Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
I left in time to shop for groceries in Cape May Courthouse before I crossed the causeway into Stone Harbor.
I planned to buy for two, meaning Rita and me, and I had a fairly good idea of what she enjoyed eating.
She liked sweet foods for breakfast, sandwiches or soup for lunch, and something light for supper.
In some ways, our tastes were similar, so it was easy to pick up two of most things. Before I got back on the road, I also grabbed a box of wine for my refrigerator, just in case. I hadn’t mentally defined “just in case,” but I wanted to be ready.
I pulled into Rita’s driveway at four-thirty, just about the time I told her to expect me. She must have been waiting for me in the kitchen, because she opened that door and waved.
“Welcome home,” she called.
I stood and stretched. “I’m glad to be back.”
I had separated our groceries, so I knew which bags to carry first. She offered to help, though I convinced her that holding the door would be appreciated much more.
“For heaven’s sake,” she said when I passed by with the first three bags, “how much did you buy?”
“Enough to last at least a week for each of us. I found some great bargains, too.”
She laughed. “I usually hate to put away groceries, but I can’t wait to see what you bought.”
“I have a few more bags for you, then I have to lug mine up the steps.”
“You went overboard,” she said. “Are you trying to make me gain weight?”
“No. I just don’t want you to lose any more than you have already. And Wyatt won’t be very happy to see you so thin, either.”
“Is he coming home soon?”
“I don’t know. I was just making a point.”
She smiled whimsically. “I suppose he’ll be here when he’s ready. After all, he’ll want to see Heather soon.”
“I would imagine so,” I agreed, carrying the last of her bags. “You can unpack your groceries while I take mine upstairs.”
“I can help you.” She started to walk toward my car.
“Rita, I don’t want to worry about you falling on the steps if the weight of the bags shift. Let me get my things upstairs while you put yours away, then we can sit on my balcony and eat supper together.”
“I’d like that,” she agreed. “What shall we have.”
“Well,” I said, “after I went to the grocery store, I stopped at the barbecue place Heather mentioned yesterday and bought an order of the pulled pork. We can split it if you’re in the mood.”
“Yes, I’d enjoy that today. I couldn’t eat after you took off. Not that I blamed you. I told that brat she should mind her own business. Who did she think she was to define my best friend and confidante as ‘the upstairs tenant.’”
I laughed because she used quotation marks around “the upstairs tenant,” though her words touched me.
“I shouldn’t have let Alicia’s comment hurt me so deeply,” I stated, “but it did. You didn’t respond, which made me think you agreed with her, so I left.
As I told you this morning, I overreacted, and I hope you’ll forgive me for that. ”
“Yesterday is one I’d rather forget,” Rita said. “Was that just yesterday? I’m really glad you’ve come back, and I thank you.”
I smiled. “All right, let’s get moving because you have ice cream among your bags.”
“Tin Roof Sundae?” she asked with a broad grin. “It doesn’t matter which kind. You know I love my ice cream.”
Laughing, I said, “I’ll text you when I’m ready, and you can let me know when you’re coming.”
She smiled with tears in her eyes. “Oh, Jodie. I’m so happy you’re home.”
I heated two small dinner rolls in the microwave, then Rita and I made our pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw.
Taking our plates to the balcony, we enjoyed the background sounds of rolling waves offset by squawking seagulls.
Luckily, Heather’s house blocked the sea breezes that blew in from the east.
“This is delicious,” Rita said. “I don’t think I ever noticed a barbecue store on the mainland. Is it new?”
“It’s more like a food truck in the parking lot.” I took a bite and agreed with Rita’s assessment. “It really is good, and they give generous portions.”
“We probably should have invited Heather and Alicia,” she noted. “Then again, it might have invoked bad Karma.”
I laughed. “True, although we could invite them for a glass of wine since I bought a box.”
“It’s fine with me if you want to call. Tell her the sunset is gearing up to be spectacular.”
Heather seemed delighted that I’d returned and happy to be invited over to watch the sunset. Alicia, however, had gone to the gym, so she wouldn’t be joining us.
“Just as well,” Rita said when I disconnected. “Maybe she’ll meet up with that waiter, and that might be good for her.”
I nodded my agreement. “I hope so.” More than anything, though, I needed time to soften any words I might have for her.
By the time we finished our sandwiches and cleaned up the kitchen, the sun had begun to slip below the horizon. Magenta and orange clouds intermingled, and golden ribbons streamed among them. It was a gorgeous sunset.
I opened the box of wine while Rita sliced a block of cheese, then I poured three glasses while she opened the box of crackers. We made a good team, I thought. Had it been only the day before when I found her on the bathroom floor?
The reflection tugged at my memory, and I reached for my purse hanging on the back of a kitchen chair. “I have your house keys,” I said.
She shook her head. “I have another set, so I want you to hold onto those. You would have found me much sooner if you had them yesterday.”
“True,” I agreed. “You can put them in a kitchen drawer for safe-keeping.” I pointed to the one nearest the sink.
With that out of the way, we each picked up a glass of wine and headed to the balcony. I saw Heather on the sidewalk below and called, “We’re starting without you, so hurry. The kitchen door is open.”
She laughed and picked up her pace.
When she joined us, she had a piece of cheese in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. Taking the wicker chair, she said, “I decided I’d better stay off the wine tonight. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.” I’d forgotten about the whole bottle she drank the night before. “We’re just glad you could come.”
“Me, too, because I’ve been dragging all day. I tried to do some artwork this afternoon, but it didn’t turn out well.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to cause such a mess for everyone.”
Rita frowned before taking a sip of wine. “Let’s forget about yesterday and enjoy this beautiful evening.”
Heather nodded her agreement, then smiled. “I have some good news, Rita. Your grandson will be flying into Philadelphia on Saturday.”
“Does he plan to come see me?”
“Of course. You’re the reason he cut his trip short.”
“I don’t want him blaming me,” Rita replied. “What did you tell him?" She looked frustrated.
“Only that you had a fall, but you’re fine. Frankly, I think he misses me.”
I covered my reaction to her last words with a sip of wine, then innocently asked, “Where will he be staying?”
“We haven’t quite figured that out, but I’m thinking about going with him to his condo for a few days.”
“How does Alicia feel about that?” Rita asked.
“Other than her wanting me to get back together with her father, which isn’t going to happen, she’s an adult. I’m sure she’s had plenty of boyfriends.” She looked cavalier for one who cut her trip with Wyatt short because of her daughter’s illness.
“So,” Rita said, “he’s not coming to see me.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that,” Heather replied. “Once Wyatt knew you were okay, he didn’t need to hurry. I mean, you should see how much laundry he needs to do. Don’t worry, though. He’ll be here to check on you.”
Rita took a long sip of wine before calmly saying, “I’ll look forward to that.”
I knew Rita wouldn’t last long after that news. She wanted so much for her only remaining relative to make her his priority, but he didn’t. He’d be there for her if she needed him, as he was when she broke her hip, but he wouldn’t hover over her.
I doubted she wanted his intrusion but, maybe, just a sense that he’d make her an important part of his life. I supposed we all wanted something like that.