Author's Note: Thank you for reading. I hope you will like this next chapter.
Chapter III: Meetings and Memories
The news of Taylor's arrival spread like wildfire in the small town. Some of the townspeople who had been introduced to him spoke of him to those who had not. Amy Silvercraft, Ann Landers, Karen Lorren and Elli Whitman met in Rose Square to talk about Taylor. Only Ann, among the group, had actually met the young man.
"Ann, what does he look like?" Karen asked her best friend.
"Well, he has red hair, gray eyes, and broad-shoulders. He is nice." Ann sighed. "If only I had a daughter, I would introduce her to him."
"But you do have a daughter, Ann." Elli stated.
"I know, but she is not old enough." Ann looked at her two children, who were at the far corner of the square. Six year old Allie was playing tag with her older brother Caleb, who was fourteen. Karen turned to Elli.
"Elli, perhaps Theresa would interest him." She said.
Elli looked at her best friend. "Oh no, Karen. I think Gem would. He has already met her." The three women looked at Amy.
"Perhaps you are right, Elli, but I think it would be the other way around." Amy said, remembering how her daughter had smiled the day before. Adam had told her the reason why with a moody expression on his face that reminded Amy of how Gray had looked almost eighteen years ago.
The four women went to the church after Cain had taken Allie home. The four walked into the graveyard. They stood before a tombstone. All of them had sad expressions on their faces as they read the epitaph engraved on it.
Mary Herb Lance
A Loving Daughter, A Good Wife
And A Caring Mother
Born: The 20th of winter
Died: The 8th of summer
Amy was the most moved. She had lost two great friends. Alex and Mary had died almost eight years ago in a car accident. Basil and Anna had brought their granddaughter, Mary Anne, with them when they had returned from the city. The funeral was held the day after they arrived.
Alex's parents came once a year to visit their granddaughter and their only child's grave. Alex's friends and fans also came. They were very impressed with the town and the townspeople that they brought others along and so the tourists started coming every summer.
After a few moments, the four women went their separate ways. Amy walked home. But before she went inside, she looked at the house, her home for almost seventeen years. She remembered how Gray had surprised her on their wedding night.
The sound of sweet music broke through her thoughts. Amy smiled. Gem played the piano almost everyday and she had improved greatly. She opened the front door.
"Good morning, Mama."
"Good morning, Gem." Amy smiled at the sight of her precious daughter. She went to the kitchen and placed a kettle filled with water on the stove to boil as Gem continued playing the piano. How time flies, Amy mused as she set the tea tray with four tea cups and a teapot full of fresh oolong tea leaves.
Memories flooded her mind…The day her children were born…The twins' first steps…Gem saying Mama, her first word while Adam said Papa…The twins' learning to read, write and draw…The twins' learning to swim…Gem helping her at the farm while Adam helped his father…The twins' growing up and having crushes…
The sound of the kettle whistling broke through her reverie. Amy put on an oven mitt before taking the kettle out of the stove. She poured the water into the teapot full of tea leaves and closed the teapot with the lid. Amy removed the oven mitt and placed a plate full of oatmeal cookies on the tea tray. She poured some milk onto a small dish and placed it on the tea tray before she brought the tea tray into the lounge.
Tano, the family's chocolate-striped, cream cat, followed her. Amy placed the tea tray onto the coffee table before she set the small dish of milk for him on the lush carpeted floor. The small cat lapped it up. Amy remembered Tiger and Lioness, her two pet cats, as she watched him, their offspring, lap at his milk. She sat down gracefully on the comfy sofa nearest her and poured herself some tea. "Things change." She said to herself as she slowly sipped her tea.