She found her room and opened the door. Fresh flowers filled the crystal vase sitting on the antique dresser. The homemade wedding ring quilt adorned the brass bed.
Opening the dresser drawers, Caitlin's smile mixed with tears. Mrs. Carrington remembered her love of lavender and put lavender sachets in the drawers. While unpacking her clothes, she laughed. "Good thing my best friend works in the clothing industry or I'd be walking around in Garrett's clothes."
Running downstairs Caitlin found her grandma in the kitchen. She threw her arms around the old woman and kissed her cheek. "Thank you so much for the extra special touches, grandma. You amaze me."
"Think nothing of it. This is more for me than you. I'm tired of living here alone. Now that you know my secret, I want you here even more. Can you ever forgive this old lady for keeping you in the dark?"
"Yes. You watched me grow and I was allowed to visit as much as I wanted. I had the best of both worlds."
While eating, they talked about life and everything. "What do you like most about Garrett Winston?" Rachel asked.
A smile brightened her face as she thought about the only man she had ever loved. "He's smart, kind, considerate, generous, and handsome. He reminds me of granddaddy but rougher around the edges."
"Yes, Garrett's a good man with a strong work ethic and solid family values. Does it bother you that he was married before?"
Caitlin considered the question. She had never given it much thought until now. "Honestly, I don't know. It's part of his past."
"But."
"I wonder if we are better friends and won't be good at the long haul where romance is concerned. Do you think he's moving slow because he's been married and it ended in divorce?"
"Come with me." With their mugs of hot tea, the ladies headed to the parlor.
Caitlin remained standing, almost afraid to step foot in the room. This room was used for church meetings, nothing else. No children ever stepped foot in the parlor.
"This old room; I use it everyday." Mrs. Carrington plopped in the floral high-backed chair and took a drink of tea. She patted the chair beside her and waited until Caitlin settled in. "I was eighteen when William and I married. Around these parts, girls didn't go to college or even think about working. We married and raised our families. His grandmother gave us this house as a wedding present."