Tickled Pink

by Debby Mayne

  I don’t mention the fact that both she and my dad have made one of the mistakes—marrying the wrong person. So we glare at each other.

  Tim saves the moment by joining us. “Hey, there, Ms. Slater. Your flowers are lookin’ good.”

  Mother’s face lights up, causing a jealous twinge through my heart. “Thank you, Tim. It’s nice to know someone appreciates natural beauty.” Her words are meant to hurt me, I’m sure, but I’ve dealt with her anger toward my profession so long it doesn’t even bother me. I’m way past that, but it would still be nice to hear something positive from her once in a while. I don’t know what more I could do to impress her.

  Tim glances back and forth between Mother and me. “Ready, Priscilla?”

  “I sure am.”

  We’re halfway across the yard when Tim stops. “Would you like us to bring you somethin’, Ms. Slater?”

  “No thanks, Tim, but it’s sweet of you to ask.” She watches us as we get into the car before resuming her weeding.

  “Mother probably wonders why you even want to be friends with me.”

  Tim gives me a reassuring smile and places his hand on mine. “That’s not true, and you know it. Your mother loves you.”

  I’m sure he’s right, but it still hurts to know she doesn’t approve of anything in my life. “She has an odd way of showing it.”

  “Some folks don’t know how to show love, and it comes out lookin’ like somethin’ else.”

  I wonder if there’s a hidden meaning behind that statement, and then I remember this is Tim we’re talking about. One of the most endearing qualities in him is his transparency.

  When we pull up in front of the Mosses’ house, I notice the blinds moving in one of the windows. “They know we’re here.”

  Tim nods. “Yeah, I saw that. What do you reckon they’ll wanna eat?”

  “I don’t know. McDonald’s Happy Meals maybe?”

  “I think they’re a little old for Happy Meals.” He chuckles. “But so am I, and I like ’em.”

  By the time we get to the front door, Bonnie Sue has it open, and she’s standing there smiling at us. “This is so awesome.” She pulls her cell phone out from behind her back and aims it at us. “Hold still for a sec so I can take a picture. My friends will be so jealous.”

  “Let’s make it real good,” Tim whispers. “I don’t wanna disappoint her friends.”

  When I nod, he grabs my hand and gives me a look that practically melts my insides, all the way to my toes. I don’t want this moment to end, but as soon as Bonnie Sue clears her throat, Tim drops my hand and gestures for me to go ahead of him. Bonnie Sue takes it all in, making me wonder what she’s thinking.

  “Me and Priscilla are here to take you and your little brother to dinner.”

  “Cool.” She walks over to the bottom of the stairs. “Jack, get your hiney down here right now. We’re goin’ out to dinner with famous people.”

  “I’m not hungry.” Jack’s voice is very high-pitched.

  A look of concern crosses Tim’s face. “Want me to go up there and see about him?”

  Bonnie Sue rolls her eyes. “He’s just bein’ a big baby ’cause he’s not gettin’ much attention from Mama and Daddy, now that Renee’s pregnant. When that baby comes, Jack won’t be the youngest no more, and then he’ll know what it’s like to be a middle child.”

  Tim gives me a look, and I shrug. Bonnie Sue obviously isn’t aware that there won’t be a baby—at least not this time.

  He looks back at Bonnie Sue. “Go get yourself ready to go.”

  She holds her hands out. “I’m always ready.”

  31

  Laura

  My heart aches for my second-born who has just experienced the loss of her own child. I wanna smack one of the doctors who came in and acted all cheerful, sayin’ things like, “Looks like you’re off the hook this time,” and, “You better think twice before you get yourself in this situation again.” He musta skipped out on the compassion class in medical school.

  “Mama, can you call Wilson and tell him about the baby?”

  The look on Pete’s face reminds me of a charging bull. “That boy don’t need to know nothin’,” Pete says. “He wasn’t even decent enough to stand by you when you was carryin’ his baby, so why would you wanna have anything to do with him now?”

  I tug on Pete’s shirt and shake my head when he looks at me. “Not now,” I mouth. I let go of him and step closer to the head of Renee’s bed. “Your daddy will stay here while I go call Wilson.”

  “Laura.” Pete’s tone is low and commanding, and that makes me pause. But I’m still not gonna let him hold me back from doin’ what our daughter wants.

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” I dart out of the room before he has a chance to say another word. I’m not in the mood for arguin’.

  Back before they got too lovey-dovey, I put Wilson’s number in my cell phone, just in case I ever needed it. I’m glad I didn’t follow through on deleting it.

  He don’t answer, so I leave a message that he needs to call me back. Before I click the Off button, I add, “It’s urgent.”

  A few seconds later, my phone vibrates, and I see that it’s Wilson. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Moss, but I’m out of town right now, and I can’t—”

  “Stop right now, Wilson. I’m not askin’ you to come over or do anything else for that matter. I’m callin’ ’cause Renee asked me to let you know she lost the baby.”

  “She did?” His voice sounds way too joyful for the moment. “Can I come see her now?”

  “I thought you were out of town.” Anger returns and simmers throughout my body. I can only imagine what Pete will do to the boy if he shows up.

  “Well, I sorta—”

  “No. If you so much as come within ten feet of my daughter, I’ll—” I stop myself before I say somethin’ he can use in a court of law. “Just stay away, Wilson, and everyone will be fine.”

  “You can’t stop me—”

  I click my phone off and drop it into my purse. What Renee ever saw in that boy is beyond anything I can imagine. Her daddy may have been a drunk when I married him, but he has always had more heart in his little toe than Wilson has in his entire body. And no matter how much Pete had to drink, I never worried about him leavin’ me.

  Pete and Renee are deep in a conversation when I enter the room, and as I get closer, I can see that Renee is close to tears. “But, Daddy, I love him.”

  “You just think you do.” Pete sounds frustrated, but he’s hangin’ in there. “Love is a whole lot more than how you feel when you’re kissin’ or . . . touchin’ each other.”

  Renee turns to me. “Mama, Daddy says Wilson don’t love me.”

  I give Pete a look and hope he gets the silent hint that I wanna talk to our daughter alone. But he doesn’t.

  “Tell your daughter there’s more to love than—” He cuts himself off as he casts a helpless look my way.

  Renee sniffles as I get closer. I grab a tissue from the table and hand it to her. “Your daddy’s right. One of the most important things about love is knowin’ the other person will be there for you no matter what. Wilson hasn’t exactly been there for you.”

  “I’m not stupid,” she says. “Daddy hasn’t always been around when you needed him.”

  Pete’s chin quivers, and that sends daggers shooting through my heart. I touch his shoulder and nod toward the door. “Let me talk to her, okay? Why don’t you go call the house and see how Bonnie Sue and Jack are doin’?”

  As soon as Pete is gone, the corners of Renee’s lips turn downward. “Daddy used to get drunk and go to jail, and you never once told him he couldn’t come back.”

  I suck in a deep breath to keep from blastin’ her with a piece of my mind. I need to keep my head so she don’t think I’m just havin’ a tantrum. “Your father has never once willingly left us, no matter what. Even when he was drunk, he was there for all of us. He never . . . well, he hardly ever took off from work ’cause he kn
ew he had to support his family.” I swallow hard. “He had a sickness, and that’s different.”

  Renee turns her head away, but I still manage to see a tear escape and roll down her face. I wanna hold her and tell her that everything will be all right, but based on my own life, I’m not sure that’ll always be the case. The last thing my daughter needs right now is a lie, even if it is to make her feel better.

  “If you wanna see Wilson, that’s up to you. Just don’t forget what he did when you really needed him.”

  “I’m not stupid.” Renee turns back and looks me in the eye. “But don’t you think he can change?” She sniffles and swallows hard. “I mean, if I love him enough . . . ” Her voice trails off as she turns away.

  Some of my Bible lessons about repentance and forgiveness come to mind, but I know how much Renee hates being preached at. I can still use what I know, but I have to be subtle, or she’ll tune me right out.

  “I know you’re not stupid, Renee. In fact, you’re very smart. As for Wilson changin’, he has to want to change and do it for the right reasons.”

  “How do you know he don’t wanna change?”

  “I never said I thought he didn’t wanna change.” I dig deep and try not to let my opinion of Wilson color what I’m tryin’ to tell her. “If he is sincerely sorry for abandoning you, then I reckon you should forgive him. But that doesn’t mean you have to let him back into your life, only to do it again.”

  “If he’s really sorry, he won’t do it again.” Before I have a chance to say another word, she mentions exactly what’s on my mind. “But then I’ll have to figure out if he’s really sorry or just sayin’ he is to get me to . . . ” She gives me a pained look. “You know.”

  I nod. “Yes, sweetie, I do know. That feelin’ you get when you’re crazy about a boy can make even a smart girl lose her head.”

  “Mama, I love Wilson.” Her chin quivers. “I can’t help it.”

  “Maybe you just think you love him, honey.”

  Renee opens her mouth, but she’s interrupted as Pete comes stormin’ into the room. “No one’s answerin’ the phone. Them young’uns know they’re not s’posed to go nowhere without askin’.”

  I slap my forehead. “I forgot to tell you. Tim said he’d stop by and take them out to eat so we don’t have to worry about feedin’ ’em.”

  Pete looks up at the ceiling, puffs his cheeks, and lets out a breath. “I near ’bout lost my mind with worry.”

  I look down at Renee and smile. “See what I’m talkin’ about? That’s a man who loves his family so much he just about loses his mind with worry when he doesn’t know where they are.”

  Renee closes her eyes and shakes her head. “Mama.”

  “It’s true. If your daddy didn’t worry about y’all, I’d be mad at him.”

  “You shoulda told me.” Pete purses his lips. “What if I had a mind to call the police before comin’ in here.”

  “Why would you call the cops? It ain’t like y’all have babies in the house.” Renee focuses on Pete. “You need to stop treatin’ us like we don’t know nothin’. Trust us.”

  Pete and I exchange a glance. I’m sure he’s thinkin’ the same thing I am—that if we kept better track of ’em, Renee wouldn’t even be lyin’ here in a hospital bed.

  “Or maybe you can’t.” Renee turns away. “At least not me anyway.”

  “Honey, it has nothin’ to do with trust. It’s all about makin’ decisions that are right for you. Your daddy and I don’t think Wilson’s right for you.”

  “Did your mama think Daddy was right for you?” Her face holds even more challenge than her question.

  I glance over at Pete who is waiting for my answer. “She does now.”

  “Well, I just happen to know she was furious when you told her you were marryin’ Daddy, and she even threatened to disown you.”

  Pete steps up between Renee and me. “This has nothin’ to do with us, young lady. This is all about you. After we get you outta here, we need to have a serious little chat about your future . . . and one that don’t include that sorry, good-for-nothin’ loser you think you might be in love with. He is not welcome in our house, ever again.”

  “But Daddy . . . ” Renee looks at me and blinks as her chin quivers. “If I can’t bring him to the house, I’ll just go somewhere else and see him.”

  “You will not—”

  I grab Pete’s belt and pull him away. “This isn’t a good time for that, Pete.”

  “Okay.” He holds up his hands and walks over to the chair in the corner of the room. “It’s never a good time, but one of these days it’ll be too late, and you’ll wish you made it a good time.”

  The doctor comes in with one of the nurses and gently nudges me and Pete out of the room. I hear voices in the room, but I can’t make out what they’re sayin’. Pete is still so upset he can’t say much without it soundin’ like he’s arguin’, so I don’t even bother strikin’ up a conversation with him.

  After the doctor finishes examinin’ Renee, he comes out and says she needs to get some rest and that she can go home in the mornin’. “I gave her a sedative, so she should sleep pretty well tonight. Why don’t the two of you go on home and come back refreshed?”

  “I wanna stay here.” Pete folds his arms and plants his feet about two feet apart. My heart hammers at the sight of my knight in denim.

  “Suit yourself.” The doctor lifts his hand in a wave. “I need to finish my rounds before I leave. Have a good evening, folks.”

  Once he’s gone, I let Pete know I’m tired and I’d like to sleep in my own bed. “You heard what the doctor said.” I take his hand in mine and tug him toward the elevator. “Please drive me home, Pete. I don’t wanna have to call someone.”

  His shoulders rise and fall as he finally gives in. “Oh all right. But you better be ready to come back here at the crack of dawn, or I’m comin’ without ya.”

  “Of course.”

  The house is quiet when we walk in. “Tim and Priscilla must have taken ’em someplace real good,” Pete says.

  “That reminds me. We haven’t eaten yet. Did you want me to fix us somethin’, or do you wanna do carryout?”

  “Can you cook one of them fancy casseroles like you used to make?”

  “I’ll be happy to. Why don’t you go have a seat in your recliner, and I’ll call you when it’s ready?”

  He heads off for the family room without an argument. My husband is exhausted from all the emotional trauma we’ve been through ever since we found out Renee was pregnant with Wilson’s baby.

  I dump all the cheese I have over the frozen vegetables in the casserole dish, which isn’t much since we’ve cut back. The cream soup in the pantry should give it the richness and flavor Pete likes. I finish mixin’ everything and shove it into the oven when I hear the front door slam and my young’uns laughin’ like they’re at a party.

  “Mama, you shoulda seen Tim.” Jack snickers as he enters the kitchen. “He does the best impressions.”

  Tim walks in behind Jack, his face red. “They’re not that good.”

  “Yeah, they are. Show her how you do that guy on the music show.”

  Bonnie Sue and Priscilla haven’t come back to the kitchen, so I wipe my hands to go see where they are. “Just a minute.” I walk through the family room and see that Pete’s snorin’ in his chair, and he’s alone. “Bonnie Sue,” I holler as I walk through the house, half hopin’ I’ll wake my husband so supper doesn’t go to waste.

  “We’re upstairs, Mama. Priscilla said she’d show me how to mix and match my old clothes to make it look like I have new outfits.”

  “Okay. I was just checkin’ to make sure you’re okay.”

  I start back to the kitchen when I hear Bonnie Sue talkin’ to Priscilla. “Mama worries too much. She thinks I’m gonna mess up like Renee did.”

  Before I have a chance to holler that I heard her, Priscilla speaks. “Your mother protects you because she loves you.”

&nbs
p; At least Priscilla is stickin’ up for me. I’m not so sure I woulda done the same for her.

  I get back to the kitchen in time to see Tim actin’ all goofy, makin’ Jack howl with laughter. “Some boys never grow up.” I smile as I say that to make sure Tim knows I’m just funnin’ him.

  “That’s not the whole truth.” Tim makes another funny face. “Deep down, none of us ever grow up, but we hafta act like men to keep you ladies happy.”

  “True. So where did y’all eat?”

  “Olson’s Diner.” Jack rubs his belly. “I had the meatloaf and smashed taters, and they was real good.”

  At least I have some comfort knowin’ my young’uns had a square meal. I look at Tim. “Thanks for takin’ Jack and Bonnie Sue out to eat.”

  “It was our pleasure.” He slips into his regular self and sits down at the table. “So how’s Renee feelin’?”

  “Better, but I’m worried she’ll get back with that loser Wilson.”

  Tim frowns and shakes his head. “Maybe not. She’s a smart girl.”

  “Now that she’s not pregnant anymore, he wants to see her again.” I open the oven door to make sure the cheese isn’t burning before closing it and turning around to face Tim. “Pete’s furious.”

  “I understand Pete’s feelings,” Tim says slowly, “but I do think it’s best if Renee’s the one makin’ the decision. Otherwise, you’ll wind up with a battle on your hands.”

  “Oh, I know it.”

  “From what I’ve seen, teenagers and young adults think they know more than their mamas and daddies.”

  I tilt my head and give him a long look. “Are you sure you’re not a parent, Tim? You sure do know a lot about young’uns.”

  “That’s ’cause I still sorta think like they do.” He makes a face at Jack. “Mama says it’s a wonder I can make it on my own since I never grew up.”

  Bonnie Sue comes waltzin’ into the kitchen wearin’ an outfit I never saw before. “Did you just buy that?”

  “No.” She smiles and points her thumb at Priscilla who is right behind her. “Priscilla took pieces of other outfits and put them together for me. Ain’t it cute?”