I laugh and wave a hand in surrender. “Yeah, that’s not really possible with me. I tend to let folks do what they want. One of my most favorite quirks.”
Shannon laughs. “Told you, didn’t I? Said Carolina will be happy if she doesn’t have to make a single decision. Everyone in Chancey knows that. Peter says he thought you’d eventually get tired of it, but so far…” She holds up her hands in question. Then she walks toward the windows. “Did you see what Bonnie thought of for the window space?”
Bonnie joins her. “And I thought of something else. A children’s window. Let me show you.”
Standing up, I turn to follow them.
Well, now. Personal quirks aren’t nearly so cute when folks openly talk about them. And ridicule them. I’m not laughing now.
Chapter 26
“Oh, aren’t you a sweetheart,” I say to my husband as he presents a platter holding a mountain of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. As I entered the kitchen, he presented it with a big “Ta-da!”
Setting the platter down, he adds more to “ta-da” about. “And I checked in both of the new couples. The ones from Atlanta are already out and about. They had a bottle of wine and were headed out to the bridge. The ones from Alabama are still in their room.”
When he turns, I’m there to give him a kiss. “I just love coming home to you. However…” I hold up the Piggly Wiggly bag in my hand. “Smooth peanut butter.”
“But I thought you said you didn’t care what Missus wants.”
I kiss him to perk up his frown, and in between kisses, I whisper, “Well, I felt sorry for her.”
He steps back and holds me at arm’s length. “Wait, you felt sorry for who? Missus?”
Looking around, I ask, “Where are the kids?”
He shrugs. “Will and Savannah are at work, and Bryan is, well, I don’t know. I’ve been home just long enough to make these sandwiches, but haven’t seen him. Where is he usually this time of day in the summer?”
“If he’s here, and he better be here, he’d be in the basement,” I say walking to the basement door. “Bryan? You down there?”
“Yeah.”
Jackson gives me a lopsided grin. “Guess it’s not ideal, but better videogames in the basement than running the back roads of Chancey stalking Brittani, right?”
I lift a half of a peanut butter sandwich. “Well, he is kind of grounded for all that,” I say just before I take a big bite. The sandwich is good in a memory kind of way. And in a good-tasting kind of way. Jackson leans forward for a bite.
Around his mouthful, he says, “I thought you didn’t believe in grounding.”
“I don’t. No reason for me to be punished along with a kid. But in this case it works. He’s old enough that we don’t have to be grounded along with him. Plus, his infraction involved being out of the house. I probably should’ve taken away the video games longer, but—”
Jackson laughs as he takes the last bite of sandwich I offer. “But again, why punish us? I like him working in the garden as punishment. Helps us and makes him unhappy.”
“Except it doesn’t make him unhappy.” At the window I motion outside. “Look at it. Looks better than it has all summer. He was out there at the crack of dawn this morning. He even talked Grant into helping.”
At the same time we breathe in and look at each other. I say what we’re thinking, “Didn’t Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn do that? You know painting the fence?”
Jackson nods. “Yes, yes he did. Convinced his friends it was so much fun that they begged to help.”
We both look back outside. This right here is the problem with having more than one kid, you can’t focus. And the one that seems easy can get away with pretty much anything. Again we have the same thought and say it almost on top of each other. “We have to watch him closer.”
Jackson reached back toward the platter. “Now that I think about it, he did seem smooth at dinner last night. That sandwich was good. I don’t know when I last had a PB&J. Share another half?”
“Yeah, might as well eat these since I’m going to make the right ones. Oh, I know, we can put these out for this afternoon at our wine and cheese time. The new couples know about it, don’t they?”
“Yep, and Laney had two trays of cheese delivered earlier. They’re in the fridge. But, wait, you never told me why you felt sorry for Missus.”
“Oh, yeah. Didn’t want the kids to overhear. First, how did breakfast with Will go?”
Now Jackson is looking around not wanting other ears to hear. “I think he’s done. When I was incredulous and pointed out the wedding, which wasn’t necessary since they’d already eloped, was less than a month ago, he just stared at me. Finally said, ‘Yeah, that probably wasn’t a good idea.’”
I’m shocked. “The wedding wasn’t a good idea? What about the marriage? That was completely on them. We didn’t even know about it.” I grab another sandwich half and talk with my mouthful. “He told us they loved each other. They wanted to be together. Here. In Chancey.”
Jackson picks up his own half of sandwich. “Well, he’s rethinking all that now. Guess being with the guys from high school who are moving on to grad school and stuff, plus the whole ‘realness’ of a job—a hard, long-hours job—is a little too real, I think.”
“What did he say about the baby?”
Jackson puts his head down, and his swallow is more than PB&J stuck in his throat.
“What?” I ask, trying to get him to look up, but he answers without looking at me.
“He said, well, he said there are always couples wanting to adopt.”
Silence fills the space between us, then expands to the space around us.
Finally, the silence feels empty, and I start with the first question in my head. “Have he and Anna talked about this?”
Jackson peeks up at me and sighs. “Don’t think so. Honestly, I think he just said it because it would be the easiest thing, he thinks.”
“Like he’s thinking!” I blurt. “This baby is already a very real thing in two families. He thinks Missus and FM will just let it go? He’s not got a brain in his head.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty much what I said. And, again, I don’t think he’s really considering it, but just trying to find a way for this to not have happened.”
I lean back against the counter. “Well, news isn’t any better from the other side. Missus says Anna wants a divorce and already has a lawyer.”
Jackson’s jaw drops, and his eyes widen. “Will doesn’t know that, I’m sure. He’ll be blown away. Part of the problem right now is he says he doesn’t know Anna anymore. He thought she was sweet and easy to get along with.” Jackson laughs and adds, “You’ll love this. He said she’s meaner now than Savannah.”
“Oh, Lord,” I say, then push away from the counter and open the fridge. “What wine goes with peanut butter and jelly?”
Chapter 27
It was a beautiful way to start off the July Fourth celebrations.
Once we all got out of bed.
Cheerleaders were walking together in the “Freedom 2 B 2-Miler” and they spent the night at one of their houses, so I didn’t have to get Savannah up. Bryan was up and ready when I went to knock on his door, already chattering about running the whole way with some of the other guys and how he might go out for track in high school. I always took his good nature as proof that I was a chill mom. Now, I question everything about him. One minute I convince myself no thirteen year old could be that sneaky, that fake, and good at it. Then I remember—a teenager is a teenager is a teenager. You only trust them when, well, never mind.
The two-mile walk/run started at the big Baptist church out of town and looped around a lake and some low hills. It was early, so the sun sat low, making shadows that stretched across grassy meadows. Once the kids ran on ahead, it was nice and quiet. Didn’t seem like two miles at all before we were back at the parking lot, where Jackson was giving out ribbons.
He was bringing my ribbon to the house so I co
uld get right in my car, go home for a shower, and then get to the store for our open house. First thing I see as I come around the corner from parking my car behind our building, off the parade route, is Peter selling coffee on the sidewalk in front of the bistro.
“Peter, great idea putting the coffee out here.”
“Good morning, Carolina. Mother said you were doing the run. How did it go?”
I puff. “Walk, I did the walk. And better than I anticipated. Pretty little road, and I’d never been on it. I’ll take a large coffee.”
He pulls the cup off the stack. “Going to be a beautiful day.” He smiles and shakes his head as he watches the spout on his coffee maker. “Hard to believe I have a business here on Main Street. Always thought about this growing up. These buildings always looked so cool, but just got more and more rundown every year. Now look at our street.”
He holds out my full cup, as in a toast to the street. I follow his motion with my eyes and do see the difference from just last summer. As he puts the lid on my cup, I ask, “Have you seen the inside of our store?”
Handing me my coffee, he points with his head toward our sign. “You mean Blooming Books?”
I turn to look as well and feel my spirits lift. “Oh, it looks great in the sunlight, doesn’t it? Came by to see it this morning before the run, but it was still pretty dark.” Gertie’s sign painter did a great job with the store name in dark red, and then added baskets of flowers and books around it. In smaller words underneath the big bright, “Blooming Books,” it says “Bookseller and Florist.”
Peter agrees. “I’m having that guy make us a new sign next week. Think we’re just going with The Bistro. We kind of missed the train to call it anything else since everyone seems to have named it already. Plus, it fits. Or maybe call it Bistro Market?”
“Oh, I like that. Better description of what you do, after all. Well, I’ll probably see you later. Good luck today!” I say as I lay a couple dollars on his table and head off to my shop.
I unlock the door, just barely beating Shannon to it from the other side. The smell of fresh paint, books, and flowers is one we should bottle. Taking a deep breath, I relax my shoulders and bless Gertie Samson. Again. Our store looks amazing. The mix of books and flowers looks so natural.
Shannon laughs. “Pinching yourself? I know, I can’t believe this is our place either. I never bought into that interior decorating stuff much, but I’m a believer now. This whole thing never even seemed possible to me. Never occurred to me it could look like this. And yet Bonnie seemed to see it right from the very beginning.”
“I agree. Had a taste of this when we decorated the guest rooms at Crossings, but it seemed more like it evolved out of a bunch of us talking and brainstorming. But this? Gertie knew what paint we needed, then Bonnie did the rest. Practically overnight.” I turn as the bell over the door dings. “And there she is, our decorator extraordinaire!”
Bonnie takes a small bow. “Always wanted to be a decorator, but that steady teachers’ paycheck, not to mention the benefits, was hard to pass up. And look what I made last night.” She sets a big Tupperware container on Shannon’s counter – well, guess it’s our counter. We decided to only have one area to check out, and with everything having tags, shouldn’t be hard to keep track and separate purchases.
“Flower cookies!” Shannon exclaims. “How cute, when in the world did you make them?”
Bonnie waves her hand in dismissal. “Oh, last night. They’re made with sugar cookie dough in the tubes, so I ran over to Wal-Mart and bought all they had last night. And lots of colored sugar. And I have some platters to put them on in my car. Couldn’t carry everything in.”
When we get the cookies arranged and set around the shop, it’s right at nine o’clock, so I block the door open as I explain, “We’ll block it open for a little bit until folks get the idea. Then when it starts getting sticky in here, we’ll close it. Can’t believe people are already setting up chairs for the parade.”
Shannon says, “Most are the parents that had to have their kids downtown to line up, but every year seems we get more folks from out of town. Small-town celebrations are all the thing now.”
I nod. “Our guests at the B&B said the same thing. Laney has made us a Facebook page, and it’s already gotten over a hundred likes. She even paid to advertise on Facebook.”
“You know,” Shannon says with a wicked smirk, “Laney might be more help laid up in bed than gallivanting around town.”
I laugh and whisper, “I wouldn’t say that to her face.”
Had to whisper because our first customers are coming through the door.
This is going to be fun.
“Sorry I’m just now getting here,” Jackson apologizes as he comes through the shop door as the parade ends.
“Here, have a cookie,” I say holding out the one I was getting ready to eat. “I’ve already eaten too many. Why are you apologizing? I didn’t know you were even coming by here.”
He leans to kiss me with pink sugar-decorated lips. “Miss your open house? Never!”
“Sweet kiss. Wasn’t the parade great? Did you know Bryan was riding on a float?” I ask as I consolidate cookie platters.
“Yeah. I was supposed to tell you. Didn’t I tell you?”
A look is enough to answer him. (Word to the ladies, if you get mad at your husband every time he thinks he tells you something that he, in reality, never mentioned? You’re going to be mad more than is good for your health. Or marriage.)
He shrugs and says, “Meant to. Beau asked him last night when we ran into her at the park after dinner.”
Okay. Now we’re treading into dangerous non-communication territory. “Beau? As in Brittani’s aunt? The Brittani that caused our son to sit in the back of a police car earlier this week?”
He senses the change. “Oh, honey, really? I thought I told you. Are you sure I didn’t mention it? We had to go by the ballpark last night on our way home, and Beau was there. She seemed fine.” He takes the empty cookie platter from me. “Can’t believe I forgot to tell you. Besides, she said Brittani would be with the cheerleaders, so they wouldn’t be near each other during the parade.”
“Jackson! Doesn’t that seem weird to you?”
I can see he’s trying to figure out what should be weird, so I raise my hands in surrender. “Never mind. At least I knew where Bryan was.” Then I add in a mumble, “When I saw him ride by on a float.”
“Exactly,” he says with a grin, then he looks past me. “Oh, and you must be Bonnie.”
“Yes, I am. Good to meet you, Jackson. I’m so enjoying working with your lovely wife. Here, I’ll take that empty plate. Making a stack of them in the back.”
Jackson shakes her hand and then hands her the plate. “Well, Bonnie, Carolina has talked about how wonderful you are. The place looks amazing,” he says.
“Thank you,” she replies. “Our open house has gone well, I believe. Almost time to wrap it up.”
“It’s been so busy,” I add. “Folks are in such a good mood. It was great to hear the band playing and all the sirens. Now on to softball and the kids’ games.” To Bonnie, I add, “I’m overseeing the duck pond. Missus says it’s well within my scope of capabilities.”
Bonnie speaks up. “Oh, and the fireworks up in Laurel Cove are wonderful. We really put on a show.”
Jackson shouts to the back, where she’s rinsing platters. “Looking forward to it. Nice to meet you, Bonnie. Thanks for keeping Carolina on track with the shop. I need to get going.”
I bristle a bit at the idea I need someone to keep me on track, but I’m not going to be mad on such a fun day. So I turn to straighten up a stack of books in the window and ask before he leaves, “You and Bryan are heading out to softball field now? Nothing has changed about that, right?”
He shakes his head and leans over to give me a goodbye kiss. “Nope. No changes or I would’ve told you. Bye.” He’s serious.
I kiss him anyway.
C
hapter 28
“What in the Sam Hill are we going to do with all these sandwiches?” Missus demands. She might as well have cussed a blue streak, the way everyone is looking at her. “This is intolerable!” she adds even louder, in case we missed the Sam Hill declaration.
The ballpark is just out of town. You travel about half a mile to the three-way intersection, where you take a sharp right up the hill to go to our house. (That’s the corner where the daffodils bloom in the spring.) For the ballpark, you veer to the left just a little bit, going down a little rise, and not far on your right are the elementary and middle schools. The high school is farther down that road, on the left. Across from the elementary and middle schools is the strip mall with the Piggly Wiggly, China Palace, and the brand new Dollar Store. At the end of the strip mall where the Dollar Store is, there’s a turn-off, down a little country road. At the end of that road is the ballpark.
There’s a ball field, of course, and lots of space for another field to be built in the future. For now it’s just open park area, where the kids’ games are set up for the day. There isn’t a real concession stand, yet. That’s why seemingly every living soul in Chancey made two dozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. (No need to say that some of us made four dozen. No need to say it, but said it anyway.)
So, everyone coming to the ballpark drove right past opening day for the big celebration for the newest business in town, the Dollar Store. Right past the bright flags and loud music. Right past the petting zoo in the parking lot. Right past the big purple, blow-up gorilla. Right past the big grills billowing delicious-smelling smoke. Right past the signs saying “FREE Hot Dogs.” Right past… oh, who am I kidding? We all stopped. Every last one of us.
The hotdogs were delicious.
Missus looks at us like she can smell hot dogs on our breath. Even the little kids gathered around my duck pond game look guilty. We’re all keeping our heads down and our hot dog breath to ourselves.
Kids are Chancey Page 19