Ah, so that’s what this is about. “I beg your pardon?”
“This!” Janice waves her hands around, as if the interior of the restaurant, with its quirky macrame wall hangings, is the offender. “Selling your house! Moving out of Sowell Bay! You’ve lived here all your life.”
“Charter Village is very nice,” Tova says mildly.
“Maybe it is, but these are our golden years. Why do you want to spend them with a bunch of strangers?” Janice’s voice cracks. “What about us?”
Tova starts to respond, but the words catch in her throat.
“And furthermore,” Janice continues, holding up a stern finger, like a judge in one of those courtroom dramas she enjoys watching, “what about Ethan Mack?”
Tova starts. “What about him?”
“Tova, he’s gaga for you. Why can’t you give him a chance?”
“Ethan is a wonderful man, but Will and I were—”
“Oh, stop. Look, I realize I haven’t been in your shoes, but Peter and I have talked about it. When one of us goes, the other must move on. We’re not that old, Tova. We still have good years ahead of us. Decades, even. Seventy is the new sixty!”
In spite of herself, Tova lets out a short chuckle. “Where did you hear that? One of those talk shows?”
“Whatever. Please, Tova, rethink this. If it’s really what you want, then fine, go. But it’s not the only way.”
“Janice, you must understand something.” Tova folds her hands in her lap. “I am not like you and Mary Ann and Barbara. I don’t have children who will come stay with me when I’ve had a fall. I don’t have grandchildren who will stop over to unclog my drain or make sure I’m taking my pills. And I won’t put that burden on my friends and neighbors.”
“There’s your problem,” says Janice softly. “Assuming it’s a burden.”
“Charter Village might not be the only way, but it’s the best way.” Tova sets her jaw. “And besides, it’s done. I’m going to sign the papers for the sale of the house on Wednesday.”
“And when do you move into Charter Village?”
“Next week, but I’ll stay in one of those hotels down in Everett.”
With a defeated smile, Janice says, “I suppose Barb and I will have to come visit once you move in, then. Maybe you can book us appointments at the fancy spa.”
“Of course,” Tova says.
A chipper waitress arrives moments later and, with a cheery grin, spits out a list of specialty margarita flavors. Janice requests a diet soda. Tova orders black coffee. The waitress nods and trots away but returns a moment later to apologize and explain that they don’t have any coffee prepared at the moment. Not much demand for it in the afternoon. Would Tova like to wait fifteen minutes for it to brew? Or might she be interested in something from the espresso bar? Cappuccino, latte, mocha?
“A small latte, I suppose,” Tova says a bit reluctantly. Espresso bar. How very indulgent.
ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON, Tova readies herself for a trip to Shop-Way, her first since that disastrous dinner at Ethan’s house.
And her last, perhaps. She just needs to pick up a few essentials. The fridge is still half-full, and her moving date inches closer. Never would she have thought she could go so long between grocery runs, but those freezer casseroles have had legs. All of the potatoes and noodles and gravy and cheese have added a certain plumpness to Tova’s cheeks, which she found herself admiring in her bathroom mirror this morning after she bathed. After she dressed, she even dabbed a bit of blush on her cheekbones.
Four times before she leaves, she checks to make sure the Grateful Dead T-shirt is in her tote bag. This isn’t simply a shopping trip, after all. On her way out the front door, she’s somewhat startled to see the newspaper still sitting there on her front mat, coiled and waiting. She was so occupied this morning that it never occurred to her to take it in. Her subscription was supposed to be canceled, but when she pointed it out to the young man on the route the other day, he just shrugged and said he might as well bring her one as long as she was still there; he always has a bunch left over anyway. Tova had smiled and thanked him. He’s a nice kid, and she gave him a good tip last Christmas.
In any case, her crossword needs are now being met through other channels. Last week, Janice challenged her to a competitive crossword game through a message that popped up on her cell phone, and with one tap of a button, there were crosswords galore right there on the little screen.