1105 Yakima Street - Debbie Macomber [98]
“I also like pumpkin pie,” Olivia said evenly, “and I think it would be a better choice health-wise.”
“You’re not a pumpkin pie kind of woman,” Goldie argued. “If you order pumpkin, I swear you’ll have to get some other waitress to serve it. Fact is, I’m wondering what those doctors did to the Olivia I used to know.”
“I’m right here. Okay, you win, I’ll have a piece of coconut cream pie.”
Goldie’s face broke into a wide smile. “You were just playing with me, weren’t you?” Not waiting for a response, she turned sharply and marched back to the kitchen.
“Okay,” Grace said. “Now you can tell me what’s on your mind.”
Olivia reached for her fork and stared at it. “It’s because of Mom moving and everything else—things I never thought would affect me.”
Grace knew that Olivia and Will had been concerned about Charlotte and Ben for some time.
“Your mother’s memory problems are getting worse?” Grace asked, testing the waters.
“No…actually, I think she’s a little better now that she’s back on familiar ground. Although…who can tell how long that’ll last? But since she and Ben decided to move into Stanford Suites, Mom’s been cleaning out the basement. She’s like a woman on a mission. You know my mother. Once she’d made a decision, there’s no stopping her. Ever since Thanksgiving she’s been sorting through sixty years of accumulated stuff. I know it’s necessary but I didn’t realize how hard it would be for me.”
“Why? What kind of stuff?” Grace had been in that basement herself and tried to remember what was stored there.
“A lot of it is unimportant—canning jars, old clothes and things Mom kept for one reason or another,” Olivia said. “But some of that stuff is part of my childhood. I know there’s no real reason to hang on to a perfect spelling test I did in the second grade. Mom kept it, she said, because she was so proud I could spell Mississippi.”
“You got an A on every spelling test,” Grace reminded her. “So you could see this one as representative,” she said, pleased with her explanation.
Olivia laughed. “I guess what I’m saying is that when Mom and Ben agreed to move into assisted living, I was so relieved I didn’t think about how all of this would affect me—about how it would feel.”
Grace considered that for a moment. “You mean you’d be losing some of your personal history, as well.”
Nodding, Olivia said, “Naturally Mom wants me to take all the files she’s saved. She held on to so much and it’s so neatly organized. On the one hand, I’m tempted. On the other…what use is it? It’s just a bunch of childhood memories.”
“Happy memories,” Grace murmured.
“Yes, but it’s ridiculous to save all this stuff.”
“Then pass it on to your children and grandchildren.”
Olivia appeared to be mulling over that thought as she stirred her tea. “I could, I suppose, but what good is an old spelling test to my family?”
“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Justine and James.”
“No need,” she said briskly. “I’m going to throw out most of those old files. My kids have their own clutter—they don’t need mine. But I have to tell you, Grace, it’s hard letting go of all that…evidence. Those tests and drawings and Valentine cards bring back so much of my childhood.”
“What about Will?”
Olivia raised her eyebrows. “Will? He tossed everything without a qualm. All of it went right in the garbage. He didn’t even have to think about it.”
“I bet Cliff would do the same thing,” Grace said. “Men. I swear there isn’t a sentimental bone in their bodies.”
“Some men,” Olivia agreed and then added, “Jack can be shockingly romantic at times.”
“Yes, but you have to admit he’s the exception.”
“Well, maybe. The problem is, most men don’t want us to know how sentimental they can be.”
Goldie appeared with their coconut cream pie. “Enjoy,” she said, and it sounded like an order.
“Yes, ma’am.” Olivia saluted smartly and exchanged a smile with Grace.
After a sip of coffee, Grace picked up her fork. She’d looked forward to this all week. The library had been hectic, what with putting up Christmas decorations, creating displays of Christmas books, planning