Summer on Blossom Street

It meant that Anne Marie had to be careful not to overdramatize her emotions. “Everything’s fine. Now let’s go pick up Baxter,” she said, grabbing Ellen about the waist and tickling her.

The girl squealed delightedly.

Reaching for her purse, Anne Marie followed Ellen, who bounced down the stairs ahead of her.

Teresa, her full-time employee, looked up when Ellen burst into the bookstore. “I didn’t expect you guys to go out so soon,” she commented. She stood behind the cash register, opening the latest order from Ingram’s, a distributor. Cartons of books were stacked behind her, a good indication that business hadn’t slacked off while Anne Marie was away.

“We’re going to get Baxter,” Anne Marie explained. “We probably won’t be long.”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Exhausted,” Anne Marie told her.

“Ellen seems raring to go.”

That wasn’t unusual. But Anne Marie suspected jet lag would catch up with her soon.

“Can we say hello to Susannah?” Ellen asked.

“Of course, but remember if she’s with a customer we’ll have to wait.”

“Okay.” Ellen held the shop door open for her.

Susannah had two customers, but when she saw Anne Marie and Ellen, she smiled and waved.

“Lydia and Margaret don’t look busy,” Ellen said as she peered into the front window of A Good Yarn. Her small hands framed her face and she stared at the sleeping cat. “Whiskers misses Baxter, too, don’t you, Whiskers?” she asked. “Can we go in, Mom?”

“We can only visit for a few minutes,” Anne Marie cautioned. “Elise is waiting and so is Baxter.”

“Okay.”

As soon as they walked in, Lydia leaped to her feet. “Anne Marie! Ellen! Welcome home. How was Paris?”

Anne Marie sighed luxuriously. “Wonderful! Everything I’ve ever imagined and more.”

Lydia clasped her hands together and smiled warmly. “I knew it would be.”

“How did the neighborhood survive without us?” Anne Marie teased.

“It was a lot quieter,” Margaret called from the back of the shop where she sat crocheting. Then she broke into a huge grin. “And a lot less interesting, too.”

“I think Whiskers missed Baxter,” Lydia said.

“We’re going to get him right now,” Ellen told her. “I missed Baxter more than anyone.”

“I’d miss Whiskers, too.” Lydia turned to Anne Marie, her eyes shining. “Listen, do you have a moment?” she asked.

“Sure,” Anne Marie said. “What’s up?”

Lydia’s joy was contagious. “Brad and I are going to adopt. We’ve requested an infant.”

Anne Marie clapped her hands excitedly. “That’s incredible news.”

“I heard this morning that Brad and I have been approved by the state.”

“Did you speak with Evelyn Boyle?” She’d been Ellen’s social worker and Anne Marie had come to treasure the other woman, who’d been so instrumental in facilitating the adoption. She’d given Lydia Evelyn’s phone number weeks ago and had been wondering if anything had come of it.

Lydia nodded. “She’s been so helpful. We really appreciate the referral.”

“Any word on how long it’ll be before you can adopt a baby?”

“Not yet. Brad and I are prepared to wait, though.”

“Well, I hope it happens soon.”

“Me, too.” Lydia smiled happily. “We’re celebrating tonight. Brad’s taking Cody and me out to dinner.”

“Can we come, too?” Ellen asked.

“Ellen! No, we can’t,” Anne Marie chastened. “It’s not polite to invite yourself along.”

“I know, but I have a gift for Cody from Paris and I want to give it to him.”

“There’ll be plenty of time for that later,” Anne Marie reminded her and then, despite her best efforts, yawned. “I don’t think anyone’s mentioned jet lag to Ellen yet. I expect it’ll hit her in a couple of hours.” As for Anne Marie, her feet were dragging. Once they’d returned with Baxter, she was planning on taking a nap. Ellen would be tired by then, too—she hoped.

“I see you’re starting a new class this week.” The sign in the window had caught her notice and she found herself intrigued by the concept. Not that there was anything she needed to quit. She was satisfied with her life at the moment—more satisfied than she’d been since the early days of her marriage.

“Are you interested?” Lydia told her about the project she’d chosen. Anne Marie liked the sound of it, but a night class would be too difficult.

Maybe she could get the pattern from Lydia. She’d bought some beautiful yarn in Paris and a scarf would be the perfect thing to knit.

“Do you want to join the class?” Lydia asked. “Even if you’re not trying to give up any bad habits. Alix already signed up because she wants to quit smoking—again.”

“I’d love to—but I can’t leave Ellen by herself. I want to make the scarf, though.”

“I’ll be happy to help with the pattern if you run into any problems.”

“Thanks, Lydia, I’ll keep that in mind.”

As Anne Marie and Ellen left the shop, the little girl pointed across the street to the French Café. “Alix!” she cried. “I want to say hello to Alix.”

“Ellen, we’ll have to do that later. Besides, Alix is probably off work by now.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot….”

“Are you ready for Baxter?”

“Yeah!”