Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Rita surprised me by selecting a second slice of pizza after I took mine; her appetite had definitely improved since rehab.
Dusk had quickly turned to darkness, though she insisted I turn on the porch light even if it drew moths.
“It’s not as if we’re on stage,” she said.
“Now that September is more than halfway gone, hardly anyone passes by in the evenings to go to the beach.”
“I’ve noticed that,” I said. “I guess it’s practically deserted in the winter.”
She nodded her agreement. “We get the morning walkers and maybe a few others before dark but, yes, there aren’t many people around.”
I took a sip of my beer, thinking about how alone she must feel with so many friends gone. “You broke your hip last winter, so who did you call?”
“Oh, my, that was a horrible situation. It happened on a Saturday in early March after a winter storm. We didn’t get much snow, but we had icy conditions, so I tossed those white pellets on the driveway. Unfortunately, I slipped and fell.”
“Did you have your phone?”
“No, I never thought to bring it outside with me. I laid there for a while until I decided I’d better scoot myself to the street so someone would find me before I froze to death.”
“With a broken hip? That must have been painful.”
“Yes, it hurt like the dickens and it was so darn cold.”
“Who found you?” I pressed.
“I don’t know. I woke up in recovery at the hospital after the hip replacement, but the rest was a blur. I’d like to thank the person who saved me, although it might have been my guardian angel.”
“Maybe,” I agreed. “Did you tell the hospital to call Wyatt?”
She sighed, shaking her head. “They needed an emergency contact, so I told them I only had a grandson but he wouldn’t know me if we passed on the street. Turns out, they called him—and he came immediately. It surprised the heck out of me.”
“He’s a good guy.”
“He is,” she agreed. “I think my daughter taught him well, though she’s dead and gone. I don’t know if Heather can keep him grounded, but I hope so.” She held the bottle of beer to her lips and finished the last drop. “On that note, I’ll say goodnight.”
I smiled. “Me, too. Do you want to keep the leftover pizza?”
“It’s yours, honey. Take it upstairs and have it for breakfast, or call Heather and see if she’s still hungry.”
I nodded. “I might do that. Good night, Rita, and sleep well. I’ll check on you in the morning.” I now knew why that seemed so important to her.
Rita took the two empty bottles inside with her, and I heard her click the lock on the front door shortly before she turned off the porch light.
The street lamp lit my way to the outer stairs on the side of the house, then the security light at the top of the steps flipped on when it sensed my presence.
Brad had installed that at one point during the summer, which I really appreciated.
Placing the pizza box on the kitchen table, I reached for the phone in my pocket to call Heather. She answered with a muted, “Sorry we didn’t get over there tonight.”
“What happened?”
She paused for a second. “We’re just tired.” The voice didn’t sound like the Heather I knew.
“Where’s Alicia?”
“In your room.” She gave a half-hearted chuckle. “I guess it’s her room now. That was nice of you to decorate her bed.”
“Rita suggested it. The card was a billet-doux.”
“What’s that?”
I couldn’t help laughing. “Something the prince would have left for Cinderella. Anyway, there’s plenty more pizza if you want to come over. Rita went to bed, so I’m upstairs.”
She hesitated. “I’d better not. I mean, Ali might not be able to sleep and she’ll wonder where I am.”
“She’s not a little kid. Leave a note, if it makes you feel any better.”
“I don’t know, Jodie. She’s struggling with so much that I hate to leave her alone.”
“You’ll be right next door,” I said firmly. “I’m turning on the oven now to heat the pizza, so hurry up.”
To my relief, it didn’t take much to convince Heather, and I was happy to have the chance to catch up with my friend. I took the remaining slices of pizza from the box and put them in a pan which went in the oven.
I didn’t have any beer, but the box of wine in the fridge felt half-full, so I took two wine glasses from the cabinet. The night just kept getting better.
I sat on the balcony waiting for Heather, and called to her when I saw her emerge from her garage, heading to the sidewalk. “I’m up here, and the kitchen door is open.” She looked up and waved.
From the back door, she let me know of her arrival and we met in the living room. I received a bear hug before she dropped into the sofa’s plush cushions with tears in her eyes. “Oh, Jodie,” she moaned. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
I scooted next to her. “If I recall, you once told me to talk about the things that upset me, and that’s what you’re going to do tonight. I’m sure you’re hungry, so let’s get the pizza out of the oven and pour some wine.”
She used her knuckle to clear her eyes. “Yes, my friend. I’m ready.”
I couldn’t resist putting a slice on a paper plate for me after she put three slices on hers. We carried those and our glasses of wine to the balcony to enjoy slight breezes of a balmy evening.
Although Heather had helped Wyatt paint the apartment, I didn’t think she’d been back once I settled in.
Rita had bought new furniture and I’d added my own touches to make it a comfortable abode.
As we sat on the puffy cushion of the wicker loveseat and placed our plates and napkins on the coffee table, she teased, “No more plastic chairs out here?”
“Nope, and if you bend from the waist at a forty-five degree angle, you can see the ocean.” I laughed when she leaned toward me and gazed toward the beach.
“The light from the street lamp makes the beach too dark.”
“Well, you can see the ocean during the day.” I didn’t bother to rub it in that her gorgeous home blocked our view.
She took a sip of wine, then tackled her first slice of pizza. I figured she needed to eat, and I didn’t want to be the one to bring up the topic of her daughter, so I told her about my wedding gown, as well as the one for Angela as Matron of Honor.
“I guess I’d better start looking for something appropriate,” she said. “It has to be royal blue?”
“I thought that would look nice since the groom and the groomsmen are wearing navy blue.”
I showed her the photo of my gown, then Angela in hers. “What do you think?”
“You’ll look gorgeous on your wedding day and Brad’s a lucky guy. Are you getting nervous?”
“Every once in a while I get a twinge of anxiety, then I see something that makes me realize Brad and I are meant for each other.”
“I have no doubt of that,” she said, wiping her hands with a napkin. “I told you my crystals would work.”
I laughed. “Yes, you did.” Feeling plucky, I asked, “What type of crystal will help Alicia?”
Heather looked at me with a sad expression. “I’d say clear crystal and amethyst for healing, and I happen to have both, but I doubt she’ll be open to their power. I told you she blamed me for the divorce, and she’s taking her anger and frustration out on me.”
“Why’d she agree to come home with you?”
She sighed. “I have no idea, unless her father gave her an ultimatum or something. I wouldn’t doubt it.”
“You mean to ruin your relationship with Wyatt?”
“Sure,” she nodded. “When he called me, I specifically told him I was in Morocco with a famous photographer. I’ll admit to playing my cards to make him jealous, but he knows how to get to me. I’m a mother, and I’d drop everything to care for my baby.”
“But she’s no longer a baby. When did she get so snooty?”
“You noticed? She treats me as if I’m her maid, but I won’t tolerate that. I’ll set expectations tomorrow.” She gave a firm nod, though I wondered if she could follow through.
I decided it might be better for her to put her worries aside and talk about something more pleasant. “What’s Morocco like?” I asked.
Her face lit up. “It’s a photographer’s dream!
Wyatt and I have been taking pictures from morning to night, and I can hardly wait to start painting again.
I left him in Marrakech, where he’ll stay another week, then he’ll go through Gibraltar to Spain.
He’s been there before, but he wanted to show me his favorite places. ”
“Was he angry you had to leave?”
She shook her head. “No, he was disappointed, but not at all angry. I can’t tell you how much I miss him already.” She pulled out her phone and scrolled to show me photos of some beautiful sights.
I completely understood her disappointment about leaving Wyatt. She’d found her perfect partner, as I had, yet her daughter needed her. I wished Alicia would someday recognize the sacrifice her mother had made.
By nine-thirty, she could hardly keep her eyes open. The jet lag, travel, and wine had done her in, and she wanted to go to bed. I offered to walk her home, but she felt fine, so I merely kept an eye on her from the balcony.
I tossed our trash and put our glasses in the dishwasher, then locked up and prepared for bed. It had been a long day for me, yet one in which I’d conquered another fear, so I felt good. After I got under the covers, I’d call Brad, and that was something to look forward to.