Sweet Tea and Secrets

by Nancy Naigle

  “No. I guess I can’t. How is everything else?”

  “I had a special surprise when I got back here yesterday.”

  “You mean something besides about a million plants, flowers and homemade casseroles?”

  “Yeah. This wasn’t a welcome gift. Someone broke into the house. They made a huge mess.”

  “What?” His voice rose with concern. “You’re okay, right? Was anything taken?”

  “I’m fine. Whoever broke in was already gone when I got here.”

  “Lucky for you. Who knows what would’ve happened had you walked in on them. You should come on home.”

  Jill didn’t see any point in mentioning that Garrett had been the one taking all the risk. “I’m fine, Bradley. The only thing they took was my suitcase. Well, the suitcase was one of yours actually. Sorry about that. Isn’t that weird? Anyway, the sheriff came out. They dusted for prints, but said that the break-in was probably the result of kids with nothing better to do while everyone in the county was at Pearl’s funeral.”

  “They dusted for prints? I’m surprised that podunk sheriff’s department has the skill. But seriously, I don’t like the sound of this one bit. I wish you would just pack up and get home before you get hurt. I don’t want anything to happen to my girl.”

  “I need to be here.” Too exhausted to keep soothing his insecurities when she felt so low herself, she regretted having answered the call. “Look. I’ll call you later.” She hung up, unplugged the phone from the wall and wrapped the long cord around the handset.

  Small town pluses were small town minuses when you wanted to be left alone. If it wasn’t Bradley calling, then it was sure to be every one of Pearl’s friends or the folks from church trying to comfort her and show their support. But she didn’t want to feel better yet. She was sad, and she had every right to be.

  She tousled the top of Clyde’s head as she walked by him toward the bedroom. Clyde was her kind of guy. He was perfectly happy to lounge around all day. No questions, no lectures, just a warm body to snuggle. She climbed back in bed. Clyde clomped into the room and sprawled out on the cool wooden floor as Jill fell into an exhausted sleep.

  A knock at the door woke her.

  Clyde let out a woof and trotted down the hall, sniffing the whole way. She pulled the covers over her head and prayed that whoever was at the door would just go away. Apparently, it worked because Clyde came back and jumped up on the bed, resting his heavy chin on her tummy. She lifted her hand out from under the covers and patted his head. She’d have to get up and feed the beast sometime today else he might resort to gnawing off her foot or something. She rolled over into the pillow, promising herself she’d feed him the next time she woke up.

  The room was dark when she opened her eyes again. Clyde’s tail wagged like crazy. She wondered how long he’d been watching her. She sat on the edge of the bed. Clyde stuck his nose in her crotch, then ran toward the bedroom door, waiting.

  “I know. I promised.”

  He tilted his head. When she didn’t move, he came back over and laid his head on her knee. His huge golden eyes looked sad, like he was begging her to come make him a little grub.

  She rubbed his big lips and muzzle, then slid off the side of the bed. When her feet hit the floor, the ‘oh shit’ mantra came to mind, but she’d just have to make up for that another day.

  Clyde beat her to the kitchen. He looked pitiful until she filled his bowl with food. Did he just smile and wink at her? She turned her cell phone on and deleted the seven messages from Bradley without listening to them. Sitting at the kitchen table, staring off at nothing in particular, was about all she had the energy to do.

  Clyde stopped his munching and looked at her.

  “No. I don’t feel like eating. You go ahead.” Her cell phone rang. “I just talked to the dog. Great.”

  Clyde stopped eating only long enough to raise a brow and giver her ‘the look.’ Jill looked at the caller ID on her cell. Carolanne. Safe to answer. “Hey gal.”

  “Hey. I called the house earlier, you didn’t answer,” Carolanne said.

  “I was here. I just wasn’t answering. That phone has been ringing off the hook.”

  Carolanne laughed. “You know how Adams Grove folks are. Everyone will be checking on you for at least a week.”

  “I know,” she said. “I’ll think twice before I call during that first week to pay condolences in the future. I’d rather just be left alone right now.”

  “You doing okay?”

  “Yeah. I’ve mostly been sleeping. Me and Clyde,” Jill said.

  “You still have that dog? I figured you’d pawn him back off on Garrett.”

  “We’ve found a peaceful coexistence.”

  “With Clyde or Garrett.”

  “I kind of like having old Clyde around,” Jill admitted. “He doesn’t mind sleeping most of the day away, and he likes to spoon.”

  “You avoided my question.”

  “You know me too well. I can’t hide anything from you.” Jill tsked and then began to spill all the details about Garrett to Carolanne.

  “You might have to give the guy a break.”

  “Don’t start,” said Jill.

  “Fine. Nothing I can do for you?”

  “Nope, not a thing,” Jill said. “I’ve slept away one whole day. If each one gets easier, I’m on my way. The only reason I got up was to feed the dog. I was afraid if he got hungry he might eat the furniture, or worse, one of my limbs.”

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t test that theory either,” Carolanne said.

  They said their goodbyes and promised to check in later in the week. Jill clicked the end button and then powered off the phone. There wasn’t anyone she wanted to talk to. Clyde shoved his head under her hand. “I guess you want to go out now.”

  Clyde danced a jig, lifting his front paws one at a time.

  “Okay.” She flipped on the back porch light and let him out. He sniffed out a trail around the perimeter of the yard as if he were securing the area before zigzagging to find a corner to take care of his business. Then, he ran as fast as could across the yard with his ears flopping.

  She held the door open. Clyde ran right past her into the kitchen without slowing down, finally sliding to a stop at the kitchen sink. She locked up and headed back to bed. Clyde was just a step behind her. When she got in bed, she hung her hand over the side. Clyde pushed his wet nose under her hand, begging for attention, but gave up easily and stretched out on the floor beside the bed, facing the door.

  ***

  Jill woke up the next morning feeling like she was in a fog. Someday she’d have to get up and face life without Pearl. Yesterday wasn’t the day. Did today have to be?

  The same thought kept reeling through her mind. Pearl wouldn’t be happy with her for sleeping away precious time and moping around. Jill pulled the sheets over her head. Pearl’s voice echoed the ‘when your feet hit the floor’ mantra in her brain again—taunting her.

  “Are you haunting me Pearl?” she called out to the room just in case.

  A loud clatter came from beside her.

  “Holy sh—” For a moment there she thought maybe Pearl was haunting her. “Clyde!” He’d knocked her water glass off the nightstand with his tail. The clatter had been just enough to jolt her awake and get her thinking again.

  As she mopped up the water with one of Pearl’s housecoats, she noticed a slip of a paper on the floor. A note from Garrett that read, “I’m here for you. Call me. G.”

  That night with Garrett had been innocent physically, but Bradley was waiting for her back in Savannah. She may never forgive him, and their relationship, business and otherwise, might even be over. But no matter what a big jerk Bradley had been, she had no right to let Garrett stay over.

  “Clyde. Get up. I need to get busy and get my head back on straight.”

  She hopped out of the bed and headed to Pearl’s desk to begin sifting through the papers the intruders had tossed. What better way to work
off some guilt than to throw herself into a project? Sorting the hanging folders out of the mess, she started placing them back in the drawers. Then, one by one, she filed the items back where they made sense because there was no way anyone would’ve ever figured out Pearl’s filing system. Among the mess, she found two boxes of thank you cards. They’d come in handy right about now, so she set them aside.

  By lunchtime, the room was in better shape, but still far from put back together. She swept the remaining papers into piles and put them on the desk to sort through later.

  Thank you cards in hand, Jill went to the kitchen and began writing notes to the people who had sent flowers. Carolanne, God bless her, had made sure everyone signed the guestbook and collected the florist cards the staff at the church had gathered. With the personal thank you notes done, Jill drafted a short thank you for the County Gazette classifieds. The thank you would run in the Sunday edition to let the community know that she appreciated their support. She’d drop off the note on her way to get stamps at the post office.

  She grabbed her stuff and headed for town. The County Gazette office had closed for the lunch hour, so Jill dropped the note through the slot in the door along with a twenty dollar bill.

  She walked around the corner to the post office. Aunt Milly stood just inside the door holding a large package. Of course, everything looked large next to Milly. She wasn’t quite five foot tall although she’d tell you she’d been five-three before she started shrinking. It was rare that Jill had ever seen Aunt Milly without Pearl, and that made it a bit sad.

  “Hi Aunt Milly. How’re you doing?”

  Aunt Milly leaned in and gave Jill a half-hug around the box. “I’m doing just fine, dear.”

  The heavy wood and glass door closed behind Jill. “What do you have there? Treasures?”

  Milly patted the top of the box, nodding with pride. “Yarn. The softest yarn ever. Softer than cashmere, but as durable as wool.”

  “Sounds nice.”

  “Softer than anything Pearl ever laid her hands on. Alpaca yarn.” She balanced the package as she talked which was hard for Milly to do without her hands.

  “Alpaca, huh?” Jill raised a brow, impressed. “I’ve seen them on a television ad recently. They’re cute. I bet they’re not so cute naked though.”

  Aunt Milly gave Jill a wink. “I’m sure they’re happy to sacrifice a bad hair day or two for a nice sweater, dear.”

  Aunt Milly was so much like Pearl that it hurt.

  “Pearl was mighty proud of that peach handspun cashmere you gave her for her birthday. Can’t believe she won’t ever see this.” The old woman leaned in closer to Jill. “She’d have died of envy if she weren’t already gone.”

  “Milly,” Jill gave the old woman a how dare you look while holding back a laugh.

  “Oh, honey. At our age, people die.” She patted Jill’s arm tenderly. “Trust me. Pearl’s tapping her toe in heaven, anxious for me to open this box.” She looked heavenward and winked. “Ain’t ya’, Pearl?”

  “You’re shameless.” Jill couldn’t help but laugh. “Hey, that reminds me. There’s a blanket by Pearl’s chair. I thought I’d finish that project for her. Who’s that for?”

  “Why, honey, that was for you.”

  “Me?”

  “For your wedding, dear,” explained Milly.

  “You must be confused. I’m not even engaged,” Jill said.

  “No. I remember. Pearl was braggin’ about that yarn you gave her and said that blanket was going to be the most special blanket she ever made in her life. She was working at a feverish pace. Said it was for your wedding.” Milly wagged a crooked-jointed finger toward Jill. “Maybe Pearl knew something you don’t. It was like she knew it would be her last blanket she knitted. I don’t know. But I know what she said.” She tapped the side of her head with her finger, nodding.

  “Hmmm. Well, I guess I’ll finish the blanket for me then.”

  “I guess you will. Pearl’s rarely wrong you know.” Milly patted Jill’s shoulder. “Enjoy it, sweetie. I’ve got to go so I can get started with my own project. My grandniece, Elsie, you remember her, don’t you? She’s gettin’ married.”

  “I can’t believe Elsie is old enough to get married.”

  “Don’t get me started on that. I told her she’s too darn young, but you know how she is. Headstrong like her mother.” Milly turned to leave, then swung back around. “And a lot of other Adams Grove girls.”

  “Good luck with your project. Love you,” Jill called after her.

  “You too, sweetie. Oh, I almost forgot.” Milly stopped at the door and turned around. “Have you talked to Connor?”

  “Connor?” Jill pulled back in surprise. “Connor Buckham? I thought he was in Chicago.”

  “Oh, well he was, but when his mamma took ill he came back. She’s got the arthritis so bad she can hardly do a thing. Don’t know if him bein’ back is permanent though. I think he’s still seeing that woman up in Chicago, the one whose daddy owns the law firm or something. Very rich, and boy could you tell she wasn’t too impressed with us when she came to town. Anyway, have you talked to him?”

  “No, I haven’t seen him. Why?”

  Milly ran her bony fingers through her blued hair and shook her head. “Oh dear me. I think I was supposed to pass that along earlier in the week. My memory isn’t as good as it used to be on some things, you know.” She reached toward Jill. “You need to talk to Connor. He has some important information for you, dear. He’s handling Pearl’s estate.”

  Pearl’s estate? It wasn’t like they lived high on the hog. Why would she need a lawyer? Maybe Milly wasn’t as sharp as she acted. “Okay. Thanks, Aunt Milly.”

  Milly backed out of the post office parking lot in her 1989 LeBaron. The odometer probably hadn’t even turned twenty thousand miles yet.

  Jill bought stamps and dropped her mail in the slot. Milly had a good three or four minute head start, but Jill ended up right behind her. She couldn’t even see Milly in the driver seat. She resisted the urge to pass her and was thankful when Milly turned to head home. Jill kept straight toward the center of town to finish the tasks on her list.

  Errands completed, Jill grabbed a burger at the drive-thru and headed back home.

  ***

  Sitting cross-legged in Pearl’s chair, Jill ate dinner while watching the news. As she pushed the old metal TV tray away, the blanket sitting in the top of Pearl’s knitting basket caught her eye. The scalloped edging and the diamond shapes sculpted in the body were intricate. She held the soft fiber to her cheek. People always thought cashmere came from rabbits, but this had come from Kashmir goats.

  She ran her fingers across the sweeping monogram in the diagonal of the corner.

  Clyde got up from the hall and plodded to the side of the chair, curious to see what she had.

  “This isn’t food, fat boy.”

  He laid his chin on the blanket. “Oh, no you don’t.” She lifted his drooly wet chin from the fine work and dabbed the wet spot with her shirt. “What am I going to do with you? You drool on everything.” Jill fished around in the basket next to the chair for something to wipe his face. She pulled out a pink hand towel that had a crocheted hem and buttoned tab top to hang over the oven handle. Pearl must have made this one for the church bazaar. They were always popular.

  “Come here, boy.” Jill dipped the pink towel under the dog’s neck, then slipped a piece of yarn between the bottom and the top to secure the towel around his neck. “There. That should help keep you from sliming stuff up all the time.”

  Clyde shook his head and lifted a huge paw in the air, trying to reach the material around his neck. He wasn’t that limber.

  “Sorry buddy.”

  He lay down, realizing defeat. He was smart, she’d give him that.

  Jill leaned back in the chair and turned her attention back to the corner of the blanket. An M? If this blanket was for her wedding, then Pearl must have thought she would marry Garrett. He was t
he only M that had ever been in her life, except for M&Ms, but then they traced back to Malloy too, at least the green ones anyway. He loved them.

  Chapter Eight

  It was a new day and things seemed a little brighter. Jill didn’t feel as annoyed, or sad, but rather a little numb to everything around her. She heard her phone chirp, and then Clyde began barking at her purse like it was a wild intruder. Where had that ferocious side been during the break-in?

  “It’s okay boy. It’s just my phone.” She scrubbed his ears as she ran past him to grab her phone from her purse and answer it.

  “How are things in the country?” Bradley asked.

  “As good as can be expected.”

  “I know you’re hurting. I was thinking, if you get everything packed this week, why don’t we head down to the Cayman’s for a few days?”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready to pack things up. We’ll see.”

  “What do you mean, ‘we’ll see?’ I thought you’d love the idea,” Bradley said. “I have some business to take care of in the Cayman’s,” he continued. “It’s perfect timing.”

  Convenient. He’ll let me tag along on his business trip. Was everything about him? Maybe it always had been. He sounded annoyed, and she didn’t have the energy to even care.

  “Have you even started packing yet?” he asked.

  “Hardly.”

  “I thought we agreed that you’d get everything packed and head home.” Bradley’s voice grew tight.

  “No. I believe that’s what you said. I’m not in a hurry.”

  “Well I am. I want you home with me. What’s gotten into you?”

  “Me?” The word stabbed the air. She was so furious it took a moment to continue to speak. “What’s gotten into you? I’m not sure I want to pack anything yet, maybe never. Quite honestly, it’s been kind of nice being home again. Cooking, baking, things I haven’t done in Savannah.” With the business of the Kase Foundation keeping her so busy, battling Annie over the rights to the kitchen was a battle she’d chosen not to fight. Those days were over.

  “I talked to a realtor, but I’m not sure I trust those small town folks. I might just sell the property myself to be sure you get a fair price.”