“Not a whole lot. But I think she can rest a bit easier now.”
I started the car. These people felt so real to me after this trip that it was bizarre to think all that was left of them was buried under those plots of grass. I glanced in the rearview mirror, half expecting to see their specters waving from among the tombstones.
“What about your parents?”
“What about them, darling?”
“Do you think they’re resting easy after . . . everything?”
She turned her head to the window, and I wondered if she was looking for them as well.
“My father made his own peace.”
“How did that happen?”
“It took time. They were both so proud. But if Tony had two great loves in his life, they were me and Sofia. Papa wanted to make things right and because of Sofia, he could.”
It made sense. They hadn’t been able to resolve their differences over my grandmother, but they got a new chance in Sofia. But how could my grandmother ever get past what her mother did first to her, then to her beloved baby sister? “What about your mother?”
“My mother . . .” She stopped for a moment. “I forgave my mother when I met Frank. And I have to hope that’s enough.”
“Frank?”
She turned to look at me, her eyes compassionate. “Life is complicated and messy for everyone. It took me a long time to learn that lesson.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
October 1978
Hereford, Massachusetts
They reopened the cottages in October because there wasn’t room for everyone when Miriam died.
She was diagnosed the previous spring, but was mostly fine until the last month, when the cancer moved quickly and aggressively. Her children all agreed it was best she didn’t suffer long, but they worried deeply about Joseph as they gathered in the Main Street living room after Joseph went to bed the night before the funeral.
“He can move in with me,” Bernie said. He and his wife had already discussed the inevitable conclusion as the only ones who still lived in Hereford. Helen was close, in Boston, Sam even closer in Beverly. But Bernie was the eldest, and the responsibility, in his mind, was his.
“He won’t,” Helen said. “I talked to him last night about coming to live with us. He said he’s not leaving Mama’s house.”
“Stubborn old fool.” Bernie shook his head. Evelyn was secretly relieved. She couldn’t imagine selling the Main Street house.
“How will he eat? He’s never even made himself a sandwich, let alone done any housework.” Gertie was chewing on her thumbnail, which Evelyn hadn’t seen her do since she was a little girl.
“We’ll have to get someone in to help him.” Bernie looked around at his siblings. “They took a hit with Mama’s treatments, but he’s got the money for that.” He deliberately avoided looking at Evelyn. “But he isn’t so healthy himself. If anything happens—” He swallowed, looking down at his hands. “If anything happens, I’m going to sell the smaller cottage.”
Evelyn looked around at her siblings, who all nodded their assent. She didn’t want to agree; her summers in Hereford were what she looked forward to all year. But no one else came for as long as she did anymore. And with Anna and Joan in college and Richie in high school, they no longer wanted to spend the whole summer away from their friends. So as long as they still had the one cottage, she could agree to that.
She also knew that her father had paid Sofia’s culinary school tuition and used the sale of the store to help her open her restaurant. She wasn’t positive her siblings knew that, but if they did— “I agree,” she said quietly, and everyone let out a collective breath.
“Good.” Bernie wiped his palms on his pants. “Next up, I think you girls need to sort through Mama’s things. We don’t want to make Papa do that.”
“We can,” Margaret said. “We have all week with shiva.”
The rest of the sisters agreed, then they retired to the multiple houses for the night, knowing they needed their strength for the funeral the next day.
Fred left with the children two days later, dropping Anna and Joan at their colleges on the way. Evelyn kissed them all goodbye, telling Fred she would let him know when to pick her up at the train station.
“I can come back and drive you home,” he said.
“It’s okay. I don’t want to make you do that.”
“I don’t mind.”
Evelyn put a hand to his cheek. “I know. And I love you. But I’m okay. I promise.”