Forgiving Patience

by Jennifer Simpkins

  Anna caught the acoustic guitar player’s eye and couldn’t help but smile as he and his bandmates played a George Strait song. He had to be in his late forties, but he reminded her of her older man crush, Kevin Costner, so she found it flattering when he winked at her. She turned her back to him, but couldn’t resist a glance over her shoulder to see the guy still had his eye on her. It felt good to attract a man, drawing his attention despite all the slender, sensual women in the room. She offered him one last smile and turned away for good—allowing him to look to his heart’s content.

  “Anna Lynn Kelly.”

  Anna knew the voice like she would’ve known her own mother’s. She turned from the table. “Ms. Edna.” Her fiery neighbor was dressed in a blue skirt and matching suit jacket paired with black, sensible flats she imagined the simple woman only brought out for special occasions. Her gray hair was swept back in a low bun with little make-up covering her aging face. She looked exactly the same. In Anna’s eyes she was pure loveliness, even though the old woman made it nearly impossible for anyone to actually love her.

  “Ms. Edna, you look exquisite tonight.”

  “So, the lost sheep finally decides to come home.”

  It was just like the stubborn woman to ignore a good compliment when it was given and to not even offer one in return. Anna hadn’t kept in touch with her neighbor and only knew through Em that Ms. Edna still worked five days a week at the salon and was exactly the same in spirits. To most, she came off as hard-headed and borderline rude, but Anna loved that about her. She was true to herself and could care less what anyone else thought. It must feel nice to be so cavalier about unimportant things.

  “Yes, I’m back for a little while.”

  “Why?” the woman asked, while plucking a Swedish meatball off the buffet table and popping it in her mouth, not bothering with a serving plate.

  “I wouldn’t miss Em’s wedding for anything. I’m the maid of honor.” She hated that anyone—particularly a person she respected—would think she wouldn’t come home for her best friend’s wedding. Had everyone been so surprised to see her back? Of course, she hadn’t really been jumping at the idea of coming back and dealing with the town and what it represented. She couldn’t really blame Ms. Edna for doubting her friendship duties. She only hoped Em hadn’t doubted her too.

  “You missed a lot of other important things around here, child. When Emilee said you were coming back, I just didn’t believe her. You know how the girl talks. I don’t think she believes half the things that come out of her own mouth.”

  Anna could hear the motherly tone leaking out. Ms. Edna was disappointed in her for taking too long to come back. Her mother hadn’t lived in Patience for years, so other than Em, what other reason did she have for returning? She wondered if the woman had missed her. After all, they had known each other as long as Anna could remember. For the first time she wondered if not coming back was a mistake.

  Ms. Edna didn’t have any family, so Anna’s mom had made it a secret tradition to set aside one day a week to spend a couple hours with their cranky neighbor. Ms. Edna would’ve resented a pity visit, so they were required to make up reasons for visiting—such as needing a cup of sugar—which she saw right through and sent them packing back across the field.

  “Em was telling the truth. I’m here for a couple weeks.”

  “Where you stayin’ since that older Lawrence boy is shacking up at your place?”

  Anna was trying to forget Jake and their little run-in for just this night. “Garrett offered me an apartment behind his office.”

  “Good. I would tell you to stand up for what is yours, but it’s best you stay away from Lawrence. He and his brother skirt around with every floozy in town. Just look at that Bradley. He’s practically having sex right there on the dance floor with some girl he probably picked up last night…”

  “Ms. Edna!” Was this outspoken sixty-year-old the woman she’d grown up living next to? She did not want to be talking about sex with Edna. It was just… unnatural.

  “What, child? You think I don’t know about sex? I might be a single woman, but I was young once. Those rotten ‘lil devils are sure nice to look at, but they are t-r-o-u-b-l-e if you ask me. You stay away.” The older woman pointed a stern finger.

  “I’ll keep that in mind, Ms. Edna,” Anna agreed, trying to force herself not to blush.

  “Well, I gotta go over here and see when Louise wants to come in and get her hair fixed. Don’t be a stranger.” Edna gave her one more hard look, as if to make sure Anna was really there and not a ghost. Even though Anna wanted to give her a hug, she decided against it because she knew Ms. Edna wouldn’t like the sign of endearment—especially in public.

  Nonetheless, Anna was glad to be done with the odd conversation. She couldn’t erase the picture of Edna as a young girl, skirtin’ around with all the single handsome men. Why hadn’t her dear neighbor ever married or talked about an ex-lover? It was a thought Anna became intrigued by. Did she have any family?

  Anna turned her attention back to the buffet Ms. Edna had just nonchalantly snacked from. She needed to keep her hands busy and make herself feel like she was not on the outside. She hated to admit it, but it was times like this she longed to have a man to cling too. Someone she could be surrounded by, instead of standing alone holding a dinner plate in place of a warm hand. It was hard to be in a crowded room full of couples and yet feel so terribly alone.

  Before she had time to grab a plate and fill it with food she didn’t have the stomach to eat, the honoree of the party rushed up. “Come on. I want to introduce you to the other bridesmaids.”

  She could feel a knot forming in her stomach at the word introduce. Usually, when around new people, or in this case, old friends she hadn’t seen in over a decade, her nerves took over, and her face and chest turned an awful shade of red. So far she’d gotten by with just a few hellos from other passing guests and the short, nerve-rattling sex talk with Ms. Edna. She was anxious about meeting Em’s friends. She hoped they accepted her as the maid of honor. While she took Ms. Edna’s lead and told herself it didn’t matter what anyone else thought about her, deep down she wanted Em to have a wonderful wedding. Em didn’t deserve to have her Patience friends and her best friend, who lived what seemed a million miles away, to be at odds and uncomfortable with one another.

  I really don’t want to mingle.

  Because of the lack of time, she’d thrown herself together in a frenzy. After the irritating conversation with her realtor—and she now used that word loosely, because of the position he had put her in—she had just enough time to reapply her deodorant, add some powder to cover up her sunburnt face, and mascara to her eyes, run a brush through her hair, and slip on her previously chosen dress paired with red heels. The sleeveless black cocktail dress had a high neckline just for mingling purposes. When she knew there would be a big party she was required to attend, she’d intentionally packed this dress because it would cover the splotches of red on her neck if she got too nervous.

  Em took her hand and gave it a little squeeze, as if to let her know she was going to be okay and to take a deep breath. Anna looked down at their joined hands and was comforted to know she had someone who knew her so well that she could feel her anxiety. She also figured Em didn’t want her passing out and taking all the attention away from her and her party.

  I have missed this.

  They were approaching two women—one she recognized from her high school days. She looked out of place at the lavish party. Her short black skirt with a white baby doll tee and flip-flops were a far cry from what Anna expected to be worn at such a fancy party. Her simple, brunette-colored hair hung loosely past her shoulders. A to-die-for tan left her needing little to no make-up. The slightly muscular arms showed her willingness to stand up to any man if need be, but also made her seem soft and feminine.

  “Anna, this is Jesse Daniels, Tommy’s ‘lil sister. I don’t know if you remember, but she was a couple of years
behind us…and this is Jill Travis,” Em said, pointing to the woman standing next to Jesse. “She works with me at the salon.”

  Jill had dark, curly hair springing out in every direction. Anna wished for hair like that, but knew it had to be a nuisance to deal with every day. She was about Anna’s height and was blessed with a naturally dark completion. The spaghetti strap dress she wore was very modest and cut just above the knee. The color looked amazing against her dark skin.

  How is it that everyone can get or has a tan except me?

  “Yes, I do remember, you played on the softball team. It’s nice to see you again, Jesse. And it’s nice to finally meet you, Jill.” She gave both women a friendly handshake.

  While Jesse could be the spokesperson for a strong-willed, confident woman—Jill, who looked younger than Jesse, was more conservative.

  “Yeah, softball days were the good ‘ole days. Now I’m stuck playing with all men.” Jesse really didn’t look that upset at the idea. “I’m glad to have backup,” Jesse said, rolling her eyes at Em. “She’s driving me crazy with all this wedding stuff. Stuff I know nothing about. You have to help her—help me…p-l-e-a-s-e,” she pleaded with both hands gripped together.

  “Em, are you really being a bridezilla?” Anna looked at Jesse. “Don’t worry, I have your back. Between the three of us, I think we can take her.”

  “Good, because I was about to boycott the wedding altogether.” Anna didn’t doubt Jesse was telling the God’s honest truth.

  Feeling surprisingly comfortable, Anna pointed the question to Jesse, “What does Em have you doing?”

  The woman tucked a piece of her dark, shoulder-length hair behind her ear. “Well, let’s see, last week it was buying the groomsmen’s and bridesmaids’ gifts—which I think is absurd. This week…” She turned toward Em as if asking her what her chores were this week, even though Anna could tell Jesse knew exactly what she was supposed to do. “Oh—yeah, I have to send out invitations for her bachelorette party. A party she won’t allow me to throw. I fell like a grunt. She won’t even suggest that Jill do anything.”

  “Hey, don’t throw me into this.” Jill held both hands in the air, as if guarding herself from the accusation. “I volunteered to help, but she doesn’t tell me anything. Don’t blame me. I’ve tried.”

  It felt nice to be involved in the friendly banter between friends. These were the people closest to Em. In some ways, Anna felt like an intruder on a life she hadn’t been a part of.

  Chiming in, Em said, “Jill is busy at the salon till dark six days a week. You are the most available person, Jesse, so stop being a terrible sister-in-law.”

  The comment sounded harsh to Anna, but the smile that spread across both women’s faces let her know this was normal talk between them. It was obvious Em loved Tommy’s sister, and even though Jesse would probably deny it, she loved having Em around.

  “You saying I have nothing to do? That I can drop everything at the store to go and rescue your ass and…” Jesse knowingly added, “Jill only works five days a week.”

  “Good grief, Jesse, can you be a lady for one night?” Jill scolded. “Have some manners. You are at a party that doesn’t consist of beer kegs.”

  “Fine. Just for you, Jill, I will act like a lady,” Jesse said sarcastically. “I won’t say another damn word…oops—sorry, I guess you don’t approve of damn either…”

  “Forget it. Anna, it’s so nice to meet you. I hope we get a chance to spend some time together while you’re here.” Jill gave a pointed glance in Jesse’s direction and turned on her heel, heading toward an attractive man seated several tables away from where the bride and bridesmaids were standing.

  Okay, what is up with that? Note to self—watch the language around Jill.

  Breaking the unwelcome silence that hung in the air, Jesse said, “Well.”

  “Jesse, do you always have to do that? Why can’t you play nice with her?” Em lectured.

  Anna wasn’t sure what was going on, but she felt the need to change the subject. As maid of honor, she needed to channel the waters in a different direction. Things had been going so well with meeting Em’s friends. No need to ruin the atmosphere. Em would thank her later for taking charge of the situation and turning the focus off Jill and her abrupt exit.

  “Em, you should feel bad for sending one of your bridesmaids out to buy her own gift. That just crosses the line.”

  “I paid for the gifts. Now that you’re here, Anna, I can entrust you with some things. Jesse just isn’t into all the wedding stuff…as you can tell.”

  “I’m never getting married, therefore I don’t need to know anything about how to throw a wedding. I’m glad I only have one sibling. I don’t think I can go through this torture again.”

  “Well, I hope that plan works out for you, but for now—you are mine. So until I walk down the aisle and your brother says ‘I do’, you are stuck with me.” Em turned to Anna and gave her a smile. “You come by the house tomorrow so we can catch up. It’s crazy here, and I want to be able to actually talk.”

  Em sauntered off, leaving Anna with her comrade. “Is she always like this? I mean, when did she get so bossy?”

  “You haven’t seen anything yet. Sometimes she is just downright scary. Weddings do not bring out the best in people…that’s for damn sure. Come on, let’s get a drink.”

  The two women took a seat at a table situated in the middle of the room. Jesse stopped a tray-carrying waiter and grabbed two glasses of wine—handing one over to Anna and tossing back hers in two hefty gulps. Wow. Nothing like alcohol to calm the nerves. Anna was thinking she could learn a few bad habits from this chick.

  “What do you do? Em said you were the most available,” Anna curiously asked.

  “I split my time at the hardware store with my dad and Tommy, but I also work on the farm. We’re setting tobacco, and for some reason Em thinks that’s easy and I can just drop everything because I don’t have a clock–in, clock-out job.”

  “It must be nice to be your own boss. I, myself, want to open up my own coffee shop someday. I hope to experience the same feeling.”

  “I would hardly call it being my own boss. I have to deal with an older brother who thinks he’s in charge of my life and a father who thinks I’m still five,” she commented while grabbing two more glasses of wine. After handing one to Anna, she added, “And I do work hard.”

  “I’m sure you do,” Anna agreed. Having a family, no matter what their flaws, must be rewarding. Even though Jesse was complaining, she could sense that the woman adored her family.

  Anna had always wished to have a brother or sister, someone she could experience life with. The closest thing she had to a sister was Em. Em was indeed sister material. Anna had been sworn to keep secrets from her friend’s parents, was given advice about boys, and even had someone to fight with on occasion. Overall, Anna was thankful to have her bossy friend in her life.

  They sat and talked about high school. Jesse asked what it was like to live somewhere different. Anna told her small details about Linden and how at first it felt strange to be in a town she hadn’t grown up in, but soon grew to love.

  She couldn’t help but notice Jesse’s eye wandering several times as they talked. She was looking to her left at a man slow dancing with a long-legged redhead. They were the same couple Ms. Edna had pointed out earlier—during their need to forget sex talk. Bradley Lawrence was holding the woman close while they swayed to the newest country song. He looked ruggedly handsome—much like his older brother. Instead of the typical suit and tie most of the men dressed in, Bradley had on Wrangler jeans with a blue-and-white plaid western-cut button-up rolled up to his elbows. His cowboy hat was pulled down low, allowing him to only zone-in on the woman he was grinding on. She doubted he noticed anyone else was in the room—including Jesse.

  From the look on Jesse’s face, she didn’t appreciate the couple or their dancing skills. A look of hatred mixed with love filled the woman’s eyes.
r />   Anna approached the subject obliquely. “Is that Bradley Lawrence?”

  The soft color filling Jesse’s cheeks told Anna that the usually confident woman was slightly embarrassed at being caught watching Bradley and his date. “Yeah, that’s him. Same ‘ole, same ‘ole with him.”

  Anna didn’t know exactly what same ‘ole, same ‘ole meant, but whatever was going on, it wasn’t a topic she cared to embark on at the moment. Still, she couldn’t help but to be a tad curious.

  There was a tap on Anna’s left shoulder.

  “Excuse me, miss?”

  Anna turned in her chair, away from Jesse, to come face-to-face with Kevin Costner.

  * * * *

  “How’s the house coming along?”

  Jake shifted his weight off his bum knee to his left leg without making it obvious to Tex. He’d grown up with Tex, and it wasn’t like his buddy didn’t know he was in pain a lot of the times because of the old baseball injury. But he didn’t want anyone to look at him and think he was some washed-out-ex-ballplayer.

  “It’s coming. I finished up the exterior painting this week.”

  “I stopped by there a couple days ago and saw the side porch you were adding. If you need any help, just holler.”

  Jake only nodded because he and Tex both knew he wasn’t going to ask for help. It seemed lately he was out to prove he could do all the repairs with minimal assistance. Every day he pushed himself a little harder and was now finally getting his life somewhat back together. He was far from normal, but he was better than he’d been not too long ago.

  “Who’s the hot babe sitting with Jesse?”

  Jake took a swig of his second beer of the night. “That there is Anna Kelly.”

  “Woo-hoo.” Tex whistled. “She’s some kind of pretty. When did she get back?”

  Jake’s jaw tightened at the thought of Tex scoping out Anna. The guy was not harmless when it came to beautiful women—and Anna sure looked beautiful. Her honey hair hung loosely past her shoulders. Every now and then she would sweep back a tendril falling in her face back behind her ear. Her sleeveless black dress showed off her milky, smooth arms, and the crimson heels showed she was definitely not boring. She looked like a mixture of level-headed woman who wanted to look presentable at a fancy party and a wild cat burning to come alive. He knew she had a wild side because he’d seen a little bit of it earlier when she’d laid into his ass. He usually didn’t enjoy being handed his ass by anyone, but it wasn’t so bad with Anna. She made a good butt-chewing downright sexy.