by D. F. Jones
Anna’s blood began to boil. Rachel didn’t know Granddaddy, not like Anna knew him and loved him. But Anna knew it was only the green-eyed monster of jealousy raising its ugly head. She tried to reign in her emotions. “Yes, it’s very sad. If you all will excuse me, I think I’ll take a shower. I’ll see you later at the funeral home. Sandy, come upstairs when you’re ready to go.” Anna kissed Ruby, Reed, and then Sandy. Anna turned to walk inside and crashed smack dab into Jerry’s chest in the doorway.
Jerry held her wrists, and it felt like lightning rods on a summer afternoon. Anna gazed up into his eyes, and the way he looked at her made the air back up in her lungs. Anna thought Jerry felt the jolt, too. Anna stammered, “I’m—I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there.”
Jerry chuckled, still holding onto her wrists, and suddenly he realized what he was doing. He let her go quickly and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Oh, you’re fine, Annabelly.” Jerry’s simple reply and the brief recognition she saw in his eyes, seconds really, let Anna know Jerry still cared for her. There was no way to explain it. Trying to explain their love would be like trying to explain how Mozart wrote symphonies.
Anna stepped inside the house and ran up the stairs. Her body shook with desire and nervousness when she closed the bedroom door. The look Jerry had given her left her burning and quivering with passion. She still had a chance, albeit a small one.
Anna plopped down on the bed, fell back, and draped her arm across her eyes. Jerry was engaged and downstairs with his fiancée. Anna opened her eyes and found Ralph staring at her.
Ralph jumped up and down on the bed, like a kid, making the bedsprings squeak. “Well, Annabelly, taking destiny into your hands? Seize the day, my daughter. But a small warning—remember, choices, free will, and all that jazz?”
“Wow, really, Ralph? No other words of wisdom from your millennia of experience?” Anna jumped off the bed, opened her suitcase, and began taking her things out.
Ralph placed his hands on Anna’s shoulders and turned her to face him. “Don’t shoot the messenger. There’s no way around it now. Someone will be hurt. It’ll be either you and Jerry who suffer or Rachel. Ultimately, it’s your decision. Anna, your way will pave the future course of three lives. That kind of decision, I’ve only witnessed and seen the consequences. I’ve never been privy to experience the kind of love you share with Jerry. But I think you would live a life of regret without trying to get Jerry back. For what it’s worth, I believe he’s your soul mate. And Jerry and Rachel aren’t married yet.”
A lonely tear escaped down her cheek, and she brushed it away with the back of her hand. “There’s only one way, Ralph. I did enjoy the attention I received from Jack, but there has only been one man for me, and it’s Jerry. If he’ll have me back, I’ll suffer any consequences. I love him, and you saw it downstairs—he still cares for me, too.”
Anna walked over to the window, opened the curtains, and peered down at the patio. Jerry must have sensed her and looked up. Their eyes held steady for a long minute, but it was clear their love was still alive, and Anna was going to fight for it.
* * *
“Come on, Anna. We’re going to be late,” Sandy screamed up the stairs.
“What time is it?” Anna grabbed her little black purse, pulled out her red lipstick, and applied it to her lips with precision. She wore a sleeveless crepe black dress that cinched at the waist and hit right at her ankles with a wide black leather belt and black slingback pumps. Anna fastened the pearl necklace Jerry had bought her in college as Sandy burst into the room.
“Half past a monkey’s ass. Geez Louise, woman.” Sandy recognized the necklace and fanned her fingers out. “Wowzer. You look fabulous. Going bear hunting tonight?”
“As a matter of fact, I’m going Jerry Beary hunting tonight. I needed my good luck charm.” Anna smiled and said, “Let’s ride, Clyde.”
Anna and Sandy went downstairs, out the front door, and into Sandy’s silver Corvette with T-tops. Sandy reached over and squeezed Anna’s hand. “You better be careful. Rachel will be watching you like a dang hawk.”
Anna rolled her eyes while she fastened her seatbelt. “I’m not afraid of Rachel. All I need is ten minutes alone with Jerry to see if he still loves me. If he does, then Rachel can go back home to Daddy Warbucks.”
Twenty minutes later, Sandy pulled into the Smith Funeral Home parking lot. Sandy rode around the parking lot twice before finding an empty spot around back. Anna and Sandy walked through the back entrance, opened the door to the kitchen area, and peeked inside.
Anna said, “Church women cook the best.” They walked inside and looked over the spread of food scattered on several tables.
Sandy scanned the desserts and pinched off a piece of brownie. “Girl, you know that’s the dad-blamed truth. Death brings them in by the droves.” Anna smacked her on the arm, and Sandy lifted one shoulder, saying, “What? It’s the truth.”
Anna and Sandy left the kitchen and walked into the sanctuary after signing the guest register. Anna hugged George and Lizzie. “I’m sorry about Grandaddy. He’s going to be missed by everyone.”
George kissed her cheek and then Sandy’s. “You two look like you’re up to no good, and Sandy, you have chocolate in the corner of your mouth. Y’all hit the kitchen first?”
Lizzie elbowed him. “Shush. You did, too, and you know it,” she said, and George chuckled.
Anna said, “Your poor mama is going to be exhausted, bless her heart. The receiving line is out the front door and down the sidewalk. Is Ruby in line, too? She doesn’t need to overdo it while she’s still in the first trimester.” Anna quickly noticed the pain flicker across Lizzie’s face. George and Lizzie had been trying to have a baby for years. Anna grabbed Lizzie’s hand and squeezed. Lizzie smiled weakly.
Sandy touched Anna’s arm. “We need to find Ruby and pay our respects. George and Liz, we’ll talk to you before we leave.”
Anna and Sandy made their way through the crowd of people and made small talk as they inched their way to the front of the line. Anna and Sandy ran into their parents, who were sitting together in one of the pews.
Lee and Harry, Ruby’s parents, stood next to the casket, and Ruby sat in a chair beside her mother. Anna gave them each a kiss. “I love you all so much. I’m here if you need me for anything.”
Lee held Anna’s hand. “Anna, we’ve missed your smiling face around here. Ruby says you’re moving home soon?” Lee had no more said the words when Jerry and Rachel walked up behind them.
Anna said, “Yes, ma’am, less than a month now, I’ll be living right back here for good. Now, don’t y’all over do it. I’m sure the guests will understand if you need to take a break.” Lee kissed her cheek and Anna noticed Rachel’s face turned bright red.
Anna and Sandy sat on the front pew of the sanctuary and began to talk with some of their old friends from high school. Granddaddy Campbell had brought in people from all over Middle Tennessee and beyond tonight. Anna wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Granddaddy’s spirit hovered around, listening to all the wonderful stories people were telling about him. He was one of the kindest people Anna had ever known, and she had never heard him say a bad word about anyone.
Anna grimaced, knowing she couldn’t say the same thing about herself. Rachel chatted away with Ruby and Reed. Anna noticed Jerry leave through the side door of the sanctuary toward the kitchen. She leaned over to Sandy and said, “I’m going bear hunting.”
Sandy chuckled and said, “Good luck.”
Instead of drawing attention to herself, Anna decided to go out the front door. Once she was safely out of Rachel’s vision, Anna ran toward the kitchen. She opened the door, and Jerry stood near the desserts eating a piece of chocolate pie. She stepped up to him and placed her hand on his arm. “That stuff will make you fat.”
Jerry licked a piece from the corner of his mouth and chuckled. “True, but what fun would life be without a little sugar?”
God, Anna hadn’t
realized how much she missed him and nearly reached up to kiss him, but stopped herself. “You’ve been a good friend to Ruby and Reed. You were good to me, too.” She choked back tears, and her heart filled with such intense emotion that his expression softened.
“Anna, I’m sorry. I should’ve called and told you I was getting married. I was chicken, to be honest. Besides, you hate me anyway.”
“So not true. Jerry, I—I…” Anna was about to beg him not to marry Rachel when she strolled into the kitchen like a queen.
“Jerry, hon, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I should’ve known you’d be in here stuffing your face.” Rachel turned slightly to Anna and smirked. “I just can’t feed the boy enough. It’s like he has a hollow leg or something. Come on, hon, we need to be out there for Ruby and Reed.” Rachel tossed another glance at Anna and said, “You know what I mean.” Jerry shrugged and allowed Rachel to usher him out the door. Like a dang lap dog.
Anna shook her head and mimicked Rachel’s voice, “I know what you mean, and hon, you mean to keep him as far away from me as possible.”
Someone coughed, and Anna turned to find Brent standing in the doorway, smiling at her. Brent did get better looking every year. She wished she had the hots for Brent, but she only felt friendship.
“Excuse me, Anna, if you want to continue talking to yourself, I’ll leave you to it.” Brent laughed and pretended to walk out the door.
Anna ran over to Brent and threw her arms around him. “Brent, how the hell are ya? I’m sorry. I was trying to talk to Jerry, and his fiancée snatched him away. Why hasn’t some lucky woman snatched you up?”
Brent stretched Anna’s arms out to get a good look at her. “Watch it, precious, sounds like you might be a little bit jealous. As for me, there’s only one woman I’ll ever love, and she’s married.” Brent stepped away and placed his hand on his hip.
Anna’s hand went over her mouth in surprise. Sandy always talked about Brent having the hots for Ruby. “No, I don’t believe it. Are you talking about Ruby?”
Brent walked over to the brownies and grabbed one. “No comment.”
Anna grabbed a brownie, too, and turned to look at him again. “Brent, Sandy said you always had a thing for Ruby, but I didn’t believe her. Did Ruby ever know?”
Brent took a bite of brownie and poured a glass of sweet tea. He swallowed and said, “No, and don’t you be telling her something like that, either. She’s pregnant. Besides, I love Reed and Ruby. What good would it do now? Maybe someday I’ll find Ms. Right.”
“Aren’t we a pair? If you want to know the dad-blamed truth, I’m jealous as hell. What did Scarlett say? I’m just pea green with envy.” They both laughed.
Anna shoved the brownie into her mouth and her cheeks puffed out. Brent draped his arm around Anna and said, “Anytime you feel like making Jerry jealous, I’m all in.” Brent hugged her.
* * *
As the final visitors left the sanctuary, Ruby, Sandy, and Anna sat on the front pew staring at the casket. Ruby said, “Do you think he’s in Heaven?”
With a raised brow, Anna said, “Granddaddy was a saint. If he’s not in Heaven, then I don’t know who would be. Yes, I believe he’s in Heaven.”
Sandy stood and twisted left and right as if to get a kink out of her back. “Let’s go to the kitchen and start wrapping up the food. We need to take it to your mom’s for the wake tomorrow.”
Anna squeezed Ruby’s hand. “You and Reed go home. Sandy and I will take care of the food and take it to your mama’s house.”
Ruby stood with Anna. “I’ll walk with y’all to the kitchen. I’m pretty sure Reed’s in there making a plate now. Poor man’s been starving to death. I’ve been so sick with the baby the last thing I’ve wanted to do is cook.”
Sandy grunted and rolled her eyes. “Reed’s a grown man, and if memory serves, he knows how to cook. You’ve just pampered him to death for the last eight years.”
The girls chatted away as they walked down the hall toward the kitchen. They were giggling about Rachel catching Anna with Jerry.
Harry stood next to the kitchen door. A sad smile lifted the corners of his mouth and tears glistened in his eyes. “Girls, it’s good for an old man’s soul to see y’all together and laughing again. Brings back so many memories.” The girls ran over and placed their arms around him. Harry started crying and that made the three of them cry. He took a step back and reached up to wipe the tears from his eyes with his forefinger and thumb. “I’ll be okay. I’m just becoming a big ole softy.”
Ruby reached up on tiptoe and kissed her dad on the cheek. “It’s just the way I like you.”
Anna followed Ruby and Sandy inside the kitchen, but Rachel had already wrapped and packed all of the food and was on her way to Everglade Farms with Jerry. Reed held onto the only plate left.
Reed snarled and turned his back to them. He glanced over his shoulder and growled. “Sorry, but I’m starving, and I’m not sharing.” He turned back around and filled the room with warm laughter. “Just kidding, want some?” And offered his plate to them, but the girls refused.
Anna fumed with anger, and she gripped the lip of the kitchen counter. “Well, I’m so freaking glad Rachel took care of everything. She’s just made herself indispensable around here. First Jerry, and now my best friend and her family.”
Ruby placed her arm around Anna’s shoulders. “Rachel will never replace you, not in a million, zillion years. I’m exhausted, and I’m craving Tony’s cheeseburgers.”
Sandy and Anna said at the same time, “Yuck.”
Ruby shrugged. “Sorry, but this pregnant woman needs to eat, and the baby wants Tony’s.”
* * *
For the last thirty minutes, Jerry had been staring down at his blank legal pad. Talking with Anna on the phone hadn’t come close to preparing him to talk with her face-to-face. Just seeing Anna in the flesh had thrown him for a loop. He pulled out the bottom drawer of his desk and lifted a box of paper. He grabbed an old photo of him and Anna at Ruby’s wedding. He stared into Anna’s eyes, and a sharp pain hit him in the middle of his chest. What the hell had he had he been thinking when he’d agreed to marry Rachel? He was a damn fool.
A soft knock at his home office door and Rachel stuck her head inside. “May I come in?”
Jerry placed the photo quickly back in the bottom drawer and waved her inside. “You need something?”
Wearing a long pale pink nightgown with a matching robe, Rachel walked behind his desk and kissed him on the head. “No, silly. I don’t need anything. I was just checking on you. You were quiet tonight, and you’ve been in your office for the last two hours. Are you coming to bed?”
Jerry glanced up at her. “Oh, I’ll be along in a little while. I’m just playing catch up. Don’t wait up. You go ahead and go to sleep.”
Rachel hugged him and pressed her face next to his. “Don’t stay up all night. We have to leave early in the morning.”
“Oh, I won’t.”
Rachel walked to the door, paused, and turned back to him. “I love you.”
Jerry didn’t smile, but he glanced down at the drawer and said quietly, “I know.” He could sense Rachel knew what this was about, but she wasn’t saying anything. Jerry had never told Rachel he loved her, and after seeing Anna tonight, he could barely look Rachel in the eyes. She left the room and closed the door.
Jerry couldn’t keep this façade up and knew he should’ve called off the wedding long before Rachel addressed the invitations. He was a damn idiot. Part of him wanted to think he could marry Rachel, but he just couldn’t go through with it. Whether he ever ended up with Anna again or not, he knew he couldn’t marry Rachel. After the funeral tomorrow, Jerry would tell Rachel, and then he would tell her dad. He wasn’t looking forward to either one of those conversations.
Jerry began to scribble notes regarding the new project he had signed on to do for The Baer Company. He wrote for twenty minutes before he stopped again and looked down to re
ad back what he’d written and froze. The words on the page began to change into ancient hieroglyphics and rearranged in an orderly manner into English. It had been over a year since the last message.
An intermediary has been chosen to save her soul. Blood must be spilled to preserve the balance between good and evil. The sun will darken, and the earth will shake when the chosen must set her free or lose both of their souls. And so goes an end of an age.
Jerry read the message over and over again. Who was the chosen one? Whose soul needed saving? Shit on toast. He thought of Ruby and the baby, Anna, and Sandy.
The Campbell Ridge wards needed a meeting, fast, but it would have to wait until Ruby buried her grandfather. He would give Ruby time to grieve, and then they would meet and discuss his message.
The wall clock quietly chimed two o’clock in the morning. Jerry stood from behind the desk and walked over to the maroon leather couch to lay down. He reached behind him, pulled his mother’s old quilt off the back of the couch, and covered up. Jerry couldn’t sleep with Rachel again. He wouldn’t sleep tonight period, but he needed rest even though his brain wouldn’t shut the hell up.
* * *
The next day went by in a blur for Anna. The funeral started at ten and, in no time, she and Sandy were leaving the cemetery for Everglade Farms. Anna said, “I’ve not had one chance to be alone with Jerry, and I fly out tomorrow. I think my window is closing.”
Sandy drove down the curvy backroads of Everglade and whipped around the slower traffic. “Anna, I have a plan. Rachel loves to smoke cigarettes. I’ll take her outside after she’s had a few cocktails and you can corner Jerry. I think I can stave off the woman for about fifteen minutes so you can work your charms.”
Sandy pulled into Ruby’s parents’ driveway, drove around to the back of the house, pulled down the tractor lane toward the barn, and parked. “The whole community must be here. Good grief. Did you get a look at the cars?” Sandy turned off the ignition and chuckled. “Let’s go and kick some Rachel Doune ass.” Anna didn’t have a clue if Sandy’s plan would work, but she had to try something.