Aloha Love by Yvonne Lehman Read Free Book Online Page A

going to ask the Little People to make Miss Jane be my teacher.”

Ten
    “How are you feeling, dear?” Matilda asked when she and Jane walked out of Rev. Russell’s two-story white clapboard house after having a light supper in Uncle Russell’s kitchen. They stood on the porch.
    “Ashamed,” Jane said, taking hold of the banister.
    Matilda scoffed. “What in the name of wild horses do you have to be ashamed of?”
    Jane groaned. “Oh, Matilda. After seeing Aunt Pansy so frail, I realize all my fuss about getting sick was wrong. I have nothing to complain about.”
    Matilda scoffed. “Oh yes, you do. We’re puny little human beings who have enough of the divine in us to want everything to be perfect. I think God put that in us so we’d keep trying to be better people.”
    Looking at the warmth in Matilda’s smile reminded Jane of just how precious that woman was. On the outside, she was all fire and energy, but inside, she was a million times more valuable than those gold pieces she carried around in the purse against her bosom.
    “Pansy cared about how you were feeling,” Matilda said softly.
    “I know, and that makes me feel bad. The attention should not have been focused on me.”
    “Oh, honey. We all told our seasick stories. Even Pansy joked about never being able to leave Russ because she’d be too seasick going back to Boston. We were all trying to make you feel better.”
    “I know. And the laughing brought on Pansy’s awful coughing spell, and we had to get out of there so the nurse could take care of her.”
    “But that was good for her. The coughing helps clear her lungs so she can breathe better.”
    “Maybe you’re right.”
    “Maybe?”
    Seeing Matilda take a step away and plant her hands on her hips, Jane laughed. “Okay, you are right.”
    “I really am in this, Jane.” Matilda stepped up next to her and placed her hands on the banister, displaying her jewels and causing Jane to be aware of the single ring she wore, the diamond that sealed her commitment to Austin.
    Matilda must have noticed she was looking at the ring. “That is a beautiful diamond, Jane.”
    “Yes, I know.”
    “Are you missing Austin?”
    Missing him? Austin had always been in her life, and she’d accepted the fact he always would be. She didn’t really take anyone for granted after her mother died, but she accepted that both her dad and Austin were there for her.
    She supposed one missed whoever wasn’t there when you’d been used to their presence. She’d missed Austin when he went away to college. Then she’d missed him when she went to college. She missed him after he joined his dad in the oil business.
    So she looked at Matilda’s waiting face and said, “Sure. Now that you mention it. I miss Austin and Daddy and Texas. Even Inez.”
    Matilda smiled and patted her hand, the one with the ring on its finger.
    Jane looked at the rose-blue sky that was fast turning to magenta. “Like you always told me, Matilda. Life is full of wonderful adventures, and that’s where we need to focus our attention—never brooding about what we don’t have.”
    “That’s right, Jane. Russ has told us of Pansy’s rapid spiral downward, yet she has stayed alive to see us. She so enjoyed this evening. But she’s ready for her adventure into eternity.”
    “So we’ll just make her as happy as we can.” Jane tapped the banister for emphasis. “Later we can focus on. . .adventure.”
    “Exactly.”
    Jane sighed. Well then, she never should have taken that unexpected adventure of a horseback ride on the beach with that sullen cowboy. But that was different. He hadn’t wanted her on that horse, and if she hadn’t been queasy, she wouldn’t have ridden with him. But. . .no more adventures. She would be right here for Pansy and Uncle Russell.
    ❧
    For the next few days, the women unpacked and settled into their individual upstairs rooms. A wide porch formed a balcony over the one below.
    “I’m surprised, Uncle