Chapter 28
For the first time in months Beth had a date. A real date, and one that she was excited about, a guy she was excited about. But instead of being able to focus completely on that, her younger brother was making a nuisance of himself. Just like when they were teenagers.
“Do you really think that this is a smart idea?” Jonny asked from his perch on the end of Beth’s bed.
Beth was a little taken aback by his comment.
Jonny was rarely critical about anything she did.
Taking another look at her reflection in the mirror that hung over her dresser, she shrugged.
“I know I shouldn’t want to wear any makeup, but this is just a little bit of mascara.
” Feeling his judgmental gaze on her back, she added, “I might have brushed a little bit of bronzer on my cheeks, too, but I’m so pale.
It’s not the end of the world, Jon. I’m not Amish yet. ”
Leaning back on his hands—which were positioned behind him on her neatly made twin bed—her brother snorted. “I could care less how much makeup you’re wearing.”
“Are you sure? Because you’ve been kind of glaring at my reflection.”
“I haven’t been glaring. Don’t be so dramatic.”
“Sorry, but you kind of have been shooting disproving looks at my back.” After smoothing back her hair, which she’d left long, she decided she was as ready as she’d ever be for her date.
Well, she would be if she could get her brother to leave her room.
Turning to him, she smiled. “What do you think?”
“I think you look fine.”
“Fine? That’s it?”
“What else do you want me to say? You’re my sister, not my wife.”
She supposed he had a point. “How about this, then? Do I look really pregnant?”
Jonny sat up and studied her. “I think women look pregnant or they don’t. There aren’t varying degrees.”
“You’re wrong about that.” When he frowned, she exhaled. “I don’t even know why I’m talking to you about makeup and my baby bump, anyway.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh yeah. Because you were asking if I thought wearing mascara on my pale-blond eyelashes was smart.”
“I wasn’t talking about your eyelashes, Bethy. I was talking about this date.” He sounded annoyed.
“Why would you think going out to supper with Junior Lambright wouldn’t be smart?”
“There are about three good reasons to start with.”
Boy, she hated it when her younger brother tried to act like he was the boss of her. Feeling like they were kids again, she turned to face him. “Like what?”
“One, you’re pregnant.”
Oh! He’d had the gall to hold up a finger. “Junior’s already figured that out, Jon.”
“Still.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “Is that reason number two?” she asked with false sweetness.
“No.” He got off the bed. “Reason number two is that he’s thirty-five years old.”
“That’s not a surprise, either.”
“He’s too old for you, Beth.”
“He’s not. I’m twenty-eight. Seven years isn’t a big deal.”
“It is when you’re older.”
“It would’ve been a problem if he was eighteen and I was eleven, too. But it isn’t a problem now.” She rolled her eyes. “I cannot even believe you.”
“Just because you don’t want to hear what I have to say doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
He looked so smug. “I agree, but in this case, you are wrong!”
“Beth, stop yelling!” Mommi called up the stairs.
She winced. “Sorry!” she called out. Lowering her voice, she said, “Well, don’t stop now. Tell me the third reason.”
“Why should I? You’re not even listening to me.”
“I have been listening. I just haven’t been agreeing with you. Now just tell me your third reason so I can get you out of my room.”
He strode toward the door. “Fine. You work for him. You can’t date your boss.”
“He’s not my boss.” He was her almost-boss.
“He owns Walden Wax Works, Beth!”
“I know that!”
“Jonny and Elizabeth Schrock!” Mommi called. “What are you two doing?”
“We’re arguing, Mommi!”
“Well, stop it now. You two are too old for this.”
“We aren’t!” Beth yelled. When they heard boots stomp on the stairs, she pointed to the door. “Good for you, Jonny. You’ve brought Dawdi up here.”
Jonny paled slightly. “He canna blame me—Oh. Hey, Martin.”
“Hi.” Looking like he was trying not to smile, he turned to face Beth. “Having fun?”
Beyond frustrated, she grabbed her purse. “No. I cannot even believe that my baby brother is dispensing words of wisdom. Sorry you had to get involved.”
“I didn’t care. Though I admit that this is a first. Way to go, Jon.”
“Stop. I’m already baptized and happily married. I might be younger than the two of you, but I think I’m doing something right.”
“Please. You have Treva to thank for all of your good fortune,” Martin countered. “And don’t say a word because your wife is here and we’ve all been listening to the two of you act like you are fifteen years younger.”
Jonny groaned. “Treva is never going to let me live this down. Why didn’t you tell me that before?”
“Mainly because I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.” While Jonny muttered something under his breath and strode down the hall, Martin grinned. “It was also kind of fun listening to the two of you embarrass yourselves.”
Beth was hurt. “Martin, that is kind of mean. All I was doing was defending myself.”
“Maybe. Or . . . maybe you were having a good time acting like a kid again.”
Exchanging glances with Jonny, Beth felt all her irritation with him fade away. “It was kind of fun, but I’m sorry that I got so mad.”
“Don’t worry about it. Richard told me that Kelsey got real emotional over every little thing he said when she was pregnant. I shouldn’t have egged you on.”
Martin chuckled. “When we were kids, I would have given anything for the two of you to apologize and move on so easily.”
“Whatever, Martin.”
“Don’t get annoyed with me now. Listening was fun. Plus, Junior looked a little stunned.”
“Junior is here, too? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“I came up here to tell you.”
“Oh, stop!” she blurted. “You know you could’ve come up earlier.”
“Sorry, Bethy. But, for the record, I think your eyelashes look great.”
He’d been listening that long? “I hate you right now.”
He threw an arm over her shoulder as they headed to the stairs. “I know you don’t.”
“I don’t. I love you. But, oh my gosh.” And then she didn’t have anything to say, because there was Junior, standing next to Treva, Jonny, her grandparents, and Patti. “Hey, Junior,” she said weakly. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“I didn’t mind,” he said as he moved to her side. Lowering his voice, he added, “Besides, we both know I’m kind of used to it.”
Her embarrassment was now complete.
Two hours later, after they’d demolished half a pizza, she was smiling at him. “This was a fun night. Thank you for taking me out.”
“I hope we do it again.”
“I hope so, too.”
Leaning back against the fake leather red seat in the booth, Junior said, “Hey, Beth, may I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Did you agree with any of those things that Jonny was saying?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Junior, I don’t know what the ‘right’ thing to do is anymore. All I know is that I want to worry less about what other people think and more about what I want.”
He leaned forward. “What do you want?”
“I want to be around you,” she admitted. “I don’t care that I’m pregnant and you’re seven years older and that I still can’t quite give up my mascara. When I’m with you, none of that matters.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. “Beth, I know we need to spend more time together, and I’m willing to do that. But even now, I know a couple of things, too.”
“What?”
“One, I don’t care about our ages because I want you in my life. Two, I want to be a part of your life and your baby’s life. And three, I could care less if you work for me or sell real estate or don’t want to work ever again. I just want you.”
“I just want you, too.”
“Then let’s get out of here so I can kiss you again.”
She smiled when he signaled for the check.