“Henrietta, do you have any idea what Penelope is like when she wants something?” Beverly asked while shaking her head. “Once that woman settles in here, she will never leave and your house will be a complete disaster within a week.”
“That is exactly why I have to act quickly,” I told her while leaning in closer. I explained my plan which was not something I had just thrown together but something I had been considering for several months now.
“Are you really going to go through with this?” Beverly asked while her eyes lit up with a mix of curiosity and excitement. I told her that I was seventy years old and I was not going to let anyone take away the peace I had worked so hard to earn.
My friend gave me a knowing smile that only exists between women who have finally learned to value themselves. She understood that at our age there is no more time to waste on people who do not value our sacrifices.
“What do you need me to do to help you?” she asked without a single moment of hesitation or judgment. That question reminded me why Beverly was my best friend because she did not ask me to consider Randall’s feelings or tell me I was overreacting.
