastructure modernized before I even think about making a career change.”
“I’m glad to hear that, because I want you around for a long time. I know that you and Rene married because of this situation with his family and the company.” She sat for a moment, her hand stroking Lady’s back. “But sometimes those arrangements can work out.”
“Like you and Ross?” Sylvie asked.
“Figured that out, did you? That’s why I said we likely would