Page 76 of Power
“Aww, I really like you. You’re now my favorite kid named Emily.”
“How many Emily’s do you know?” she asks.
“Well, there’s you.” Hope holds up a finger. She stares off into the distance as she devours her ice cream cone. “Nah, just you.”
Emily sassily smiles. “Well, I guess you’re my favorite adult named Hope.”
“Oh my God, you’re so cheeky!” Hope turns to me and smiles. “I love it.” Emily is lapping up the attention. “Crap, I have to go. Nice meeting you both. Emily, you and I are soul sisters and the next time you’re back in town, someone here will have my number. Call me so we can hang out.”
“Okay,” Emily eagerly replies. “Thank you for the ice cream cone, and bye.”
“Do you need a lift home, Gran?”
“Tabitha will be on her way to pick me up.”
“Okay.” She turns to Emily. “See ya, kid.” Hope jogs away leaving Emily, May, and me.
“I’m afraid it’s my turn to leave too. Since the stroke, I find I get tired easily.”
“Do you need help?” Emily asks as she speeds up eating her cone so she can help May.
“Not at all.”
“Maybe we should head back to the B&B,” I say to Emily. “We’ve had a pretty long day.”
“When are you heading back home again?” May asks.
“We’ll be leaving fairly early tomorrow. It’s a long drive back, so I think we’ll head back after breakfast.”
“Do you have your phone on you?”
“I do. Hang on, it’s in my bag.” I rustle through it and find my phone. Turning it on, I find a couple of messages from Tash saying how much she misses us and to hurry home. “It’s been nice having this off for most of the time we’ve been here.”
“Take my number,” May blurts her number. “I’m always available to talk. And here, enter your number on mine, too. I want to be able to call you anytime I want. And you better answer.” She points her skinny finger at me.
“I will.” I make a cross over my chest. “Thank you,” I say with genuine heart. May is a beautiful old lady who’s so far advanced for her era. “Well.” Emily and I both stand awkwardly. “This has been refreshing and what my heart and soul needed. Thank you.”
“Every six weeks we hold a festival.” May lifts her hands in surrender. “I’m just saying...”
“Can we come back?” Emily asks. “Wait, do you know what the next festival will be about?” She looks to May for answers.
“I do believe it’ll be the snow cone festival.”
“Snow cones?” my voice pitch increases in surprise.
“Any excuse for the town to come together,” May replies.
That really is a beautiful thing. “May, thank you for...” I pause to think about what I’m thanking her for. “...being you.”
“I’ll see you both again, soon.”
“Bye.” Emily waves as we walk away and head toward the car. “I like it here, Mom.”
“Surprisingly, so do I. It’s so relaxed.”
“See you next time,” a woman calls as she walks past us.
“Bye,” Emily and I reply in unison to the stranger.
