motioned toward the empty places at the picnic table where he was sitting, and Diana nodded.
“Zoe loves this kind of place. Corn on the cob is her favorite.” Joanie pointed to a vendor as she and Diana got in line behind a young couple wearing “Just Married” T-shirts.
“Congratulations,” Joanie said.
“Thank you.” The young woman smiled. “We just got married yesterday.”
The guy pulled his bride close and kissed her on the forehead. “And we’ve got a whole week of honeymooning before I go back to base.”
“Don’t that bring back memories?” Diana whispered.
The lady snuggled up close to her new husband. “Are y’all military wives?”
“Were.” Diana nodded.
“And am still,” Joanie answered. “Here’s wishing y’all many years of happiness.”
“Thank you,” the guy said as he handed the vendor a bill and he and his bride walked away with an ear of corn.
“Remember when we shared things with our husbands?” Diana chuckled.
Joanie stepped up to the window and ordered two cobs with extra butter. “Oh, yeah, but then the honeymoon ended. Remember when that day came in your marriage?”
“The first time Gerald went on a six-month deployment.” Diana took the stick holding the corn from Joanie when she offered it.
“You got it. We’d had this meet and greet so the wives could get to know each other. That was the evening the two of us and Carmen became best friends,” Joanie said. “I found out I was pregnant after Brett left. By the time he got home, I was six months and had gained forty pounds. It must’ve been a shock to him.”
“I was pregnant when Gerald left, and he barely made it home in time for Rebecca’s birth.” Diana started toward the picnic bench where Luke waited. “At least we had our babies’ fathers in the delivery room with us.”
Joanie followed behind her. “Do you think that maybe that’s been a problem all along? Eli didn’t bond with Natalie—she was two months old when he held her for the first time.”
“No, I think there’s another woman. He’s acting the same way Gerald did, refusing to go to counseling and try to work things out. The main difference is that I had the money saved to buy Gerald’s equity in the house since I’d worked the whole time we were married. And he had to pay child support, which helped with all of Rebecca’s school activities. Poor Carmen would be out in the cold if it wasn’t for us.”
“I’m with you, but I’m basing my suspicions on the fact that Brett won’t tell me that it’s not another woman. Code of brotherhood and all that shit,” Joanie said out of the side of her mouth.
“Why are you whispering?” Diana asked.
“I see Carmen and Tootsie headed this way. Tootsie’s bright-orange pantsuit stands out really well,” Joanie told her.
“Hey, y’all!” Carmen called out from no more than six feet behind them. “Tootsie and I have been lookin’ for you. I was just thinking about taking home a side of ribs for supper tonight.”
To see Carmen in a good mood lifted Joanie’s spirits. Bless Tootsie’s heart for what she was doing to help them get through all this turmoil.
“Remember now. I won’t be having supper with y’all,” Tootsie said as they made their way to where Luke waited. “I told you about Delores, my friend—she lost her husband a while back, and now that Smokey is gone . . .” Tootsie hesitated and wiped a tear from her eye.
“Did she have kids?” Diana asked.
“Yes, she did, and none of them live close to her. I’m lucky to have y’all on the same block. Smokey and I didn’t always go this route, but when we did, we stopped to see her. Anyway, she’s going to pick me up tonight, and we’re going out for supper, so y’all are on your own,” Tootsie answered.
“Y’all want some corn anyway? Luke is saving us places at that table over there.” Joanie pointed. “And, Tootsie, I know how much you love ribs, so we’ll save one for you.”
“Thanks, darlin’. Carmen and I already had our ear of corn. We’ll just sit with y’all and Luke while you eat yours,” Tootsie said.
Tootsie, Joanie, and Carmen sat down across the table from Luke, and Diana took a seat next to him. Other than when she was going through the divorce, Joanie had never seen Diana fidget with nerves. She was the rock in the friendship, always taking the bull by the horns. She’d been sad when the girls had left last week, and angry