Chapter 19
Northern Minnesota
The breakfast clatter in the restaurant was pleasant to Alice’s ears. She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten out in a nice restaurant. This was just a diner as Helene said, but to Alice it was eating out. She had dressed in her best polyester pantsuit and had taken special care with her hair this morning. In fact, she had even borrowed some of Sarah’s makeup, and her daughter had shown her how to apply it.
“Mom, you could be pretty if you just took some time with yourself and—”
“And wasn’t so fat.” Alice had slapped her hands against her stomach in disgust.
“No, Mom,” Sarah had sighed. “I wasn’t gonna call you fat. I was gonna say go on a diet. Why don’t ya? Why don’t you take care of yourself?” Sarah had gazed at her mom in the mirror in the t
