33. Jules
Jules
“ B ye-bye,” Charlie calls as Cal gets into his truck. He’s retraced his steps no less than five times to get extra hugs and kisses before he heads to his shift.
This has become their normal routine, and it’s frustratingly adorable.
“No wonder it takes you forever to leave,” I say against his lips. I’m chiding him, but secretly, I love that he hates leaving us in the morning.
He gives me a playful smack on the ass, followed by a squeeze as he finally gives me a kiss that leaves me breathless.
“Okay, that’s gross. I’m leaving,” Dani calls, taking Charlie by the hand and letting her practice going up and down the stairs.
It’s early, but we promised Charlie that we’d take her to see Maggie, and it’s all she’s talked about since she woke up.
Cal gives me a heated look before he pulls away. That look reminds me of the way he woke me in the middle of the night. The way he worshipped me. And the way he covered my cries with his hand as he pumped into me.
I’m hot and bothered as I meet up with the girls.
Charlie takes Dani and me by the hand, yelling “Cookie,” and pulls us down the alley drive and across Main Street to Maggie’s bakery. Her giggles echo as we swing her from the curb between us.
“This place is awesome.” Dani’s eyes are bright this morning. With the weight of all she’s been carrying gone, she looks more like a happy eighteen-year-old should. She pulls Charlie onto a hip, and the two of them pore over Maggie’s offerings of the day.
The bell on the front door tinkles constantly as patron after patron passes through. I’m waiting patiently on the two of them to make their final selection when I hear a familiar voice.
“Good morning, Mrs. Eversley. Here for your bran muffins?”
“Of course. You girls be on the lookout, now. I saw a new person in town yesterday. Real sketchy-looking fella.”
“Now, Mrs. Eversley. We’ve gone over this. Our little slice of heaven is growing. We’re bound to see new people, and they aren’t all going to look like us or talk like us. But that doesn’t automatically make them bad.”
The old lady sniffs. “I’m aware. I’m merely giving you a heads-up that there’s a new person in town.
I also know you think I’m eccentric and have lost my marbles.
I can assure you, this costume is to keep the widowers at bay.
I’m very rich and very old, and I’m not going to be a payday for some man.
Better to let them think I’m crazy. Now, be a good girl and throw in one of those lemon poppyseed muffins too. And some of your puppy treats.”
“Aw, did you get a new dog?” Maggie dutifully adds to the paper bag she had waiting for the elder woman.
“No.”
I bite my tongue. This old lady is truly peculiar.
Maggie holds the bag out and meets the old woman’s gaze. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend. I’m a little sensitive when people judge based on appearances.”
“Yes, well.” She takes the bag from Maggie and shoves it into her oversized patchwork shoulder bag, rifling around for a long moment, then pulling a large manilla envelope out. “I can appreciate that sentiment. He was a sinister-looking character. I only mean to keep my girls safe.”
She might be abrasive and odd, but she’s got a heart of gold. I’m touched that she seems to be including me as one of her girls.
“Ms. Lancaster. I’m glad I ran into you, dear.
Saves me a trip over to your place. There was a mix-up in your paperwork, thanks to an incompetent intern.
You’ve actually done me a favor and allowed me grounds to dismiss the chit.
Here’s your certificate of occupancy paperwork.
Sorry about the confusion. Congratulations. ”
I barely have the envelope in my hand before she whirls and bustles out the door without paying. In seconds, I’ve whipped open the flap and pulled out the slip of paper. Professional stationery declares my business name in bold lettering.
What just happened?
“Wait. I’m confused.” I take a step, intent to chase after the old woman and get some answers, but she’s closing the door of her older-model Mercedes.
“Okay, wow,” Dani mutters. “That was weird.”
“Jules, you’re official!” Maggie slams into me, knocking me back a step with the forcefulness of her hug. “You’re clear to open now.”
I stare at the empty parking spot, barely able to process. “Did she just fix my situation?”
“I find it’s best to not ask too many questions when it comes to her. She’s got her ways… but you can bet, if she had a hand in it, it’s ironclad.”
Charlie gives a squeal and disappears around the corner, playing her new favorite game of chase.
Maggie turns, but Dani’s already taken off after her. Little girlish squeals fill the room as Dani catches her daughter. And then her phone rings with that same ridiculous ringtone that she’s reserved for her baby daddy.
I glance at Maggie. “Given Dani’s current problem, should we be concerned about this shady character that Mrs. Eversley saw?”
“Sketchy. Not shady. There’s a difference. But now that you mention it, maybe?”
Dani carries Charlie back into the room, plunks her into a high chair, and breaks off more muffin.
A twinge of discomfort radiates up my spine.
The sight of them together and Dani acting all maternal makes my heart ache.
I don’t know what her end game is, but I can almost guarantee that it’s going to hurt when she figures out her next steps.
Especially if it includes anything other than her staying with Cal.
There’s too much coincidence that Mrs. Eversley saw someone sketchy, and Dani keeps getting phone calls. What if her ignoring his calls has pushed him over the edge? “Dani, can you tell me what this Ritchie guy looks like? It can’t hurt for us to keep a watch out for him.”
Dani frowns. “I don’t see how he’d know where I am.”
“Just humor me. ”
“Fine. He’s a smidge taller than you, but not as tall as Cal.
Shaved head. Covered in tattoos. He got this one while he was in prison that covers the back of his neck up behind his ear.
Oh, and one across his forehead that comes down around his cheek.
They’d be badass if they’d been done by a professional, but really, they’re just creepy. ”
I blink at her. I didn’t peg her for a face-tattoo girlie, but I’m coming to realize that nothing should surprise me with this girl. She’s rocking to her own beat.
“Well, that should make him easy to pick out in a crowd around here.”
Dani smirks. “Yeah, this town is like bougie yuppie heaven.”
Maggie grins. “Yuppie heaven where they like their lattes and bakeries. Would you call him sinister?”
“Ritchie? No. He looks like a scrawny, poor decision-making pissant. But he’s too stupid to do any real harm.”
I’m not comforted in the least.
“Honestly,” she continues, “I don’t know what made me think he was worth losing everything for.” She looks so young, standing before us with her heart on her sleeve. I wish that she’d been able to come to Cal sooner. That she’d realize her worth and find a purpose for her future.
There’s a defiant glint in her eye as she straightens and meets my gaze. “He’s a loser with no future. He says he wants to get ahead, but he’s too lazy to do anything about it, like get a real job and keep his ass out of jail.”
“Ass,” Charlie chirps from her little kiddie table.
Dani rolls her eyes and mouths a curse. For a fleeting moment, though, I caught the resolve that she’d embraced. Just being with her brother for this short amount of time, she’s done a one-eighty. She’s putting her stubborn streak to good use .
Maggie is trying not to laugh at the little voice that is saying “Ass” on repeat.
Dani kneels before Charlie. “Charlie-Belle. Mommy shouldn’t have said that.” She distracts her by offering her a paper and crayons, and Charlie happily begins naming the colors.
Dani stands, love shining in her eyes for her daughter. “I just want a better life for Charlie. No matter what it takes.”
“We’ll keep an eye out for loser-boy. For now, I’ve got an oven to unload, and then we’ve got a grand opening to schedule.”
But first, I have a call to make. I swipe my phone and punch Cal’s contact.
“Hey, babe.”
I get down to business, because I never know how long I’ll get to talk to him when he’s at work. “You want the good news or bad?”
“Definitely the good first.”
“Guess what I’m holding.”
FaceTime rings on my phone, so I join the call, and his handsome face immediately fills my screen.
“Hey there, gorgeous. Figured you could just show me.”
Tears fill my eyes at the enormity of how much has changed in the blink of an eye. I pull the certificate out of the envelope and flip the camera to show him.
He studies the screen, and I watch as his expressions morph through a whole range of emotions. Confusion, dawning comprehension, excitement. I flip the screen back to my face and meet his smile with a watery one of my own. “We did it.”
Cal whoops for joy, and behind him, a siren blares.
“Damn, tones are dropping, babe. Guess you’ll have to save the bad news for later. But hell yeah.” He’s running through the firehouse. “We did it! I’ll call you later. Love you.”
And the phone goes dead.
“Did he…?” I’m too stunned to finish the sentence.
Dani’s mouth drops open as she stares at my phone with wide eyes. “Did he just tell you he loves you for the first time to end a phone call? What a half-ass chickenshit.”
Maggie goes to the back, laughter trailing behind her, and Dani follows to help with rotating the next platters of baked goods. We’ve fallen into a steady conversation of planning while plating and storing Maggie’s cookies, when my cell rings.
The caller ID shows Lissette’s contact picture. It’s one of the two of us from years ago, back when things were easy between us. It’s been too long since we had that effortless communication between us. Maybe spending time with Maggie has helped me see how much I’ve missed with Lissette.
“Hey, girl.” My voice is overly bright when I answer.