“Thank you. That would be nice.” Hannah didn’t smile but sat at the kitchen island. There was a sadness behind her eyes.
She quickly made a cup of coffee for Hannah and set the cream and sugar by her cup.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been over to your house to compensate you. I’ve been busy trying to get a new roof on my house.”
“I saw Thomas’s truck over here. He does good work.” Hannah took a sip of her coffee.
“Good. For what I’m paying him, he better.” She chortled.
Hannah gave her a slight smile.
“I bet your husband was pretty mad about the mailbox. My ex would have been livid.” Carolina shoved the pen and pad toward her. “If you’ll just tell me your address, I can get someone out there to fix it as soon as I get the roof on… and pay Bernice’s vet bill…” She bit her lip. “I have to confess it may be a while before I can afford it, but I promise I will pay to have it fixed.”
“Oh it’s already fixed. James fixed it himself before…” She looked away.
She recognized the look in Hannah’s eyes. She’d seen it in her own reflection. “Oh my gosh.” She lowered her voice. “Your husband didn’t leave you too did he?”
The woman sitting in her kitchen slowly nodded. “He did.”
“I’m so sorry. I understand how that feels. I can’t believe a man would leave you. I mean, I’m in my forties and no longer a spring chicken. I knew I had put on some weight but I was trying to get it off. It didn’t matter. He found what he was looking for in a twenty-two year old. But I mean look at you, you’re gorgeous. I can’t imagine any man leaving you.”
Hannah looked at her and grimaced. “Carolina, my husband didn’t divorce me. He died.”
Chapter 34
Carolina’ s mouth dropped.
“Oh Hannah. I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
“How could you? You just moved here.” Hannah stood and walked over to the fireplace. “Have you lit it yet?”
“No. Thomas was going to check it out to make sure it was in proper working order before I made a fire.” She followed her into the living room.
“Maybe I need to ask Thomas to look at mine. I forget how many things James took care of. Now that it’s just me, I have a lot more to do.”
Carolina was unsure what to say. She barely knew this woman, yet it seemed they had so much in common.“Do you have children?” she asked.
“Yes. A boy and a girl.” Hannah laughed a little. “Of course they are grown now. Ella lives in Atlanta where she works and Gregory lives in Charlotte with his wife.”
“How long have you lived on the lake?”
“We built out here while the kids were still in school.” She smiled wistfully. “We would spend every weekend out here and when the kids went off to college, we sold our home in Charlotte and moved out here permanently.”
“I bet you two shared some wonderful memories out here.”
“We did.” Her smile faded. “Now that it’s just me in that big house it feels kind of lonely.”
“Your kids come to visit, don’t they?”
“Right after James died they did. But they have their own lives and are busy. I’m not even sure I’ll see them on Thanksgiving.”
“Well, it will just be me here at Thanksgiving so you’re welcome to come over.”
“You don’t even know me.” Hannah cocked her head.
“I know. But I also know what it’s like to be lonely. And considering I kicked my former mother-in-law out yesterday, I’m kind of short on guests for the holidays.”
Hannah looked at her. “You kicked your mother-in-law out?”
