River's Song - The Inn at Shining Waters Series by Melody Carlson Page A

after."
    "Except for Casablanca," Babette reminded her. "And Gone with the Wind."
    "That's true. Perhaps I should've paid closer attention to those films. Maybe I would've learned something useful."
    "You had your parents' marriage," Babette pointed out." They were happy."
    "Yes, they had a few squabbles, but for the most part they made it look fairly easy. Nothing like what I experienced in my life."
    "Just remember this, chérie." Babette stood. "Your life is not over."
    Anna gave her a weary smile. "It feels like it is."
    "It is only beginning, chérie. Trust Babette." Now she touched Anna's cheek. "But you do not want to look like it is over. You must take care!"And now she promised to bring by a special facial cream on her next visit. "Before it is too late for your pretty face."
    Anna walked her back down to the dock, untying her rope and handing it to her. "Thank you for coming by," she said." And remember what you said about how my letters were good medicine for my mother?"
    "Oh, yes." Babette put on her broad-brimmed straw river hat, tying the ribbons beneath her chin. "Very good medicine."
    Babette grinned. "There ees lots more where that comes from!" She leaned over and reached for the cord to the motor, pulling it out with surprising strength. Impressive for her age, which Anna guessed must be more than sixty now, although she wasn't sure. The engine roared to life and Babette waved." Adieu!"
    "That's what you were for me today. Good medicine. Thanks!"
    "Adieu!"Anna called back, watching as the small boat sliced a path through the glass-like surface of the river.
    Suddenly, Anna had an idea. She would take out the River Dove. Hopefully it would still be seaworthy, or at least riverworthy. Hopefully she would be as well.

6
    Anna felt slightly silly as she went to get her canoe. Not for wanting to take a boat ride. There was nothing silly about that. But she felt slightly silly because she'd taken her long hair out of its customary "old lady bun"As Lauren liked to call it, and divided it into two long braids. This was something she would never dare do back in Pine Ridge. Between Eunice and Lauren, the teasing would be unbearable. However, here on the river, it felt perfect. And because she'd brought no casual clothes, she went through her parents' closet to discover some of her dad's old work clothes. Finding a pair of corduroy pants and a tan work shirt, she outfitted herself for a nice little row on the river. And if she fell in, which she hoped would not happen, she would not be the worse for wear. However, she knew that if someone like Eunice or Lauren spotted her looking like this, they would probably laugh.
    "Well, let them laugh," she said with determined resolve as she tugged the canoe out from where it had been stored back behind Grandma Pearl's old cabin. She'd brought rags to wipe out the canoe with and, naturally, it was full of spiderwebs and such. But before long, it looked as good as new—or as good as when it had been given to her. The oar was in good shape too. Obviously, someone had made this canoe to last.
    She slipped the small vessel into the water next to the dock, then carefully—very carefully—she stepped one foot into the center of the boat and, holding both sides with both hands, she slipped the other in as well. The canoe tipped back and forth a bit but she resisted the urge to leap out; instead she took in a slow, deep breath and, still holding to the sides, she held her torso erect and slowly squatted to a sitting position. She released the breath and smiled at her accomplishment. Now, picking up the oar, she used it to give herself a gentle shove from the dock, which rocked the canoe even more, but once again she took in a deep breath and resisted the urge to overcorrect. Instead, she waited, slowly releasing her breath, and just like that the canoe stopped rocking. Holding itself evenly in the water, the canoe now glided out onto the river, almost as if it knew exactly what it was