500. Looking back and seeing how far you've come

 "Are you sure about this?" Carol wasn't sure if Millie could handle managing the coffee shop, but she'd be waiting in the wings if Millie needed her. After all, Carol was filling in for Tyra at the bakery. At least, she could sit there as a cashier, not like so many jobs she'd had in the past. Especially, those Lunch Lady days, which she knew her daughters thought were dreadful, but the job from the high school had helped her retire.

"Oh, Mom!" Millie's voice was like thunder. Carol grimaced, thinking her sweet little angel was becoming more and more like her older sister, a real ogre.

Carol clicked off the phone and went back to her coffee in her own kitchen with Tammy.

"I used to think Tyra hated me for giving birth to her. I couldn't do anything right," she shook her head, no. "And look at her go now." 

She smiled at Tammy. "I can't believe she got on at that insurance place."

"Well, they'll train her," Tammy assured her.

"I hope so." Carol was still in shock that Tyra was at Naoki's. Tyra would be working in the same building where Naoki worked, but in separate places.

"That's what Naoki told me." Tammy went back to her coffee.

"Well, the hubby is back for good," Carol sighed. She knew she was thrilled, but the honeymoon days were over.

"I'm beginning to think you didn't miss him after all," Tammy chuckled.

"You know how it is when you reach a certain age," Carol gritted a smile, hoping she hadn't put her foot in her mouth about the circumstances. "I'm just set in my ways, I guess."

"You know, you like that he's here." Tammy was being sweet about the matter.

"Until, he starts snoring like an elephant," Carol confessed she was already sleeping in Tyra's room. "I mean, we start out together, but then I just gotta get up and find a place I can sleep in peace." Carol knew sleeping in separate bedrooms would save their marriage.

Tammy told her she needed her sleep. After all, Carol was up by four in the morning to get to work by five for Tyra's shift.

"I doubt they ever fill it, with you around."

"Well, it's nice to have a little money of my own." Carol shrugged. It was good to keep busy even if everyone kept telling her she needed a knee replacement.