Rosalie Alderwood was humming "O Come, All Ye Faithful" in the kitchen while Harry watched the news on TV. This was Wednesday, their traditional shopping day, and the advertised grocery specials were in the morning paper. Soup was on special, tomato, his favorite, two cans for a dollar. So was ice cream - three half-gallons for only six dollars. The brand wasn't his favorite but ice cream was ice cream, and Harry had always had a weakness for it. He didn't have much appetite anymore, but the thought of chocolate ice cream was appealing.
For years - ever since his retirement - Harry and Rosalie had done their grocery-shopping in the middle of the week.
"Should I get the car warmed up?" Harry asked. He'd put off the conversation with his daughters about selling it; maybe he'd call them tonight.
"Good idea." Rosalie came to stand in front of him, a dish towel in her hand, and glanced at the advertisements in the paper, spread out on the coffee table.
"You'll want to get a few cans of the tomato soup that's on special," he said.
"Yes," she agreed.
Because Rosalie had gotten so absentminded, Harry had begun compiling lists of items they needed to pick up at the store. This morning they were out of both milk and bread. He didn't want to miss that ice cream, either. He planned to arrive early enough to have his selection of fresh flowers, too. Maybe a potted poinsettia in honor of the season...His pleasures were few.
"I'll get my coat," Rosalie told him.
Harry nodded and reached for his car keys hanging on the peg by the door. She left, and knowing Rosalie, it would take her ten minutes to get ready. And that was after telling him to start the car. Early on in their marriage, that habit used to irritate him, but not anymore. This tendency to dawdle was part of Rosalie's personality and Harry had learned to accept it.
Before he went out to the car, he checked the refrigerator.
Another of Rosalie's longtime habits was her inability to discard things, even rotting food. He didn't understand it but had realized years ago that he was the one who'd have to toss the leftovers. Thankfully, with her cooking so little, there wasn't much. A quick inspection of the contents revealed several odd items. Frankly Harry had no idea why they needed anchovy paste or five varieties of mustard. Good grief, he hadn't even known they made that many.
Sure enough, it was ten minutes before Rosalie appeared. She'd put on fresh lipstick and combed her hair. "I'm ready, Harry."
"Me, too." Rosalie didn't drive. His own abilities were severely limited now and he took to the road only when necessary. In fact, he hadn't driven since he'd gone to see the doctor on Monday. The days of Sunday-afternoon excursions into the country had long since passed.
One of the advantages of shopping on Wednesday mornings was the lack of crowds. Mostly it was a few folks like Rosalie and him. Recently the store had gotten motorized carts for handicapped and elderly patrons, which made the whole experience a lot more pleasant.
Harry drove the motorized cart while his wife strolled by his side, filling the basket. Not once in the past year had Rosalie complained about the fact that he was the one who wrote their grocery lists, a chore she used to do.
They'd just turned down the soup and canned vegetable aisle when Lucy Menard entered from the other end. Her face brightened as soon as she saw them.
"Rosalie," Lucy called out. She left her own cart and hurried toward her friend, arms wide open.
The two women hugged for an extra-long moment. During World War II, after Rosalie and Harry were married and while he was off fighting in Europe, she and Lucy had roomed together while working in the Portland, Oregon, shipyards. At one time, they'd been as close as sisters. In fact, Lucy was godmother to their oldest daughter, Lorraine. Ever since Jake, Lucy's husband, had died, they hadn't seen much of her, which was sad. Mostly Harry blamed himself. Getting out and about was so difficult these days....
"I swear it's been a month of Sundays since I saw you two," Lucy said, stepping back. She looked good, better than the last time Harry had seen her, which was...well, no wonder. It'd been at Jake's funeral.
"I've been meaning to let you know I've moved," Lucy said excitedly.
"Moved?" Rosalie seemed to find that hard to believe.
Lucy beamed. "The kids finally convinced me that with Jake gone, I shouldn't be living on my own."
"I'm surprised you'd leave your home," Rosalie murmured. She glanced at Harry, then looked away. If it was up to Rosalie she'd delay moving as long as possible.
"I got a place at Liberty Orchard, the new assisted-living complex off Frontier Street."
That caught Harry's attention and he instantly straightened.
"Harry's been saying we need to do something like that, too, but I don't think I can," Rosalie admitted sheepishly.
"I said the same thing." Lucy nodded. "I figured after living in the same house for thirty years, I was too old to make that drastic a change. I told my children they were handing me a death sentence, moving me out of my home."
"That's how I feel," Rosalie said, once again avoiding Harry's gaze.
"But you did move," Harry broke in. "And you're happy now, right?"
"Oh, yes." Lucy smiled contentedly. "I always assumed it would take a forklift to get me out of that house. The thought of sorting through and packing up all those years of living just overwhelmed me."
Harry knew that was part of Rosalie's problem, too.
"Thank goodness the kids came in and made all the decisions for me. They went through each room, packing what I needed and dividing up what I didn't. One day I was in my home and the next I was making friends at Liberty Orchard. It's the best thing that's happened to me in ten years."
Frowning, Rosalie regarded her friend. "Don't they serve meals there?" she muttered. "Why are you shopping?"
"The meals are great, but a few times a week I don't feel like being sociable. That's my choice, you know. I fix myself something to eat. I've got my own refrigerator and microwave and that's all I need." She held up a box of microwave popcorn and giggled like a schoolgirl. "I love this stuff."
"It sounds like the ideal setup," Harry said.
"I'm not ready," his wife murmured.
Because Harry recognized her fears, he hoped to reassure her and gently urge her along. "Maybe Rosalie and I could come and see you at your new digs," he suggested jauntily, as though he was proposing a casual visit.
His hope was that once Rosalie saw the facilities for herself, she'd have a change of heart. If he couldn't get her to tour Liberty Orchard, perhaps Lucy could.
"How about tomorrow afternoon?" Lucy said. "Around three o'clock? We have a book club meeting at two and there's an exercise class before that. I wouldn't want to miss either one."
"They have exercise classes?" Rosalie sounded impressed.
"There's something to do every day. Before the move, it was a big deal just to step outside the house."
Rosalie shared a surprised glance with Harry. "I know what you mean. We'd love to come by, Lucy."
"I'll see you tomorrow, then," Lucy said, looking pleased.
She wasn't nearly as pleased as Harry, though. This couldn't have worked out better had he planned it. Lucy's opportune appearance had led to the next day's visit in the most natural possible way. It was exactly what he'd prayed would happen.
They finished collecting their purchases and by the time they returned to the house Harry needed a nap. The doc had insisted he couldn't carry anything heavier than five pounds, so his wife brought in the groceries from the garage. He made it to his recliner and was asleep almost before he elevated his feet.
Mercy was delighted at how well the meeting with Lucy Menard had gone. She sat in the motorized cart Harry had recently vacated, flushed with pleasure.
"How did you manage that?" Goodness asked, sitting on the handlebars of the same cart. "Did you know about Lucy?"