Green Door Antique Store
Part II Continues For Another Day!
Click here for a review post that lists all the Part I Chapters.
Want to get back in the mood for reading? Listen to Green Door, What’s That Secret You’re Keeping? again!
Green Door Antique Store: Part II—The Booths
Chapter Sixteen: A Kitchen Conversation
Thyme finished cleaning up from lunch, poured herself a glass of iced tea, and settled into the comfy chair she kept in the kitchen for the rare times when she could lean back and put her feet up for a few moments. Before she knew it she had drifted off to sleep.
“Thyme, sorry to wake you.” It was Evelynn.
Coming awake with a start, Thyme quickly sat up and tried to orient herself.
“No problem, just taking a short power nap. What can I help you with Evelynn?”
“I came looking for you because I wanted to apologize for my rude behavior last night. I thought I might find you by yourself. There are always so many other women around. I also wanted to tell you the photo book was helpful. That was kind of you to help me.”
“Evelynn, you are welcome, and I understand how disorienting this whole thing is. You are not the first, nor will you be the last to have a moment. I don’t ever take it personally, so no worries. Pull up a chair and let’s talk a minute.”
Evelynn grabbed a chair from a nearby worktable and sat down across from Thyme. “Can you tell me what my daughter said to you? We haven’t spoken in five years. It was ugly between us. She had her struggles and did things I didn’t agree with. I basically told her to change or leave—and she left. I believed I was doing the right thing, but I could have never imagined that I would never see her again. She would let me know she was OK through other people, but we never spoke again.”
Thyme was listening intently. “I can’t tell you what she said to me, but I can say that I would not have invited you here for this week if I didn’t believe she was interested in resolving this. The question I didn’t have an answer for is if you would be willing or interested in resolving this. I decided If you accepted her suggestion to come then that would be a positive sign.”
“I didn’t realize how hopeful I was that she would be here when I arrived. When she wasn’t, it just felt like another punch in the gut. Then I took it out on everyone else. Lynda and I were talking about our Irish heritage. I want to blame my over-the-top reactions on that because I have never been able to control them. It has caused a lot of damage—especially with my daughter. I am starting to understand that it probably has to do with things that happened to me when I was young. Maybe this week will help me. Yes, I have secrets I am keeping.”
Thyme leaned forward and said, “You are not the only one. I hope that working on your booth will help you find compassion for that younger you who learned to be so protective. Your anger is how you protected yourself.”
“That makes sense—I always feel like people are attacking me. I am realizing that isn’t true. Thank you for listening. Speaking of my booth, I had better get busy!”
Thyme smiled in response and said, “I am getting ready to take a tour of the booths. I will be eager to see what you have done.”
Evelynn set the chair back at the work table and grabbed a snack on the way through the Café. She was beginning to feel like maybe the week she was dreading was actually the answer she had been hoping for.
Helpful Information:
