Pissing it down in buckets most of the day, it'd taken her a moment to toe off wet shoes, set the latch and put her bag down, all while reminding cordless handset atop the counter that she was hurrying as fast as humanly possible. She reckoned it might be Robb phoning again as today was an extremely difficult day for both; mother and son clinging across the miles, connecting as best they could as often as they could during span of longest, darkest, most heart aching 72-hour period of their lives. Yearly ritual that had changed as time passed, tender ache of loss never really gone but morphing into something else entirely. When scar tissue faded enough that it was very nearly bearable.
They'd never forget, of course. Latin ne oublie now as much a part of the family as crest, credo and the thistle-covered, gently rolling hillocks of island home.
So it came as a pleasant surprise then, when she heard Jon's tentative, apologetic voice on the line. It brought a smile to Marjatta's face, her features still pixieish despite Father Time having made a visit or three these last few years. Grey hairs were coming at a faster pace than she would've liked; tiny wrinkles appearing where they hadn't been before. Most days she didn't mind, knowing full well it was better to embrace than fight the inevitable. But there were other times - like today - when she felt very melancholy and wondered if her husband would even recognize the woman she saw in mirror's reflection.
"Jonnie lad!" Cradling phone between ear and shoulder, she shrugged off soggy raincoat to hang on a peg. Dab hand by now at multitasking, on went kettle to hob then out came favorite cup, spoon and herbal blend especially for damp nights when the chill got deep in your bones.
"Not a bad time at all. You caught me coming in from my monthly book chat..."
Marjatta had walked instead of driven to the other side of the village, opting for soaking trod up the lane that gave her time alone with just her thoughts. Cathartic ritual caught between the raindrops no way in hell she'd get behind the wheel today.