Broken Flower (Early Spring 1)

proceeding?

"I realize Ian is a brilliant young man, but he has issues as well that will require stability. As I said, you and I are in the same boat. Let's keep it afloat for the sake of the children," she concluded.

Once again, there was a heavy silence. I looked at Ian. He lowered his head slowly like a flag of defeat.

"When is he returning to perform this apology?"

"The moment I call him," Grandmother Emma said. "I have a suggestion in that regard."

"What?"

"A man and a woman sometimes need time alone, time to restore their relationship. Let me take the children back to Bethlehem. I'll have them brought back here in a few days. I did start up the pool. This cabin has possibilities as a romantic retreat," she said.

"You never used it for that."

"I never had the opportunity you have," Grandmother Emma responded quickly. "All the money issues I promised will be concluded by the end of the day tomorrow."

"You enjoy the power of arranging and rearranging people's lives, don't you? It's what you did with your own sister."

"As I said before. Caroline, you don't know all there is to know about me, my marriage, and my family. It's easy to jump to conclusions about people and make judgments."

"You did that to me.'

"What's that saving, 'Do as I teach, not as I do?' So be a better person than I am."

"That might not be as difficult as you imagine."

Grandmother Emma laughed. "You're right. I have underestimated you. In an ironic way, this episode might just bring us closer. If you don't mind being closer, that is."

"Let's just concentrate on doing what's best for my children for now," Mama told her.

"Yes, let's. Well, let me look around the property and see just how miserably this caretaker has done his job while you get the children ready to leave with me. I'll stop on the way back and take them to dinner."

"It will be the first time you've ever done that, taken them anywhere alone."

"Yes. I realize I have my own new challenges and responsibilities to face, thanks to my errant son."

"Jordan has medicine she must take every morning."

"I'll see to it myself."

The silence told us they were finished talking. Ian closed the door softly.

"What's an errant son?" I asked him

immediately.

"A screw-up.," he said. He walked over to his bed and sat thinking.

"What's going to happen to us?"

He looked up to answer, but Mama stepped into the room before he could speak.

"Well, it looks like your father is going to return to apologize for his behavior,'" she began. She had no idea we had eavesdropped on the whole conversation. I was still unclear about some of it, what it meant. "When a husband and a wife have problems like this, it's better if they can spend time alone. It wouldn't be pleasant for the two of you. I'm not sure how it will end or how it will be and I'll only be worrying about you.

"So," she said, "for the time being. I'd like you to return to Bethlehem with Grandmother Emma. You don't have to pack much because you'll be coming back very soon. Jordan, you should take your new bathing suits, however, because she has opened the pool for you two. I'll call you every day. Jordan, you'll have to be sure you take your medicine in the morning. She knows about it and will see to it as well."

"You mean she'll come to my room?" I asked.