Lost and Found in Lavender Bay (The Lavender Bay Chronicles #2)

47. Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Four

T he following day, Maureen stopped at her mother’s house after work.

Louise was out back, sitting in one of the webbed lawn chairs that had been around since Maureen was a child. She peered through a pair of binoculars at a couple of birds at the back fence. Open on the table next to her was her bird book.

When Maureen came in sight and said, “Hi, Mom,” Louise put down her binoculars.

“This is a pleasant surprise.”

Maureen plopped down in the other chair. A faint scent of Louise’s perfume, Amazing Grace, hovered in the air around them, a fragrance Maureen would always associate with her mother.

Louise handed her the binoculars. “Look at that bird near the blue birdhouse.”

The wooden fence around the backyard was dotted with various and sundry birdhouses that had been put up long ago by Maureen’s father. Every year, her mother removed the empty birdhouses, cleaned them out, and gave them a fresh coat of paint.

Maureen looked through the binoculars at the bird. Its body was a mixture of black, white, and light brown, and the top of his head was black with a splash of red.

“I think that’s a yellow-bellied sapsucker,” Louise said next to her.

“I wouldn’t know a yellow-bellied sapsucker from a finch,” Maureen admitted. She wondered if she would take up birdwatching like her mother when she retired.

Maureen set the binoculars down on the table as her mother handed her the bird book, thumping the page on the right-hand side. “See? It looks like that bird there.”

Maureen studied it and had to agree with her mother.

Forgetting all about the bird, the binoculars, and the book, Louise gave Maureen her undivided attention. “Do you want something to drink? Something to eat?” she asked.

Maureen shook her head. “I was finished with work early and thought I’d stop by.”

“Mrs. Kovach loves what you did for her. All that black and gray was dreadful.” Her mother grimaced.

“It was a little much. I’m glad she’s happy with the results.”

“She’s been singing your praises up and down the street,” Louise crowed.

Maureen laughed.

“Don’t laugh, word of mouth is the best form of advertisement.”

“I know.”

“How’s Everett?”

“He’s going to be discharged next week.”

“Already?”

“It went by fast, didn’t it? It’s been such a relief knowing he’s safe, not using, and getting three meals a day.” In the past two months while Everett was in the hospital and then rehab, she’d slept better than she had in a long time. And she knew the same to be true for Allan. Although Lance’s situation weighed on her mind, as did Ashley being three thousand miles away from home. When did you stop worrying about your children? Obviously never.

“Now,” Louise said, “why don’t you tell me what’s troubling you.”

“How do you know something’s troubling me?”

“Please. I’m your mother.”

Best to just spit it out. Maureen relayed in detail the conversation they’d had with Lance at the dinner table the previous evening.

“What?” Louise was as stunned as Maureen and Allan had been, but she quickly turned philosophical. “Well, he was never keen on school. Even from an early age.”

“I know, but sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do.”

Her mother narrowed her eyes. “I think I used to say that.”

Maureen nodded, smiling. “You did. A lot.”

“You know, I applaud Lance’s decision,” Louise said, nodding sagely.

“You do?” Maureen couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Yes, of course. You’ve said yourself there’s a shortage of tradespeople out there. We need carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. Do you know how long it took me to get a plumber? Weeks. And not everyone is college material. Not everyone is cut out for it, and kids shouldn’t be made to feel guilty or less than if they aren’t.”

Maureen agreed in theory with what her mother was saying, but she wasn’t there yet.

“It’s just that it wasn’t too long ago that I had two sons in college, and now both of them are out. I feel like such a failure.”

Louise spoke sharply. “Maureen, you’re not a failure. You’re a great mother. You can only raise them. They have to make their own decisions.”

Maureen didn’t say anything.

Her mother continued to speak, but the sharpness was gone. “I know you’re disappointed, and it has certainly been a rough year for your family, but you can’t blame yourself. If you fall into the rut of self-blame, you’ll be no good to anyone.”

That was sensible advice.

“Easier said than done,” Maureen said.

“I know. Sometimes motherhood is painful. There’s no way around that.” Louise paused and crossed one leg over the other, swinging it slightly. “And let’s look at this. True, Everett’s problems are very serious. But Lance?” She shook her head. “There’s nothing to worry about there. He’s made a different career choice, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“You’re right, of course.”

Louise winked at her. “Of course I am. I’m always right.”