I nodded.
"The board meeting."
She smiled.
"I was so frightened of Patricia."
I looked toward her.
"You didn't seem frightened when you told me to keep my records."
She laughed.
"Oh, I was terrified."
I smiled.
She continued.
"I thought if I asked one more question, she'd find some way to make me regret it."
I nodded slowly.
Eleanor looked toward the pool.
"And then you stood there asking questions as though it was the most natural thing in the world."
I considered that.
"To me, it was."
She smiled.
"I know."
For several seconds, we watched the children.
Then she said softly, "You helped me remember that I was allowed to disagree."
I felt my throat tighten.
"Eleanorβ"
She shook her head.
"No. Let me say it."
I turned.
Her eyes were wet.
"I spent years believing that after my husband died, I wasn't strong enough to deal with people who pushed back."
She smiled through tears.
"Then I met you."
I looked down.
For a moment, I didn't know what to say.
She continued.
"And now look at me. I'm serving on the board, arguing over budgets, and telling people twice my size to read their own documents."
I laughed.
She laughed too.
Then I said quietly, "You did that, Eleanor."
She shook her head.
"You helped."
I nodded.
"Maybe."
She smiled.
Then touched my arm.
"Thank you."
I looked toward the pool.
For a moment, I felt the emotion rise.
Then I smiled.
"You're welcome."
As the sun began setting, my father joined us.
He carried a glass of iced tea.
He looked around the backyard.
"Nice party."
I nodded.
"Thanks."
He studied the guests.
Then glanced toward the fence.
For a moment, I knew exactly what he was thinking.
The pink outfit.
The fertilizer bag.
The shouting.
The deputies entering through the side gate.
He looked toward me.
"Hard to believe what happened here."
I smiled faintly.
"Yeah."