by Bonnie Tharp
“That’s brilliant. Then it can belong to her and the kids, and you can’t run home whenever you feel boxed in.” Tillie grabbed her friend by the arms.
Looking down into her diminutive friend’s dark eyes, Regina sighed. “Damn, but you are harsh, Matilda Jean.”
“Sorry, but you and I have never tip-toed around things much. It doesn’t work.” Tillie dropped her hands.
“True.” Regina chuckled. “I think I’ve missed you.”
“Back at you. Now what’s this about Grandmere’s pearls?”
They stopped in the shade of an old oak tree.
“Well. After the house was broken into, Megan hid them and forgot where. It just rubbed my hair on end. I lost my temper.” She looked at her feet.
“You?” Tillie winked at her friend. “Never. Listen. We all do or say unreasonable things once in a while. That’s part of being human. We’re flawed, but we do the best we can.”
They started walking back in the direction Regina had parked. She couldn’t see her car but knew it was just around the bend. The wind whispered through the leaves.
“And Tom?” Tillie asked.
“It’s not my decision, but I feel like he deserves a second chance. He was a partier, but he never hurt the kids and he only returned blows with Liddy, who probably hit first.”
“Wow. You really have grown up.”
“And I know what I need to do. I’m just struggling against it.”
“It’s hard to do the right thing sometimes, but I know you will.” Tillie gave Regina a quick one-armed hug.
Regina stopped in mid-stride. “Will you be my matron of honor?”
“I’d love to. I’ll even help Megan find Annabelle’s pearls if she wants me to.”
“Oh, dear. I made poor Megan cry.” Regina sprinted toward her car.
“Hey, slow down will you? My legs are half as long as yours.”
Regina stopped and Tillie collided with her. “Sorry. Want to come back to the house with me?”
“You need brake lights, woman. Which house? Annabelle’s or yours?”
Regina smiled at her friend’s obvious reminder. “Annabelle’s.”
“I think you got yourself into this mess, so you need to get yourself out.”
“You’re a big help.”
“And you are a big girl.”
“Thanks, Tillie.”
“You’re most welcome, my dear friend.”
They walked in companionable silence until they reached Regina’s red Cadillac.
“Want a ride?”
“No thanks, it’s not that far. I love these unseasonably cool August days. I’ll see you around.”
“No doubt. You’re just like a pixie popping up, Matilda Jean.”
Tillie beamed. “Don’t be an ogre to the kids. Go apologize. Grovel if you have to. Megan loves you and will forgive you.”
“Thanks.” Regina got in the car and drove by her friend. She waved and watched Tillie wave back before she followed the curve and her friend was out of sight.
“Now to face the music.” Regina pulled up the drive. Annabelle and Megan were on the front porch swing, talking. Megan wiped her eyes as Regina approached.
Annabelle stood, patted the little girl on the shoulder and went back into the house alone.
“Hi. Can I join you?” Regina asked.
Megan nodded her head, but scooted as far over as the armrest would allow.
Regina sat down. “I’m sorry I got mad.”
The little girl looked at her with those big brown eyes and Regina felt her heart constrict.
“I know you wouldn’t do anything like this without a good reason. I was wrong.”
“Okay,” Megan whispered.
They sat still in the swing until Megan started to move her legs. She could just touch the porch with her toes. Regina used her longer legs to give it an extra boost. From the corner of her eye she saw the little girl’s smile and felt better.
“Do you want some help finding the pearls? I know a lot of good hiding places.”
“No thank you. I can do it.”
“Okay. Megan, would you mind being a flower girl sometime soon?”
She gave Regina a toothy grin. “Sure. But I think the dress I wore last year at Tillie’s wedding is too small.”
“That’s all right. We’ll all get new dresses. It’s a special occasion after all. Would you like that?”
Her little head bobbed. “Ahuh.”
“Good, but don’t tell anyone yet, okay?” Regina put her hand on the child’s knee.
“Why?”
“Because I haven’t told Sam, and he probably should be next to know, don’t you think?”
“Ahuh. I do.” Megan smiled and slid closer to Regina on the swing. “I won’t tell.”
“I know you won’t.”
Regina gave her a hug. They sat together enjoying the slow swaying, friends again, dreaming about the future.
Chapter 29
WHEN ANNABELLE awoke, she lay beneath the sheet counting the bongs of the mantel clock and realized it was only six in the morning. The chirping of the birds outside her window interrupted the quiet of the house. Her mind wandered. She hadn’t seen Phil since school let out. Basketball practice would start before long and she almost looked forward to the possibility of seeing him again.
She slipped out of bed and dressed in navy Capris, which were getting baggy, and a white button down cotton shirt. She found her sneakers under the chair. Annabelle finished getting ready and slipped down the stairs to go for a sunrise walk. She and Tillie had started walking early before the thermometer hit its crescendo. Turbo scratched at Tad’s door. She opened it just enough for him to escape.
Annabelle patted Turbo’s big head. “Hey there, handsome.”
The black dog wagged his whole body and nuzzled her hand.
“Ready for a walk?”
He pranced to the staircase and back to her then sped down the stairs to the front door.
“Hold on a minute, boy. Let’s get a water bottle. Tillie won’t be out until 6:30. We’ve got time.” They went into the kitchen and Annabelle pulled an empty plastic bottle from the cabinet and filled it with cool tap water. She popped two pieces of bread into the toaster and retrieved the margarine from the refrigerator. When the toast popped, she skimmed on the butter and gave one piece to Turbo while eating the other. She still had half of her piece when he finished his. He focused on every bite that went from her hand to her mouth.
“This one is mine. You had yours.” She chewed the last bite and grabbed the leash off of the nail and hooked it on his collar. “Come on. Let’s go.
He hopped into the air, but didn’t place a paw on her as they proceeded to the front porch and down the steps to the sidewalk where Tillie stretched.
“Hi, there. Hey Turbo, how’s my handsome lad?” Tillie stooped down and ruffled the fur behind his ears. He licked her chin. “Nice shot.”
The ladies headed down the sidewalk toward the river, the big dog walking between them and the street, his nose snuffling the ground with every step.
“Must be a kaleidoscope of smells,” Tillie said.
Annabelle nodded. “I expect.”
“How’s it going?”
“It’s going. I suppose you heard from Regina that my pearls are missing?”
“Yes. But she and Megan are friends again, aren’t they?”
They matched their stride to each other and began pumping their arms in rhythm.
“Yes, we’ll find the pearls eventually. She was just trying to hide them in case of another break-in.”
“Of course she was. She knows how much they mean to you. I wouldn’t worry.”
“No, no. I’m not.”
They wal
ked around the corner and crossed the quiet street.
“Tillie?”
“Hum?”
“Do you remember when you started being . . . you know . . . sexually active . . .?”
“Sure. Why do you ask? I don’t mind telling if you really want to hear the story.”
Kicking a stone from her path, Annabelle hesitated. “No, that’s okay . . . it’s just that . . . I think Peggy might be . . . thinking about it. She is sixteen and really likes that boy, Miles.”
“I see. And she’s not talking?”
“Not to me.” Stumbling on a crack in the sidewalk, Annabelle slowed her pace.
“What makes you think she might be interested in sex?”
“They’re seeing each other again, you know, after the accident. I thought it might be over, but she’s come home with her lips all swollen and red several times. I didn’t say anything, but I’m worried how far she’ll go . . . to find love. I remember how glorious first love can be.”
“Do you trust her?”
“Yes . . . No . . . I don’t know.” Annabelle threw up her right hand, while the other white knuckled the leash. “I don’t know what Liddy might have said to her before she died. With television and movies like they are, she probably knows more about sex and boys than I did at her age.”
Tillie chuckled. “You might be right. Are you going to ask her?”
“I want to, but I just can’t. I might not say the right thing.”
Putting her hand on her friend’s arm, Tillie slowed them to a stroll. “Well, then you’ll have to wait until she comes to you. You could speak to Regina. She and Peggy seem to be pretty close, maybe she can bring it up in conversation.”
“I’m not ready for Peg to be . . . grown up,” Annabelle felt her shoulders sag.
“You don’t have a choice about that. She’s going to do it, regardless.”
“I know.” Annabelle wiped perspiration from her lip. “How’s Joe?”
“He’s fit and full of sass, just like me. Let’s finish up our walk so I can get home to his gourmet coffee. Did I tell you he started roasting the beans in the garage? He’s even grinding them himself.”
“My goodness.” Annabelle looked at her friend and tripped on the uneven sidewalk, again. Tillie gave her a hand to steady her.
“It beats the high dollar coffee shop for flavor. Talk about fresh, yum. Want to come over for a cup?”
“Yes, but I’d better not. The kids were still asleep when I left. I’ll suffer through my own coffee. I can’t really taste the difference anyway.”
“Honey, you don’t know what you’re missing.” Tillie’s arms punctuated her enthusiasm. “But I understand. Has Tom been around lately?”
“Not since the blow up with Peggy. I don’t understand why he would stay away when he talks about wanting to see the kids so bad.”
“It’ll all work out. Don’t worry. Did he ever hit the kids like Liddy did?”
“No. He was too busy partying. Liddy was the one who lashed out with her fists, just like her father.”
“Those poor kids. They are so lucky they have you.”
“I hope you’re right, Tillie.”
They rounded another corner and headed back down the street to their end of the block. Annabelle checked her watch. “Twenty-five minutes today. Not too bad for two mature ladies. I seem to get a little further each day, which is good for both of us.”
Now, if she could just stop the heavy feeling in her chest. Probably indigestion, she had eaten that toast pretty fast. They stopped in front of the house. Turbo accepted the parting scratch that Tillie gave his back, his tail churning the air.
“See you later.”
“See you.” Annabelle unlocked the front door and unhooked the leash. The dog bounded up the stairs and hit Tad’s door, bouncing it open.
“Ack. Down, Turbo, down!”
Humming, Annabelle went into the kitchen to make fresh coffee and set out the breakfast cereal. The kids would be up and wanting to be fed. Turbo dashed into the kitchen and stood panting by his empty bowl.
“You’re pretty proud of yourself, aren’t you? I suppose waking the kids up deserves a little something.” Annabelle filled the dog bowls with kibble and water.
“Now mind your manners, no walking around chewing, it makes a mess.” She shook a finger at him. “And no sloshing water on the floor.”
Tad entered the kitchen laughing. “Good luck with that, Gram. He’s the original bucket mouth dog.”
“True, but it can’t hurt to try.” She put her hands on her hips.
He shook his head. “You’re a strange lady.”
Making an abbreviated curtsey, she smiled. “Thank you.”
Megan entered the kitchen carrying the orange kitten in her arms.
“Put that poor creature down, Megan. She has legs you know. She needs to learn how to use them,” Annabelle said.
“But, Gram, Turbo will step on her.” Megan put the kitten down on the tile in front of her feet.
Scampering across the floor, Tang started rubbing against the huge dog’s back legs. He ignored her and continued to gulp down his food.
“I’ll feed her,” Megan said. She filled the kitty bowls and set them across the room from the dog.
Annabelle put her hands in the pockets of her Capris. If the cat didn’t eat something before the dog finished, he’d clean them out, too. Ms. Pickles had the bluff in on Turbo, but not the kitten.
“I’ve got it.” Snapping her fingers, Annabelle took Tang’s food and water into the mudroom by the back door. Placing them on the top of the washer she called the kitten.
“Here Tang. Here kitty, kitty.”
The orange ball of fur streaked through the door, leaping onto the washer. She meowed her appreciation before starting to eat. The three-legged Ms. Pickles hopped over to her own bowl and gave her full attention to its contents.
“Cool idea,” Megan said.
“Morning,” Peggy stood in the doorway, her hair pulled up in a messy ponytail. Her face looked freshly washed.
“You’re looking chipper this morning. What’s on the schedule for today, kids?”
“I’m painting,” Tad said. “Regina gave me a new canvas.”
“I’m only halfway through a new book, so I thought I’d sit on the porch to read and get some sun on by leg.”
“And how about you, Peg?” Annabelle asked.
“I’m meeting Malissa at the mall. We’re going window-shopping. What about you?”
“Making cookies. We’re getting kind of low.”
Megan giggled. “That’s because Tad eats so much.”
Her brother patted his thin stomach. “No, that’s because I’ve got a man-sized hunger.”
“And from the look of it, man-sized feet,” Gram said. “You look like you need another new pair of shoes.”
“It’s cool. Holey tennis shoes are fine for summer. I can wait until school starts, unless you’re feeling flush . . .”
“You sure?”
Teens and the grunge look. Things always seemed to come around again. I loved the look of a white tee shirt and crisp jeans on a young man when I was a teen.
“Yeah. It’s no big thing.”
They all sat down to eat their cereal. Annabelle read the newspaper headlines but nothing caught her eye.
“Gram?” Megan said.
“What honey?”
“Do you want me to start looking for your pearls today, instead of reading?”
“I could help,” Peggy added. “We’re not going to the mall until this afternoon.”
“That’s a good idea,” Annabelle said. “We can spend a couple of hours checking all the likely hiding places. If those don’t pan out we’ll try to think of the unli
kely ones.”
“I can help if you want.” Tad shifted in his seat like he had a burr in his shorts. “But I have a really good idea for a painting and want to draw it out first.”
“You go ahead. We’ll holler if we need help,” Annabelle said.
“Thanks.”
Chapter 30
THERE WAS NO sign of the pearls in any of the main floor rooms. They checked behind every book and inside every dish, vase and drawer. Nothing.
“Don’t worry, Megan.” Peggy patted her little sister on the shoulder. “We’ll find them. We’ve only just begun to look.”
“I wish I could remember, but I can’t. It’s like I forgot on purpose.” Megan fisted her hands. “That way no one can torture the information out of me.”
“Let’s hope that never happens,” Annabelle said.
Peggy rolled her eyes. “You’ve been reading too many books. There’s not a lot of torturing going on in this neighborhood.”
Annabelle smiled. Peggy and Tad’s imagination was even more vivid than Megan’s.
“Gram,” Megan said.
“Yes, honey.”
“Can we stop for a while? Maybe if I get my mind completely off of them, I’ll picture where I put them.”
“It’s worth a try.”
Peggy poked her sister. “I think she just wants to finish her book.”
“Do not!”
“Sure you do, and I want to get cleaned up to meet Malissa.”
“Go ahead, girls, we’ll search more later.” Annabelle wiped her dusty hands on her pants.
The phone rang. “I’ll get it,” Peggy said.
“Hello.”
“Oh, hi. Ahuh, she’s right here. Gram, it’s Mr. Edwards.” Peggy handed the receiver to her grandmother.
“Hello.”
“Annabelle? Phillip Edwards here. How are you?”
The warmth in his voice made Annabelle smile. She couldn’t recall when he had transformed into someone she was happy to hear from. “Hello there. I’m doing fine, thanks. And you?”
“Fit as a man half my age. If you don’t have any plans tonight, would you like to go to dinner? I hate eating alone, and I have a craving for a meal made by hands other than my own.”