Southern Belles, a Novel About Love, Purpose & Second Chances (9781310340970)

by Anderson, Sarah

  “So, Eric Sothersby huh?” I heard Trudy’s voice behind me.

  “Yeah, he just moved back to town to help his parents.”

  “Uh hmm.” She smirked.

  “So 6’2 back there, huh?”

  “He’s just fixing the cooler.”

  “Eric just needs a friend and so do I.”

  “Really, how much did he tip you?” Trudy pretended to peek in my apron pocket.

  “I don’t know.” I said pulling out his bill and money.

  “I bet it’s over twenty percent.”

  “Okay.” I said sarcastically. “He gave me a twenty.”

  “How much was his bill? Let me see that—Char—his bill was only $8.94.”

  “So, he’s generous. Maybe he felt bad for me since he knows I’m a single mom.”

  “Are you going to tell CeCe?”

  “Yes, of course I am. She can hang out with us. It would actually be nice to get out of the house with someone other than my brother or my parents.”

  “I was just asking. You don’t need my permission to go out with him. You deserve some fun—just not too much fun.”

  “Thank you. I do deserve some fun. There will be none of the kind of fun you just mentioned though—you naughty lady.” I said, taking the check back before I slapped her with my wet dish towel as I passed her.

  “Good for you.”

  I finished the rest of my shift thinking about Eric; telling myself it was only for friendship. Thanksgiving was coming up in a week and a half. I’m sure CeCe would love the chance to hang out with him. She had been stressing out over courses again this semester. Over the phone, I reassured her that she was almost done for the semester and that soon we would be hanging out and she could forget all the pressures from school and her parents to perform well.

  It was about three days after meeting Eric at the diner that I called him to set up the play date. I waited to tell CeCe; I didn’t want her to stress out anymore nor did I want her to get upset with me for hanging out with him without her. I brought Lucy to his sister’s home. Eric made spaghetti and homemade meatballs with garlic bread, one of my favorite but very messy meals. Their home was very neat and looked like an ad for Pottery Barn. I met his sister and brother-in-law, briefly, before they left for dinner. It had been awhile since I’d seen her but she still looked the same. They were a very nice family and Aiden and Lucy seemed to hit it off well. Dinner was delicious and Eric was a good host. After we finished off some of the lemon bars his sister made for dessert, we stepped out their backyard to let the kids run and play while we sat in their wooden Adirondack chairs and talked. It was a warm evening for late November and a pretty pink-orange hue stretched across the western skies.

  We shared about our aspirations for the future. I tried not to be over excited about my writing but couldn’t help it. I hadn’t talked to anyone, other than my family, about the details of the book and Eric was kind enough to seem interested. I explained how the writing had helped to bring me hope when my dreams were doubtful. Even CeCe didn’t know as much about my book as I shared with Eric because she had been so busy unloading on me about school. I didn’t feel it was right to cut her off to tell her how excited I was about my book. Eric told me that he loved music and had learned to play the piano when he was six. Since coming home from school, he’d begun writing music and playing the piano in the evenings. He still dreamed of teaching music, even though he knew he would take over his dad’s insurance agency, someday. He had finished all of his prerequisites to start the music program at Calvin College when his dad got sick. After he opened up about his dad, I felt an easiness to tell Eric about Lucy’s dad and how we met; just once. I shared that although Skylar’s abandonment hurt me deeply—Lucy was the best thing that had ever happened to me and I admitted to still thinking about him to Eric.

  “How could you not think about him? He was someone very special to you—even if it was only one night.”

  “Yeah, I thought he was my future. At least a part of him still is.”

  “Do you think you’ll ever see him again?” Eric asked raising his glass to his lips.

  “I don’t know. I’m not sure I’d know what to do if I did. I’d probably want to slug him or kiss him—one of the two—or both.”

  “Hmm.” Eric smiled.

  “What? Do you have anyone special?”

  “No, not really.”

  “Not really? I think I’m going to need you to elaborate some more.” I looked at him grinning as I took another sip of my lemonade.

  “Well, once, there was a girl. But nothing ever came of it.” He said looking over at Aiden and Lucy in the sandbox.

  “Hmm.” I smiled.

  “What?” He smiled back.

  “I was just thinking about the first day I saw you. It was fifth grade. I was in the hallway with CeCe. It’s kind of a funny story but I’m not sure you want to hear it.”

  “I like stories.” Eric looked back at me with his deep brown eyes.

  “Well, since you like stories. We were fighting over the locker mirror because I wasn’t allowed to wear make-up yet. My dad is a little old fashioned, so I kind of had to put it on at school so he didn’t know.”

  “You rebel you. I always thought you were the good one.” Eric joked.

  “I am…was…still am.”

  “The rebel or the good one?” He asked with a bit of amusement in his voice.

  “The good one.”

  “So you were being sneaky…” Eric continued my story.

  “Sort of but then I saw a new face behind me from the mirror’s reflection and it made me forget about my make-up.”

  “And this new face?” Eric looked intrigued.

  “Yes, I kind of had an instant crush on you—when I saw you. But after I pointed you out to CeCe she decided she had a crush on you too.”

  “You had a crush on me?” He looked surprised.

  “Well, a little bit.”

  “Just a little?”

  “Uh hmm.” I smiled. “We were hoping that you were going to be in our class.”

  “Ahhh—how come I never knew you had a crush on me?”

  “That’s coming. Hold on. You see once we got to the classroom and realized you were, in fact, in our classroom. There was some…some…” I looked for the right word, taking my time.

  “Some?” Eric hung on to each of my words.

  “There was some—contention—actually, a bit of a dilemma.”

  “What sort of dilemma do you speak of?” Eric eased up into another smile.

  “I’m getting to it. You do like stories don’t you!” I smiled sipping my lemonade.

  “It’s getting late and my mother always told me stories at bedtime.” He raised his eyebrows nodding.

  “I’m not sure how to take that.”

  “I love my mother and she always had the best stories?” He said. “I’m listening.”

  “Okay. Well we were sitting in the classroom both eagerly waiting for Mrs. Newwater to pick a volunteer to show you around. We already knew that she was going to do that.”

  “And.” Eric sat up in his chair, looking at me with a reserved smile in his eyes.

  “And then it happened.”

  “Yes?” He leaned in.

  “The moment came and we raised our hands. I, quite unexpectedly, had my hair pulled which hurt and made me lower my hand quickly.”

  “Oh the violence of fifth grade!” Eric looked serious.

  “I know. I don’t know if I ever really recovered from it.”

  “Catfights, they’re terrible.” Eric nodded his head.

  “So, after my hair was pulled, just about out of my head, I heard CeCe whispering something to me.”

  “Sweet nothings?” Eric sat on the edge of his seat.

  “No, not really; it was CeCe pleading to show you around.”

  “Really?”

  “She was afraid that Mrs. Newwater would have picked me over her to show you around.”

  “Was
she right?”

  “Yep.”

  “So, why did you relent?”

  “She’s my best friend. There was something about you written all over her face that told me to let you go.”

  “That’s true friendship.” He said, looking down at his feet.

  “She promised me that if I let her have you…”

  “Have me? Like for dinner?” Eric looked back up.

  “That she would let me have the next good guy that came our way.” I looked over at him.

  “And now, does she still feel that way about me?” He asked earnestly.

  “I can’t really speak for her.” I paused not sure I wanted to tell him that she was completely enthralled with him at mass and then, again, at the diner last Christmas. He was such a good guy and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was my second chance for a good guy.

  “And what about you? Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you didn’t lower your hand?” He said leaning in towards me with his deep brown eyes only a few inches from mine.

  “Uh.” I could barely let anything else out thinking about him and my best friend, conflicted with my loyalty to her and to my happiness. As I leaned closer to Eric, Skylar’s face popped into my head. It was the same tender face that looked at me before he kissed me for the first time.

  “I see the kids are having a great time.” A female voice rang out from behind us.

  “Mommy!” Aiden squealed as he ran past us to Elizabeth, Eric’s sister.

  “Yeah, they’ve been playing so nicely. Aiden is so sweet to Lucy.” I smiled recovering from an almost something with Eric.

  “How were my lemon bars?” She asked picking up Aiden.

  “Come here Lucy.” I said standing up. “Come to mommy.”

  “They were great but I think my spaghetti was the hit of the night.” Eric laughed, getting up from his chair.

  “Did he tell you that he actually taught me how to cook?” Elizabeth asked laughing at Eric’s comment.

  “Why no he didn’t. You have all kinds of talent.” I turned and smiled at Eric as I picked up Lucy.

  “I was too busy with sports, growing up, and never had enough time at home. Eric, here, was always mom’s little helper. When I married Matthew I didn’t know how to cook to save my marriage. Eric coached me through lasagna, chicken parmesan, and meatloaf over the phone, from college.”

  “Okay, that’s enough bragging.” Eric said kissing Aiden on the cheek.

  “Mommy’s little helper, huh?” I couldn’t help but cheese as I saw Eric’s face turn two shades pinker.

  “Yep, still am. I’m their favorite.” Eric looked at his sister.

  “Thanks guys for watching Aiden tonight.” Matthew said taking Aiden from Elizabeth.

  “It was my pleasure. Lucy and I had great company.”

  “So, Eric tells me you’re a writer?” Elizabeth continued as we all walked back into the house.

  “Well, I don’t know if I could call myself a writer yet—maybe an aspiring writer.” I said caught off guard that Eric had talked about me to someone else.

  “Very talented.” Eric nodded.

  “Thanks.” I looked at Eric.

  “You’ll have to let us know when your first book comes out.” Elizabeth urged.

  “I will; thank you.”

  “I’m going to make some coffee; does anyone want some?” Elizabeth turned towards all of us.

  “I’ll take some dear—it sounds good with some of your lemon bars.” Matthew said kissing Elizabeth’s cheek as he passed her.

  “Do you two want some coffee too?” She inquired.

  “Oh, I’d love some but I think Lucy and I need to get going. I didn’t realize it had gotten late. I need to get her in bed soon.”

  “Well, maybe next time then.” Elizabeth smiled opening her arms to hug me.

  “That would be nice.” I said hugging her back briefly.

  “Sorry, we’re all huggers in this family.” Eric said shyly.

  “That’s Okay. We are too in mine.”

  “Sis, I’ll be back. I’m going to walk Char and Lucy to their car.”

  “Okay, we’ll be here.”

  “Good night Char, it was nice to meet you.” Matthew called to us on our way out.

  “It was a pleasure meeting you all.” I said holding up Lucy’s hand to wave goodbye to Matthew and Aiden.

  “Say bye-bye Lucy.”

  “Bye-bye.” Lucy said softly.

  “Awe, good job baby.”

  “I had a good time tonight.” Eric said as he opened the front door.

  “Me too, I think Lucy has a little crush on somebody.”

  “Really, you don’t think I’m a bit too old for her.” Eric said with a straight face.

  “Aiden.” I laughed, shooting some snot out of my nose.

  “Oh that’s who I was talking about.” Eric shook his head.

  “You’re funny.”

  “I must be. Was that snot shooting from your nose?”

  “Oh you saw that? Sorry, I was hoping you missed it.”

  “It’s Okay. I’ve changed Aiden’s diapers. It doesn’t get any scarier than that.” Eric leaned against my car.

  “What a good uncle.”

  “Uncle of the year, actually.” Eric nodded his head.

  “I had a lot of fun tonight. Thank you for inviting us out.” I said, fastening Lucy’s car seat belt.

  “I had a very nice time too; thank you for trusting me.” He leaned close to me.

  “You’re welcome.” I said, finding myself face-to-face to him again.

  “So, do you want to try this again sometime?” Eric asked.

  “I do. I…” couldn’t finish my sentence.

  “Is everything alright?”

  “Yes.” I paused. “Earlier I think you were going to kiss me.” I said shyly.

  Eric smiled. “You did—how would’ve you felt if I had?”

  “I think I would have liked it?”

  Eric moved in and pressed his lips to mine.

  “But I don’t know if it’s right.” I pulled back and bit my lip as I looked into his gentle eyes.

  “Did I do something wrong?” Eric looked confused.

  “No, not really…unfortunately. My best friend has always liked you and I don’t think I can betray her.

  “This is about CeCe?” He asked concerned.

  “Yeah. You’re a great guy—the kind I need. I like you but I don’t want to hurt her.”

  “Oh.” He leaned back and against my car. “Well then, what are your thoughts on being ‘just friends’?”

  “You want to be my friend still?”

  “Of course I do. You’re a great person—fun, smart, pretty and you’re a great mom.” Eric smiled.

  “Are you joking with me? Some guys just say they want to be friends and then try to sneak a move on you when you’re not expecting it.”

  “I promise. I’m not that kind of guy. But I need a friend, I guess, more than I need a girlfriend right now.” He said sincerely.

  “Really? I’d love to be your friend. You are the nicest handsome guy I know—and you kiss nicely too.” I shot him a smile.

  “Thanks.”

  “So, we can do this again soon?” I asked.

  “Yeah, that would be nice. I’ll be gone most of Thanksgiving—my dad has radiation treatment again, so we’re all spending next week in Savannah. How about when I get back?”

  “Oh darn, I was thinking that you, CeCe, and I could hang out over Thanksgiving. She’s going to be home then. Maybe at Christmas instead, then?”

  “That would be fun.” He said walking around me to open my car door.

  “Good.” I smiled as I sat down in my car, rolling the window down.

  “So, just to be clear—we’re going to be friends because CeCe has feelings for me?” He asked leaning on my window.

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “And she always has?” He asked.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “Sh
e was my first kiss.” He laughed.

  “In the janitor’s closet…right?” I let out a giggle.

  “Yeah, in the janitor’s closet.”

  “What ever happened?”

  “Well, it was my first time. I was a little awkward and not exactly sure what to do.”

  “You’ve come a long way then.” I reassured him.

  He smiled as he looked down at me through my rolled-down window. “I was confused, my heart was beating fast, and I didn’t know what to do. CeCe was beautiful and overwhelming. I was just a kid and really shy then too. A few days later I tried to make eye-contact with her but she was too busy to notice. I figured it was a one-time thing and I was too nervous to approach her after that.”

  “Wow. She always wondered why you didn’t call her.”

  “She never gave me her phone number. I was the quiet new kid and she had the attention of all the popular guys.”

  “Just so you know I told her that she shouldn’t have expected you to ask for her phone number.”

  “I wanted to ask for it. I was just intimidated by her.” He said, smiling.

  “Maybe next time you see her, you could ask for her phone number?” I suggested.

  “Maybe; isn’t that a bit strange?”

  “No, not strange at all—I won’t even tell her about that little kiss either.” I smiled.

  “Okay, we’ll all have to get together then, at Christmas.” He proposed.

  “That would be lovely.”

  “Alright, I know you’ve got to get Lucy home. I think she fell asleep back there.” Eric peeked through the back window.

  “Thank you. I really did have a good time tonight. You give me hope that somewhere out there is a really nice, really good-looking guy for me too.”

  “He’s out there Char. You are a great person and you deserve a great man.” He said leaning in to hug me goodnight.

  “Thank you.” I said as I felt his embrace and his warm breath against the back of my neck.