Lymber craft's Arc

Chapter 56 of 70

Violetta came home at nine on the dot. She said the ice cream was fine and went upstairs without taking off her shoes. Lymber let it go. She sat at the kitchen table with a cold cup of coffee and thought about her mother. Polly did not know Maggie was leaving. Maggie had one week left. If Polly heard it from a neighbor at the swap meet, or from Paul's mother at the store, she would be at the door by morning with a bag and a schedule. Lymber knew how that went. Polly had run her mornings once. Polly would run every hour if given the chance. She had to tell her first, and she had to tell her tonight. She drove over after Paul came upstairs. Polly's house sat dark except for the kitchen. Polly opened the door in her purple cardigan and did not act surprised. She poured Lymber a cup from the pot and sat down across from her. Lymber said it plain. Maggie was stopping next Friday. She was pregnant and wanted to slow down. Lymber said she was telling her first because she wanted her to hear it from her and not from anyone at the swap meet. Polly stirred her coffee. She said, so you need me. Lymber said no. She said she needed her to know. She said the twins were ten and Jett could pour his own cereal and Violetta was going on dates now. She said she could hold the house. Polly looked at her for a long second. She said, you drove over here at ten at night to tell me you don't need me. Lymber said yes. Polly almost smiled. She said, okay. She said she would come Tuesdays if Lymber wanted, and only Tuesdays, and only if asked. Lymber said Tuesdays were fine. Lymber drove home under the streetlights and pulled into her own drive. The house sat quiet with one lamp on in the front window. She sat in the car a minute before going in. She had told her mother first. Polly would not show up with a bag. Polly would come on Tuesdays, when called. The line was drawn and Polly had drawn half of it herself. Lymber went inside and locked the door behind her. Upstairs a floorboard creaked where Violetta was still awake. Missy coughed in her sleep down the hall. Lymber stood at the bottom of the stairs and listened to her house. It was hers to hold, and now everyone knew it.