Hilary went into her room and threw herself on the bed dressed, falling asleep instantly. She was too tired to change.
She got up early the next morning and was surprised that she had gone to bed dressed, but then she remembered. She had thought back to her friend Tanya's words that night, and she had to do something, but she also wanted to get advice from a person who had unfortunately been gone for two years now. He could with his words always put in order the chaos in her head, so Hilary decided to go to the cemetery.

He got up, went to the closet and pulled out a pair of black leggings and a red and white turtleneck maxi sweater, then went to the bathroom to take a shower. She was in a sorry state; she couldn't go on like this. Showered, she slipped on her robe and then her underwear, went back to her room and dressed in the clothes she had placed over the bed, wearing her ever-present snow boots.

She went down to the kitchen, and this time she did not find her mother there and looked up at the clock hanging on the wall and saw that it was very present, much more than the time her mother would have gotten up. She decided to make breakfast for both of them. She took the cup and poured herself some coffee, sitting down at the table to sip it, but she could not eat anything. She had made pancakes and scrambled eggs, but her stomach was clenched from the cemetery visit she would be making shortly.
Having finished breakfast, she went up to her mother's room and laid her hand on her arm to wake her up.
"Mom I'm going out, I'm busy. I'll see you at the bookstore later." Hilary said kissing her on the forehead.

Her mother, who was still asleep, just nodded her head nodding, and then went back to sleep. Hilary left the room, went down the stairs, and put on her snow comforter with scarf and gloves, and left the house. She got into her car and drove to the cemetery. Her heart was pounding in her throat; she had to calm down or risk a massive heart attack.
She stopped the car in front of the cemetery. Before getting out of the black sedan she took a big breath to calm herself. He got out of the car and bought a bouquet of lilies, his father's favorite flowers, at the kiosk near the cemetery and went inside. It took her a while to find her father's grave since how big and vast the cemetery was, she did not even remember very well where it was. She had only gone there twice to visit him, and in order not to suffer any more each time she went there she stopped going. Finally after looking for a while, she found it, and her heart clenched. She missed him terribly, especially at that time.
Her father had always been her hero; he could instill confidence in her with his advice. She put the flowers she had bought earlier in the vase, and knelt in front of the picture. She took a handkerchief and wiped the dust off it.
"Ooohh, Dad... I miss you so much, and your advice too. I'm sorry I haven't come to see you anymore, it's just that I was too sore here." pointing to her heart with her hand.
Hilary heaved a sigh and was silent for a while. Then she resumed speaking.
"You know Dad, I'm here today because I need one of your advice, and I don't know what to do. You know I went to live in California, wrote and published my first novel there, and now they want another one. Being back in Laurel to help Mom in the bookstore and everything, I can't write from too many distractions. Then my manager Angie also got involved, pressuring me about the first chapter. and I'm freaking out. Plus, everyone is telling me to go to Wako at Grandma's house. Even Tanya--remember my friend from high school?--she told me 'If you really can't write here because of distractions, go to Wako!' After those words of hers, I thought about it a lot, but I would really like your advice. And I can't leave Mother either, she needs me so much. What should I do dad? Give me a sign..." Said Hilary kissing the picture of her father on the tombstone and caressing it.

She got up, said goodbye to her father, and went back to the car. It had done her good to vent to her father,even if it was only a picture placed on a tombstone.
She went back to the bookstore, parked the car and got out. She walked toward the bookstore and tried to open the door, not understanding why it was closed. By that time his mother must have been there. She took the keys inside her purse and opened the door, finding everything off.
"MOM, MOM." She called out loudly to Hilary, receiving no answer.
She rummaged through the pockets of her comforter and grabbed her cell phone, calling her mother to find out what happened to her.
"Mom but what happened to you? Are you all right? I got worried when I got to the library I saw the door closed, and I called you without getting an answer." Said Hilary worriedly.
"Hilary sorry, but why are you worried?" replied her mother turning her head to the nightstand, seeing from the alarm clock placed on it that it was very late, she jumped.
When Hilary had left early that morning, she had fallen back asleep like a stone.

"I'm coming, I'm coming Hilary. I didn't think it was so late. I fell asleep again. Give me ten minutes and I'll be there in the library." Mother replied, hurriedly getting out of bed.
Shifting her comforter abruptly to the side, the woman dashed into the bathroom, taking a quick shower, and ran to the bookstore at the risk of breaking her neck, arriving all transfixed and with a breathlessness worthy of a marathon runner.
"Mother catch your breath, or you'll have a heart attack," Hilary said, handing her a glass of water.
The mother drank it panting, sat down on a chair to rest. Tanya entered the library.
"Hilary, do you want to go for a walk? Let's pick up Michael from the workshop too, it will be good for you. Besides, the two of us have unfinished business." Said Tanya.
"Yes of course, I've recovered. vVi don't worry, I'll take care of it here." Her mother replied to reassure her.
Hilary slipped on her coat and walked out of the library with Tanya.
"What happened to your mother? I saw her tried." Said Tanya.
"Nothing Tanya, it's just that early this morning I woke Mom up to tell her I was going out, then she fell asleep again and was late for the bookstore. When she noticed, she went for a run, and she was a little tired. That's all." Hilary replied.
Meanwhile they had arrived at Michael's workshop.
"Michael where are you?" shouted Tanya as she came in to be heard.
"Come on Tanya, I'm down here at the back." Michael replied.
Tanya and Hilary walked in the direction the voice came from. Hilary remembered Michael from high school, and as soon as she saw him she noticed that he had not changed one iota.
Michael was a tall, thin, longish boy with short ash-blond hair and a smile always on his lips that was very kind.
"Hello Tanya." Michael said, kissing her on the lips.
Then he resumed, "Hello to you, too, Hilary. You haven't changed that much since high school. How is life going for you? My condolences for your father, even though it was two years ago. Everyone here in Laurel loved him, and he was the kindest person I ever knew. If you needed a word of comfort or advice, he was always there." Said Michael.
"Thank you Michael for your condolences, and for the nice words you said about my father. You know, I miss him very much, and there is not a day that I don't think of him." Hilary replied.
"Hey, you two. Do we want to go for a walk, or do we want to stay here all day by any chance?" asked Tanya.
Laughing, Michael and Hilary walked out of the workshop, followed by Tanya. The air had become more brisk, and that mid-morning they took a walk around the square. Hilary saw the municipal employees who were putting lights on the various street lamps, and also around the gazebo that was in the middle of the square. She was enchanted to see them, enraptured. For her, that ritual was as if she was seeing it for the first time, from how fascinated she was each time. Noticing this, Tanya took her under her arm.

"Hilary come on. You have to tell me what you then did about the talk we had yesterday." Said Tanya as she resumed walking.
"As I told you yesterday, I went to the cemetery to my father for advice, and now I'm waiting for a sign. As I told you, I am quite confused." Hilary replied.
Tanya returned next to Michael and took him by the hand, continuing the walk. At lunchtime, Hilary suggested going to Sally's refreshment house to eat, and also to warm up a bit. She could no longer feel her bones from the cold.
Tanya and Michael in unison:
"Yes of course great idea Hilary." They replied.
And all three walked toward Sally's refreshment stand, and upon entering, Hilary saw her mother at one of the tables.
"You guys grab a table in the meantime, I'm going to my mother's." Hilary said.
She walked over to her mother.
"Mom hi how are you doing? Have you recovered?" asked Hilary giving her a kiss in her hair.
"Yes honey, it's better now. But rather what are you doing here?" asked her mother.
"I came to eat with Tanya and Michael. Why don't you join us?" Hilary asked.
"Sure, sure I'm not disturbing." Replied the mother.
"No mom don't worry. We are happy if you join us for lunch." Hilary replied.
Mother got up from the table, and with Hilary headed to Michael and Tanya's table. As soon as they took their seats, Sally arrived to take their orders, laying leaflets on the boys' table.
"Hi guys, I'm leaving you the flyers for the party to be held Saturday night here at the food court. I hope you will attend." Said Sally cheerfully.
"Sure Sally, you can count on us to participate." Said the three happy boys in unison.
Sally returned to the kitchen to deliver their orders, and shortly repotted what they requested. They ate in silence for a while.
"Mrs. Word, it's good to see you again. How are you doing? Everything okay with the bookstore? As I told Hilary, I offer my condolences for your husband, though late. He was a good and kind person, esteemed by everyone here in Laurel." Said Michael.
"Thank you Michael, you are always so kind. Yes everything is fine, and the bookstore is pretty good too." Hilary's mother replied, holding back tears at Michael's kind words about Robert, her husband.
They finished lunch, and Hilary and her mother said goodbye to Tanya and Michael, returning to the bookstore.
"Mom, I had an idea about how to turn the bookstore's fortunes around. You could organize the book club, and also once a week you could read fairy tales to a group of children, maybe with a Christmas theme. And you could also ask the children if they could make Christmas decorations for the bookstore." Said Hilary very cheerfully.
"Hilary honey, you've had some wonderful ideas. and I'm certainly going to put them into practice. I will start getting busy from tomorrow morning." Replied the very pleased mother.
That day also came to an end, they closed the bookstore and got into the car.
"Hilary, we should stop by Mary and Luke's market to do some shopping. Do you remember where it is?" the mother asked Hilary.
"Of course mom I remember. I can't wait to see those two nice old men again! I remember as a child, whenever we went shopping there, Mrs. Mary always gave me candy." Hilary replied.
They arrived at the market, parked and went inside, took a basket and did their shopping. Finished, they headed to the cashier to pay. Mrs. Mary, when she saw Hilary, ran to hug her, since she regarded her as a daughter, and it had been too long since she had seen her.
"Hilary, it's really you how long has it been how are you? Are you all right? Said Mrs. Mary crying she could not believe her eyes that Hilary was there.
"Mrs. Mary, how long has it been! Yes I am fine, everything is fine, and you look younger and younger to me you know." Said Hilary.

Mrs. Mary broke away from the embrace, and wiped her tears with her huge white apron all lined and dirty.
Marilyn, Hilary's mother, paid for the groceries and they returned to the car, heading home. They parked in front of the garage, and Hilary went into the house while her mother fetched wood under the porch. Hilary headed to the kitchen, laid the groceries on the large island, took off her coat and began to put them away, while her mother lit the fireplace in the living room. Hilary prepared dinner, which consisted of grilled salmon and boiled potatoes, while she set the table.
Meanwhile, her mother had finished lighting the fireplace and sat down on the sofa.