by Rachel Hanna
“You’re right. I’m being silly. Thanks,” she said, hugging Janine.
“The song is almost over. Care to join me?”
“No, thanks. I’m going to stand out here and get a little air.”
“Okay. Don’t be too long.”
Janine left her there on the sidewalk. She took a couple of deep breaths, trying to get her mind straight. As she turned around, through the window she saw Tiffany give Dawson a long hug. And then she handed him a piece of paper. Dawson quickly put it in his pocket as Tiffany walked away.
She couldn’t go through this again. Maybe becoming a nun was a better option.
Chapter 4
Dawson looked at her as they walked up the steps to her front door. She’d tried to pretend she was okay for the rest of the night, but inside she just wanted to go home, put on her ugliest pajamas and eat whatever wasn’t nailed down. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for dating.
When she was young, the world was full of possible dates. Everyone was young and firm and had their whole lives ahead of them. Now, she felt like pickin’s were slim, as her grandmother would say. Dawson was a rarity, the perfect combination of good looks and kindness, but every other woman who met him must have recognized the same thing she did. He was a catch.
“Are you okay? You’ve been kind of quiet.”
“Just tired. I’ve been working so many days in a row that I’m glad to have tomorrow off. I’m just going to clean the house, batch cook for next week and spend some time chilling out.” Now, she was rambling.
“I hope I didn’t do anything to upset you tonight?”
She smiled up at him. “Of course not.” Except when you exchanged numbers with that tart from your schoolboy crush days. That kind of sucked.
“Good, because I had a great time with you,” he said, leaning down and softly kissing her lips.
“Same here,” she said, shakily, wishing she could muster the courage to ask him if he was leaving her house to go meet up with Tiffany the tart. “I’d better get inside.”
“Right. Call you tomorrow?”
“Great.”
He walked down the stairs, turned back one more time with a quizzical look on his face and then waved goodbye.
Julie opened the door and saw her sister and Meg sitting on the sofa. They looked like they were deep in conversation, which abruptly stopped when she walked inside. She leaned against the door and sighed.
“What’s wrong?” Janine asked.
“Oh nothing. I’m just forty-three and dying on the vine,” she said dramatically. She pulled off her coat and hung it on the rack by the door before sinking into the chair next to where they were sitting on the sofa.
Meg was wearing an oversized Paris sweatshirt, sweatpants and had a pillow in her lap, which was the perch for a large bowl of ice cream. She looked a bit like she’d been crying.
“You’re not dying on the vine. Stop being ridiculous,” Janine said rolling her eyes.
“She gave him her number. And he hugged her.”
“So?”
“Wait. Who are we talking about?” Meg asked.
“Dawson’s high school crush was at the reunion,” Janine said, filling her in. “And your mother has it in her head that he’s going to dump her and pursue Tiffany.”
“Oh, Mom, come on. Dawson thinks you hung the moon. Even I can see that in my short time here. Besides, isn’t this a little immature?”
Julie chuckled. “Give me a break. I haven’t dated since I was around your age.”
“I’m sure it was innocent, sis. Dawson’s a nice guy. What was he supposed to do? Throw the paper back in her face?”
“Yes.”
The three women all laughed at the absurdity of that image. Julie walked to the kitchen and grabbed a spoon. As she crossed back behind the sofa, she leaned over and took a big scoop of her daughter’s ice cream before sitting back down. She kicked her heels off and put her feet on the coffee table.
“How’d you make it back here so fast?” Julie asked her sister.
“Dixie called William. Her toilet overflowed, so he had to go to her house to help her.”
“Ah. So, Meg, when are you going to spend some time with your poor mother?”
Meg smiled. “Any time you want.”
“Have you thought about looking for jobs here yet?”
Meg looked uncomfortable. “No. Not yet. I think I need a little more time to adjust. Is that okay?”
“Of course, honey. Just seems like you’d be bored around here. Maybe you could take some classes at the community college, just so you don’t get behind.”
“Mom, please. I just need a break.”
“Sometimes breaks are hard to come back from. I’m just saying…”
“Mom! Just stop!” Meg suddenly jumped up and stormed out of the room, leaving her bowl of ice cream teetering on the pillow. Janine reached over and stopped it from tipping over.
“What on Earth?” Julie sat there, stunned, looking down the hallway where her daughter had gone.
“I think she’s just tired,” Janine said, filling her mouth with ice cream.
“Tired from what? Something is wrong. I know my daughter, and she’s not herself. Maybe she needs to see a therapist?”
“Just give her time, sis.”
Julie stared at her sister for a long moment. “Do you know something, Janine? And don’t lie to me. I can always tell when you’re lying.”
Janine looked at her. “Julie…”
“I met the best guy!” Colleen announced as she opened the front door and held her arms in the air.
“What?” Julie said, turning around.
Colleen closed the door. “His name is Tucker, and he’s the most adorable man to walk this planet.” She grinned and did a little dance before shutting the door.
“Isn’t this a little… soon?” Julie asked.
“I’m being a little dramatic, but seriously, this guy is amazing. I met him in town the other day, and tonight he scared me while I was taking a nap on Dawson’s beach.”
Janine’s eyes opened wide. “You were taking a nap?”
“It was an accidental nap. Anyway, we talked and then went to have coffee. He designs toys for a living. Can you believe that? And he’s so nice.”
Julie smiled. “Well, I’m happy for you, sweetie.”
“Thanks. Where’s Meg?”
“In the bedroom. I upset her, but I’m not really sure why. Maybe you could talk to her? See if she’s okay?”
“Sure. I’ve got to go change and take a shower anyway.”
Julie looked back at Janine, who was typing furiously on her phone. “I’m going to go meet William for coffee,” she said, standing up. “Mind if I borrow your car?”
“Sure, but…”
She quickly kissed Julie on the head as she walked by. “We’ll chat in the morning, sis. The coffee place isn’t open that late.”
Janine breezed out the front door, and Julie was more certain than ever that Janine was hiding something from her. And she didn’t like it one bit.
Colleen walked into the bedroom to find Meg sitting on the bed, her legs pulled up to her chest with an oversized sweatshirt pulled down over them. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying, although she tried to hide that fact when she saw her sister walk into the room.
“Hey,” Colleen said softly as she shut the door behind her. “Mom’s worried about you.”
“She just doesn’t know when to stop pushing.”
“Meg, what’s going on?”
“What do you mean?” she said, wiping a stray tear from her eye and stretching her legs out as she pulled a bed pillow across her lap.
“What’s with the pillow?”
“Huh?”
“You’ve being doing that a lot lately. Pulling a pillow across your lap. You’ve never done that before.”
“It’s cold.”
Colleen eyed her carefully. “Sissy, I know you better than anyone, and something’s up. Now, if you don’t want to tell Mom, I
get it. You can tell me anything. I won’t tell a soul. I promise.”
Meg looked at her for a long moment, obviously weighing her options. “I’m so ashamed,” she said, her voice shaking as her eyes started overflowing yet again.
Colleen rushed over to her sister and sat down on the bed. “Oh my gosh, Meggy, what’s wrong?”
“I’m… pregnant.”
The room was completely silent for a moment as Colleen took in the information. “Pregnant?”
“Yes.” Meg looked at her sister, as if she was trying to gauge her reaction. Colleen just sat there, staring straight ahead for a few moments. Meg sucked in a sharp breath and blew it out. “Say something.”
“I’m just in shock right now, sis. I mean, I’m going to be an aunt! And you’re going to be a mommy!” Tears fell from Colleen’s eyes as a smile spread across her face. She pulled the pillow away from Meg’s belly and stared at the growing bump beneath her sweatshirt.
“Can you tell?” Meg asked, pointing at her stomach.
“Now I can. But that’s because I know. I can’t believe you’re going to have a baby!”
“Shhh… I don’t want Mom to hear you.”
“Meg, you have to tell Mom soon. It’s getting a little more obvious. Why haven’t you told her? She’s worried.”
Meg stood up and walked to the mirror, turning sideways to survey her belly. “Because I don’t want her to be disappointed in me, Colleen. Who wants to tell their mother that they got knocked up in France and need help?”
Colleen stood behind her sister in the mirror. “We’ll do this together. Let’s go out there and tell her now. After all, we need time to get a nursery ready. Oh, I am so excited! I can’t wait to do all the baby clothes shopping. Have you seen what they have at that baby boutique on the square? Adorable! Absolutely adorable…”
“Colleen! Stop!” Meg held up her hand.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know how to say this… I’ve met with an adoption attorney.”
“What? You have to be kidding me, Meg. Please don’t tell me you’re planning to give my niece or nephew away.”
Meg sat down on the edge of the bed. “I haven’t made up my mind.”
“But, why? You have family. We’re here for you and the baby. Adoption is for people who…”
“People who what?”
Colleen sat down. “I don’t know. People who don’t have support? People who don’t want to raise a child?”
“Look, I don’t need this extra pressure, okay? I’ve already heard it from Aunt Janine.”
“Aunt Janine knows? Are you insane? You told her and not Mom? She’s going to freak out, and they’re going to stop speaking all over again!”
“Hold your voice down! I didn’t tell her. She overheard me making my OBGYN appointment and then confronted me. I swore her to secrecy.”
“Meg, this whole thing is getting out of hand. You have to tell Mom.”
“Just give me another week, okay? I need to make a decision about this adoption, and I can’t do that with everyone pressuring me, especially Mom.”
“Meg…”
“Please, Colleen. One more week.”
Colleen sat silently. “Fine. A week.”
“Thanks. I need to get some sleep,” Meg said, crawling back up toward her pillow. Colleen pulled the covers up around her neck and kissed her forehead, something she’d done a lot as they were growing up. They weren’t far apart in age, but Colleen had always thought of Meg as her baby.
“Goodnight, Meggy.”
As she watched her sister drift off to sleep, albeit a restless one, Colleen wondered what this news was going to do to their mother. And what was her mother going to do if she found out Janine had known the whole time?
Julie picked up the big box of books and set it on the counter. Business was starting to pick up as the colder weather was getting behind them, and more tourists were starting to descend on the town.
"I think we should set up a whole display of those new self-help books. People love those things," Dixie said, chuckling. "Personally, I don't think I could improve myself any more than the way God made me, but I don't mind selling books to people who think they need all that rubbish advice.”
"Well, I don't think that's the best way for us to sell them," Julie said, giggling. "Maybe calling them rubbish isn't the best marketing terminology."
Dixie waved her hand at Julie and started clearing off a bookshelf to make way for the new inventory. "I meant to ask you, how did the reunion go with Dawson the other night?”
“It was nice."
"That sure doesn't sound exciting," Dixie said, turning around and looking at her.
Julie sighed. "I don't know. I think I'm overreacting. Actually, my own nineteen-year-old daughter said I was being immature, if that tells you anything.“
"Immature about what?”
"Well, Dawson told me about how he had this huge crush on a girl in high school. He said she was basically a Barbie doll, and her name was Tiffany. And wouldn't you know it? Tiffany shows up at the reunion, and she's all over Dawson. Rubbing his arm, giving him a hug."
"Oh, sweetie, you don't have to worry about Dawson. He's as loyal as the day is long."
Julie pulled some books out of the box and handed them to Dixie. "I know he's loyal. I just don't want him to be tied down to me if he'd rather date that blonde supermodel."
Dixie turned around and and cocked her head. "Well, what do you think you are? Chopped liver?"
"I felt that way standing next to her."
"Darlin', Dawson really likes you. He's not the type of guy to chase some skirt around just because she's cute."
Julie sat down in the chair and put her head in her hands. "I don't know why I'm acting like this. I'm a grown woman, for goodness sakes! I guess after what happened with Michael… and the fact that I haven't dated since I was a teenager myself…"
Dixie sat down across from her and held her hands. "Sugar, it will all work out. Just don't make any silly decisions in the heat of the moment. Trust Dawson. He's a good man."
"You're right. In fact, you're always right, and it's quite annoying."
Dixie let out a loud laugh. "I sure wish my Johnny was here so you could tell him how I'm always right. He never would admit it while he was alive!"
The two women continued stocking the shelves, chatting about this and that. Julie was surprised when she looked up and saw her daughter, Meg, standing outside the bookstore.
She ran to the door and opened it, the loud bell echoing in the empty bookstore. "Meg! I'm so glad you decided to come see our bookstore."
Meg smiled, looking almost uncomfortable. "I figured it was about time. I wanted to check out the town, so I had Aunt Janine and William drop me off while they go do some work at the studio."
"Well, I'm glad you're here. Come on in. I want you to meet Dixie, my friend and business partner."
She brought Megan into the bookstore and gave her the grand tour. Dixie gave her a hug, as she did any new person she met. But there was a strange look on Dixie's face when she pulled back from hugging Meg. Julie couldn't put her finger on it, but some communication happened between Meg and Dixie that wasn't put into words.
"So, what do you think?"
"It's adorable. There was a little bookstore on the outskirts of Paris that I used to love to go to with…" Meg stopped short and then looked down at her feet. It was obvious to Julie that she was missing her boyfriend back in Europe, and she couldn't understand why Meg had chosen to leave the country and have no contact with him. She worried that he had done something bad to her, but she tried not to think about it. She wanted to give Meg the space to tell her whatever had happened when she was ready.
"Well, I'd better get going. I promised Colleen that I would meet up with her for lunch."
Julie’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Oh. Y'all are having lunch? I would've loved to have joined you.”
"I know. We didn't think yo
u'd want to because we're just going to be talking about Colleen’s new love interest. You know, sister stuff."
There was a long awkward pause. “Right. Well, I have so much to do here anyway. Maybe we can do it another time."
“Great. See you at home later,” Meg said, making her way out of the story quickly. As she disappeared down the sidewalk, Julie turned back to Dixie.
“Something is definitely off with her.”
“Maybe you should just sit down and have a heart to heart talk with her, hon. I think she might be going through a rough patch.”
Julie cocked her head. “Why do you say that?”
“Oh, just old woman intuition, I suppose.”
Janine rolled out her yoga mat and stretched her arms high above her head. She needed this practice today. Keeping Meg’s secret was wearing on her in ways she couldn’t describe. She hated keeping things from her sister, and this was the biggest kind of secret.
“You’ll have to teach me how to do that,” William said as he walked around the corner.
“Oh yeah?”
“I can’t even touch my toes, I’m so stiff. How did I snag myself a real life yogi with my inflexible body?”
She laughed. “Good question. Let’s not pull at that string.”
“So, I was going over your budget, like you asked. I have some questions.”
“Okay, shoot,” she said, as she fell forward and put her hands on the ground, her head hanging between her legs.
“This line item for grief, what does that mean?”
She stood back up and pulled her foot up in the air and to the side, struggling to maintain her balance as she looked at him. “I want to do some free classes for people in the local grief counseling groups. They were a big help to me, so I want to give back.”
“Oh. Gotcha. What about this free workshop in June?”
“That’s for the stay at home and single mothers. I know they can’t always afford regular yoga classes, but it’s so important for mental health.” She leaned forward again and went into downward facing dog pose.
“And the mommy and me classes. Don’t you think the rate for those is a little low?”
