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“BEA!”
Mrs. Chapman was now standing on the deck next door in a bathrobe, hands on her hips, her hair still tucked in a silky black bonnet.
“Morning, Mrs. Chapman.”
“Rory, I’m so sorry. She has clearly lost her manners.”
She chuckled, turning to Bea. “What’s going on, girlie?”
“I need to go to Lacey’s today,” Bea rushed out. “They finally restocked their friendship necklaces and all the girls at school are wearing them and I just have to have one before they sell out or I’m going to positively die of embarrassment. Do you want that for me, Rory? To die an unexpected death as an adorable sixth grader?”
She couldn’t help but laugh at how serious Bea looked after her breathless monologue, which seemed to only frustrate the girl. Bea was already dressed for the day, wearing a pink cable-knit sweater and a matching frilly skirt, her feet tucked into a fuzzy pair of hot pink boots.
“Sure, Bea bear, I’ll go.”
She squealed, throwing her arms around Rory’s neck.
Mrs. Chapman rolled her eyes. “You better buy Ms. Rory some lunch, Bea.”
“Oh I will,” Bea said, looking elated. “Anything you want, on me.”
“Steak dinner?”
“Okay, maybe not that. Something a sixth grader’s allowance can afford.”
“So…grinders?”
Her eyes sparkled at the mention of her favorite food. Rory knew exactly the way to her heart, it was dangerous. She was pretty sure she was bound to spoil Bea for a long time to come.
* * *
After securing the necklaces—one of which hung around her neck after some clever convincing—she took Bea over to the deli. They split an Italian grinder with the works: salami, ham, shredded lettuce, tomato, pickled banana peppers, oil, and oregano. Bea chomped away at her half, her hot pink boots swinging happily beneath her.
Rory smiled. “Thanks for lunch, Bea bear.”
“Thanks for the chips and the soda,” she answered, digging her hand in a large bag of salt and vinegar chips between them. “And for taking me to Lacey’s. Mom was moving so slowly, and Tyler was being lazy and still sleeping.”
“Past ten? You sure it was Tyler?”
She expected Bea to laugh, but she just growled. “He was out late with her again.”
Rory tensed. “Oh.”
Bea rolled her eyes. “That’s all he does these days, it’s dumb. I don’t like her.”
“Hey now, that’s not—”
Bea rolled her eyes again. She was such a sassy middle schooler, and Rory loved every minute of it. “Come on, do you like her?”
“She’s nice.”
Bea glared back at her.
“Bea! She’s nice!”
“You’re lying. I know when you’re lying.”
Rory shook her head. Unfortunately, Bea would know if she was lying. None of them could ever get anything past this girl. Tyler and her always joked that she’d make a great lawyer. In pink, of course. Always in pink.
