In October, Morgan invited Evelyn to the cottage.
The older woman arrived wearing her green beret, carrying a small paper bag of lemon cookies. She stood on the screened porch looking toward the orchard, then turned to Morgan with tears in her eyes.
“I wasn’t sure you’d want to see me,” she said.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because I frightened you. I gave you a warning without an explanation.”
Morgan led her to the porch swing. “You gave me a reason to pay attention.”
They drank tea while the wind moved through the apple trees. Evelyn told Morgan about the years she had spent repairing watch clasps and replacing broken chains. She said she had seen plenty of dishonest customers, but the pendant request had felt different from the beginning.
“I almost stayed quiet on that bus,” Evelyn admitted. “I thought you might think I was a foolish old woman.”
“I did think you were strange,” Morgan said, and both women laughed.
