Chapter 11
DAISY Scandalized
Dinner was absolutely delicious, Amelia,” I said, stretching in my chair because I was so full.
“First butter beans of the season,” Elizabeth said. It was a very Southern way of letting me know that she had actually been the one to do the cooking.
“Well, they were perfect,” Mason said.
“And, Aunt Tilley, that pie,” Parker said.
“Strawberry pie is my Parker’s very favorite dish in the world,” Aunt Tilley said.
“It is that,” he agreed.
“And fried okra is my Robbie’s,” she added.
“Not just any fried okra,” Trina chimed in. “Aunt Tilley’s fried okra.”
Aunt Tilley beamed as Robbie squeezed her arm.
I stood to help clear the dishes, to which Olivia protested, “Guests are not allowed to help with the dishes!”
“Oh, but I’m still in my scrubs and you all look so pretty.”
“Ordinarily,” Amelia said, “I would argue with you, but if we don’t let you help, you’ll be stuck in here with all the men.”
“I’m off for a cigar,” Mr. Thaysden said.
He and Mr. Saxton excused themselves quickly as Trina, Elizabeth, Olivia, and Aunt Tilley stood to join me.
The kids had long since scattered, and the preacher’s wife had excused herself when the men brought out the bourbon.
I wasn’t sure if she was offended by the alcohol or just full from the pie.
Either way, the room seemed a little lighter in her absence.
I gathered a plate and place setting of silver in each hand, afraid to try to balance more. I could tell everything around the table was a family heirloom, some pieces as old as this house, and I wasn’t going to be the one to call time of death on any of them.
Aunt Tilley had already donned a pair of dish gloves with a funny fake diamond ring on them and was filling the sink with soap. I thought about grabbing a drying towel, but, since this ritual took place weekly without me, I didn’t want to overstep.
“I’ve just never heard of such a thing happening in Cape Carolina,” Mason’s mom was saying as I put my plates down on the counter.
“Never?” Elizabeth asked. “Don’t act so scandalized, Olivia.”
Amelia rolled her eyes at me, which indicated that this was common practice, not an argument, which relaxed me.
I avoided confrontation, and in my profession, I was around my share. If you want to see perfectly sane and in-love parents fight, put them in the worst day of their lives, when their kid’s life is on the line.
“We all know of situations like this,” Tilley said, her glove rhinestone sparkling as she washed the dishes.
“But the baby in the dumpster is kind of extreme,” Amelia added.
I stood back and studied them, this group of women who were so clearly family, yet not all of them were related by blood.
I’d seen this in Steel Magnolias. And, sure, don’t get me wrong, I loved my family.
But they weren’t quite like this. We never gathered around and chatted and dried the dishes together.
I wanted to do it forever. Wasn’t this why I’d moved?
To find a warm community? I wanted to be part of a family like this that knew decades of each other’s secrets and held all the town history.
“Well, let’s not talk of such unpleasant things,” Tilley said.
I studied her, wondering what was going on inside her head.
Here was this woman, probably no older than my father, dressed strangely but talking totally sensibly.
Interesting. “Are you and Parker taking a trip for your anniversary?” she asked Amelia.
“I can’t believe it has been five years!” Olivia said.
“Since all our dreams came true,” Elizabeth said, clutching her drying cloth to her heart.
Sure, I was new here, but even I knew Southern best friends had wanted their children to marry each other since the beginning of time, so this wasn’t a big leap.
“Oh, I wish we were going on a trip,” Amelia said. “But you know we can’t leave the twins.” She shifted her eyes toward Aunt Tilley, and I realized she couldn’t leave her either.
“Amelia, surely we can handle our own grandchildren for a few days,” Elizabeth said.
I don’t know what made me say, “I could keep them for you.” Everyone looked at me like they’d just remembered I was standing there.
“Really?” Amelia asked.
“Sure,” I said. “I mean, I am a NICU nurse, so kids are kind of my thing.” Why was I talking them into this?
I was just getting settled in town, and, yes, I had days off, but I surely didn’t need anything else to do.
Applying for a new job, moving to a new town, offering to do this off the cuff… Was I becoming impulsive?
“I could stay right here, and I bet Aunt Tilley would be a big help to me.” I raised my eyebrow ever-so-slightly just to Amelia so that she would get the picture. I knew that I would be keeping an eye on her three-year-olds and her aunt.
Much to my surprise, Amelia threw her arms around me.
“Parker is going to be so excited! And, of course, we can work around your schedule, and Mom and Olivia will be right here. And so will Mason and—” She hugged me again.
Over my shoulder, I could see Olivia and Elizabeth sharing annoyed looks, and I wondered if I’d just stepped into something.
Well, never mind. Amelia was just so happy. Had I found a crush and a best friend my very first week in a brand-new place? Only time would tell.