eyes even as she wrestled a wiggling Hunter into his clothes. “Will you stop saying stuff like that? I’m already a watering pot with all these pregnancy hormones flooding my system. I don’t need you making me worse.”
She sniffed again then set Hunter on his feet. “You two go on and watch TV. Dinner will be a while yet.” She shooed them off to the den before grabbing a bag out of Nadya’s arms. “I usually don’t let them watch more than an hour a day, but this will give us a chance to talk for a few minutes uninterrupted.”
“Is there anything I can help you with?” Nadya asked, leaving her suitcase by the door but taking the other bags to the kitchen with her. “I picked up some chocolate éclairs and some wine. And this.” She handed Mary Ellen the beautifully wrapped package.
“Go on with you. Why did you bring me a present?”
“Because I missed your last twelve birthdays, your wedding and your house warming. I have a lot to make up for. Open it. When I saw it, I thought of you.”
“Well, if you insist. You know how I love presents.” Mary Ellen sat at the wide farmhouse table and carefully pulled back the ribbon and the tape. When she got to the box, she opened it with all the care of a brain surgeon, pulling the tissue-paper-wrapped object out slowly.
“Oh my. This is beautiful. Just like you used to have on your porch.” She held the glass ball up to the light. Swirls of blue formed waves inside the clear ball.
“I remember you used to ask my mama about them, and she told you they were for protection, so I thought I’d get one for your house.”
“Here I go again.” She sniffed and pulled Nadya in for a hug.
“Look at this section here. Doesn’t it look like a mother holding a child? That’s why I had to get it for you.”
“It does. It’s perfect. I’m gonna hang it right here in the window over the sink so it’ll catch the morning sun.” She removed a wind chime that was on a hook and hung the glass ball so the mother-and-child swirl faced the kitchen.
“Doesn’t it look like it always belonged there? I love it.”
“I’m glad. Can I help with anything? I’m not a cook, but I can make a world-class salad.”
“It’s already done. I brought some three-bean salad home from the store today. Really, all that needs to be done is to put the dumplings in the pot, and I’ll wait to do that until Bill gets home. He should be along in another half hour or so.”
“You’re making chicken and dumplings? Your mom’s chicken and dumplings?”
“Of course. She gave me the recipe when Bill and I got engaged. Said I needed to fatten that boy up.”
“Oh my God, I’m never going to fit into my clothes when I go home. I haven’t had chicken and dumplings in years.” Twelve years.
“You could use a few pounds on you. It’ll make the rest of us feel better. Now, tell me about your date with J.T. I want all the juicy details.” Mary Ellen took a peek into the den before plopping herself down at the table. “We’ve got twenty more minutes until their show is over. Spill it.”
Nadya laughed out loud. She’d known what she was in for when she’d texted that J.T. was taking her to dinner. “There’s not much to tell. He took me to a nice restaurant. We ate, we talked, he drove me back to the hotel.”
“That’s it? Nadya, I’m disappointed in you! You’re thirty years old, for heaven’s sake. It’s not like you’re some blushing virgin. How could you let a fine specimen of man just drive on home without trying to get a little something? You’re not still a virgin, are you?” She looked appalled.
“No, I lost that in college.” And would have gladly given it up to J.T. that day at the creek. “Mar, I don’t know how long I’m going to be in Georgia. I can’t get all wrapped up in J.T. again.”
“It’s different now though. You’re not eighteen and sheltered. You’re a woman of the world now. Surely you could have an affair with him before you go back.”
“Mary Ellen! If your mama heard you talking like that she’d wash your mouth out with soap.”
“Oh, please. You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about what it would be like to have sex with him. I remember talking to you