Seems Like Old Times Read Online Free Page B

didn’t know
and probably never would. But Miriam and Cheryl understood without her having
to explain. There was value in that kind of friendship, in those kinds of ties.
    "Well, shoot, girl," Cheryl said. "What are
friends for?"
    Lee’s eyes lifted to Cheryl’s and the openness she saw
there made her unsure whether to laugh or cry. Instead of either, a small,
hesitant smile spread over her face. Cheryl returned it, and both smiles
broadened. Suddenly, their old affinity sprang up from some long buried past.
She could almost believe they were Lisa and Cheryl again, best friends, sharing
secrets and gossip and dreams. They weren't, of course, yet an odd imbalance, a
juxtaposition of the past with the present, swirled about her.
    Cheryl led Lee to the kitchen table, poured her a fresh
cup of coffee and took a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting out of the
refrigerator. Normally, Lee spurned cake of any sort, but after all the
calories she’d ingested that morning with Miriam’s friends, taking a few more
bites of pure sugar couldn’t hurt. She’d forgotten how intimately connected
food and friendship were in a small town like Miwok.
    "So, tell me"--Cheryl cut a big piece of cake
and put it on Lee’s plate--"how do you like being back? What was that old
song about not staying down on the farm after they've seen Paree ?
This must seem even worse than a farm. Sometimes, girl, I can’t believe I’m
still here myself!" She shot Lee a perceptive glance. They had once been
as close as sisters, and each had shared the other’s dream. Cheryl was going to
be a teacher, and Lisa was going to be a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist.
    "Yesterday I drove around town. God, but it's
grown!" Lee replied, skirting away from her feelings about Miwok.
"This morning I went visiting with Miriam." Lee tasted the cake. It
was delicious. Every little pound magnified mercilessly on TV, though. One more bite for the sake of politeness...
    "I remember how well you always spoke of your aunt.
I’m glad she’s here with you."
    "It makes it easier, in one way. But if she weren’t
here, I’d probably have the house cleared out already and be on my way back to
New York."
    "Maybe she just wants you to relax. How are you
doing, Lisa? I mean, really doing? Are you happy?"
    Lee was surprised at the question. It wasn't the sort of
things people asked her. How could she not be happy? "I'm doing what I've
always wanted. I have my job, New York, my career..."
    "Are you still seeing that insurance fellow?"
Cheryl asked. "Bruce is it?"
    Lee nibbled at the frosting on her fork. "You
remember! He's asked me to marry him."
    "Lisa! How terrific!"
    "We haven't set a date yet, what with my mother’s
passing, and all."
    "Sure. It’ll be soon, I guess," Cheryl said.
    Lee paused and looked down at her plate. Somehow, half the
slice was gone. Resolutely, she put the fork down. "I haven’t had time to
think about arranging a wedding. It’s too much to handle right now."
    Cheryl’s brows crossed. "Are you sure about him,
Lisa?"
    How many times had Cheryl said similar words to her in the
past? Are you sure, Lisa? Lisa, though, was never sure of anything. She used to spent most of her time trying to do whatever Judith
wanted, trying to avoid arguments, and fights, and tears at home. She would
worry constantly about what she should or shouldn’t do, fretting over far too
much for a young girl.
    Lee, however, was the opposite. Lee was sure about
everything, chillingly sure. "Of course, Cheryl. I’d be a fool to let him get away. He’s very handsome. An
up-and-coming executive. I couldn't ask for more."
    Cheryl shrewdly studied her friend a moment. "Well,
that's sure as shootin ’ good to hear, Lisa. Be
practical. That's so like you. The blond, blue-eyed way you've describe Bruce,
I imagine him as looking like those smart, rich guys you used to moon over at
school. Of course, once they'd pay attention to you, you'd high-tail it right
back to Tony Santos. Funny,