“Don’t be obtuse.” She places a small box on the floor next to me. I know it’s my tart because that box is one from her bakery, covered in yellow-and-white stripes. “Here’s your tart and something new I’m trying out. Need your feedback.”
I’m starving since I skipped breakfast and lunch. “Yay.” She knows I love to act as taste tester. Opening the box, I want to reach for the lemon blueberry tart first, but I see something covered in pecans. “What is this little lovely?” I coo at the golden-brown puff pastry. I place it close to my nose and sniff.
“It’s called a pecan crisp, but I’ll come up with a catchier name if you think it’s good enough.”
I place the flaky pastry to my lips; I open my mouth wide and bite. The first thing I notice is butter. Next the sugar, and cinnamon fills my taste buds. I’m hesitant to chew because as soon as I do, it’ll be gone. With a moan and a mouthful, I tell her the honest-to-goodness truth, “So fucking good.”
“Wow, it deserves the addition of ‘fucking’?” Bella laughs. “Maybe I’ll call them Fucking Good Pecan Crisps.”
“Perfect.” I take another bite and frown because I’ve only got one more morsel left in my hand. “You need to make them bigger.” Like three times bigger.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Finishing off the pecan delight, I face my friend. “Yes. In answer to your question, I’m over my snit.”
“Good.”
I should probably elaborate, but I don’t feel like it.
Sighing, she says, “Mom’s been feeling… off.”
“Off?”
“Forgetful.”
“Forgetful?” Sure. I know I’m repeating her words, but these are scary words. “Give me an example.”
“You know how she is… so on top of everything.”
“I do.”
“It’s been going on a while, supposedly. But remember when she lost her purse about a month ago?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, that wasn’t the first time she misplaced it.” Bella runs her hands over her face. “That thing is practically glued to her.”
“At all times.” Sheila Truman carries an extra-large purse. “Her entire life is in that bag.”
“It is.”
“When she lost the house keys, she said she started to think about other things she’s forgotten, like the name of her mail carrier.”
“Mikey?” I squeak. “He’s lived next door to her his whole life.”
Bella nods. “Long story short, we went in to have some tests run.”
“And?”
“It’ll take some time to get results back, but more than likely, she’ll end up having more tests. At least that’s what Dr. Phipps told us.” Bella plops down onto the pile of two-by-fours sitting near the door. “God. I wish Dad were still alive. He’d know what to do.”
Moving to my best friend, I hold my arms out to her. She meets me halfway, allowing me to hug the stuffing out of her. “He would’ve known what to do. He’d have taken care of everything.” Bella sniffles against my shoulder. “I still can’t believe he’s gone.”
Bella’s dad died suddenly last spring. They believe it was his heart. They found him sitting in his favorite spot on his deck, a half-empty beer on the table next to him. Fitting, really. I’d bet you if Barney Truman could have chosen a way to go, that would’ve been it. Except I’m sure he would have wanted to wait a lot longer. He adored his family. Doted on all of them. Barney took care of everyone and everything.
“Maybe that’s what’s the matter with Mom. It’s part of her mourning.”
Bella leans back and looks me in the eye. A smile slowly appears on her face. “Always looking on the bright side, Lou Lou. I love that about you.”
