by Debbie White
Annie relaxed her shoulders, even though she still felt tense about Grandmother and Auntie not approving of her outdoor wedding. “I approve.”
Mary wrapped her arms around Annie and picked her up and swung her around. Mary leaned back just a tad too far, and they both went crumbling down onto the wooden floor.
“Ouch,” Annie cried.
Mary rubbed her backside as she stood. “Sorry about that, Sis. I got a bit carried away.”
Annie grimaced as she ran her hand up and down the arm she’d landed on. “I’m going to have bruises here.”
“Sorry!” Mary said, kissing her on the cheek.
“No worries. Okay, so this is the place. You can reserve it for your date with no problem, right?”
“Yep. And Rebecca said we could have the reception at Black Eyed Pea.”
Annie opened and closed her mouth suddenly. “Black Eyed Pea?”
Mary nodded. “Yes, isn’t that fantastic?”
Annie started to head toward the front door, with her head hanging low.
Mary caught up to her and bounced in front of her. “You’re not angry about that, are you, Sis?”
Annie raised her chin and blinked. “I guess I just thought you’d have it at Sweet Magnolia.”
Mary reached out and placed her hands on Annie’s arms. “I love Sweet Magnolia, Annie, but it’s your special place with Jack. We can have family parties there, birthday celebrations, and even baby showers, but I want to preserve your memories of your beautiful day. Let me pick where I want my special memories made, okay?”
Annie’s eyes began to mist. “You’re absolutely right. This is your day and your memories. Black Eyed Pea will be a great place. Besides, Grandmother and Auntie love Rebecca’s grandmother so much. They’ll have a blast. Let’s just not let them have too many Bloody Marys. Rebecca’s grandmother can make some pretty potent ones.”
The two women walked out of the church, holding hands. They casually turned and gave the old little white clapboard building one last look. “Maybe we can also add some greenery out here to spruce the porch up.” Annie winked at Mary.
“You got it, Sis. We’ll decorate this little house of worship, and it’ll be the best little wedding chapel in all of Charleston.”
Chapter 12
“Can you believe Ashton turns one this month?” Annie pulled out the cold cuts to make sandwiches.
“Are we going to have a full-blown party, complete with jumping castle and clowns?”
Annie whirled around and stared at him, waiting for the serious look plastered on his face to crack. He held his stare, not wavering an inch.
“Jumping castle and clowns?” She started to slather salad dressing on the slices of bread.
“He’s our firstborn.” He came up behind her and circled his arms around her.
“Yes, but that might just be a tad over-the-top.” She placed some lunch meat and then cheese on the bread slices.
“I want two slices,” he said, peering over her shoulder.
She slapped a second piece on. “I do think we should have the family over at least.”
“Sounds great … that’s all he needs,” he teased, before grabbing a sandwich off the plate and taking a bite.
“Happy birthday, dear Ashton, Happy birthday to you,” the group sang.
Ashton picked up his cupcake, made especially for his birthday, and opened wide. Annie clicked away with the camera feature on her phone as he devoured the little cake, smearing chocolate ear to ear. He giggled as he stuck his tongue out and licked more of the gooey icing.
“Look.” Jack pointed. “He even got some in his hair.”
Sighing, Annie shook her head. “He’ll need a real dunking in the bath tonight.” A smile lit up her face as she watched on.
Ashton raised his arms above his head. “Me done,” he said.
Annie, armed with a dozen sheets of wet paper towels, went to work on cleaning up his face.
Ashton bounced up and down, trying to avoid the wet cloths. He pointed to the huge red and yellow jumping castle. “Go,” he said.
Jack took his little hand and the two made their way over to the castle. He gingerly set him inside and then climbed in after.
“Seems a little overkill with the jumping castle, Sis,” Mary whispered into her ear.
Annie stood watching Jack jump with Ashton. “I know, but Jack insisted.”
“Grandmother and Auntie are having a ball with the clown, though.” Mary smirked at Annie. The two grabbed at their sides and almost fell over from laughing so hard.
“I just wanted a picture of Ashton with chocolate all over his face, while he devoured his birthday cupcake.” Annie snapped pictures of Jack and Ashton laughing inside the jumping castle. Their giggles could be heard a mile away.
After Jack got his reconnecting with his inner-child out of his system by playing in the jumping castle, he held Ashton’s hand while the clown blew up balloons and twisted them into funny shapes. Aunt Mary painted his little face with butterflies and lady bugs, and when it came time to open presents, it wasn’t just Jack who went overboard.
Boxes piled to her chin, Annie struggled with the door to bring them inside. Jack held the door open for her. “Looks like Christmas,” he said, laughing.
Annie cut him a stern look. “Exactly what I didn’t want. He’s one. He doesn’t need all of this stuff.”
“Aw, come on, Annie. He’s only going to be one, once.” He leaned over and took the top few boxes from her and headed down to Ashton’s bedroom.
“I just wanted a picture of him with chocolate smeared all over his face,” she yelled out, getting the last word.
Jack belted out a hardy laugh. “Okay, next year, just the jumping castle.”
Annie took a lightweight box and tossed it at him. “Jack Powell, you’re absolutely incorrigible. You and Ashton are going to drive me crazy. I can see it now.” She couldn’t keep the stern look going for long and broke into a wide smile.
“You know you love us,” Jack said, making his way back from the bedroom and taking the rest of the packages. He leaned forward and kissed her.
“I love you both more than I could have ever imagined was possible.”
“Let’s get back out there and rescue the clown from Lilly and Patty,” Jack said grinning.
Annie giggled. “The last time I looked over there, it was your mom asking him to make her a dog out of balloons.”
Jack knitted his brows. “Well at least she didn’t get in the jumping castle. I was waiting for that.” A scowl formed and then he broke into laughter.
The two headed back out to the gathering. Annie squeezed in between Mary and Ashton at the picnic bench. She grabbed one of the bubble wands and dipped it in the tray blowing a string of bubbles out into the breeze. Ashton giggled non stop as he tried to emulate her.
Now that Ashton’s birthday party was over with, the preparations for Mary’s wedding continued. But even Annie required some downtime.
The news traveled fast and no one could be happier for Vicky and Scott when their adoption finalized then Annie and Jack. Vicky and Scott were now the parents of a darling two-year-old little girl named Jasmine. The two women found playdates a good thing to help, not only burn off some energy for their toddlers, but a time to get together and talk about marriage, children, and life. Days at the beach were especially nice, and since they lived within walking distance to a very quiet and private beach, the foursome headed there on many days.
Annie would pile her car with the special beach wagon Jack had made that easily slid along the sand, as well as buckets, shovels, and other sand toys, a couple of lawn chairs, and of course an umbrella. She also had her large beach bag packed with sunscreen, sun hats, and towels. Vicky packed the cooler with water, juice, and snacks.
They pulled up to Vicky and Scott’s house and parked the car. Annie began to unload the back of the van when Vicky came out onto the porch. “Good morning, Annie,” she called as she shielded her eyes fr
om the already intense sun and heat. Summertime heat in Charleston could be a bit oppressive.
“Hey, there, are you guys ready?”
“We are.”
Annie removed the beach wagon and loaded it up with their stuff and she and Ashton waited for them.
Vicky came out, pulling the cooler by the handle with one hand, and holding Jasmine’s little hand with her other.
“Oh, my goodness, she looks so cute in her little pink cover-up and matching water shoes. And the sunglasses! She’s really rocking those. I got a pair of sunglasses for Ashton, too. But he keeps pulling them off and throwing them.” Annie laughed.
“He’s going to be a ballplayer, that one is,” Vicky said, nodding toward Ashton as he reached for a rock on the ground.
“Ashton,” Annie yelled, pulling the rock out of his hand. “No, leave it there.” She grabbed his hand, and they all proceeded to walk down the pathway behind Vicky and Scott’s house that led to the beach. It was a quick walk, thank goodness. Annie’s arms were tired just from pulling the wagon and holding on to Ashton’s hand.
The women spread blankets and set up the umbrella, and then slathered the sunscreen on each of the kids first, and then themselves.
“Me thirsty,” Ashton said, pointing to the cooler.
“And, so now it starts,” Annie said, grinning. She reached inside and produced a juice box. She popped the straw in place and handed it to him. He started to take off with the drink in his hand. “No, sit here and drink it,” Annie said, giving him the look.
After he finished his drink, the women took the kids down near the water. They sat in the wet sand and watched as the kids dug in the sand and soon began trying to eat some, and also throw some.
Annie sighed. “Kids.”
“This is all new to me,” Vicky said, watching Jasmine play nicely.
“Girls are different than boys. Look at her. She’s just so darling, playing so nicely. Then there is Ashton throwing globs of wet sand.” She shook her head.
“She’s very quiet,” Vicky whispered, scooching closer to Annie. “I’m a little worried about her speech. She says very little.”
“Do you think she hears okay?” Annie asked with a concerned look on her face.
“She’s been to the pediatrician. It seems like everything is okay. There just might be a slight delay in her speech. I hope it’s more because of her shyness and not anything medical.”
Annie reached out and stroked her friend’s arm. “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. She’s precious. I know you said she came from a teenage mom. How long was she in the system before you all were able to adopt her?”
“Since she was a few days old. She’s been in a foster home for most of her life. I know she bonded with her foster family. I think this will take time for her to feel as comfortable with us as she felt with them.”
“I know, but you and Scott are wonderful folks. You’ll give her space and the love she needs. She’ll come around. I just know it.”
“Her foster family was African American. The agency didn’t say it, but I got the impression they’d rather have placed her with a black family. I hope she’ll feel as comfortable with us in time.”
“Don’t give that another thought. She’ll love you guys like you’re her biological parents, and it won’t matter that she’s a little browner than you. She has the loveliest skin tone.”
“I don’t know which parent was black or which one was white. And it doesn’t matter to us.”
“And nor should it. She’s a sweet little girl.”
“I’m learning how to care for her hair. It’s been an experience.” Vicky lifted her curls and bounced them in the palm of her hand.
“Her little ponytails are cute. You’re doing a great job.” Annie tilted her head and with one hand, held her floppy hat in place and looked up. “It’s a beautiful day.”
“It’s going to be hotter than you know what, later. One hundred degrees I heard,” Vicky said, brushing sand off of Jasmine’s face.
“We should be getting the kids back to the air conditioning soon. Let’s let them dip their feet in the water one last time, shall we?” Annie grabbed Ashton by the hand. “Let’s go put our toes in the water, Ashton,” she said, pulling him along.
Vicky and Jasmine followed them, and for a few minutes, they walked along the edge of the cold water. Annie washed the sand off of Ashton’s butt and legs. He sat down in the water, and a wave came up, almost knocking him over. Annie quickly picked him up before he swallowed any water. “More,” he said.
Annie shook her head. “This boy is crazy.” She let him sit back down and soon another wave came. Annie held him up so he wouldn’t wash away. He laughed as he played in the water. “And Mary thinks Ashton is going to be the ring bearer at her wedding. Can you see that going down smoothly?”
“Is Crystal going to be the flower girl?”
Annie nodded. “She’ll be okay. It’s this little guy that I’m worried about. He’ll probably toss the ring into the pews.”
Vicky laughed.
Although Ashton wailed and stomped his feet, the two women gathered up all the toys and items they’d brought and headed back to the house. Annie knew that as soon as she bathed him, he’d take a nice long nap.
“Thanks again for the lovely playdate. I don’t know if I get more out of it or if the kids do,” Annie said, shaking her head at Ashton.
“We need to get the guys together soon, too. Scott’s been mentioning a barbecue.”
“That sounds great. I could get into some of your delicious margaritas.”
“You got it. By the way, we didn’t talk about them, but have you hooked up with our college sisters at all?” Vicky asked, now holding Jasmine who was rubbing her eyes.
Annie raised her head and smiled, then reached out and brushed Jasmine’s cheek with her fingers. “Someone is tired. No, I haven’t heard from them. I saw Jessica at the grocery store with Reece. He’s getting to be such a big boy. I think he’s four years old or maybe even a little older. She promises to get together soon, but it never happens. I’m just as much at fault.”
Vicky nodded. “I got a call from Cassie about three months ago. I told her all about the adoption and how I was praying it would go through. I thought maybe she’d follow up on it, but so far nothing.”
“Before this summer is over with, we have to get together with them.” Annie paused before she breathed in a large amount of humid air. “I know. That barbecue you were talking about … what if we invited them, too?”
Vicky nodded and shrugged her shoulders. “If you think they’ll come.”
“If they don’t, then we’ll know we’ve outgrown one another. I know life gets busy and time slips through our fingers, but if we don’t set aside some time or make time for our friendships, then they will disintegrate like burning paper, blowing in the breeze.”
“Wow, that’s pretty deep. I could totally see your burning paper image,” Vicky said, tipping her chin up and down.
Annie laughed. “You plan the barbecue, and I’ll send out the invites.”
“You sure you don’t want to have it over at Sweet Magnolia? It’s such a beautiful property. We don’t have much of a backyard here, since we’re right up against the dunes. I mean, I guess we could have a beach party?”
“We can have it at our place. I tell you what, I know Scott’s wanted to try out the new gas grill he got. He’s told Jack as much. Let’s get together over here, just us, and we can plan the big party to have at my place. How does that sound?” Annie quirked a brow as she waited for Vicky’s answer.
Vicky switched Jasmine to her other hip. “Perfect. We’ll be in touch. But right now, I’m going to get this little angel out of this heat. Are you sure you don’t want to come in for some iced tea?” She took a step toward the front door.
“Nope, this guy is getting rinsed off and a nap. Thank you, though.” Annie opened the car doors to let some of the heat out, and then started the engine. She turn
ed the air conditioning on high to get the cool air started, and then strapped Ashton into his car seat. By the time they drove up to Sweet Magnolia, a whole three minutes later, Ashton had already fallen fast asleep.
Annie huffed and puffed as she carried Ashton and the beach bag up the stairs. She pushed open the front door, where she was immediately greeted by Isla and Buffy.
She dropped the beach bag on the floor and proceeded to the bathroom, where she drew a bath for Ashton with tepid water. She stripped him out of his wet and sandy beach clothes and placed him into the bath. She splashed some water on him and took the bar of soap to his skin. She quickly rinsed off the soapy water and wrapped him in a towel. Putting a loose fitting outfit on him, she laid him in his crib. He didn’t argue a single bit. “I know, that’s right, sleep, you’re a tired boy.”
She started to head out of the room when he called out. “Water, Mommy.”
She stopped and sighed. “Okay, I’ll be right back.”
She entered the kitchen and filled up his sippy cup with water. She felt a bit dizzy but pushed through and gave him his water. He took two sips, then fell back down on the mattress and closed his eyes.
After placing his cup on the dresser nearby, the room began to spin. Feeling faint, she grabbed onto the doorjamb and scooted along the wall, down the hall toward their bedroom. She made it to the bed and plopped down. She breathed heavily for a moment and could feel her heart racing a mile a minute. What on earth was happening? She took a couple of deep breaths and tried to steady her racing pulse. She leaned back against the pillows and pulled her legs up onto the mattress. She closed her eyes for a moment and doesn’t remember the rest.
Chapter 13
Jack took the damp washcloth to the bathroom sink and wet it with more cool water. He caught a glimpse of his worried expression in the mirror. He continued to ring out the cloth, and then taking a deep breath for strength, entered the bedroom where Annie rested.
