Page 65 of Must Love Flowers
Phil leaned forward and with a smile said, “I don’t think I want to know what prompted you to purchase a blow-up unicorn.”
The entire group laughed.
“That was for the grandkids,” Glenn insisted, laughing himself.
As the session was about to end, Sally addressed Joan. “How long have you been a widow?” she asked.
“Four years.” It felt a whole lot longer, though—a lifetime.
“How come it took you so long to seek help?” she asked, as if she found it difficult to understand Joan’s hesitation.
Joan knew Sally was only curious and didn’t take it personally. “I believe we each come to recognize when it’s time, and I suppose for me it took longer than most. Nevertheless, I’m here now.”
Sally nodded and smiled in understanding.
After the meeting drew to a close, the group gathered together in the parking lot.
“Shari’s?” Glenn asked.
“I like meeting there better than McDonald’s,” Sally said. She looked around the small group for confirmation.
“I’m in,” Phil said.
“Me, too,” Joan added.
Before she climbed into her car, Mary Lou gave her the address to the restaurant. She sent Maggie a text to tell her she’d be later than expected, and if she got home first, to be sure and let Edison out.
By the time she arrived at Shari’s, the others were already inplace. They’d pushed two tables together and left a chair empty for Joan, which warmed her. It was a way of saying she was one of them now.
The server came forward with a coffeepot and menus. Joan and Sally ordered tea and the rest of the group had coffee. Several ordered a slice of pie to go with their drinks. The list of pies was impressive, and Joan was tempted.
“You going to order pie?” Mary Lou asked Joan.
“I’m considering it.”
“If you do, I will, too.”
That was all the encouragement Joan needed. Before she had second thoughts, she added a slice of sour cream raisin pie to her order.
The discussion around the table was lively and friendly. An outsider would never guess they were part of a grief therapy group. They laughed and shared jokes, and when Sally started to cry, there were words of encouragement. Both Mary Lou and Joan had mentioned their sons, and after finishing off a slice of apple pie, Glenn mentioned his daughter, who hadn’t dealt well with her mother’s death. That led to a whole other discussion.
Before Joan realized it an hour had passed. It felt like fifteen minutes. She was happy Mary Lou had encouraged her to join the others. If she’d declined, she would have missed this bonding time and the laughter. No one seemed willing to let Glenn forget that blow-up unicorn.
Mary Lou walked with her into the parking lot. “I’m so happy you’re part of this group. You know Sally didn’t mean anything by questioning why it took you so long.”
“I know. I didn’t take offense.”
“Good. Is the group what you expected?”
“Not at all,” Joan told her.
“How so?”
“Well, for one thing, I didn’t expect to laugh so much. I completely understand what led Glenn to buying sardines, but that inflatable unicorn got to me.”
“There’ve been sessions when we laugh more than we cry. This group is the one place where we can share our feelings without judgment or regret. We’ve all survived a body blow that has left us weak and lost. Together we’re finding a way back.”
“I am, too.”
