Violetta Craft's Arc

Chapter 38 of 65

Wednesday afternoon, Violetta was hemming the muslin when the doorbell rang. Elowen was down for her nap in the next room. Violetta wiped her hands on her jeans and opened the door. Greg stood on the step with a small bunch of yellow daisies wrapped in brown paper. He smiled the way he always did, easy, no weight to it. He said he had picked them up on the way and would not stay long if she was working. Behind him, a second car pulled into the drive. Jordie got out with a fuller bouquet, roses and white flowers she did not know the name of. He stopped when he saw Greg on the porch. Nobody moved for a second. Greg looked at Violetta. Jordie walked up the path with the roses held tight against his chest. He said he had come to see Elowen and to bring the flowers for Violetta because it was almost a year since he had done anything right. Greg took a step back to give him room. Violetta felt her chest pull two ways at once. She still knew the shape of Jordie's shoulders under that jacket. She also knew the way Greg had waited on the porch and not pushed past her into the house. Both flowers were in front of her. She had to pick where they went. She took the daisies from Greg and set them on the small table inside the door. Then she took the roses from Jordie and set them next to the daisies. She kept her voice low so it would not carry to the bassinet. She told Jordie his Saturday was Saturday, and this was Wednesday, and he could not swap days by showing up. She told him the flowers were kind and she would put them in water, but they did not change the calendar. She told him to go home. He stood there a moment, then nodded and walked back to his car. She watched until he pulled out. Her eyes stung. She did not let them spill on the porch. She turned to Greg. She said she was not clear yet. She said part of her still hurt for Jordie, and part of her was starting to want something with Greg, and she would not lie to him about either half. Greg said he already knew that. He said that he really wanted to kiss her. And he did and it did no leave violetta a clear path to choose