“Why?”

“Because I thought a strong woman would have handled it alone.”

Patty put down the trowel.

“A strong woman knows when to call her neighbor.”

We looked at each other for a moment, then both laughed.

That evening Trevor called to say he and Elise had decided to get engaged.

He wanted to bring her to Maple Court for a small celebration after Thanksgiving.

“Dad will be invited to the wedding,” he said carefully.