Beyond the Spring Breeze: The Orchard Summer novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: The Chain

I went home across the fallen tree at six, with my hand still closed around the ring.

The utility truck was already at the bottom of the drive, and two men in orange vests were cutting a limb off the line.

My mother stood on the porch in her robe with a coffee mug.

She took one look at my face and put the mug down on the rail.

"The tree took both fences," I said. "The pump house is fine."

"I know. Ned walked the whole line at first light."

"I stayed at Abram's."

"I know that too," she said. "I spoke to his mother in law at five. She wanted to know if you were warm."

"The grandmother called you?"

"We talk every morning now. We're sixty-six and sixty-two, and neither of us is good at much else."

I almost laughed.

Then I sat down on the top step, because my knees did it for me.

My mother lowered herself next to me, with her hand on the rail.

She waited, as she does.

"I didn't know I did that," I said. "The ring. In my sleep."

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