Jayme rolled back the white, down comforter and placed her bare feet on the cool, wood floor. Granna's slippers were by the bed post. Having fulfilled their purpose, they would rest there until someone, anyone, had the heart to pack them away.
"I miss her," said Lizzie as she rolled over to face her sister. Sliding Lizzie's wavy hair away from her eyes and behind her ear, Jayme replied, " I know. Me too." With a kiss to her sister's forehead, Jayme felt compelled to add, "She's resting peacefully now. No more worries. No more pain." In another place, in another time, with anyone else around, Jayme felt sure that she would not have said anything like that. In fact, she wanted to cry on someone's shoulder. But whose? Here, with Lizzie, she would be the comforter.
Jayme and Lizzie shared Granna's bed on the night of the funeral. Lizzie wanted to be closer to Granna, and Donna could not the refuse. Jayme had volunteered to sleep with her in Granna's room. Both girls slept better during the last night than they had for weeks past.
With her back to Lizzie, Jayme looked out the window into the front yard. The sheer, white curtains flowed down the sides of the window pane, adding a softness to the framed view. The sun shone brightly, reflecting the on the hood of the red, Honda Civic in the driveway. Suddenly, as if by flicked strings on a marionette, light danced in wild, new patterns across the top and hood of the car as the trunk popped like an apple bouncing from a tree. A show of gravity in reverse. Seconds elapsed. And a wide-awake Jayme shrugged.
"Lizzie, let's eat!" The two sisters put on their robes and entered the kitchen.
"Wak-ee, wak-ee! Eggs and bac-ee! Its about time sleepy heads," exclaimed a chipper, Donna McGhee. Both daughters met her eyes with a grin. It had been so long since their mother had taken time to prepare breakfast at all, especially a home-cooked meal of biscuits, gravy, eggs, and bacon. She had been chatting with Courtney as the younger siblings filed in, taking seats around the table.
"Courtney, what were you getting out of your trunk this morning? I thought you unpacked already."
"Not again! Oh, no! I hope it hasn't been like that all night!"
"What?" asked Jayme, confused by the alarmed reaction of her sister. "No, I just saw your trunk open this morning, and..."
"Its okay, I just accidentally... Well this new key chain door opener... darn thing. I must have pressed it again in my purse," replied a slightly frustrated but relieved Courtney. After all, her last trunk-popping incident had been a costly mistake.
Jayme trailed Courtney out to her car as Lizzie opened the silverware drawer and began to count four sets of forks, knives, and spoons, juggling them in her small hands.
...To be continued...
Trunk scene with Jayme and Courtney. Courtney had taken Granna to her last meeting of the Fat Lady's Club to work on her scrapbook with friends. She gave Jayme the book, asking her to hold on to it. "Hey, we'll add to this later. Let's eat."
Later, big discoveries first by Jayme, then she shares them with her family.
Interruption of trunk scene. Neighbor drops by to offer condolences and is invited in for breakfast. This is a recurring character from a local significant family or friend of Jayme.
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