Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Although Brad had dozed for thirty minutes or so, Heather’s honk of her car’s horn when she passed Rita’s house on the way to hers awakened him immediately.
I sprinted to the balcony, watching as she pulled into her driveway, then called to him, “They’re back from the airport.
Apparently, Alicia didn’t go with her mother. ”
Brad padded to join me in his bare feet, and we both waved as Heather and Wyatt exited her car. “Welcome home,” I yelled, though the breeze and ocean probably overpowered my voice.
Eventually, they looked over and waved, but I had a feeling Rita had gone out to her porch. I wondered if Wyatt would take the extra steps to meet his grandmother, and he didn’t disappoint me. It made me so happy that I reached up to kiss my fiancé.
Brad and I smooched under the awning as Wyatt crossed the yard, followed by Heather, then we headed downstairs to greet everyone.
Rita had misty eyes as she reached to hug her grandson, and I heard her tell him how happy she was to see him again.
He echoed her words, for which I gave him extra credit.
“How was your flight?” Brad asked him.
“Not too bad since I had a first-class seat, but long because I couldn’t wait to get home. I missed my special ladies.” Heather beamed, as did Rita.
“You made really good time,” I told Heather, knowing the trip should have taken her at least two and a half hours, one way.
She grinned mischievously. “I’ll admit to speeding on my way to the airport, although I must have avoided radar detection.” She wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned into him. “I’m so glad we’re together again.”
“Me, too,” he agreed. “I hear my grandmother is treating us to dinner tonight. What time are we meeting?” He turned to Rita with a smile that brightened her world.
“I know you’re tired, Wyatt,” she said, “but I wanted to give you a special welcome. My house isn’t your home, yet I’d like you to feel that it is. I can’t cook a meal like I used to, so this is the next-best thing, and I made reservations for five o’clock.”
Brad leaned toward Wyatt. “She cooks really well, but she’s treating us to a fancy restaurant meal, so let’s enjoy it.”
“You’re incorrigible!” I exclaimed. Everyone laughed.
Heather looked toward her house. “I don’t know if Alicia will join us, Rita, but I appreciate that you included her. Since she didn’t come outside when we arrived, I don’t know if she’s even home.”
Rita patted Heather’s arm. “We’ll take everything one step at a time. Be patient, honey.”
I felt sorry for my friend that she had to worry about her daughter’s reaction to a joyful relationship with Wyatt. Trying to stay upbeat, I asked, “Shall we meet here or at the restaurant?”
Rita settled the decision. “We can’t all fit in Jodie’s car, so we’ll meet there. I hope your daughter can join us, Heather.”
Heather sighed. “Me, too.”
“Brad and I don’t want to intrude on personal decisions,” I said, “but it seems that Alicia might feel awkward around Wyatt.” I didn’t know how everyone would react, so I quickly added, “Brad and I will leave tomorrow, and that apartment will be vacant until after our honeymoon.”
Rita turned to me. “What are you suggesting?”
“I was going to speak to you first, Rita, but thought it better to discuss a sensitive topic without Alicia being here. Maybe she’ll be more comfortable on her own. After all, she’s twenty-one.”
Heather nodded, although she looked deep in thought. “I’d like Wyatt to stay with me without my daughter’s constant barrage that I caused the breakup with her father. It’s not fair to him.”
“Well,” Rita said, “I don’t care if Alicia takes advantage of Jodie’s generosity, as long as she doesn’t make too much noise up there. What about tonight?”
Wyatt put his arm around her. “I’d like to stay with you, if you don’t mind letting me use your guest room.”
Rita grabbed his hand. “That would make me so happy.”
“Then it’s settled,” I said, feeling ready to celebrate.
“Not until Princess Alicia agrees to the plan,” Heather said with an audible sigh. “She might feel that she needs to chaperone me while your grandson is nearby.”
Rita smiled capriciously. “I’ll work on her at supper tonight, if she joins us. Are you sure, Jodie?”
“Of course,” I agreed, “if it helps Heather.”
She touched her hand to her heart. “You’re a gem.”
“Okay,” Rita said. “We have a plan. We’ll see you in an hour at the restaurant—and don’t try picking up the check. I’ve got it.”
Wyatt enveloped his grandmother in a bear hug. “I’m so happy to be home.”
Her smile brought dimples to her cheeks. “Me, too.”
I’d never seen her so ecstatic, and that made me happy.
Brad and I walked Rita to her kitchen door when we returned from the restaurant.
I held her “doggie bag” while she scrambled for the key in her purse before handing it to Brad.
“You need a sensor light out here,” he noted, reaching inside for the switch after unlocking the door.
“I installed one upstairs for Jodie a few weeks ago and it’s working great. ”
“What’s that mean?” she asked. “I don’t want something that lights up the neighborhood.”
“The sensor detects movement and that signals the light to come on. It’s a nice safety feature.”
“How much does that cost?” she groused.
“About ten dollars at the hardware store. I wouldn’t need to replace the entire fixture, just the bulb.”
She didn’t look convinced. “They now make a lightbulb that senses someone’s presence near my back stoop?”
He nodded encouragingly. “I’ll buy one for you tomorrow and install it before we leave.”
Smiling, she said, “You’re both nice to have around.”
“So are you,” he agreed. “You did pretty well tonight, acting as Heather’s right guard with Alicia.”
She sighed. “I’m trying. I think something’s going on with her, and I don’t mean her ‘illness’ or her mother’s boyfriend.”
“Like what?” I asked. “She never even looked at Wyatt. It was so rude.”
“She wasn’t like that as a child. Even when she’d bring her friends from Philly to the shore during her high school days, they’d stop by to say hello to me. Now, she’s so aloof.”
I nodded my agreement. “That’s a good description of her, so I imagine Heather’s ready to scream.”
“That won’t help, but letting her use the apartment upstairs for a few weeks might give me a chance to discover what’s going on inside her head. I appreciate your kindness, Jodie.”
I didn’t want to remind Rita that she owned the apartment and could do whatever she wanted.
My rental agreement with her had concluded at summer’s end, although I kept paying rent, even when I returned to the apartment Brad offered me with no rental charge.
I liked the option of returning to the shore when I wanted.
“Will we be going to church together in the morning?” she asked hesitantly.
“I’m planning on it,” I said. Brad echoed me and we made our arrangements before leaving.
As we climbed the steps to my apartment, I smiled when my sensor light brightened my way. Key in hand, I unlocked my door, pulled him inside, and planted a kiss on his lips.
He kept it short and sweet. “Are you as exhausted as I am?”
“I wouldn’t mind a cup of tea,” I said. “How about you?”
He passed, heading directly to the living room. When my tea was ready, I followed and opened the sliding glass door to the balcony. Chilly breezes accosted me.
“Maybe we don’t need ocean air,” I suggested.
When I turned to Brad, I found him asleep on the sofa. I took the chair next to him, drank my decaf tea, covered him with a light blanket, then went to bed.
I, too, fell asleep immediately.