by Ali Spooner
Cadin sank down to her neck in the water. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she thought of Missy and the upcoming anniversary of her death in a few short months. It was hard for Cadin to believe she had been gone for almost a year. She still found herself occasionally turning to say something to Missy, a wave of sadness filling her when she realized she would never be able to speak with her again.
When the water began to cool, Cadin wrapped her body in a thick towel and walked to the bedroom to get dressed for bed. She glanced at her cell phone and saw that she had missed a call. When she checked, she saw that Renee had called, but left no message. Cadin noted the time and thought it too late to call, but she would find time to give her a call tomorrow before it grew too late.
Chapter Eight
At five, Cadin climbed out of the bed and showered. Memories of the past and questions about her future had made her toss and turn most of the night. As she stepped beneath the flow, she prayed the steamy water would help her shed the melancholy that threatened to ruin a happy day.
She picked up the keys for the rental car from the front desk and parked it in front of the hotel while she waited for Serena to arrive. She poured a cup of coffee that tasted like jet fuel and picked up the morning paper. Cadin was breezing through the sports section when the elevator pinged and Serena appeared pushing a luggage cart. She looked good dressed in some of her new clothes and wearing a huge smile.
“That is much better than the backpack you entered with,” Cadin told her. “Do you need some help?”
“I think I can handle this.”
Cadin tossed her the keys and walked to the coffeepot for a refill. The strong coffee sent a jolt of caffeine rushing through her as the funk that had clouded around her started to fade into the morning.
“Do you want to get some breakfast?”
“A cup of juice will work for now,” Serena answered as she handed the keys back to Cadin.
“I’ll be in the car,” Cadin said.
Cadin lowered her sunglasses as she stepped outside the hotel and walked to the small SUV she had rented for the day. While she waited for Serena, she programmed the GPS to the address for the administration building on the LSU campus.
Serena slid into the passenger seat and looked at Cadin wearing a grin. “All set.”
Cadin put the vehicle in gear and drove away from the hotel. “Have you ever considered college?”
“Not for me,” Serena said. “I did good to make it out of high school.”
“What are your plans for the rest of your life?”
“Right now, just surviving one day at a time,” Serena answered with a frown.
“I think you are past that phase. You have a job, a roof over your head—”
“A new wardrobe,” Serena cut in.
“So what do you like to do, or what do you want to learn to do better?”
Serena shifted in her seat.
Cadin sensed she was uncomfortable talking about her dreams. “If that’s too personal, you don’t have to answer.”
“It’s not that. I have loved drawing for years, but my mother always said I was wasting my time, but art is my passion.”
“If you love it, then it’s not a waste of time. Do you sketch, draw, or paint?”
“I have a sketchpad with pencil sketches. That’s really all I could afford and carry in a backpack.”
“Would you mind sharing it with me?”
More shifting in her seat followed her question. “I guess. It’s not very good.”
Cadin pulled the vehicle to a stop on the shoulder of the road.
“What? Right now?” she asked.
“No time like the present, besides we are early,” she said. “Please?”
Serena stepped out of the car, walked to the back of the vehicle, and lifted the gate.
Cadin could hear her shuffling through the bags until she reached her backpack. The zipper opened and Serena stepped back to close the gate. She walked back to the door and slid into the seat. She hesitated for a moment before handing the sketchpad to Cadin.
She smiled and took the thick pad, resting it on the steering wheel and opened the cover. The first sketch threatened to take her breath away. A woman sitting on a timeworn couch looked wistfully out a window. The detail was amazing down to the fine crow’s-feet on the woman’s face. “This is beautiful. Who is this?”
“My grandmother,” Serena answered. “She loved to sit and look out that window. She said she was watching birds, but I know differently. She was hoping someday her son would come home.”
“Was he your father?”
“Yeah, he left for work one day when I was about five, and we never saw or heard from him again.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. She’s a beautiful woman.”
“Yeah, she was. She died last year.”
“You must miss her terribly.”
“Yes, I do.”
Cadin flipped the pages and became genuinely impressed with Serena’s talent. “These are really good. Did you do some of these while you were on the road?” she asked as her eyes landed on a drawing of a crane similar to the one she had spotted a few days earlier.
“I was crossing a bridge a week or so ago when I saw him wading through a pond hunting frogs. He knew I was there, but stood rather impressively still as I sat on the bridge post and sketched him,” she said with a smile on her face.
When Cadin looked up at her, she could see sparkling excitement in Serena’s eyes as she told her about the bird. Cadin returned to the book and heard Serena gasp.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re in there,” Serena said.
“I am?”
“Yes, keep flipping.”
Five pages further into the book, Cadin saw herself, sitting astride her motorcycle. The kid was good, as she managed every detail of the bike perfectly. “When did you do this?”
“I’ve been working on it for a few days. It’s hard when you don’t sit still for long,” she answered.
“This is remarkable. I really like what you have drawn.”
“Thank you,” she said, a blush rising up her neck to color her cheeks.
“You have a great talent here. Have you ever painted?”
Serena’s eyes dropped away from Cadin.
“I’ve never been able to afford the supplies. Maybe now that I’m working I can.”
“Would you paint this for me?”
Serena’s eyes flew back to Cadin. “You want me to paint this?”
“Yes, I believe that’s what I just asked,” she teased.
“I’d love to,” Serena said.
“I’m sure we can find an art supply store in Baton Rouge.” She handed the book back to Serena. “Thanks for sharing with me.”
“You’re welcome,” she answered as she cradled the book against her chest.
†
When they pulled into the drive of a modest house, Serena looked at Cadin. “This is nice.”
“Yes, it is. Come, I’ll help you get unloaded.”
Meagan raced out of the house when she heard the car door close and helped them carry Serena’s belongings inside the house.
“Good morning,” Emma said as the young women disappeared down a hall. “Would you like some coffee?”
“I’m good. I had two cups of the jet fuel the hotel serves.”
Emma chuckled. “No telling how long it had been in the pot.”
“Strong enough for at least a day or so,” Cadin said, then smiled. “Are you two ready? We have one more stop to make while we’re in Baton Rouge.”
“Where else are we going?”
“We need to find an art supply store for painting supplies. I’m getting Serena to paint something for me. The kid has an amazing talent that needs some nurturing.”
“Really?”
“Get her to show you her sketchbook sometime. She has a fantastic eye for detail.”
“I will,” Emma said as the two rushed into the room.
&nb
sp; “All set?”
“Yes, we can get Serena settled in when we get back,” Meagan said. “Let’s rock and roll.”
†
They sang along with the radio as Cadin drove. When they reached the Administration building, she handed Serena her cell phone. “Find us an art supply store, and then come join us. It shouldn’t be hard to find us.”
Serena smiled and began pushing buttons on Cadin’s phone.
Cadin, Emma, and Meagan walked up the steps of the Administration building. A receptionist guided them to the Registrar’s office and introduced them to Lucy Wills.
“Good morning,” she said sweetly. “We have been waiting for your arrival. Your counselor sent your records to us yesterday, so we just need a few items to get you on your way to becoming our newest Tiger.”
Meagan smiled brightly. “Sounds great.”
Cadin left them to complete the application process while she went to the finance department to pay for the tuition. She was talking to the woman about books and other costs when Serena located her.
“Is this our newest student?” the woman asked.
“No, not me,” Serena answered.
“Not yet, anyhow,” Cadin said. “Did you find the store?”
“Yes, ma’am, I did. It doesn’t look far from here.”
“We can drop Meagan and Emma at Johnny’s aunt’s house and we’ll go shopping.”
“Awesome,” Serena said. “Would you mind if I wait for you outside? It’s such a pretty day.”
“No, go ahead. I don’t think we’ll be much longer.”
When she finished talking with the woman in finance, she had a better idea of what the additional costs would be for Meagan. She walked back to find them finishing up the application.
Ms. Wills smiled at Meagan when she handed her the completed application. “We will be sending you a packet this spring with your official admission letter and information about registering for classes and options for spending a week here for freshmen orientation.”
“That sounds so exciting,” Emma said.
“It will be a great time in your life,” Ms. Wills told Meagan.
“I know I can’t wait to get started.” She hugged Cadin. “Thank you for making this possible.”
Cadin hugged her back. “I did the easy part. You have four years of hard work ahead of you.”
“I will make you both proud of me.”
“I think I can speak for your mom and say we are already proud of you,” she said.
“Most definitely,” Emma said, placing her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “Let’s go see where you’ll be staying.”
“Nice to meet you Ms. Wills,” Meagan said.
“I look forward to seeing you again in a few months,” she answered. “Stop in if there’s anything I can help you with.”
They left the office and started for the entrance. “Would you mind if I dropped you two off with Johnny’s aunt while Serena and I do some shopping? Or better yet, you two drop us off and you can pick us up when you’re done.”
“That works for me,” Emma said. “I’ll treat us to some lunch then.”
†
Cadin opened the door to the art supply store for Serena then waved to Emma and Meagan before following her inside. Serena smiled as her eyes drifted to shelf after shelf of art supplies. Cadin went for a shopping cart.
“May I help you?” a young man asked when Cadin returned with the cart.
“We need all the basic painting supplies,” Cadin said.
“Follow me then,” he said and led them deeper into the store. “Watercolors, oils, or acrylics?”
“Acrylics,” Serena answered.
He and Serena went to work, picking out supplies as Cadin wandered through the store. She picked out several sketchbooks, pencils, and charcoal for Serena to continue sketching. Cadin also picked out several instructional manuals on acrylic painting that Serena could use for reference. She placed the items in the cart as Serena was discussing the choice of easels and palette styles.
Cadin listened with interest as the salesman discussed various options with Serena and together they filled the cart with supplies, including a small adjustable folding stool she could set to whatever height was comfortable.
“There is one other item I would suggest purchasing if you don’t already have one,” he said, stopping in front of a display of tablets. “You can snap a photo of the subject you wish to paint and use it as a permanent resource. Very helpful if you are painting living beings, your subjects don’t have to remain frozen modeling for hours.”
“Set us up then with the best,” Cadin said.
“These can get expensive,” Serena said as she nearly drooled over the sleek devices.
“Would you be satisfied using cheap paints?”
“Probably not,” Serena answered.
“Then don’t settle for cheap equipment. Consider it an investment to improve your craft.”
“I like the way you think,” the young man said as he placed the tablet in the cart. “I think this will keep you busy for some time yet.”
“Let’s get settled up then,” Cadin said and handed him a credit card.
Serena whistled when he rang up the total and looked at Cadin. “This is way too much,” she said.
“Nonsense, you need all of the basic supplies to get started.”
“It will take me forever to pay you back for this.”
“Who said anything about paying me back? Consider it payment for the painting you have agreed to do for me.”
Tears filled Serena’s eyes as she nodded in agreement with Cadin’s generous offer.
“Let’s carry these bags out to the benches in front of the store while we wait for Emma and Meagan.”
“Thanks for the business ladies,” he said.
Cadin stretched her legs in front of her body as she relaxed on the bench, the sun warming her face. A cool breeze had begun to blow reminding her that the seasons were slowly changing.
“How much longer will you be staying in Bogalusa?”
“A few more days, until after the grand opening of the new diner,” she answered.
“Where will you go from here?”
Cadin opened her eyes and smiled at Serena. “I’m going home.”
“Will you be back?”
“I will, but I can’t say when.”
“Thank you for everything you have done for me, for us,” she said as Emma pulled up to the curb.
“It has been my pleasure,” she said as she stood and stretched. “Let’s get this stuff loaded up.”
†
Meagan told them about the house she would be living in when she started college. “Johnny’s Aunt Sue is awesome. She’s only going to charge me a hundred dollars a month if I help her with cleaning and cooking.”
“That’s a fantastic deal for both of you,” Cadin agreed.
“It’s a beautiful house and not far from campus at all,” Emma said.
“Well, that brings us to another question. What will she do for transportation?”
“I have two good feet,” Meagan said. “I can walk anywhere I need to go on campus.”
“You will catch your death of pneumonia in the winter time,” Cadin said. “I will take care of that, so don’t worry about transportation.”
“You have done so much already Cadin,” Emma implored. “I will work something out.”
Cadin didn’t want to hurt Emma’s feelings by insisting, so she decided to let it go.
†
They finished their salads and Cadin looked up to Emma. “We’re doing well on time. Do you want to see if we can find some artwork for the diner?”
“That’s a good idea,” Emma said. She paid the bill and they walked back out to the SUV.
They located a small studio and purchased several prints to decorate the walls then the four women drove back to Bogalusa.
“We got a lot done today. I hope the boys were as successful,” Cadin said.
†
As Cadin rounded the last turn and pulled in front of the diner, the first thing she saw was the front window, Missy’s Place was painted in an emerald green, a color reminding her of Missy’s eyes. She felt her heart lodge in her throat, choking off her words.
Through the window they could see Johnny’s crew working at a fevered pace. The walls were freshly painted, and men were laying floor tiles in three directions, having three quarters of the diner finished. She parked the SUV and they walked to the front door of the diner.
“Is it all right to come inside?” Emma asked Johnny.
“Yes, but can you come in from the back? The tile at the front door is freshly laid.”
“No problem,” Emma said and started to guide them around to the back entrance. She stopped when she realized Cadin wasn’t following her. She looked back to find her studying the front window.
Cadin felt eyes on her and turned to see Emma smiling at her. “Go ahead, I’ll catch up in a minute,” she said.
†
Emma stepped inside the back door and heard Meagan squealing in the kitchen. Emma walked inside to see her daughter running her fingers across the brand-new coffee machine that Meagan had requested. The kitchen sparkled with newness, the floors pressure cleaned, the areas needing grouting were complete, and shiny new equipment installed.
Emma’s mouth was hanging open when Johnny walked up. “This is beautiful,” she said.
“I thought you might like the way it turned out.” He grinned.
†
Cadin stood out front for several minutes, tears brimming in her eyes. “I hope you can see this, Missy,” she spoke aloud. “The diner’s coming along well. I know you would be proud.”
Movement inside the building caught her attention. Cadin walked around the building and entered to find the others inspecting the newly remodeled and equipped kitchen.
“Wow, this looks great,” she said.