Chapter Twenty-Three
Twenty-Three
A Pearl of Wisdom
from Nettie Getchell
“Nothing changes, darlin’, if nothing changes.”
Tallulah
Clouds hung low that night as I pushed the stroller toward the park, Jake at my side. Katy ran ahead of us, holding on to Daisy’s leash. A chance of storms was in the forecast, which made me worry about Juliet, considering what she’d been through.
Which was on top of my worrying about Katy.
She’d been sullen since Scott had called after supper. My heart had hurt at the way her face crumpled while she talked with him. With the way she blinked back tears. Held in her emotions.
I’d just wanted to gather her up, hold her tight.
I also wanted to fly to Dallas and smack Scott upside his head.
As I watched Katy veer into a patch of grass, I had to wonder if the phone call would have an effect on her sleep tonight. Would there be another nightmare? If so, it might give us a clue as to what was triggering them, but I prayed she’d sleep well.
When I called the pediatrician’s office earlier today, the nurse hadn’t seemed too concerned about the bad dreams. I’d scheduled an appointment anyway, for early Thursday morning. Better to be safe than sorry.
“Is Katy feeling okay?” Jake asked. “She’s not skipping like usual.”
We’d been walking for a while now and were nearly home.
I held back a sigh. “Physically, she’s fine. She’s upset that her dad isn’t coming to her birthday party this weekend. He called earlier to tell her.”
Scott had never been a big birthday person. He preferred to ignore them. Which was fine. For him. But I could never get through to him that Katy’s birthday was about her. What she wanted.
Honestly, I should’ve known he’d bail. I should’ve expected it. Yet I’d been so hopeful that he’d put Katy—and her feelings—above his. Especially since he hadn’t seen her in a while.
“News like that can definitely take the bounce out of you.”
I glanced up at him, found sympathy in his eyes. “Definitely.”
Daisy circled Katy, tying her up with the leash, and Katy laughed as she untangled herself. It was good to see her smile.
After a moment, Jake said, “Vera mentioned you were divorced. How long were you married?”
Of course Vera had mentioned it, but I couldn’t be upset with her. If not her, then someone else would’ve brought it up. People here liked to talk. “Eleven years. We met in college and got married not too long after graduation.”
“Does he see the girls much?”
“Not as much as he should. He moved to Dallas a couple of weeks after we separated.”
Between here and there was a nine-hour drive Scott complained about making every time he visited, conveniently forgetting it had been his choice to move so far away.
I often suggested he fly, since a nonstop flight to Birmingham was only an hour and forty minutes, but he always had one excuse or another not to.
Jake whistled low. “I can’t imagine how hard that is for the girls. And you, too.”
I said, “It’s been tough. In eighteen months, he’s only visited nine times. Mostly on big holidays.”
I noticed his quick glance at Mary Joy, then practically saw the mental gymnastics taking place, trying to figure out the math of it all.
Smiling, I saved him the trouble. “A few months after we separated, he visited and we briefly considered a reconciliation, but it just wasn’t meant to be.
Honestly, we’re much better off apart. But if not for that visit, I wouldn’t have gotten the gift of Mary Joy, who arrived nine months later, so I have no regrets—about that, at least.”
Slowly, he nodded, then said, “Dare I ask what those other regrets might be?”
“Oh, you know, the usual, like not buying Apple stock in the early 2000s.”
He laughed. “Weren’t you like ten years old then?”
“Still”—I smiled—“it haunts.”
As we strolled along, Mary Joy’s eyes grew heavy, and I didn’t have the heart to try to keep her awake. I’d just have to give her a bath in the morning. If we continued to go on these walks with Jake and Daisy—and I hoped we would—then we might have to move up the start time.
A few moments later, we rounded the garden, the heady floral scent filling the air. Katy and Daisy led the way, and I couldn’t help noticing that every few steps, Katy gave a little hop. As if she was thinking about skipping. Being with Daisy was helping chase away her blues.
Jake seemed to have noticed as well. “Have you ever considered getting a dog?”
“Maybe someday,” I said, thinking about how happy it would make Katy. “When we have a house of our own. A big enough yard. Speaking of which…”
I told him about touring the Library House. And how I had a second showing scheduled with Georgia after work tomorrow. I wanted to take Katy and Papaw with me to see the place before making any decisions. If they loved it as much as I did, I was going to put in an offer.
I also told him about seeing Deckle there, so out of place.
“The library cat?”
“I swear it was him. I called Evanthe to let her know, but she didn’t answer.”
I left a message, but I couldn’t help wondering if she was screening my call. I’d found myself often questioning whether I should abandon my mission to befriend her and just let her be—but something deep within told me to keep trying.
“I didn’t think you were interested in that place,” Jake said.
“I didn’t think so, either, until someone mentioned its potential.”
He cracked a smile. “Was it Vera?”
I laughed. “No, but now that you mention her, she may have let it slip that you, yourself, had a recent breakup. Can you confirm or deny?”
I was curious and figured it couldn’t hurt to ask outright, since I’d heard the information secondhand.
His eyes lost some of their warmth as he nodded. “I, myself, can confirm. I stayed longer than I should’ve. Hoping,” he added.
“For?”
“For her to be ready to settle down, to start a family. But you just can’t make someone want something they don’t. We just wanted different things in life.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
I wanted to tell him I could relate, but I didn’t want to share the whole story about how Scott had accepted a promotion at work that included extensive international traveling when he knew I longed for permanence, for stability.
Even thinking about it made me tense up.
Katy had been five, and I’d been at a loss as to what to do.
After much arguing, we compromised—he could travel, but I’d stay.
I did my best to grin and bear it when he was away. To adjust.
Then, just six months later, right after holiday decorations had been put away and the year was shiny and new, he’d told me he wanted a divorce.
Once the shock passed, I realized I wanted one, too. Life had been … easier while he was away.
“The condo we shared,” Jake said, “had been hers, so at first, when I moved out, I wasn’t sure where to go. Then suddenly I found myself thinking about Forget-Me-Not and how my uncle Dale’s car had once broken down here and he ended up staying. That’s a legendary story in my family.”
Dale’s car had broken down in front of the library, and Evanthe went out to tell him he couldn’t park at the curb. They’d been married for close to thirty years when he passed away suddenly nineteen years ago.
“It’s a legendary story around here, too. A classic love-at-first-sight story is hard to beat. Especially,” I added, “considering how reserved Evanthe had always been. Your uncle must’ve been a special man.”
“He was. I’m surprised you never met him.”
“I wasn’t in Forget-Me-Not very often when I was younger. I did see him from afar once, though. He and Evanthe were walking hand in hand. It was sweet.”
“Talk about sweet. Look at that,” Jake said, nodding ahead of us.
Katy was skipping. I smiled. “Daisy might have to become a therapy dog.”
“They’re good for each other, I think. Daisy’s never calmer and more relaxed than after a walk with Katy. The vet assures me she’ll outgrow her rowdiness, though.”
“When did you adopt her?” I asked.
“I’ve only had her a little over a week.”
It was my turn to do mental gymnastics. “Did you adopt her here, in Forget-Me-Not?”
“Funny story. I was about ten miles out of town, on my way here, when I just happened to spot a dog sitting in a patch of roadside daisies. I pulled over, pushed open the passenger door, and she hopped right into my truck, like she’d been waiting for me to pick her up all along.”
“You’re kidding.”
He laughed. “She had no collar, no microchip. The local vet estimates she’s five months old and had been on her own for at least a few weeks before I came across her. So far no one has responded to any of the notices I’ve posted, and I hope no one does. I’ve grown attached.”
“I can see why. It’s like she was meant to be with you.”
He glanced my way. “I think so, too.”
When we finally caught up to Katy in Vera’s driveway, she skipped over to us, her blue eyes bright behind her purple glasses, a smile on her face. “Mama, can Mr. Jake come to my birthday party? Daisy, too?”
“A birthday?” Jake said, glancing between her and me, as if this was the first he’d heard of it. “I love birthdays.”
His enthusiasm made my heart swell up, fit to burst. It was exactly the reaction Katy needed right now.
“Of course he can come.” I lifted an eyebrow. “If he doesn’t have to work.”
“I’ll make the time,” he said quickly, his tone full of amusement, his smile stretching. “Don’t worry about that.”
I scratched Daisy’s ears and tried to ignore how much I liked Jake’s smile.
“The party is at Papaw’s house on Sunday,” Katy said. “In the backyard. At five o’clock.”
“Sunday,” he repeated solemnly. “I’ll be there.”
It was growing dark, and bedtime beckoned for the girls, so I said, “We should get going, Katy. It’s getting late.”
As she gave Daisy a big hug, the dog’s whole body wiggled with joy. They really were good with each other. Then Katy handed the leash to Jake and skipped to my side.
Jake caught my eye. “See you tomorrow?”
I glanced at Mary Joy, who was sound asleep, her face slack, her lips pursed adorably. “Is a half hour earlier okay?”
He rubbed Daisy’s head. “I think we can make that work, can’t we, Daisy?”
The dog let out a sharp yip, and Katy laughed and said, “I think that means yes!”
I smiled. “I guess we’ll see you then.”
With a flurry of waves, we were off. Halfway home, my phone buzzed. I asked Katy to take over stroller duties while I checked the message.
Uncle Renny: I’m still waiting on a picture of your crush. It’s not fair that everyone else knows what he looks like.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Jake still standing at the end of Vera’s driveway.
I flashed a smile and then typed out a message.
Me: A picture won’t do him justice
Uncle Renny: Don’t tease an old dying man
Me: You need to meet him in person
Uncle Renny: And when am I supposed to do that?
Me: Sunday. He’ll be at Katy’s party
Uncle Renny: Hot damn. I’ll be sure to get there early
Me: Don’t act like you weren’t already planning to do that
Uncle Renny: Don’t quibble, Lu. See you Sunday. Looking forward to it.
I wanted to add Me, too but didn’t want the sassing, so I simply sent back a heart emoji and left it at that.
Truly, it was all that was needed.