by Laurel Veil
“I haven’t had this much fun in a while,” Miss Betty said with a giggle. She blotted at her eye with a napkin.
“I think if you had a lemonade stand on the beach, you would be a millionaire.” Toni said as she went to refill her glass.
“Well, thank you.”
“Where do you buy your lemons, anyway? Maybe I’ll try to make some myself on days when I can’t come here,” I said.
“Oh, I don’t buy them. I grow them.”
“You do?” asked Toni.
She nodded.
“That’s awesome!” I said.
“I have some trees behind the garage.”
“I’d like to see them,” I said.
Miss Betty nodded. “I’ll show y’all some time.”
We continued to talk until the pitcher of lemonade was gone. We were having such a good time, I was afraid to ask about the orphanage. I didn’t want to stir up bad memories.
I was grateful that Toni hadn’t mentioned it either. It was funny—before, I’d been afraid to ask her about whether or not she’d lived in the orphanage, but now I wasn’t afraid at all. I felt very comfortable around her. I just didn’t want to accidentally make her sad—this was the happiest I’d seen her.
“I just thought of something you two can help me with.”
I was surprised to realize I wasn’t dreading what she was about to say, but actually eager to hear what she wanted. I wanted to help her. “What is it?” I asked.
“Yeah, whatcha need?” asked Toni.
“Well, since you can drive,” she said, looking at me, “do you think you could pick up a few things at the grocery store for me?”
“Sure,” I said.
“Hey, Miss Betty,” Toni asked. “I was just wondering, how do you usually get your groceries?”
“Volunteers from the church stop by a couple times a month and bring me what I need.”
“When’s the last time you’ve been to town?” I asked.
Miss Betty looked up as she searched her memory. “It’s been a while.”
“Would you like to come with us?” I asked.
“Yeah, that way you can have a look around and get what you want,” said Toni.
I could tell she liked the idea.
“Well…” she said, absentmindedly adjusting her hair. “Okay, let’s do it!”
She looked giddy with delight as she ran around her house gathering her handbag and her nice shoes (as she referred to them). “Oh dear, I need to put away our dishes.”
“We’ll clear the table.” Toni stood to collect our glasses.
“Yeah, we’ve got this. You go and get ready,” I said.
Clearing off the table made me think of Dane. I had been so preoccupied, he hadn’t even crossed my mind. I wondered how last night had gone and what he was doing right now. Is he clearing off tables at Fins? Or is he still with Jade?
“Hello? Wash or dry?” Toni stood at the sink, waiting for my response.
“Sorry.”
“That’s OK. I know you have a lot on your mind. Come on, I’ll wash.”
By the time we finished, Miss Betty was ready to go.
Her face lit up when we stepped outside and approached my Jeep.
“I’ve never ridden in one of these before.” I could hear the excitement in her voice.
“Well, now’s your chance.” Toni pulled the passenger door open for her. “Do you need help getting in?”
“It’s not too high. I think I can manage.”
Toni stepped to the side and the two of us helped ease her in, then made sure she fastened her seatbelt. She was so thin and active, it wasn’t a big deal at all.
Toni climbed into the back and we headed to the store. I made sure to watch my speed and took my turns nice and slowly. We listened to a radio station that played old-time country songs, and Miss Betty sang along now and then.
Luckily, I found a spot near the front, even though the parking lot was crowded.
A gust of chilly air greeted us when the doors slid open. Toni grabbed a cart and we headed for the produce. Missy Betty gathered the fruit and vegetables she wanted, and then we made our way up and down the other aisles.
***
Toni flipped through a magazine while the groceries were being scanned.
When the cashier told Miss Betty the total cost, she took her coin purse from her handbag, pulled out a few bills—not nearly enough—and handed it to the young girl. The girl looked at it, and then up at me with a slight grin on her face. It took me a moment to realize Miss Betty didn’t have a clue about math or money. I didn’t know if she had always been this way, or if her memory had started to fade. As soon as I realized what was happening, I immediately tried to find enough money to cover the cost. I didn’t want her to feel embarrassed, but I was beginning to feel a little stressed out myself.
“Toni,” I whispered, “do you have any money?”
Her eyes went wide and she shoved the magazine back on its rack. “Sure.”
Between the two of us, we had enough tip money to cover the bill.
***
Miss Betty eyed the boardwalk as we drove past. The lights were just starting to come on. “I bet it’s beautiful at night.”
“It is,” Toni said. “It’s bright and loud and lots of fun.”
“We can take you one night, if you like,” I said.
She didn’t hesitate. “Oh, yes. That would be just fine.”
“Yeah,” said Toni. “We’ll have a girls’ night out and go to dinner and everything.”
Miss Betty laughed. “A girls’ night out, huh? I haven’t been called a girl in a mighty long time.”
We carried in the groceries and put everything away. “Well, I guess we’ll get going now,” I said when we finished.
I thought I saw a hint of sadness touch her eyes.
“Would you like us to stop by tomorrow?” I asked.
She blinked and the sadness turned to joy. “Oh, yes. I picked up everything I need for dewberry pie. Except the dewberries—I’ll get those from out back.”
Toni clapped her hands together. “Oh goody. We’ll see you tomorrow for pie!”
Toni and I hopped in the Jeep and headed home.
“Well, that was fun,” Toni said.
“Yeah, it really was. I like her.”
“Me too,” Toni said. “She’s pretty cool.”
“I didn’t ask her about the photo, because if that was her—”
“You didn’t want to risk upsetting her.”
“Exactly,” I said.
“I figured. That’s why I didn’t mention it either. But who knows, maybe she liked living there.”
“Maybe.”
Toni reached for her phone. “It’s Jimmy! He wants to take me out. You wanna come along?”
“No, that’s OK. You two go and have a good time.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
15.
Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow
I was glad when Toni left so I could have the place to myself for a little while—that was, until I heard the first noise I couldn’t identify. And then, I heard it again and again. I wasn’t sure if it was supernatural or just the wind, but I decided I wanted to leave.
I tried to make myself look cute in as little time as possible, then ran downstairs to the security of my Jeep. I felt much safer in its small surroundings. I rolled down the windows and let the wind whip my hair around and my mind drift to thoughts of Dane. I can’t believe he hasn’t called me yet.
My hopes soared when my phone suddenly rang. It wasn’t Dane though; it was Toni.
“Hey,” I said. “What’s up?”
“You—have—got—to come to the boardwalk now!”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“Only the best party ever! There’s live music, food, and dancing.”
“OK, OK. You don’t have to convince me. I’m actually almost there.”
Toni screamed with delight and gave me
the specifics on where to meet.
A few minutes later I was circling a lot, looking for a spot to park. My stomach did a backflip when I thought I recognized Dane’s truck. Toni would’ve told me if he were here. Maybe she’s trying to surprise me? I panicked when it occurred to me that he could be here with Jade.
***
Toni waved when she saw me. Jimmy was beside her, but Dane was nowhere to be found.
Toni greeted me with a hug, like she hadn’t seen me in days, then pulled me along onto the outdoor dancefloor. The band was playing something I’d never heard before, but it had a good rhythm and everyone was having a blast.
A slow song played next and Jimmy pulled Toni into his arms. Before I even had a chance to feel sorry for myself and slink off the dancefloor, a cute stranger held out his hand for me to take.
He was older than me, which made me a little nervous, but he was too cute to refuse—and besides, what else was I going to do?
We were having a great time making small talk when I noticed Dane. My heart skipped and I realized he was staring at me. I wondered if he was jealous that I was dancing and having a good time with someone else.
When the song finally ended, I began to make my way to where I’d last seen him. I stopped, thankful to be hidden in the crowd, when I saw him and Jade in the middle of a conversation.
I turned and headed the other way as quickly as I could. A moment later, I heard my name and hoped it was Dane. Before I could even turn around, I felt a tug at my arm.
“Hey,” I said, trying to conceal my disappointment when I saw it was Nick and not Dane.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?” he asked.
“Oh—I was just going to get a drink.” I glanced behind him and saw that Dane was still with Jade, but he was watching us now.
“I’ll go with you,” he said.
“OK.” I didn’t want to be alone.
I watched Nick as we walked. His face was so animated whenever he spoke. He was a great guy, and I wished I liked him more than Dane. Things would be so much easier.
“Over here,” called Toni.
Jimmy handed me and Nick bottled waters when we sat with them at the picnic table.
Nick and Jimmy started talking about something and Toni took the opportunity to lean over and quietly say, “I saw Dane.” I felt butterflies at the sound of his name. “Did you get to talk to him yet?”
I shook my head. “He was with Jade again, so I left. I guess things went well for them last night. I just don’t get it. He’s such a nice guy and she’s a witch.”
“No kidding. What does he see in her?”
“She must have something on him.”
“Whatta ya mean?” she asked.
“I just don’t think he really likes her that much. It’s more like he tolerates her. Besides, I catch him looking at me sometimes, and—”
“You don’t have to explain. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
I felt my hopes rise. “Seriously? Do you really mean that?” When she didn’t answer right away, I immediately began to doubt her sincerity. I could feel myself becoming like the insecure girls from school I despised. “Were you telling me the truth?” I asked.
“About what?”
I flinched at Jade’s unexpected question. No wonder Toni went quiet.
“Do tell. What do you think she was lying to you about?” Jade ask me, her brows raised. I felt as if Toni and I had just been caught passing a note in class and she was our teacher—demanding to know what was in it.
“Toni and I are best friends. We don’t lie to each other.”
Jade gave Toni a look. I got the feeling there was meaning behind it, but then I shrugged it off. I was quickly moving past insecure into paranoid. Great.
I looked behind Jade for Dane.
“He’s not here,” she said.
“What? Who are you talking about?”
She rolled her eyes so hard I thought I heard them scrape her sockets. She was right, though. It was obvious I liked Dane and that I’d been looking for him. Jade was a lot of things, but stupid wasn’t one of them.
“He’s getting us drinks,” she said smugly.
As soon as the words came out of her mouth, Dane stepped up and handed her a Coke. He gave me a tiny smile from behind her back, where she couldn’t see. I looked away without responding. I wanted nothing more than to vanish into thin air at that moment, so when Nick asked me to go on some rides with him, I jumped at the opportunity.
***
I felt like a kid again, I was having so much fun. And Dane actually slipped from my thoughts a few times.
“Let’s go do the Ferris wheel again,” said Nick.
“Again? We haven’t ridden it yet.”
“I’m hurt,” he chuckled. “We rode it the night we first met.”
“I remember.”
The Ferris wheel was even more fun this time, now that I knew Nick better. We were having a great time, laughing and talking, when he suddenly got quiet and looked into my eyes. No! He was going to try and kiss me. He was a great guy, and I wanted to like him, but I just didn’t. Please don’t make things weird.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I couldn’t find the words. My brain was buzzing with thoughts, and I didn’t want to hurt him.
“You can tell me, please.”
I took a deep breath and decided to get it out on the table. “I like you, Nick. But—”
“But you like Dane more?” He smiled. “You are so busted.”
“Whatta ya mean? No I don’t.” I didn’t want him knowing I liked someone who evidently didn’t like me as much. It was humiliating.
“You’re blushing. Guilty as charged.”
I started to retaliate, and then simply exhaled.
“I’m happy to be friends,” he said. “For now.” And then he laughed.
Just as I was beginning to feel relief, my heart began to race when he leaned over and nuzzled my ear.
“Uh, what are you doing?”
“You, a favor.”
Oh my gosh! I tensed, shocked that he could be so cocky.
“Would you relax?” he whispered in my ear. “He’s watching us.” My stomach did a backflip. “Smile and pretend I’m telling you how beautiful you look tonight.”
I did smile, and it wasn’t fake.
He put his mouth closer to my ear. “Does this feel good?” he asked. I could hear his grin.
“It tickles,” I whispered.
“Same thing,” he said. And then he pressed his lips to my cheek and kissed me.
The Ferris wheel jolted back to life and I looked down in time to see Dane look away. He had been watching us.
When the attendant lifted the bar, Nick offered me his hand and helped me out.
“By the way,” he said, “I wasn’t pretending.”
“What do you mean?”
“I meant what I said. You really do look beautiful tonight.”
“There you guys are!” Toni said as she and Jimmy walked up.
The four of us went to play some games, Toni and I talking while Jimmy and Nick competed.
Nick managed to throw all three bean bags through a hole and won a small, white teddy bear with a silky pink ribbon.
He whispered in my ear as he handed it to me, “This should push him over the edge.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Nick.”
***
A little while later, I told Toni goodbye and Nick walked me to my Jeep. We ran into Jade and Dane on the way.
“Nice bear,” she said. Of course she was being sarcastic, but I thought she also wanted to make sure Dane noticed it.
“Thanks,” said Nick, putting his arm around me and pulling me to his side. “I won it for her.”
Before things could get awkward, Nick said, “Well, we gotta go.” He pulled me along until we were out of earshot. I was so grateful for him.
“Be careful going home.” He held my door open for me.
“I will. And
thanks for the bear and for all your help.”