I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. “She thinks I’m pretty. Over-pretty. But that’s not even a word.”
When he laughed my face grew hot. I know I turned three shades of red.
Chapter Seven
“I’ll save some for Henry. He loved the cupcake,” I said the moment Mr. Expensive walked out the door after helping me carry my bundles.
Momma was staring at the box he had left for me on the counter.
“I wasn’t even in here momma. I couldn’t have flirted with him. He bought those on his own.”
She then raised her eyes to meet mine: “he’s never worked an honest days labor in his entire trust funded life. His hands are too downy and soft. His skin not damaged by the sun. He wears and smells of easy money. No worry or fear in his eyes. His life has been simple and manageable. He expects to get what he wants because he always has till now. Nothing’s ever been a challenge for him. Now, you’re something he desires. He’s buying you treats that cost him little to draw you in for the kill. That, Sammy Jo, is dangerous. A real man knows work and respect.”
Then she turned and went back to the kitchen. Momma was making judgments on a man she didn’t know because he’d been kind to me, by giving me gifts and attention. I opened the box to find six strawberries and three gigantic cupcakes. Why three? That, I wondered.
I selected a strawberry and closed my eyes, biting down and allowing the first spray of juice to release inside my mouth. It was as perfect as I’d imagined. And momma’s warning was silly I thought. She got upset over nothing. I’d never see the man again. Mr. Expensive was gone.
The door chimed and I spun to see who it was, which was Ben walking inside. I swallowed my bite of strawberry. At least he was here. Maybe he could explain Jamie’s behavior that made no sense to me.
“Hey,” I said, wiping the juice from my mouth with the back of my hand.
He ducked his head a moment then sighed before looking back at me. “Hey,” he responded. “Hey there.” As if adding two words made it better.
I knew this was about the lake. It was time we put that behind us. “Are we good?” I asked him, hoping he’d say “yes” and put the thing to rest.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Have you talked to Jamie?”
“Funny you should mention that. I just saw her outside and she all but ran away from me in the street.”
His skin paled a shade or two. Something was definitely off.
“Uh…yeah…well, we kinda…just ask her yourself if you want.” And he left as quickly as possible.
I picked up a cupcake and watched him hurry off down the street. Things were strange but this cupcake was delicious. A cup of coffee would make it better. No it wouldn’t, that’s impossible.
“Come get the blueberry bread! Display it right in the front!” Momma called from the back and I replied “yes mam!” tucking my cupcake back into the box and dusting off my hands. I hurried to the kitchen with a smile. I didn’t need to remind her about my gifts so I returned to quietly hide them, to make them blend like a regular fixture. Glancing outside I saw Ben pause and look back at the door. Something was strange and though momma would be angry I knew I had to do something about it or it was going to drive me nuts.
“Ben left his change on the counter! I’ll be back in a minute!”
“Ben?” she replied. She hadn’t seen Ben come in and I didn’t have time to explain. He rapidly turned to escape. I ran for the door to yell his name before he climbed in his truck. Ben turned and I hurried right to him. “What’s going on?” I asked, sounding breathless and concerned and annoyed. A feat within itself.
He frowned and looked at his boots. There was definitely something wrong. Ben never acted like this.
“Is this about what I said? I’m sorry if I hurt or embarrassed you. I was shocked by what you said. How you assumed things I’d react to. You know me and my mouth, I say what I’m thinking too fast sometimes, but that doesn’t affect our friendship.”
Ben lifted his head and his eyes met mine. “That’s not what’s wrong Sammy Jo.”
Oh, it isn’t, is it? Well, then I was curious as to what it was because Jamie running off was weird. “Would you please tell me because both my friends are treating me strange as of late. I’d like to know why if you please?”
Ben closed his eyes tightly as if the words he would say were going to be painful and hurt me. As if he were safe if I couldn’t be seen.
“Jamie’s pregnant.”
I stood there. He was safe. Eyes still closed, Ben gritting his teeth, the warm summer breeze tangling the hair breaking free of my ponytail, the strands dancing around my face, sticking to the sweat on my brow. I could see Norma Sanders crossing the road with her poodle Josie in the lead. The wafting smell from the bakery crept ever toward me, but even with all that familiarity I was lost, confused and alone. As if I’d stepped into another world. I was Alice down the rabbit hole. Looking skyward from the bottom frozen.
“Wh-what?” I managed to say.
Ben ran his hand over his face and made an odd high-pitched sound. Was he feeling as lost as me? So completely thrown for a loop? When had Jamie even had sex?