While Franny and Douglas rested and talked about (and to) the dog Precious, Leo finished putting the chairs and tables away, restoring Marilyn’s backyard to its former peaceful state. He was carrying the last two folding chairs to his van to return to the rental place the next morning when he spied the young woman … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 47 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 46 Reboot
“She’s in bed,” Douglas said as he plopped down on the sofa. His face showed signs of fatigue, but his smile was gentle and relaxed. His silver hair and lanky body reminded Franny of an aging television star. The intelligent expression behind his eyes reminded her of her grandfather. “How are you, Douglas?” Franny asked, … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 46 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 45 Reboot
Allison walked with her iced coffee up the street three blocks, then zigged and zagged until she stood in front of it. The house she’d decided to buy. Dark green, with white trim, an old roof (that’ll probably need replacing), and a brick red door. An overgrown yard, mature trees, a patio out back that … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 45 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 44 Reboot
If Allison, Franny’s elfin neighbor, had been aware of the wedding celebration going on with so many of her acquaintances in attendance, she would not have felt left out or envious. Allison would have been pleased for the happy couple and relieved that she was not invited. Allison was not a wedding person. As if … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 44 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 43 Reboot
On an impulse, Kassandra rose from the lawn chair she’d been sitting on in Marilyn’s garden and made her way through the crowd. She intended to hug the bride and leave, unsettled by feelings of sadness and anticipated grief on what should be a happy occasion. But she had trouble locating the art professor and … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 43 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 42 Reboot
Kassandra had wanted to clear her attention for the wedding celebration, so she made her weekly call to her mother before she left her apartment. She waited until she could legitimately tell her mother she only had a few minutes to talk. “Hi, Mom, it’s me,” she said when her mother picked up. “Kassandra, darling. … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 42 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 41 Reboot
Franny might have been surprised to realize that one of those guests at Marilyn and Douglas’s wedding felt the undertone of anxiety and ill health clearly, without knowing why. Kassandra the barista stood in another corner of the garden, also moved to tears. Marilyn had invited Kassandra just a few days before the ceremony, when … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 41 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 40 Reboot
Not for the first or last time, Franny marveled at Marilyn’s wisdom. Sure enough, the little house expanded effortlessly to hold the crowd of people who arrived to celebrate. Franny stopped counting at about sixty people, because she couldn’t keep track of who’d she already counted. At first she tried counting by attire colors: “One … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 40 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 39 Reboot
The day of Marilyn and Douglas’s wedding dawned cool and overcast. None of the forecasts she checked indicated much chance of rain, but Franny worried anyway. She hustled over to Marilyn’s house early, filled with suggestions for dealing with the weather. Douglas met Franny at the door with a finger to his lips. “She’s sleeping, … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 39 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 38 Reboot
Three weeks flew by. Franny met Marilyn or Douglas, or both of them, nearly every day. Most meetings were over strong espresso at the coffee shop. As the date grew closer, they met at Marilyn’s home, where the wedding would take place in her back garden. Franny would pick up a hoe, rake, shovel, or … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 38 Reboot
Elizabeth Fountain, Author 