The truck turned into the driveway a few minutes before nine.
The empty trailer bounced behind it.
I recognized Hugh's vehicle immediately.
He parked close to the porch.
Marlee opened her door before the engine had completely stopped.
She stepped out holding a plastic sleeve.
There was a sheet of paper inside.
I could see the printed words through the plastic.
She looked cheerful.
Almost excited.
Hugh climbed out more slowly.
He shut his door and glanced toward the house.
Then he looked at me.
"Morning, Mama."
"Good morning, sweetheart."
Marlee came up the walkway.
"Are you ready?"
I looked at the trailer.
Then I looked at her.
"Good morning, Marlee."
She held up the plastic sleeve.
"I brought everything we talked about."
I didn't remember talking about everything she had written down.
But I didn't correct her.
She continued.
"I made a little list so nobody gets confused."
She handed me the paper.
I didn't take it immediately.
Instead, I looked at Hugh.
He was standing near the truck with his hands in his pockets.
He looked uncomfortable.
That was the first thing I noticed.
The second was that he hadn't asked how I was doing.
Not once.
Marlee waited.
I finally accepted the sleeve.
The page was neatly printed.
There were several short instructions.
I didn't read every line.
I saw references to quiet hours.
I saw instructions about the garage space.
I saw rules about cooking.
It was a list for someone who was about to move into a place where they would be expected to follow somebody else's routine.
I looked up.
"Did you make this yourself?"
Marlee smiled.
"Yes. I thought it would help."
I nodded.
"That's thoughtful."
She seemed pleased with the answer.
Hugh walked toward the porch.
"Where do you want us to start?"
I looked at him.
"Start?"
"With the boxes. We brought the trailer, so we can get the big things first."
He said it as if the decision had already been settled.
I glanced toward the street.
Mr. Crenshaw's flatbed was still parked around the corner.
I couldn't see him from where I sat.
I was glad.
I didn't want Hugh and Marlee arguing with him before I had explained anything.
Marlee looked toward the front door.
"Have you packed everything?"
"Most of it."
"Good. We should get going before it gets too hot."
She stepped past me toward the door.
I stood up.
"Marlee."
She turned.
"Yes, Mama?"
"Could you come sit for a minute?"
She looked at the chair.
Then at the paper in her hand.
"Is something wrong?"
"No. I'd just like us to talk first."
Hugh came closer.
He seemed relieved that I had asked.
Perhaps he thought I wanted to discuss where the boxes should go.
Marlee sat on the chair opposite mine.
Hugh remained standing.
I held the plastic sleeve in one hand.
The pink notebook was in my other.
I hadn't planned to take it out so quickly.
But seeing her printed rules made me think of the pages I had found beneath my passenger seat.
One list.
Then another.
Both written by the same person.
I placed the printed sheet on my lap.
"Before we talk about moving things, I want to ask you something."
Marlee folded her hands.
"Of course."
I looked at her.
"Why did you feel you needed to write all these rules?"
She smiled.
"Because living together takes organization."
I nodded.
"That's true."
"And with the children, we need everybody to understand what is expected."
I looked at Hugh.
He was staring at the porch floor.
I asked him a question.
"Do you think I'll be able to manage everything you want me to do?"
He looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"The rent. The children. The house rules."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Mama, we talked about all that."
I shook my head.
"You talked about it. I listened."
Marlee shifted in her chair.
"We're just trying to make this work."
I believed that she wanted something to work.
I wasn't sure it was the same thing I wanted.
I looked down at the paper.
The printed instructions were clean and organized.
They made the arrangement seem simple.
But there was nothing simple about giving up my independence.
I placed the paper beside my coffee.
Then I reached into my apron pocket.
The little pink notebook came out.
Marlee's eyes followed it.
At first, she didn't seem to recognize it.
I held it between my hands.
"I found something in my car this week."
Her expression changed.
Not much.
Just enough.
I watched her look at the cover.
Pink flowers.
A small spiral binding.
The same notebook I had found beneath the passenger seat.
I placed it on the table between us.
"Do you recognize this?"
Marlee didn't answer.
Hugh looked from her to me.
"What is that?"
I kept my voice quiet.
"It's something I found after Marlee borrowed my car."
Marlee stared at the notebook.
Her hands were no longer folded.
She placed them on her knees.
I didn't open it yet.
I wanted her to see it first.
I wanted her to understand that I knew whose handwriting was inside.
And I wanted Hugh to understand that this wasn't simply about a room above a garage.
Click here to continue reading: PART 7: The Pink Notebook Sat Between Us, and the Woman Who Had Written It Suddenly Had Nothing to Say
My Son Offered Me a Place to Live, but the Price He Put on My Independence Was Something I Never Expected
Part 6 of 20
