“The next day!”
“He had a good job, and a place to live. And I couldn’ take the beatings no more.”
My heart flopped like a fish. “The beatings?”
“Yes. My mama used to beat me for growing such large breasts.” She whispered the last word.
“Oh, dear Lord. How awful! That wasn’t your fault.”
“I know, but it made my stepfather look at me.”
“Oh, my.” Oh, my, indeed. “Oh, you poor dear!” Well. That certainly made me see her in a new light. Isn’t that always true, how a little fresh information can make everything seem different?
“Upsy daisy with your glass, ma’am. You need to drink all your water with that fiber.”
I drained the glass and handed it back to her. “Are you and your husband happy?”
“Oh, yes,” she said. “We suit each other just fine.”
Suit. Such a sweet, old-fashioned term. Lovely, really—although lacking in passion.
Or maybe not. For all I know, she means they’re well suited between the sheets.
For her sake, I hoped so.
But then, if he were her one and only, maybe she wouldn’t know the difference. Not for the first time, I thought that was why women used to be so carefully chaperoned—to protect men from comparisons. If I’d never kissed Joe, would I have been ecstatically happy with Charlie?
No, I decided. Even as a virginal youth, I’d known there was something more.
42
hope
Iawoke to sunlight pouring through the window. I stretched like a cat, feeling warm and content, as if the sunshine were flowing through my veins. I’d had the most wonderful, vivid dream...
I opened my eyes and saw a heap of wet clothes on the floor. My heart quickened. Oh, dear Lord—it hadn’t been simply a dream. Ihadmade love with Matt!
Well, sort of. We stopped shy of doing the actual deed, but it had been lovemaking all the same.
I sat up and ran my hand through my hair. I didn’t know how to feel about it. Part of me was thrilled and happy. Part of me feared I’d made a terrible mistake.
Okay. Calm down.Why would it be a terrible mistake?
The answer was less than reassuring:because Iwasso darned thrilled and happy. I’d been very clear about not wanting to get emotionally entwined only to leave town. Besides, what if Matt started behaving all avoidant and awkward, the way some guys do when they regret sleeping with a woman? Regardless of what Matt had said last night, he might feel differently this morning.
Well. As Gran always said, you couldn’t uncrack an egg. What was done was done.
I hurried through the shower, threw on fresh shorts, and ran downstairs, where Gran was finishing her breakfast.
“How are you this morning?” I asked.
“A little tired,” she said. “I wonder sometimes if sleep isn’t more exhausting than being awake.”
“You must have a lively dream life.”
“Oh, my dear, you have no idea.” She took a sip of tea. “Today’s the day you and Matt will find that suitcase.”
“I hope so, Gran. We’ll do our best.” I debated whether to tell her anything about the visitors last night, then decided against it. It would serve no good purpose and was sure to upset her.
