care of my girls,” Bethel said. “Besides, you’ve always done so much for me.”
“That’s because I adore you,” Grace said when she’d finished swallowing.
“If you need a place to stay, dear,” Bethel said, and Grace had to turn away for a second to hide her emotions.
“I was just kidding, Grandma, but it means the world to me to know I always have a place if I need it,” Grace said, giving Bethel a radiant smile.
“Well then, I won’t keep you girls. I’m sure you have a lot of catching up to do.” And Bethel left.
“We’re going to break her heart when you move in with me. Maybe we should wait a month . . . or ten years,” Grace said, only half kidding.
“A week, Grace. One week at most.” Sure, if Bethel became too upset, Sage would wait a while longer, but she really hoped her grandmother wouldn’t mind. Sage had missed Grace terribly.
“All right,” Grace said. “If need be, we just won’t tell her. You’re going to be working a lot of hours. You could always come in the front door and then sneak out your window like you used to do when we were kids.”
“That will have to be our plan B.”
The two young women laughed heartily as they continued catching up. But Sage’s medicine soon kicked in, and though she fought hard to stay awake, sleep overtook her.
Driving her grandmother’s old Chrysler slowly through the center of town a few days later, since her own car had been totaled in the wreck, Sage smiled when a couple of kids on their bicycles turned and waved.
Sterling had a population of only three thousand people spread out over many miles, and despite those miles, if you wanted privacy, you weren’t going to get it. The nearest large city was about thirty miles away, but Sterling had everything you could possibly need, though maybe not exactly what you’d want.
For a teenager, it could get a little boring, and the local teens had been known to tip a few cows on a Friday night, or party in some of the farmers’ barns, but nothing too terrible ever seemed to happen in the close-knit community. The biggest industries were oil and ranching, as was the case for a lot of Montana towns. There wasn’t much else to do with the miles and miles of open land.
She drove through the one-stop-sign “metropolis” and reached her grandmother’s house in a few minutes. She’d been too afraid to tell her grandma that she was planning to move—hopefully tomorrow.
Pulling the car into the small driveway, she paused to look fondly at the planters sitting on the large front porch. Sage thought there must be a city ordinance requiring every house to have an inviting wooden front porch with colorful flowers adorning it.
She finally climbed from the car, feeling much better after almost a full week of total rest and relaxation—too much rest, if anyone cared to ask her humble opinion. Before she was able to take two steps, she heard the familiar creaking of the wooden screen door as her grandma stepped outside.
“I’ve been so worried,” Bethel said as Sage came up the front path. “You were gone too long.”
“You shouldn’t be worrying about me, Grandma. And you shouldn’t be out here in the heat.” Sage climbed up the steps and threw her arms around Bethel. The familiar scent of butterscotch and flour drifting off her grandmother’s clothes would always be a reminder of home and happiness.
“I just hate knowing that you’re out there driving all by yourself after that terrible wreck, sweetie. You’ve only been feeling better for a day. I could have driven you.”
“I told you I’d be fine, and see?” Sage spun around in a circle. “I’m all safe and sound. And for the millionth time, it was a minor wreck, though my car might disagree. Now let’s get you back inside where it’s cool.”
“Don’t you be fussing over me, young lady. I may have a few years on you, but I can handle myself just fine. A bit of heat won’t slow these bones down. Now be a good girl and come inside. I’ve made you muffins and there’s fresh lemonade chilling in the fridge.”
“That is just what the doctor ordered,” Sage said with a grin.
“You will make a terrific doctor, darling. It makes me feel so safe having you back home again.” Bethel scooted over to the fridge and filled a glass with icy-cold liquid.