Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Beulah
I had made a mistake.
Jasper hugged me, moved back, and released me. He said he needed to be somewhere and left. No other explanation. He had just bolted as if he couldn’t get away fast enough. Was I not supposed to hug him back? I wasn’t sure. Talking to him about Momma made me feel vulnerable. I’d shared with Jasper not only Heidi but now some recollections about my mother. It felt good to be held, to not feel alone.
Maybe I had hugged him too tightly. I had appeared too needy.
I stood there, unsure what to think or do, for a few nervous minutes, and then I cleaned the kitchen. Putting on my new shoes, I rotated my ankles and was shocked at how good they felt. It was time to go see Heidi. I had her to look forward to today. Thinking about Jasper would only ruin my mood..
While I was unlocking my car, Stone pulled into the drive. His black Range Rover fit him. It had that moody, dark and expensive look. I didn’t wait to speak. He wasn’t one to converse with me unless he needed me to do something. Or to warn me to stay in my place.
I quickly put the cupcakes and other treats I’d chosen for Heidi and May into the back seat. Before I could climb inside my car, Stone spoke, and I immediately stilled. “ Not working today?” he asked.
I sighed. As if that was his business. “It’s Sunday. My day off.”
“You got last night off.”
My hand tightened its grip on the door frame. He was so frustrating and was also the angriest, most unhappy human I knew. I responded, “Stone, I didn’t ask for that. On Sunday, I visit my sister. She expects me to be there.”
Stone didn’t seem to care or understand. I had wondered more than once why he hated me.
“I’m not your boss.”
“Then, we agree on something,” I replied before I could bite my tongue.
I winced, and a tug on the corner of his mouth caused me to pause and stare. Had he been on the verge of a smile? The scowl then returned and I figured I must have confused that for something else. I didn’t wait around for more small talk. I got into the car and closed the door. Stone stood there in his jeans and black tee shirt with his arms crossed over his chest. His sunglasses were on like some sexy dark god, which was annoying because I wished that I didn’t notice.
The drive to Among the Spanish Moss was easy. There was never much traffic on Sunday mornings. Walking into the building, I took the plate I’d made for the staff and dropped it off. The lady at the front desk was, unlike Stone, glad to see me.
“Good morning, Beulah. I’ve been looking forward to your visit. We all love these treats.” Tammy, who was fifty, had three grandchildren already. She moved here from Nebraska ten years ago to be near her youngest daughter. She was also one of Heidi’s favorites.
“I added a little extra in there. Y’all enjoy them,” I said to her. “Better go find my girl. I imagine she’s ready for cupcakes.”
Tammy laughed. “Oh yes, she’s come by three times already this morning to tell me you were coming. And that you had cupcakes.”
“Beulah!” Heidi’s voice rang down the hall. “I guess she was headed back for her fourth visit to confirm,” I said, then waved bye to Tammy, stepping in to meet my sister.
“May’s in the activity room. We’ve got to get her,” Heidi told me. She clapped her hands after hugging me when she saw the treats I was holding. “Oh boy! May’s gonna be happy.”
“Then let’s go get her and find us a spot for a picnic with dessert eaten first.”
Heidi giggled with delight. “I love you, Beulah!”
“I love you most,” I replied.
She didn’t argue. She had given up that battle years ago and expected my response. That and Heidi was too excited about the picnic and desserts. We collected May from the activity room and made our way outside. Heidi told me all about the game of soccer they played yesterday and how May scored the winning goal. Once I put the treats down, May blushed a lot and then gave me a bashful hug. They’d picked out a grassy spot beneath a tree.
“I missed you,” May said sweetly.
“I missed you too,” I assured her.
May and Heidi both took a cupcake. They were all pink today. I’d used Skittles for sprinkles because Heidi loved Skittles and squealed whenever she saw them. “It’s like my birthday! But it’s really Vern’s birthday! I should save him a cupcake!”
I didn’t know Vern, but I nodded in agreement.
“You have new shoes,” May noticed. “They’re pretty.”
“Yes, I do. My others were too small.”
May frowned. “My feet stopped growing.”
“They’re supposed to. Mine did the same thing.”
She nodded but didn’t seem convinced. “Your feet may grow at night. Sneaky like. Without even asking.”
“Can we play soccer today?” Heidi asked.
“Of course. I want to see May show off her fancy footwork.”
May’s face lit up. She was proud of herself for the goal.
“Yeah!” Heidi agreed, happy to cheer her friend on. “Where’s your boyfriend, Beulah?”
Her question startled me. “My what?” I asked.
“Your boyfriend that came when I was sick.”
Jasper. Of course, she was referring to Jasper. I replied, “Oh, that’s my boss. Not my boyfriend. I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Heidi grinned. “He is to your boyfriend. He’s handsome. He smiles at you a lot and likes to look at you.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. “He does?” I asked. “Really?”
Heidi nodded and then she and May giggled. “Beulah has a boyfriend,” they began to chant over and over, turning their chant into a song.
I wouldn’t be able to bring Jasper back. Heidi would be sure to mention this to him. I laughed at their silliness and ate another cupcake. The sun was warm, but a cool breeze blew, making it a perfect day to enjoy being outdoors. Our mother would have loved today. She took us outside to spend our Sundays like this. She’d be happy Heidi was here, that she had a place where she had friends and a full life. I was thankful to be able to keep Heidi here, where everything was stable and secure. A life that Heidi could enjoy.
“Momma, I wish you were here,” I whispered before getting up and following the girls out to the open field where the soccer nets were. Both were inviting others to play, and the excitement of the game was obvious. In the back of my mind, the weirdness with Jasper was there, but I focused on my day with Heidi. Doing my best not to worry over it.