Yellow Rose Bride by Lori Copeland

laughed. “When we married, her parents gave her the Steinway as a wedding gift. It was a beautiful instrument, one of a kind. Ivory keys, a fine finish, and a tone that couldn’t be matched. When she played, even the birds stopped their singing.”
    â€œWhy did you sell the piano?” Vonnie asked, though she knew the story well.
    â€œLike many families after the war, land lay without crops, homes were burned, there was no food. When I came home, there was no work.” Franz patted his wife’s hand lovingly. “So, we had to sell Audrey’s beautiful piano.”
    â€œJudge Henderson bought it,” Audrey said. “Paid a handsome price for it, too. Enough to keep us going until we could get a good garden in and put food aside. It was a few months before Franz could get work, so selling the piano was the only choice.”
    â€œAch,” Franz inserted. “The judge bought it for his daughter, but that Carolyn had no touch. She just pounded it—I’ve heard her!”
    Vonnie lifted her cup to mask a smile. Carolyn was quite atrocious at the keys. Tone-deaf, Teague said when he heard her. But Carolyn was possessive about that old piano. She wouldn’t hear of it being sold.
    â€œYes, no one could match my Audrey. When she played, it was like the angels touched the keys. That Miss Henderson, she flitted away from that piano andon to some new fancy, just like she does the boys,” Franz said.
    Audrey laughed at Franz’s irritation, and Vonnie joined her.
    â€œYoung people,” Audrey said, “are more fickle than when we were girls, aren’t they, Cammy?”
    Cammy looked up. “Pardon?”
    â€œI said the young aren’t like we used to be, are they?”
    â€œNo,” Cammy murmured. “I suppose not.”
    The afternoon passed by uneventfully. The talk turned to local gossip. For a while, Vonnie endured the conversation centered on the community’s newest engagement, that of Adam and Beth. After a while, she quietly excused herself and disappeared into the kitchen to make more tea.
    It was growing late when Vonnie finally stood up. “We should be going, Mother. It will be dark soon.”
    Nodding quietly, Cammy set aside her teacup.
    â€œSo soon?” Audrey protested. “Why it seems you barely got here.”
    Cammy smiled wanly. “I must confess that I tire easily these days.”
    â€œIt’s been so good to see you,” Audrey said, reaching out a hand to her old friend. “Come back soon.”
    â€œI will,” Cammy said, leaning to kiss a sunken cheek.
    Audrey caught her face and held it momentarily. Gazing up at Cammy, she said softly, “I pray for you every night. Teague is in a far better place, you know. It’s you who’s hurting.”
    Cammy’s newfound resolve momentarily crumpled. “Oh, Audrey…I don’t see how I can go on without him,” she whispered brokenly.
    â€œOf course you can.” Audrey squeezed her hand. “Teague would be ashamed of you if you didn’t try.”
    Audrey’s strength was depleted. Vonnie felt guilty for having stayed so long. Franz walked them out to the buggy.
    â€œI hope we didn’t tire Audrey too much.” Vonnie helped Cammy onto the seat, then arranged a warm blanket around her legs.
    â€œNot at all,” he returned. “It’s good for her to see old friends. You come back. Soon.”
    â€œWe will,” Vonnie promised. She turned, kissing Franz on the cheek. “The visit has been good for Mother, too.”
    The sadness in Franz’s eyes reminded Vonnie that Audrey’s days weren’t long, and he too was grieving.
    It was late as they turned down the lane to the Flying Feather. Much of the trip had been made in silence, Vonnie and Cammy involved in their own personal thoughts.
    â€œYou know, Momma, we’re lucky to have each other. We’re not alone. God is watching over