Foolish Choices

CHAPTER ONE

I was ready to burst out bawling. Here I was, holding a pitch fork, standing in a pile of horse manure. Things had gotten completely out of hand. All I wanted to do was to live a quiet country life and now here I was up to my ankles in poop. Who did I think I was? Laura Ingalls Wilder?

          I bought a farm in the hills of southeastern Ohio. It sounded like the idyllic life. Then, reality set in. The cows needed milking, eggs had to be gathered, horses needed grooming and they all had to be fed, not to mention the glories of cleaning up animal feces. I thought I could do it all, but apparently, I had bitten off more than I could chew.  I guessed I’d have to swallow my pride and hire some help or I’d go crazy.

 

I wanted to get as far away from my family as possible, so when the opportunity came to buy this property, I jumped on it. After my parents passed away, my siblings and I had become estranged and my daughter was driving me crazy. At nearly thirty years old, she was still behaving like a college kid. Always partying and getting into trouble. The only time that she ever got in touch with me was when she needed money. And of course, she blamed me for the divorce; it was my fault that Danny stole money from me in order to support his drug habit.

          I left the city without telling a soul; after all, I had nothing holding me back. I quit my dead end job as a paralegal. I was tired of doing all of the work for less than half the pay that the lawyers took home. Cliché as it may sound; I was going to reinvent my life. Why not? The old one hadn’t been so hot.

 

I had no clue where to look for help so I drove my pickup into the small town. I thought I would post some help wanted bulletins. My first stop was the feed store. A friendly looking gentleman asked me if I needed help finding anything. Knowing that he meant merchandise, I grinned and said that I was looking for few good men. He chuckled and replied, “Who are you, the US Army? “

 “Not exactly, my name is Diana Borden and I recently purchased the old Wilkes place. I’m afraid I’ve gotten myself into a pickle.     I need to hire a couple of folks to help with the animals and such.”

The man said his name was Bob Sullivan and he was the owner of the store. “Well, I can’t think of anyone right off hand, but I can ask around if you like.”

“That would be great, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to tack up one of these flyers on your bulletin board.” 

 “No problem, Miss Borden. Go right on ahead.” I made my way through the town and posted as many flyers as I could.

          I decided that since I had driven all the way into town, I might as well grab a cup of coffee. There was a quaint little cafe on the corner with a small shady patio.  It was a nice day so I chose to sit outside with my java. It certainly was a different pace of life here. People strolled by the cafe, running errands and things; none of them seemed to be in any hurry.  Most of them said hello as they passed by my table, even though they had no idea who I was. I had picked up the local newspaper and skimmed through it. Not much news, of course, just some announcements of upcoming events. There was going to be a county fair the next month and a hog calling contest that coming weekend; stuff that you’d expect to see in a little rag like this. Miss Gully was running for student council, Mabel Jones was going to enter her blueberry pie at the fair; she had taken second place the previous year.

          I was just about to head back to the farm when someone called out to me. “Hey miss? I heard you was looking for some farm hands.”

 “As a matter of fact, I am. Do you know anybody?” I asked.

“My name is Dirk Stevenson and I do a bit of handy work around this town. I’m pretty good workin’ with animals too. I could start next week, if you want.”

 “I sure am glad to meet you, Dirk. I really could use the help.” I said. I wrote my cell number down on a scrap piece of paper and gave it to him. “Could you stop by this weekend to look the place over?”

“That sounds just fine, miss. I’ll see you then. Enjoy your afternoon.” Dirk said. I finished the remains of my coffee and headed back up the country road to my ‘dream home’.

          Back at the farmhouse, I went into the den to check my e-mail. There were only a few, mostly junk. Since I didn’t want to be contacted, I’d changed my e-mail address as well as my physical one. I even had my cell phone number changed. It was so nice not to have to worry about family drama. Peace at last.

 

I climbed up the stairs to change into some comfy shorts and a t-shirt. I left my shoes in the hallway and headed to the kitchen. The wood floor felt smooth and cool on my bare feet.

          I grabbed a cold beer from the fridge and sat down at the table. From where I sat, I could see the horses grazing in the pasture. There were just two of them. One was black and the other a sable brown. Prince was the black one and also the older of the two. He had a haughty attitude about him, but he was sweet as pie. The brown horse was called Hershey and was only about three years old. She was playful and spunky. I had come to love them both, despite the poop.

          I finished my beer and was about to have another when my cell phone rang. “Hi, Diana, how are you? I just got back from India a few days ago and my mom told me that you finally bought a farm.” It was my friend Frankie from college. We had stayed friends all of these years even though she was always off to some exotic destination.

          Frankie Simmons was my complete opposite, both physically and in personality. Her five foot ten inch frame dwarfed my height of five three. She was as fair as I was dark. Frankie was a free spirit, whereas I was organized to a fault. She was never concerned about petty details.

 “It’s great to hear from you! How was India?” I asked.

 “Like nothing that I have ever experienced. I’m missing it already but glad to be home at the same time. How is farm life treating you?  Have you heard anything from Krissy lately?”

          “The work is completely overwhelming, but it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. You’ll have to come out and visit soon. It’s so beautiful and serene out here. My daughter has no idea how to reach me and I’m glad to be away from her. If only she would stop making such foolish choices.” I told her.

 “Actually, I’m going to be out that way in a few weeks. I’m going to visit my aunt in Pittsburgh. I could swing by and stay for day or two if that’s ok.” Frankie said.

          “That would be wonderful! Just let me know when. I can’t wait to catch up.”

 We said our goodbyes and hung up. I was happy to have heard from my old friend and looked forward to our visit.

          Taking a steak out for my dinner, I went out back to fire up the grill. I tossed a simple salad and took the meat outside. The grill was ready to go so I plopped on the steak and sat down in a lawn chair to wait for it to cook. When it was finished, I took it into the kitchen to rest and set myself a place on the table out on the porch. I fetched the salad and a bottle of chardonnay and set them on the table. I brought out my steak, said a little prayer of gratitude and enjoyed my meal.

         

          I took care of the animals for the evening and sat down to peruse my copy of “The Idiot’s Guide to Farming”.  The title fit me to a T; I had never felt so inept in my entire life. I’d started the book a few weeks ago and my goal was to read at least two chapters a day. There was a bunch of useful information, but it was mostly about how to grow the perfect crops; that sort of thing. I needed to know how to do the dirty work that comes with running a farm.

          The sun was beginning to set and I watched the glorious colors from the porch. The sounds of crickets chirping and the fragrance of the lilac bushes gave me a peace of mind that I had been searching for my whole life. Little did I know that I would find it here on a couple of acres in the Ohio countryside?  I headed into the house, shoulders aching from mucking out the stalls, and climbed up the stairs to go to get some sleep before I had to start all over again in the morning.

 

 

         

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

Frankie felt a little bit guilty after her conversation with Diana. It wasn’t exactly a lie, she told herself, but she didn’t want to give Di the news over the phone.

          About two weeks before her scheduled trip to India, Frankie received a call from her ob. /gyn. “I’m afraid that we found something suspicious on your last mammogram,” the doctor said. Frankie’s heart was racing like crazy. What if it was cancer? What If I die? All of these frightening thoughts kept running through her mind. She made an appointment to see the doctor the following morning.

          Frankie was shaking like a leaf as she waited for the doctor to enter the exam room. When she finally walked in, Dr. Hayes looked at Frankie with a serious look on her face “I think that we should do a biopsy, there is a small mass located in your left breast. I want to be sure of what we are dealing with.” “Is it cancer?” Frankie asked. “We can’t be sure just yet. We’ll know more after the test. I know that it is extremely scary, but do your best not to worry”. Frankie sighed, “I’ll try, but it’s not easy to do.”’

          The biopsy was more painful than she had expected. At home, she kept putting ice on the incision and had to take pain medication, which she never liked to do. It was five days later when the doctor called with the results. “Frankie, I’m afraid that the mass in your breast is malignant. It is a rather aggressive form of cancer but it’s only stage two. We should be able to take care of it with surgery, chemo and radiation.”  Frankie tried not to let the doctor hear the trembling in her voice as she asked, “So what are we going to do first?”

          They discussed Frankie’s plan of treatment and by the time their conversation was over, she felt a little bit calmer. “Well at least I know what it is now, it’s better than waiting and wondering. Having a plan makes me feel better.” she told herself. “And I can still go on my trip since the surgery won’t be for another month or so.”

          The purpose for Frankie’s trip to India was to spend two weeks in a well-known ashram. She thought that the combination of the silence, yoga practice and meditation would do her a world of good. The timing could not have been more perfect since her diagnosis had shaken her usually positive attitude to the core. When she returned from her trip, she felt a sense of peace and wellbeing. She felt as though she could face anything and deal with it with dignity and grace.

         

 

          Helen Stevenson was just finishing Wendy Jenkins’ haircut when her husband Dirk walked into the salon.

 “Hi honey! What a nice surprise!

 “I wanna talk to ya ‘bout something when you’re finished with Wendy.”

 Helen pulled out her blow dryer to finish the style. She passed a hand mirror to Wendy and turned the chair around so that she could see the back of her head. “I love it, Helen! You’re the best!” She removed Wendy’s cape and shook the hair clippings onto the floor. After Wendy paid for her haircut and made her next appointment, she walked out of the salon swinging her hair and smiling.

 Helen turned her attention to her husband. “What is it that you want to talk to me about, honey?”

 “I got me a part time job workin’ out at the old Wilkes place. The new owner is real nice and needs a lot of help around the farm.”

“That’s great news, honey! Helen exclaimed,” When do you start?” “Monday mornin’, I hope.” said Dirk.

          Helen and Dirk had been married for twenty five years come that October. Their only son Jamie was away at college but was due home the next week for summer break.

          Dirk had been laid off from his job as maintenance man for the school district. Although Helen’s salon brought in a decent wage, things had been pretty tight since he lost his job. There weren’t a lot of opportunities in the area, especially for a middle aged man.

“Let’s celebrate; we can go up to New Philly. They just opened up an Olive Garden” Helen suggested.

 “Well, I guess we deserve to splurge a little once in a while.” I’ll go home and get ready while you finish closing up the shop.”

“I won’t be long. This is so exciting! I love you honey.”

 “I love you too, darlin. See ya at the house.”

Dirk was showered and dressed in his good khakis and a plaid, short sleeved shirt.  Helen gave him a quick peck on the cheek and headed to the shower.  She went into her closet and tried to decide what to wear. They rarely got to go out anymore so she wanted to look nice. She ended up choosing a white sundress with a floral print. She slipped on a pair of red sandals and went to meet Dirk in the living room. They walked out to the car and Dirk got into the driver’s seat of their old Buick after opening the passenger side door for his wife. They drove north towards New Philadelphia, feeling as giddy as newlyweds.

 

 

CHAPTER THREE

Saturday afternoon I heard the crunch of tires on gravel as Dirk pulled into the driveway. I waved to him from the front porch and walked down the steps to greet him.

 “Well, miss, where you wanna start?”

“We might as well begin in the barns. You can meet all of the animals and decide what needs to be done there. Then I suppose we should go over to the pastures, there are a few fences in desperate need of repair and there are also a lot of loose or missing shingles on the chicken coop.”

“Let’s git to it then”, he said and we headed out towards the barns. “Looks like you got yourself some fine animals here. Are the cows producing enough milk? They look right healthy to me! And them horses; how you been managin’ to keep ‘em so clean by yourself?”

 “I’m a workaholic, can’t help it. But I know that I can’t keep up with all the work that needs to be done here. Just take a look at these stalls! I’ve tried to keep them as clean as I can, but honestly, it’s just too much.”

           “Don’t you worry no more, miss. I can handle all this plus I’m gonna have my boy home from college for the summer and he’s always willin’ to work.”

 “I am so grateful that I found you.” Do you think you could start Monday, or is that too short of a notice?” He said that it would be no problem and could be there as early as six am. We shook hands in agreement and he took off back towards town.

          I went back inside the house and fixed myself a light lunch. When I finished eating, I went out back to gather eggs. As I reached under one of the hens expecting to find an egg or two, I felt something soft and fluffy brush up against my fingers. I carefully picked up the baby chick and nuzzled it against my cheek. I looked at the mama hen and said, “You fooled me girl. Nice work.” I set the chick down beside her and continued checking the other nests.

          I swept out the coop, took the six eggs that I had gathered and took them into the kitchen. Then I walked out to the barn to see if any of the cows were ready to be milked. It turned out that only Daisy’s udder was full enough to be emptied. I liked to milk my cows the old fashioned way, by hand. I found it soothing somehow feeling the warm flesh of the animal and the sound of the fresh milk squirting into the metal bucket. Sometimes the milk missed the bucket. I’d been squirted in the face more than I was willing to admit.

          By the time I had finished the chores it was almost dark. Exhausted, I went upstairs to shower and change. Too tired to cook, I grabbed some leftover pizza from the fridge, poured myself a glass of wine and took my meal into the living room. I turned on the TV to watch the news as I ate. The weather forecast for the next week was hot and humid. Oh joy, I thought, one more thing to make work on the farm even harder. I sure was looking forward to Monday morning when I would finally get a little help.

          As I was taking my dishes into the kitchen, I thought I heard a noise coming from the pasture. I peeked out the window, but it was too dark to see anything. I grabbed a flashlight, slipped my shoes on and stepped outside. I shined the light as far as I could see, but there wasn’t anything there. “I probably imagined it,” I told myself and went out to the barns to check on the animals just in case. Everything looked normal, so I went back inside and got ready for bed.

          Just as I was about to crawl underneath the covers, I heard the noise again. It sounded like a growl, but I couldn’t be sure. Knowing that everything was locked up, I decided that it was silly to be afraid. After all, this was the country and there were any number of creatures that were out there.

 

 

         

         

 

CHAPTER FOUR

Frankie went to the library and checked out every book on breast cancer that she could lay her hands on. When she got back to her apartment, she placed the books on her desk and fired up her laptop. She searched online for additional information. There was so much to learn and she wanted to be informed about her disease and what her treatments would entail.  It wasn’t the death threat it used to be and her odds of beating it were pretty good.

          Tired of reading and thinking about cancer, she went out for a walk. Her next door neighbor, Neil Adams, was watering his lawn. “I figured I better do it now before they put a ban on it. It’s been dry for too long now” he said.

 “That’s putting it mildly, I hope we get some rain soon, but then we’ll be complaining about that!” Neil laughed and said he agreed.

          She walked to a nearby park to relax on one of the benches. She sat down and watched the people around her. There were couples pushing strollers, teenagers riding scooters and skateboards and little kids playing on the swing sets. A man walking his dog stopped to let her pet it and they chatted for a minute. A little girl on a bike rode past her, her hair flowing out behind her as she pedaled.

          She stood up and stretched and headed back to her house. It was beginning to cool down a little when she returned. She fixed herself some dinner and went back to her reading. An hour or so later she said to herself, “OK, enough of this. I’m going to watch a funny movie and stop dwelling.” When the movie was over, she was ready to call it a night. She felt better than she had in the past few days, and fell sound asleep.

          The following morning after breakfast, Frankie called her aunt in Pittsburgh. Aunt Ruby was eighty eight years old. She lived in an assisted living facility which she didn’t particularly care for and she made no bones about it. The old woman still liked her wine, said it kept her from getting depressed by living in an “old folks home”. At Ruby’s age, who was going to tell her what to do or how she should live out the rest of her life?

          “So, I’ll be there in a couple of weeks, Aunt Rube. I plan on staying three or four days. I’ve already booked a room at the Comfort Inn just down the street.”

 “It sure will be good to see you Frankie. It’s been awhile. Now, you take care of yourself, you hear?  And drive safely. I love you.”

“I love you too, Aunt Rube, see you soon.” She decided not to tell her aunt about her diagnosis, no reason to upset the old dear.

 

CHAPTER FIVE

When I woke up the next day, I padded down the stairs to put the coffee on. I went outside to the back porch and drank in the fresh morning air. It was getting hot already so I knew it was going to be a scorcher. I’d better try to get as much work done as early as I could. I ate my breakfast quickly and dressed for the workday.

          I was able to finish most of my chores by early afternoon so I decided to take a few hours for myself. I showered and put on a pretty blue dress and a pair of strappy sandals. I brushed my hair up into a casual ponytail and put on a little makeup. I had spent so much time working on the farm lately that I had almost forgotten how it felt to look pretty.

          All dressed up and no place to go, I decided to drive up to New Philly and do a little shopping. When I arrived into town, I pulled into a Target parking lot and strode inside. I picked up some shampoo, laundry soap, and a new razor. At the front of the store was a Starbucks, so I treated myself to an iced coffee.

          Stowing my purchases into the cab of the truck, I drove a little further to Kohl’s department store. I wanted to buy some new clothes; one thing I missed about the city was the shopping. This would have to suffice; no Nordstrom’s or Macys around here. I walked around the women’s department looking at tops, dresses and pants. I found a nice pair of jeans and some cute tank tops. I also picked up some new underwear and a pair of silver hoop earrings.

          It was late in the afternoon when I returned to the farm. I gathered up my packages and put them in my bedroom. I changed out of my dress back into my work clothes and sighed. It had been so good to feel like a girl again instead of a farmhand. But, duty called.

          Having finished the evening chores, I drew myself a warm bath to wash off the dirt and sweat. The water soothed my aching muscles as I soaked. I must have lain in that tub for an hour. Finally I dragged myself out of the bathtub and toweled off. I put on a pair of summer pjs and went down to the kitchen to indulge in my nightly glass of wine when I heard the noise again. “Aaarooaah!”  I couldn’t tell what it was. Being from the city, I had never encountered a sound like that. “Maybe it’s a coyote. “, I thought to myself. This time, I didn’t have the nerve to venture outside.  There wasn’t anything I could do about it anyway.

          I stayed up for another hour or so but I didn’t hear it again. I climbed up the stairs and got into bed feeling slightly nervous, but eventually fell asleep.

 

 

 

          Dirk pulled up to the house ready to work. He had loaded up the bed of his pickup with tools and supplies.  It wasn’t too hot yet, but it would be pretty soon.

           I was waiting for him on the porch. I’d dressed in a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt. We said our good mornings and headed out to the pastures. Together, we were able to repair most of the fences. We broke for lunch about eleven. I offered him a sandwich, but he told me that his wife had packed him a lunch. He thanked me just the same.

“Well, at least join me up here on the porch. It’s a lot cooler than your truck.”

“Thank you miss, it sure is getting warm out here.” he replied.

          Dirk and I continued repairing the fences after lunch. By two o’clock, it was becoming too hot to be out in the sun, besides; Dirk had told me that he would like to be home by three so he could start fixing dinner for his wife. “You’ll have to meet my Helen.” he said as he was cleaning up his tools. “She’s a special lady. I’m sure she wants to meet you too.”

“I would be honored to meet your wife, Dirk. I bet she’s every bit as kind as you are.”

 “It’s good to be workin’ again and I thank ya. See ya bright and early tomorrow!”

 

          Dirk was a little surprised at how tired he felt when he got home. He changed out of his sweaty work clothes and jumped into the shower.  He went into the kitchen to prepare a spinach salad. He was going to grill salmon burgers later on. He walked out onto their little patio with a beer, sat down and kicked his feet up. Helen arrived home about five. She startled her husband when she kissed him on the cheek.

 “I musta dozed off, honey. I guess I’m a little outa shape from not workin’, but it shore felt good. That Miss Diana is a hard worker, she is. How was your day?”

 “Oh, the usual, the regulars gossiping about the same old things every week.  I wish they would find something else to discuss while they’re in my salon, but I just let them rattle on without really listening.”

 “Why don’t you go change and I’ll open up a bottle of wine. I’ll fire up the grill in a bit.”

 “You are the best, honey. I’ll take you up on that. I’ll be back in a jiff. Love you.”

“I love you too, baby.”  

          After Helen had changed, she stepped back out onto the patio and sat down in one of the lawn chairs. Dirk returned with the bottle of wine and some cheese. “This is exactly what I needed,” said Helen.

 “Me too, sugar enjoy.”

          The couple ate their meal al fresco. They talked about their days and about Jamie coming home for the summer. “We’d better stock the fridge; you know how that boy can eat.” Helen said.

“You’re right about that. I’ll make sure his room is ready for him. I don’t think the bedding’s been washed since his last visit at Easter.”

 “It sure will be good having him home for a few months, I miss him all the time”

“I do too, honey. “

          After dinner, Helen offered to clean up the kitchen. Dirk thanked her and went into the living room and stretched out in his recliner. “Don’t fall asleep again!” teased his wife. “I’ll try not too! “He quipped.  She finished the dishes and poured them each a cup of coffee.

They went to bed early that night; it was going to be another busy day tomorrow and just as hot. 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER   SIX

I was about to tell Dirk about the noises when my phone buzzed. “Hi, Di! I’m just calling to let you know that I will be at your place a week from Friday, about lunchtime.”

 “Hi, Frankie! That’s sounds perfect, I can’t wait to catch up. How have you been?”

“I’m doing well. How about you? Adjusting to country life?”

 “I’m getting there, it’s been interesting, that’s for sure.”

“Any news of the prodigal child?”

“Not a peep, thank God. You’ll never know how much turbulence she’s caused in my life.  I’m sorry, but I don’t miss her a bit. She is not the same Krissy that we all used to know.”

“I’m glad that you aren’t blaming yourself anymore. Kids will be who they will be, no matter how well they were raised.”

We chatted for a few more minutes.

“Well, I’ll see you next week. Take care.” Frankie said.

“Have a safe trip and say hello to Aunt Ruby for me. “

         

Dirk was waiting for me on the back porch. “Sorry about the interruption,” I said.” My best friend from college is coming for a visit and we were just touching base.”

“I wanted to ask you about something. I’ve been hearing some eerie sounds at night. Are there any coyotes around here?”

 “A few I suppose. Some folks that live out this way have seen a brown bear or two. Nothing to worry about though, they don’t bother nobody. But if you’re nervous ‘bout bein’ alone out here, maybe you should get a dog.” he suggested. “It’s some protection, anyway.”

 “Not a bad idea, Dirk. Actually I was thinking a Border collie might be quite useful with the cows. I’ve always admired their work ethics.”

“I know a guy breeds and trains ‘em. He don’t charge much neither, just enjoys workin’ with the dogs. His name is Guy Whitman, lives just outside of town.  I could take you there this weekend if ya want.”

 “I’ll think about it. I guess we’d better get some work done before the heat gets bad.”

 “I fergot to tell ya that my son Jamie’ll be home in a few days.  He’ll be a big help out here. A lot of work fer two people.”

“Good to know” I said and we started out towards the barns.

          After we had mucked out the horse stalls and laid down some fresh hay in the barn, we were ready to call it a day.  It was going to be another hot and sticky one and I needed to drive into town to pick up my mail and a few groceries.

          After I got cleaned up and changed, I hopped into my truck and headed down the road. I was unlocking my post office box when I noticed a sign posted on the wall. Apparently, the county fair was coming up the weekend of Frankie’s visit. “How fun!  I can show Frankie around town and I can meet some of the locals and show Frankie around as well.” I left the post office and put the little bit of mail into my purse. The grocery store was only a block away so I decided to walk.

          Fannie’s Market was the only place in town that sold groceries. It was small, but had a nice selection of produce and meats which they got from local farms. There was also a section of lovely cheeses. I wandered through the fruit and vegetable aisle, selecting some ripe tomatoes, green onions and arugula. I also picked up a seedless watermelon and some peaches. My favorite part of the store was the cheese section, so I saved it for last. In the meat department, I chose some fresh fish and chicken. I made my way over to the cheeses. There were so many varieties that I wanted to try, but I finally decided on the sharp white cheddar and a package of smoked Gouda. I grabbed a couple of bottles of wine and took my place in the checkout line.

          I was just getting ready to put my purchases on the belt, when I felt the person behind me bump the back of my legs with a cart.

 “I’m terribly sorry, I’m afraid I wasn’t paying attention.” a male voice said.

I turned around to look at him. “It’s ok, accidents happen.”

           He was handsome in a rugged outdoorsy kind of way.  “You new around here? I haven’t seen you in town before.”

 “I bought the Wilkes farm outside of town.”

 “Quite an undertaking, I must say.”

I finished paying for my groceries and loaded them into the cart.

 “Maybe we’ll see each other again sometime. Maybe have coffee or something.”

“I’d like that very much. I don’t know very many people around here yet.”

 “Great! Oh by the way, my name is Guy.”

 “I’m Diana, are you the guy, no pun intended, that raises Border Collies?”

 “One and the same, you heard of me?”

“Dirk Stevenson helps me at the farm and he told me about you. I’m thinking of getting a dog.” 

 “Let me know if you want to stop on out and take a look, here’s my card.”

 I thanked him, gathered up my bags and walked out of the store.

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

Frankie didn’t know how she was going to tell Diana that she had breast cancer. She didn’t want her to worry, but she had to give her the news. If her friend found out from anyone else, she would be extremely upset. She would tell her when the timing felt right.

          In the meantime, she was trying to live a normal life as though nothing were out of the ordinary. She continued her yoga classes and daily runs. The doctor assured her that exercise could only benefit her overall health. She started eating more nutritious foods and made sure that she got plenty of sleep. She would do everything in her power to beat this disease.

           Shortly before her trip to Pennsylvania and Ohio, Frankie cleaned her entire house. She did all of the laundry and mowed the lawn. She asked her neighbor Neil if he would mind bringing in the mail and keeping an eye on the place while she was gone. He was happy to help. He offered to water her garden as well.

          Since she was only to be gone for a week, Frankie packed lightly. She gassed up her car and had it cleaned inside and out. Early the following day, she packed up the trunk and got on the road to Pittsburg. The weather was still hot, but at least there wasn’t much rain in the forecast.

 

 She arrived at the facility where her aunt lived just after the evening meal had been served. The young woman at the front desk escorted her to the dining room where Aunt Ruby was seated with two other ladies. Ruby gave her a hug and they sat down at the table while the ladies finished their dessert.

          After dinner, Ruby led Frankie down the hall to her little apartment. They sat down in the two easy chairs beside the bed. They caught up on each other’s lives and made plans for the rest of Frankie’s visit.

          Frankie kept Ruby busy for the next few days. Her aunt was weaker than she liked to admit, but she let Frankie talk her into using a wheel chair at the zoo. They went shopping and ate at some of the city’s finest restaurants. On the last day, they took in a Pirates game which Ruby thoroughly enjoyed. They had cokes and hotdogs and cheered on the team. Ruby even sported a foam finger to wave around.

          “Well, girl, you’ve just about worn me out!  But I had a wonderful time. I sure hope that you can come back real soon.”

 “I’ll be back as soon as I can, Aunt Rube.” They hugged each other tightly and said their goodbyes.

 

 

         

CHAPTER EIGHT

I laundered all of the bedding in the guest room and put some fresh cut flowers on the bedside table. I wanted to make my friend feel as comfortable and welcome as possible.

          I dressed casually in a pair of white capris and a lilac print blouse. I put on a pair of white sneakers and went downstairs to wait for Frankie. It wasn’t long before I heard a car pull into the driveway and I ran outside to greet my dear friend.

          “You look wonderful!” we said in unison. Giggling like school girls, we hugged each other and unloaded Frankie’s luggage from the trunk of the car.

“This place is beautiful! Now I see why you wanted it so much,” Frankie exclaimed.

 “It’s a lot of work, but I love it. Let me show you to your room then I’ll give you the grand tour.”

          When we had finished looking at the property, we went back into the house.

“Would you like some iced tea?” I asked Frankie.

“That would be great, Di. I’m so proud of you for following your dream, it can’t be easy. Most people would be too afraid to attempt something like this.”

 I thanked her and poured our drinks. It was too hot to sit out on the porch that afternoon, so we stayed in the kitchen where it was nice and cool.

          “Di, I have something to tell you, but I don’t want you to get upset.” I felt my heart skip a beat and asked her what is was. “I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Now wait! Hear me out. It’s not as bad as it sounds. They caught it early and my prognosis is quite good.”

“How long have you known?”

 “About a month, I wanted to wait to tell you in person.”

 “What do the doctors say? Do you have to do chemo, radiation? What?” I was so afraid I might lose my friend I couldn’t think clearly.

“Yes, I do but first I have to have a lumpectomy.”

 “I wish you had let me know sooner, it’s got to be frightening dealing with this all on your own!”

“I’m sorry but I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily. I was waiting to gather all of the information I could. Believe me when I tell you I’m ok, I know it will all work out just fine.”

          I was stunned.” You’re going to need someone to look after you! Do you want me to come and stay with you? Please, Frankie, I want to help! I love you so much!”

“Be reasonable, Di. You have the farm to take care of. I’ll be just fine.”

 I sighed, “I know you’re right, but I wish there was something I could do, I feel so helpless.”

“Please try not to worry, everything will be ok, I promise.”  

“I don’t know how you can be so calm, my friend. I would be scared silly!”

Frankie simply shrugged her shoulders. “What else can I do? I’m doing the best I can to take care of myself and I have all the confidence in the world in my doctors.”

 

          I fixed us a light lunch and we were able to chat about less serious subjects. I had to be strong for my friend. I told myself to not let Frankie see how concerned I was.

          Later that day, Frankie and I drove into town for the county fair. The streets had been taken over by various booths, stalls and vendors displaying their wares. The town had set up a makeshift barn for the local 4H club kids to display their livestock. I was particularly drawn to the goats.

 “I wonder if I should get some, I could learn to milk them and maybe make cheese! Could you imagine eating fresh goat cheese from my very own farm?”

“It’s certainly something to consider, but don’t you think you have your hands full already?”

“Well, now that Dirk and Jamie have practically taken over the farm work, I have more time on my hands.”

 “Yeah, but Jamie is only here for the summer don’t forget.”

“Then I’ll just have to start looking for someone to take his place, won’t I?”

“You’ve always been stubborn. But, knowing you, you’ll make it happen if it’s really what you really want to do.” Frankie said. We laughed and explored the rest of the fair.

          We were standing in line to order some sausage sandwiches when I heard someone call my name. “Hey, Diana!”  I turned around to see Guy walking over toward Frankie and I.

“What a pleasant surprise running into you again! At least this time it’s not with a grocery cart!”

 “Good one, Guy. It’s nice to see you again too. This is my friend Frankie. She’s staying with me for a few days.” I told him. “Guy and I met at the market recently.” I explained to Frankie.

 ”Mind if I join you lovely ladies?” he asked politely.

 We paid for our food and sat at a long folding table along with some fair goers. Guy sat beside me and asked if I was still interested in adopting one of his dogs. I said that I was pretty sure I did, I’d just have to see them first.

“I’ve been so busy with the farm that I haven’t had time to call you.”

“I understand, anytime is good for me, just let me know.” We finished our sandwiches and Guy sauntered off to wander around the fairgrounds.

“He’s kind of cute.” Frankie said.

“I guess he’s attractive enough. But it’s just business. I want a Collie to help with the cows. Plus, they make wonderful companions.”

“Well, he’s definitely interested in more than a business relationship. Didn’t you notice the way that he was looking at you?”

 “You’re getting carried away, Frankie.  Besides, I have neither the time nor inclination to get into a relationship.”

“There’s that stubbornness again. You might change your mind if the right guy comes along.”

“I doubt it. I enjoy being on my own.”

 

          Later that night, I showed Frankie where to find the towels and such. We stayed up until almost midnight reminiscing about the good old days.  Yawning, Frankie said, “I guess I’d better get some shut eye. I’m beat.”

“Me too, but I’m really enjoying having you here. I’ll be up shortly. Sleep well.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

CHAPTER NINE

Helen arrived home from church and heard Dirk call from the basement. He had a workshop set up where he liked to tinker around.

          “Hi honey! “

 “I’ll be right up, babe.”

 She went into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of lemonade and soon heard Dirk’s heavy footsteps climbing up the stairs.

 “How was church? “

“Pretty good message today, but boy was it hot in there! Maybe one day we will raise enough money to put in central air.”

“Don’t know how ya stand it, me, I’m waitin’ till it cools down some before I go back. I’m out in that heat all day long and that’s enough for me. What would you like for dinner tonight, sweetie?

 “Don’t go to too much trouble, it’s too hot. How about just a chicken salad?”

 “Easy enough, babe. I’m gonna do some more work downstairs.  Jamie said that he was gonna have dinner up in New Philly tonight, so we’re on our own!”

          Helen went down the hall to their bedroom to change. She put on a pair of red cotton shorts and a navy and white striped tank top. She walked barefoot back to the kitchen and sat down to look at the paper. An hour or so later, came in.

“I guess I’ll put some eggs on to boil for our salads, they take a minute or two.” He pulled the carton of fresh eggs that he had gotten from Diana out of the refrigerator, filled a pot with water and placed three of the eggs into it.

          “When do you think that I can meet Diana?” Helen wanted to know.

“As soon as we both have the time, I guess. I’ll ask her tomorrow if next Sunday would work for her. How ‘bout we have her over for dinner? Maybe by then it’ll be cooler and we can barbeque.”

 “That would be fun! Just let me know; you know how forgetful you can be.”

 Dirk gave her a teasing pat on her rear, “Smarty pants. I won’t forget”

 

          Later that evening, Helen heard Jamie’s car pull into the driveway. It was almost eleven o’clock and she wondered what kept him out so late. She and Dirk were already in bed and she had just drifted off to sleep. “I’ll ask him in the morning,” she thought and closed her eyes.

          The next day, Helen was getting dressed and she could hear Dirk and Jamie talking as they ate breakfast. “What’s going on? You two look like the bird that swallowed the canary!”

 “I was telling Dad about this girl that I met last night.”

“Tell me about her, son. Is that why you were out so late?”

 “We met at this really cool new restaurant. She’s waiting tables there for the summer. She’s really pretty and super smart. Her name is Amy and I’m going to see her again this week.”

“So she’s in school too?” asked his father.

 “Yeah, she goes to Marietta College. She is studying to become a nurse.”

“That’s wonderful, Jamie. Just try not to get to serious. You wouldn’t be able to see each other very often.” Helen remarked.

          The men finished their meals and got ready to head to work up at Diana’s farm. “See you later, Ma!” Jamie said. It was Helen’s day off and she had a few errands to run. She grabbed her purse and keys and drove into town.

         

CHAPTER TEN

After Frankie left on Sunday, I fired up my laptop to google the type of breast cancer she had. I checked a number of websites such as WebMD and The Mayo Clinic. They all said the same thing; it depended on if they were able to remove the entire tum