Suvi brushed past Will’s table, handed a bill to Edwina at the register and nodded in Will’s direction.
When Will finished his breakfast and asked for his check, Sissy told him someone had already taken care of the bill.
Will chuckled to himself on the way out the door.
“Well played, Mr. Jones. Well played.”
35
If Loving Him is Wrong
Bubba John managed to get Sweet to Tallahassee for her one o’clock appointment, but with only minutes to spare. The ride over was anything but comfortable. Sweet was apparently not speaking to her husband at all. Bubba John noticed, but did not comment, preferring stony silence to a fight he could not win. It wouldn’t be the first time Bubba John Atwater decided to wait it out, but it would be the longest time by far.
When the couple returned home, Sweet went straight to her room and later advised Beanie that she would be taking her supper in bed. At the dinner table, the kids were unusually quiet.
That is, until a fight broke out between Tater and Bitty about who got more french fries. Beanie, by now used to squabbles over how much juice and which superhero cups were used, quickly settled the matter by dropping more fries onto Bitty’s plate. This allowed a brief reprieve while Bitty did a recount.
B-Kay finished off her burger quickly and unbuckled Daisy from her high chair.
“Time for a bath, Daisy-may,” she said.
“Mommy do it,” Daisy howled immediately.
“Mommy’s sick, baby,” B-Kay said. “Sissy do it.”
“NO Sissy do it,” Daisy wailed as B-Kay lifted her from the chair and headed down the hall.
“What’s wrong with Mommy,” Tater asked after the bathroom door shut.
“Mom’s fine,” Bubba John said. “The wound is healing like they expected. She’s just not feeling good right now.”
“She looks pissed if you ask me.” T-Ray said, stuffing a spoonful of baked beans into his mouth.
“T-Ray!” Bubba John scratched his head and weighed his options. “Watch your mouth, Son.”
“Well, she does. She’s snapping at everybody. Even Daisy.”
“Mom’s a little upset with me right now, not you guys.”
“Jeez, Dad, what’d you do?” T-Ray rolled his eyes.
Bubba John decided to ignore the obvious dig.
“Well, I don’t think I prioritized things exactly right. Honestly, she’s just a little touchy right now. I promise you, Mom will be all right when she feels better.”
“Seventeen.” Bitty announced. She gazed proudly at the row of fries arranged side by side from shortest to longest.
“Eat up, Bitty,” Beanie said. “You’re next in the tub.”
“I’m full,” Bitty said.
“Then why’d you make such a fuss over how many fries you had?”
“Only ten before. Now seventeen!” Bitty said triumphantly.
“Lord, help,” Beanie said and smiled in spite of herself.
“I’ll take her,” T-Ray said. “You, too, Tate. Come on before the bathwater’s cold.”
“Thanks, T,” Bubba John said. “I’ll help Beanie with the dishes.”
Beanie loaded the dishwasher while Bubba John cleared the table and put the leftover food away. They worked in silence for a while, neither having anything in particular to offer as a conversation starter. Besides, both were busy thinking of the person they’d rather have beside them in the kitchen.
Since the one day she talked to Sweet about smacking Suvi in the face with a cake, Beanie had not shed another tear over him. She figured when his ego was less bruised, he would call and things would go back to normal - or as normal as it ever had been. So, it came as a complete surprise to Beanie that, here she was, standing in some other woman’s kitchen, thinking about a man who had never been hers to begin with, and missing him with a fierceness that made her stomach hurt. When she spoke, it was to herself and not Bubba John, whom she had forgotten was even in the room.
Beanie Bradsher slammed the door of the dishwasher shut and punched the start button.
“Oh, my God,” she said, cupping her own face with both hands. “I miss him.”
Bubba John, startled by the intensity of her admission, said the first thing that came to mind.
“Suvi?”
Beanie looked up at him, wide-eyed and incredulous.
“Noooo,” she whispered as tears pooled over her bottom lashes. “Will!”
***
Beanie knocked on Sweet’s bedroom door fifteen minutes later under the pretense of gathering her supper dishes, but what she really wanted was advice. How to ask for it, however, did not come naturally to Beanie Bradsher. She’d never had what you could call a best friend. She had cousins for playmates growing up, but they always found Beanie peculiar, and vacillated between bullying and ignoring her.
“Come in,” Sweet said in a tone that sounded more like go away.
Beanie pushed the door open and poked her head in through the gap. The nightlight in the bathroom provided enough illumination to see Sweet sitting up in bed in an otherwise dark room.
“I just come to check on ya. You okay?”
“Yeah, a little tired is all,” Sweet said. “Come on in.”
Beanie entered the room and crossed in front of the bed to take Sweet’s dishes from the bedside table.
“Kind’ly dark in here. You want me to turn on the lamp?”
“No, thanks. Dark suits my mood.”
“I’m sorry,” Beanie said. “Can I get you anything? You want dessert or somethin’? Sometimes pie helps.”
“I don’t think pie will do it this time, but thanks anyway,” Sweet said. “Are the kids okay?”
“They’s all fine. Last I looked B-Kay was a’readin’ to the babies. They like it when she does that.”
Sweet nodded and felt herself choking up. “I feel incredibly grateful and guilty at the same time.”
“I know the feelin’.” Beanie hung her head and stared at the floor.
Sweet turned on the lamp beside her bed and peered intently at Beanie’s face.
“What are you saying?”
“I was kind’ly hopin’ you’d ask. They’s somethin’ botherin’ me and I don’t know who else to talk to about it. I know it’s wrong, given the situation and all, but I don’t know what to do now…”
“I’m all ears,” Sweet said.
“You sure? I don’t wanna…”
“What is it, Beanie?”
“I think I’m in love with someone and it ain’t Suvi,” Beanie said.
Sweet pulled the bedcovers up to her chest.
“Go on…”
“Well, Bubba John and I was in the kitchen a little bit ago and I was thinkin’ about how nice it was to have somebody in there helpin’ me. So, then I realized I wasn’t even thinkin’ about Suvi, like I prolly ought to be, seein’ as how I been kind’ly datin’ him, though that’s still up in the air ‘cause he ain’t even called since I humiliated him in front a’God and everybody. But anyway, then it hit me what I was a’thinkin’, and I started feelin’ guilty about it, and now I don’t even know what to do with all this feelin’ goin’ on inside me, ‘cause quite frankly it ain’t never really happened exactly thisaway before.” She paused to take a gulping breath. “And these feelings just came over me so sudden-like. You know what I mean?”
“Honestly? No, I’m not sure at all what you mean.”
“Well, I am just the last person in the world that would ever want to hurt anybody.”
“No…” Sweet stared hard at Beanie for a moment and tried desperately to weigh her words with care. “I can’t imagine why you think it’s all right to stand here and tell me what you are feeling, when you know there is not a damn thing I can do about it right now, especially in my condition.”
Beanie’s chin quivered and the dishes she held rattled in her hands as her whole body began to shake.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Sweet. Really I didn’t.”
>
“I think you need to leave now.”
“Please don’t be mad at me, Sweet. I shouldn’t a’said anything…”
“Get out!” Sweet said, clinching the sheets of her bed with both hands.
Beanie fled down the hallway, through the dining room, past Bubba John preparing coffee for the next morning, and out the back door without stopping to deposit Sweet’s dishes in the kitchen sink. Bubba John quietly finished his task, and settled onto the couch to sleep which, of course, did not happen.
36
The Lightbulb Goes On
Saturday morning was less chaotic in the Atwater household. T-Ray usually slept late, but B-Kay found it too hard to change her school routine and was often up before the little ones, who were perfectly happy to wander like little drunkards to the living room to watch cartoons. At some point, someone would thrust a bowl of dry cereal and a sippy cup of milk in front of each child and call it breakfast. This morning Daisy climbed up onto her sleeping father, nestled herself in the crease between his torso and the couch and promptly nodded off. Bitty and Tater managed to get the television set turned on and were sitting side-by-side in near catatonic states watching SpongeBob SquarePants when B-Kay entered the living room. Tater barely blinked, chubby fingers going slack when B-Kay pulled the remote out of his grip to lower the volume on the theme song’s grating finale.
Seeing no need to interrupt or wake anyone, B-Kay shuffled to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee and look for something to eat. Beanie came in the back door just as B-Kay slid a bagel into the toaster oven.
“Mornin’, B,” Beanie said softly. “You the only one up yet?”
“Little ones are in the living room. Mom and T-Ray are still sleeping, though.”
“You think I should make a big breakfast this morning? I got plenty of sausage and eggs.”
“Ugh,” said B-Kay. “That just sounds like a lot of work and a lot of cleanup. I think we’re okay today. I don’t know what Daddy is planning, but I can make Mama something to eat if she’s hungry.”
“She don’t seem to be eatin’ real good,” said Beanie. “I think I upset her the other night.”
“She stays upset these days.”
“She’s been recuperatin’ a long time. I’d be outta sorts, too.”
B-Kay shrugged. “All I know is, I’m ready to have my mom back. Dad, too, for that matter.”
“Speak of the devil,” Beanie said, nodding toward the doorway.
Bubba John appeared in the dining room holding a sniffling Daisy in one arm. A wet spot covered the front of his t-shirt and down one side of his sweatpants.
“Uh, we had a little accident here. Can somebody change her while I go take a shower?”
Without waiting for an answer, Bubba John deposited Daisy into B-Kay’s arms.
“Oh, yuck,” B-Kay twisted her sister’s body away from her own in an attempt to stay dry. “Shoot, she hasn’t wet the bed in weeks now. What in the world?”
At that, Daisy sniffles turned into full-bore tears.
“It’s okay, baby, somebody’s got you,” B-Kay said, shooting a wry look over her shoulder as she left the room, which neither Beanie nor Bubba noticed.
“Is that coffee I smell?” Bubba asked.
“Yeah, B-Kay made it already. You want me to fix you a cup?” Beanie was already searching for mugs in the cabinet above the coffee pot.
“Do you mind? I don’t think I ought to be in the kitchen with…” Bubba John trailed off, looked down at his soaked clothing.
“Gosh, no, it’ll just take a minute. Lemme get the milk for Sweet’s coffee and you can take that in to her, too.”
“I’m not sure she’s talking to me yet,” Bubba John’s face reddened at the thought.
“You and me, both,” Beanie said.
“Really? What happened?” Bubba John took the two mugs of coffee Beanie held out.
“I don’t rightly know what set her off, but she threw me out of her room the other night.”
“She did what?”
“She told me to get out, and she meant it, too. I guess you didn’t notice I been sendin’ her food in with B-Kay the past couple of days.” Beanie opened the refrigerator door and peered through a maze of condiments and juice boxes. “To tell the plain truth, I’m a little worried about her. It ain’t like her to go off on me like that. Where in the world is the milk?”
“Did she say anything in particular? I mean…like about the rumors and all?”
Beanie whirled to face Bubba John. “What?”
“Well, you know…the rumors with the lottery and everything, kind of got the town talking. I think Sweet’s feeling a little insecure.”
“About what?” she asked, punctuating the last word with a slam of the refrigerator door.
“About you and me.”
“You and me what?” Beanie’s voice rose an octave, which made it more like a squeal.
“I thought you knew…”
Beanie cupped her ears with both hands. “And Sweet thinks it’s true, too?”
“Did you not hear us arguing the other night? I thought I heard you leave in the middle of it.”
“Well, I stuck my head in, but I left real quick when I heard y’all yellin’.”
Bubba put both cups of coffee down on the counter.
“Sweet got it in her head that there was something going on between you and me. I thought I’d gotten it settled before you moved in, but it’s looking like I was mistaken.”
Beanie sat down at the end of the table, too stunned to speak for a moment.
“How did this happen?” Beanie was speaking more to herself than to Bubba John. “How in the world did this happen?”
“Well, first it was the kids at B-Kay’s school, but that was back when we got the lotto winnings and had to go to the lawyer together.”
“B-Kay thinks so, too?”
“Not anymore.”
“So wait… You knew they was gossip about me and you before you brought me out here to take care of Sweet?”
“Well, yeah,” Bubba John’s nervous hands found his pockets as his shoulders went up in an embarrassed shrug.
“Then why in the Sam Hill didn’t you tell me about it? I bet I am the laughing stock of the whole town right about now. I thought Will was just bein’ jealous when he accused me of sleepin’ with ya. I had no idea Sweet thought it, too.” Beanie doubled over in her chair. “This is just a mess – a mess, and it’s your fault, Bubba John Atwater. You shouldn’ta never hired me in the first place. I’m goin’ in to talk to Sweet right now. I ain’t havin’ her thinkin’ bad of me.”
Bubba John moved to stop her from storming out of the kitchen. “Bean, you can’t tell her the whole truth. I gotta get this house built first.” He looked desperate.
“I don’t even understand why you’re tryin’ to surprise her with a house, for crying out loud. That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard. It’s never gonna work!”
Bubba John sat down in the closest chair he found. He looked at her for a moment as if puzzling over something complex.
“You really think so? It’s a dumb idea?”
Beanie couldn’t help but take pity on him, even as mad as she was.
“Well, maybe not totally dumb, but I don’t know how you’re gonna do it. It’s crazy, really. And truth be told, if you don’t do something about how your wife’s a’feelin’ right now, you ain’t gonna have a wife left to surprise. I’m just sayin’…”
“What should I do?” He had never been more sincere.
“Well, first off, you gotta convince her we ain’t…you know…what we ain’t doin’. And I can prolly help on that, ‘cause I am not the least bit interested in you and never have been. That’s just crazy.”
“Thanks, Bean,” Bubba John said.
“Well, the feeling’s mutual, and that don’t hurt my feelings none. Oh, how did this happen?”
Beanie faced the sink, put her head in her hands and wept. Bubba John stood and moved toward her, l
aying one hand on her arm. “Don’t cry, Beanie. You’re right. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll go tell Sweet the whole truth right now. I don’t want you to be upset.”
Beanie raised her head and sniffled. “You would do that for me?”
Bubba John nodded. “I didn’t set out to make such a mess of things. I really didn’t.”
Beanie wiped her eyes with the drying towel. “It’s okay. You was just actin’ outta love, that’s all. I’m okay. We’ll wait ‘til the house is done and then she’ll know the truth, and that’s all that matters.”
Neither of them noticed T-Ray enter the kitchen and leave as quickly and quietly as he came.
When the dishes were done, Beanie took off her apron and went to clear up the misunderstanding with Sweet.
***
Moments later, Beanie squared her shoulders and knocked firmly on Sweet’s bedroom door.
“Who is it?” Sweet’s voice was weak and shaky.
Beanie opened the door and peeked her head inside.
“It’s me,” Beanie said. “Can I talk to you a minute?”
“I’m barely awake,” Sweet said, though she’d been up for over an hour. “Can it wait?”
“Actually, no.”
Beanie brought the rest of her body into the room and closed the door behind her. Finding no other place to sit, Sweet perched at the end of the bed and took a deep breath.
“Sweet, I ain’t the least bit interested in your husband,” Beanie said. “I don’t know what exactly put you in mind that I was, but nothin’ could be further from the truth, and I’m just sorry, sorry, sorry that you have been spendin’ your recuperatin’ time a’worried about such a thing.”
Sweet sighed and covered her face with both hands.
“You don’t believe me,” Beanie said. “Sweet, I swear to you. I know you don’t know me that well, but you do know Bubba John and, honest to God, he just ain’t the type. And even if he was, I ain’t at all. I’d sooner be boiled in oil than to fool around with somebody’s husband…”
Beanie tried to choke back the tears that sprung up with the last word, but failed.
What Matters in Mayhew (The Beanie Bradsher Series Book 1) Page 19