Forever: A Lobster Kind Of Love by Jody Pardo, Jennifer Tocheny Read Free Book Online Page B

amazing!”
    Ethel just shook her head at me. “Honey, that is nothing. That’s just a sandwich! I just threw that together quick. I figured you would be hungry after your long drive getting here.”
    After we finished our sandwiches, Ethel took the small plates away to the sink and refused to allow me to help clean up. She brought over two steaming cups of coffee and sat back down dropping two sugar cubes from the bowl into her own cup.
    “So, what brings you to Maine, Lydia, especially Eastport of all places? Most people don’t pick here to move, they stay downstate, near Portland or Bangor.”
    I looked at Ethel, this angel in disguise, who didn’t know me and had just opened up her home for me to start over. I couldn’t stop myself. The tears started flowing.
    “Oh Lydia, I am so sorry, honey. You don’t need to tell me today. When you’re ready, just know I am here for you and pass no judgments. Whatever it is, you got it bottled up inside there real tight, and I know it needs to come out.”
    I wiped my eyes with the neckband of my t-shirt and looked into Ethel’s pleading eyes. “I will tell you my story one day. Just not today, okay?” Ethel nodded. I don’t want to re-live it again. It was bad enough it was on replay in my head every time I closed my eyes. I swallowed back a sob. “Thank you for understanding.”
    She grabbed my hands in hers. “Dear, I know all about moving on. Whenever you want to talk, I will be right here. I promise to be your shoulder to cry on or your spine to hold you up and give you strength. You are not alone, sweetheart, not anymore.”
    She lightly rested her hand on my shoulder, “Lydia, let’s get you settled for the night. You must be exhausted. Let me show you your new home.”
    Ethel opened up a door leading to a mudroom. We walked through it and into the apartment that would become my new home. I looked around and thought it was just perfect for me.
    From the living room windows that faced the water, the landscape of the bay was visible and it was breathtaking. The sun was finishing its descent, sending amber and orange shimmers along the water as the lighthouse lit the way home. Fishing boats and a few speedboats were docked at the pier.
    The living space was an all-nautical theme, how appropriate. Off to the left sat a small eat-in kitchen…Ethel’s voice interrupted my awe, “Did you hear me, hun?”
    I snapped my head to locate the sound of her voice. “I’m sorry; I was just taking in the view here.”
    She laughed and proceeded to tell me, “No one has been in this apartment for over two years. My Harry was a fisherman. We used to rent this out to some of the guys that worked on the boat with him for a few weeks to a few months at a time. When my Harry passed, I just couldn’t rent it out to the guys anymore. I locked the apartment up and had not come back in until two months ago. When I received the call about you, I opened it up, gave it a nice coat of paint, and freshened it up just for you. Thank you for coming. I hope you enjoy it here.”
    Ethel gave me a hug, and I didn’t know what to say to all that, so I just hugged her back as she patted my back a lightly. “Okay, enough of these sob stories! I stocked the kitchen up with some basic essentials and such, just to get you started.”
    My new landlady showed me around the rest of the apartment and opened the door to the bathroom. “Sorry it’s small, and only a shower stall, but I put some shampoo and body wash in there. There are also some clean towels in the linen closet right there next to the sink. I wasn’t sure what you’d brought with you and I’m sure you will want a hot shower to unwind right away.”
    The last door opened to the master bedroom. My eyes went wide when I saw the big king sized bed with floral printed bedding, fresh flowers on the antique dresser, and a view of the water. I wasn’t sure I would want to get out of bed waking up to such a spectacular view every day,