It wasn’t a good reason of course, since she’d long since replaced the charger before we even graduated.
But it technically belonged to her and even though she wasn’t even living in the state anymore, I figured it should be returned to her house.
But as I stood on the front porch and knocked on her door just after ten on a Saturday morning, I suddenly realized exactly how lame my reason for being there was. My stomach was filled with butterflies when Mrs. Foster answered the door.
“Gabriella!” she said with a wide smile, pushing open the screen door. “What brings you by?”
“I found this under our couch and decided that it made more sense for you to have it than me.” I said, holding up the charger.
“The infamous charger she was looking for.” She laughed. “I think she’s still convinced that I hid it from her.”
“Well now you can exonerate yourself.” I told her. “Or save it for an I-told-you-so down the line somewhere.”
“Always good to have one of those in the bank.” She laughed. “Come on in as long as you’re here. I haven’t seen you in forever.”
I followed her into the cool house, and she led me into the kitchen.
“Want some coffee?” she asked. “Or a bottle of water?”
“Water would be great.” I said. “I have to be at work later this afternoon.”
“Good.” She declared. “You’ll have time to stay and visit for a while?”
“I’d like that.” I said.
She handed me a bottle and gestured towards their back porch.
I’ve always liked their back porch. It was screened in and had a great view of the lake, and most of all it was quiet and peaceful and there were no nearby neighbors.
“How have you been?” I asked her. “I haven’t really seen you since Cindy left.”
I followed her out to the porch, and she sat in a wicker chair and I sat on the two-person glider, both of us facing out towards the lake.
“I’ve been keeping busy as best I can.” She said. “The house has been terribly quiet without the two of you around. It’s almost like you both left town.”
“I’m sorry about that.” I said. “I’ve thought about stopping by, but I didn’t want you to think I was being clingy or weird.”
“I’ve missed you.” She said. “You’re welcome here anytime. I mean it. Feel free to stop by to be weird. Or to cling.”
The word ‘cling’ hung in the air for a moment, and I had a feeling that something had happened that I hadn’t quite caught.
“I guess I’ll have to stop by more often then.” I said. “I’ve missed you too Mrs. Foster.”
“How is your father?” she asked softly. “And call me Izzy. We know things about each other that no one else knows. No need to be formal.”
“Okay…..Izzy.” I said. “My father is fine. He’s adjusting to being single. He’s working a lot of hours. He’s not handling life as well as you do.”
“I’m not an expert on handling life.” She smiled. “I just know things about people.”
“You do?” I asked.
“I do.” She said with a grin. “It comes with being a mother. And it also comes with being sort of tuned in to people’s, well, let’s say frequencies.”
“Frequencies?” I asked her.
It was getting gray outside, and we were sitting in a cool breeze as the sky began to clous up. We continued to speak to each other, while facing towards the lake.