Page 11 of Bothered By the Grump

“Noelle, I think you’re needed at the front of the room. Some of the townspeople want to know more about your English teas. If you’ll excuse us, Mayor.” She sends a charming smile to him, and I quickly make my excuses too.

“Mama, what is that about?” I roll my eyes. “I know nobody is asking about the English teas, for heaven’s sake.” I chuckle. “Not that I mind talking to anyone about it.”

Mama squeezes my arm. “You looked like you could use an escape, plus I wanted to give you something.”

She takes my arm and leads me back to the kitchen. When she turns to me, she has tears in her eyes and a pink envelope in her manicured hand.

“I thought tonight would be a good time to give you this.” She bites down on her lower lip. “I’ll admit maybe I waited longer than I should have. I just couldn’t handle…well, I couldn’t handle anything related to my Mama for a while after she passed. You know how hard it was on me.”

I nod. Granny Adele’s death hit both of us hard. She was the matriarch of the family, the glue that held us together. I squeeze Mama’s hand. “That’s okay, Mama. What is it?”

She glances down at the envelope. “It’s a letter from your granny.” A few tears escape her dark eyes, and she swipes at them. “She wrote letters to each of us. I read mine earlier today. Finally thought I was healed enough to do it.” She emits a wavering laugh. “Mama didn’t mince any words. She told me what she thought of the things we had taught you. Apparently, she thinks we made a few mistakes. I guess she decided in her last moments she had to have to last word.” She shakes her head. “It’s so like Mama. Anyway, her words made me think about some things.” She glances towards the closed door to the front of the shop. “It will probably make you some things too, like that man out there.”

I take the letter from her hand. I stare up at her with a puzzled frown. “You guys did a great job raising me, but I’ll read it. I want to know what granny had to say.” I hold the letter close to my chest.

“I wish she could have been here today, honey. She would have been so darn proud.” Mama hugs me closely and I revel in her floral scent.

“I wish she could be here too.”

God, how I wish she could. I can almost picture it. Granny Adele out there in her Sunday best telling people how her granddaughter is going to be the best shop owner ever.

“I’ll leave you to read this.” Mama taps the letter and then turns. She stops to throw a wink over her shoulder. “I’m hoping you’ll think about what she says in there. I’ve been wrong about some things and I’m not too proud to admit it. Listen to her.”

I open the letter hesitantly, not sure I’m quite ready to hear what Granny had to say. She always got straight to the point. No flowery words. I suspect this letter won’t be any different.

For a moment, I just stare at the familiar shaky handwriting. I run my finger over the loopy letters and inhale. I swear I can almost smell her signature floral scent on the paper. One tear slides down my cheek, then two.

Oh, Granny. I wish you were still here.

I start reading.

*

To my Ellie,

From the time you were a little thing, you were a dreamer. I wanted you to have all those dreams come true and so did your Mama. We fretted over you something awful. We tried to block out the shitty things, but I know you still saw. I know you saw how hurt your Mama was and how sad I could be.

Here’s the thing, Ellie, we were wrong. We were wrong to try to shelter you from the bad things. In not showing you the bad, we didn’t show you the good either. Yes, I lost your grandfather young. But, honey, let me tell you. I value every single day I got to spend with that man. We loved each other to distraction. Memories of him still make me smile, and those memories are worth everything.

As for your Mama, her picker for men is a little broken, but she would tell you the same. She got to experience love and best of all, she got to experience raising you. All the heartbreak in the world is worth that.

I’m sitting here in this darn hospital bed, hooked up to all these machines, while cancer eats me alive. Of course, now is the time I realize what is most important. Don’t that beat all?

Live, Noelle. Experience life. Don’t let it pass you by because you won’t get another chance at it. Live big. Love big. If you’re meant to experience heartbreak, then hell, let it happen. But for God’s sake, live.

I love you, my sweet girl. Always and forever.

Love,

Granny

P.S. I left the recipe for my cinnamon rolls in that tin can by the stove. I kept meaning to give it to you. Don’t let your Mama have it. She’s got many good qualities but cooking ain’t one of them.

*

I finally let all the tears fall.

Chapter fifteen