Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
My back porch light came on automatically when I pulled into my parking spot behind the apartment, which I appreciated. Totally dark otherwise, I grabbed my purse from the seat next to me and my keys from the pocket of my armrest, and scurried to unlock the kitchen door.
One of the disadvantages of going back and forth to two different apartments was a disordered sense of being home. Once I unlocked the door and turned on the inside lights, I’d remind myself that I could relax. Still, it took a while to acclimate.
I felt unusually tired for a Monday night, no doubt due to worrying about Rita, my emotional meltdown after Alicia’s words, and the stressful drive home during rush hour, most of which was on the Philadelphia side.
I decided that a warm shower and a cup of hot decaf tea would ease my tension before bed.
Undressing, I put my phone on the charger and noticed two voicemails from Heather and one from Rita, both of which I’d listen to after my shower. I intended to return Heather’s call when I got in bed, but Rita’s would have to wait until morning since it was past her bedtime.
The shower helped to relax me so much that I didn’t bother making the tea. Instead, I fluffed the pillows on my bed and slid under the covers, then listened to Rita’s voicemail.
“Heather said you had to go home, so I hope everything is okay. I’ll say a little prayer for you, but call me tomorrow.”
In a way, I wished I’d ignored Alicia’s hurtful words so I’d still be at the shore, able to check on Rita.
Of course, I wouldn’t have had such a pleasant evening with Brad, and I recognized there were tradeoffs with everything in life.
We made choices, which we couldn’t take back. That’s how it was.
Heather’s first message was an incredulous, “What the heck? Why did you leave me with a sick neighbor and a daughter I can’t handle? Call me back when you’re able.”
Her second message was a simple, “Please call me.”
Although it was a little after ten o’clock, I got back to her. When she answered, I said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t plan to leave. Is Rita all right?”
“You ask about Rita when I’ve been worried sick about you? What the heck happened?”
I honestly didn’t know what to say. If I told her the truth, she’d be angry with her daughter, and I didn’t want that. Nor did I want to lie. I made a choice, saying, “I don’t remember the exact sequence of events, but I felt that I’d be in the way, so I came back here.”
“What do you mean you’d be in the way? Rita asked for you, and she seemed to really want you here. I needed you, too, yet you disappeared. I won’t even mention my daughter who decided to walk the beach until like twenty minutes ago. I was ready to call the cops if she hadn’t returned.”
“I’m really sorry,” I said lamely. My words probably didn’t count for much but I wanted to diffuse the situation. “Did you all enjoy the barbecue takeout?”
“Rita and Alicia weren’t hungry, so I didn’t bother stopping. Instead, I just toasted a bagel for my supper.”
“I’m very sorry,” I said again.
“Don’t be. Wyatt left a bottle of wine here, and I drank it all. Every last bit. All for me.” She giggled to reinforce her words.
“Oh, no. Heather, you’re going to be sick tomorrow!”
“Right,” she agreed. “So, can you come back to help me?”
“Help you with what?”
“My daughter. I need help with Ali. And with Rita. To be honest, I need help with both of them.”
“Rita’s going to be fine,” I said, “and I think she’ll be able to help you with Alicia because they’ve bonded.”
“I thought so, too, but something happened. It must have upset Ali enough that she needed to walk on the beach for hours.”
“Hopefully, she’s over her funk,” I replied sympathetically. “I have to post on my blog tomorrow because I’m several days behind, then I’ll figure out when to return. In the meantime, let’s both get a good night sleep.”
She yawned, followed by a hiccup. “I’m already in bed. How about you?” She paused. “Oh, no! Are you with Brad?”
“Nope. We had a nice dinner together, and I’m snug in my bed at the apartment. How about I call you tomorrow to let you know my plans?”
“I’d like that, Jodie, and I think I need to say goodnight.”
We laughed, then I disconnected. As I drifted to sleep, my thoughts focused on the friendships I’d developed since I began to come alive after the sudden death of my husband and son.
Meeting Heather had changed the trajectory of my life, and that led to my meeting Brad Davenport.
Going to the shore to visit Heather led to my introduction to Rita Bennett. Each of them had an impact on my life.
Would I let some kid half my age influence my friendships? Never! At least, not any more.
Brad called the next morning to invite me to breakfast, not that he planned to cook. He had a two-for-one coupon to a local fast-food eatery and he thought we should take advantage of the offer. I didn’t hesitate to agree.
When he honked his arrival, I threw on my fall jacket and climbed into the passenger seat of his pickup truck. He leaned in for a tantalizing kiss, which I gladly returned. It delighted me to think we’d have such a greeting every morning for the rest of our lives.
I was surprised to see so many cars in line for people to order an early breakfast. As we waited our turn, Brad told me his plans for the day, and they included a meeting with his team at five p.m., then inventory of his shop with Nina and Paolo Carduso.
“Both of them?” I asked.
“Yes, Nina’s sister is staying with them, so she can watch the baby. Eventually, Nina will manage the shop all day, and Paolo will take over until closing at nine o’clock.”
“When was that decided?” I was just curious.
He turned to look at me. “On Friday. Didn’t I tell you?”
“No, but that’s okay because we talked about it. I’m glad they liked the new direction. Are they happy about moving into the apartment after we’re married?”
“They’re ecstatic.” His eyes crinkled with delight. "As you know, Nina would help Heather’s Aunt Bertha in the consignment shop. Sometimes, that included carrying things to the apartment, so she thinks the place will be perfect for their family.”
I nodded my agreement. “Did you decide to charge rent?” I thought he should, but he’d hesitated when we discussed it.
“They offered an amount they could afford, and I accepted. I was going to talk to you about it, but you had to pick up Heather and her daughter at the airport, so I didn’t want to bother you.”
“I’m sure it’s better than what you’re getting now,” I teased. He hadn’t charged me a cent, if I would help him with his business, which I did. Then, we fell in love.
Brad moved forward to order, and he presented the coupon for two meals which included a beverage. We both asked for coffee and creamer. He paid, collected our breakfasts, and parked alongside other early birds in their cars.
I first tried to sip my coffee, but it was steaming hot. Brad managed to enjoy his since he used all of the creamers. I turned to unwrap my egg sandwich, then took a bite.
“What are your plans for today?” he asked.
“I have to call Rita and write my blog. Elsa Kroger, my boss, is probably chewing nails.”
He laughed. “Elsa will get over it. How’s Rita doing?”
“I think she’ll be fine. Heather, however, is another story. She’s upset that I left abruptly and she can’t handle Alicia.”
“Let me guess,” he said. “She needs your help.”
“So she says, but I’m angry with myself that I let Alicia get under my skin. I think I have to fix that.”
“That’s probably a good idea, honey. I’m going to be tied up all week, if you want to head back to the shore.”
“I think I should.”
So, we decided I’d finish what I needed to accomplish here, then drive to Stone Harbor. I had a feeling Rita and Heather would be happy about that, and I wanted to prove to Alicia and myself that I wasn’t “just an upstairs tenant.”
If it looked as if the pleasant weather would hold out, Brad thought he might be able to join me there for the weekend. In the meantime, we’d talk by phone every night.
That worked for both of us.