Chapter 8

She followed the old lady into her quaint little house not quite sure what to make of this turn of events. The house was pretty much what you would expect the house of an elderly woman living alone to look like.

There were pictures on the walls and every other surface in the front room, most of them of a young man in an army uniform from about the early forties. She was pretty sure it was the late Mr. Thompson who had passed a few years earlier.

There were others of younger people as well, the children and grandchildren most likely. There was bric-a-brac with knickknacks, doilies on everything and crocheted afghans thrown over the backs of chairs. It was homey and nice and made her miss her gran who'd been gone for eight years now. The memory of the old woman who'd been so good to her brought fresh tears to her eyes.

She was glad her gran hadn't been around to see the mess she'd made of things though, at least that was one thing she could be grateful for. That her grandparents weren't around to witness just what a failure she had become. She brushed those thoughts aside as she heard Ms. Thompson returning down the hallway. She'd made it a point not to fall apart in front of anyone, never let the world see her pain.

"Here you are." The old lady returned carrying a white box with an apple on top. Kerry took a step back as her heart sank.

"Oh Ms. Thompson I really couldn't. Do you know how much those things cost?" She'd been expecting a low-end model at the most, but not this.

"Who cares how much the fool thing cost, what good is it just sitting there catching dust? Now you take it and put it to good use." She took the offering with her heart racing away in her chest. Somehow she felt as if she was standing on a precipice. It was all so unreal.

"Well, is there something I can do for you?"

"Not a blessed thing child, my children see to my upkeep. It's the least they can do after all my years of hard work raising the little heathens." She sniffed and Kerry realized for the first time that what she had perceived as nosiness was just the woman's penchant for straight talking. After the hell that was her life it was a breath of fresh air to be given it straight.

"I still want to do something for you this is very generous of you." She looked down at the box in her hand in wonder.

"That's the problem with you young people, always thinking everything comes with a price. An act of kindness is just that, nothing more."

"Thank you Ms. Thompson this is, this is wonderful thanks."

"I figure you could do with a bit of kindness after all that nonsense. I hope you're not losing any sleep over those so-called friends of yours that scattered to the enemy camp. Not the one of them is worth a second thought. Now what is it you mean to do with this fool thing?" She pointed her finger at the box like it was a snake getting ready to strike.

Oh boy, this was the hard part. She wasn't quite ready to share her secret with anyone and especially not the town gossip, but the other woman had been so kind how could she not?

"I think I'll try my hand at writing." She held her breath as she waited for the scoff or the lecture about finding something more constructive to do with her time.

"There any money in that?" Ms. Thompson squinted at her over the half glasses she wore on the tip of her nose.

"I think so, if you're any good at it."

"Are you any good?"

Kerry fidgeted a bit under the scrutiny.

"I think so, but I haven't really done any writing in a while. Paul didn't think it was worthwhile."

"Paul's a jackass. Well he's not in your life anymore so you're free to do whatever the heck you want ain't you?"

"Yes ma'am." That sounded so easy.

"Well then get to it. I want the first autographed copy of your book when it's ready. Now be off with you, go get to your writing I have to take my morning nap before my stories start."

"Yes ma'am and if you think of anything I can do for you please don't hesitate to ask. I don't have a house phone as yet but as soon as I get one I'll love to exchange numbers..."

"Why don't you have a phone?"

"Um, I can't really afford one right now." Her cheeks heated up with shame and she felt tears prick her eyes again. Just about every teenager in the country had a cell phone and here she was a once married woman and she couldn't afford a landline.

"Are you telling me that that jackass skinned you in the divorce?" The old woman's chest puffed up like she was ready to explode.

She didn't bother to answer, what was there to say? At least she didn't need Internet service to write, and now because of Ms. Thompson's generosity she could write to her heart's content.

"It's nothing really Ms. Thompson, I'll be fine. I have a little money put away, I just don't want to waste it on anything unless it's necessary." Yes, because I have to do things like eat and keep that leaky roof over my head.

"It's Lucille, you can call me Lucille. You go on and get to your writing I'll see you when I see you. Wait a minute you have food don't you?"

"Yes, thank you-I do." She made a hasty retreat after that, too embarrassed to hang around any longer. She looked around for Mr. Hottie but he was nowhere in sight.

Kerry almost smiled for the first time in months at the memory of him. It had been quite some time since she'd felt that little spark of interest, now she had two things to get her juices flowing; the hot new guy in town, and her stories.

There was nothing wrong with admiring his handsome self from afar. And though she had no real interest, at least it was good to know she could still feel; she wasn't dead. She hurried back in the direction she'd come less than an hour ago with new purpose and a weight lifted off her shoulders.

She was still going to have to visit the library at some point, but thankfully not today. She could put off her walk of shame for one more day.