Laughter in the Wind (14 page)

“Well, yeah, kinda.” Rebecca didn’t think her sister was going to let her off that easy and she was right.

“Then I don’t know my little sister as well as I think I do. I know perfectly well that you hate to shop. What gives?”

Rebecca grabbed her by the elbow and steered her outside, away from all interested ears. “I’m going up to see a friend. I can’t go into more details than that here.” She scanned the relatives milling around the yard to indicate their lack of privacy.

“Ooh, sounds like I need to stop by the house on my way home this evening,” June said, looking at Rebecca, her eyes filled with intrigue. Rebecca blushed slightly but didn’t respond. “Okay,” June continued, reading her sister’s face. “I am definitely coming over to talk to you this evening.” Rebecca didn’t argue, knowing it would be futile. She headed back into the house to see Grandma before starting home.

About a half-hour later, she made it to her car after saying multiple good-byes and giving more hugs than she thought possible. She told her mother and Grandma she had to study, but when she got home she found studying impossible. She sat at the kitchen table with her books open in front of her and stared out the back door at the pasture beyond. Concern over Olivia and over what she was going to tell June clouded her thoughts and she waited anxiously for the phone to ring or for June to arrive.

June didn’t take long to follow her. She left Dean with their mother and Dean’s father, although he was still napping and probably would remain asleep for another hour or two.

She heard June pull up in front of the house and waited at the door for her. Her older sister had become a mother for the first time only months before and Rebecca was relieved to see she finally was looking healthy again. The pregnancy hadn’t been an easy one. She had looked years older in Rebecca’s estimation by the time Dean was born. Three months of interrupted sleep after he was born hadn’t helped any. J.T., her husband, had really chipped in, though, taking on his share of the night time duties so she could rest. This was the first time in months that Rebecca had seen her when she didn’t appear about ready to drop from fatigue.

She followed June down the hall to the kitchen. Rebecca found it hard to meet her gaze when she sat down at the table across from her.

“Mom said you were out with a friend Saturday night when I called, but she wouldn’t go into more details. She said I had to ask you about it. And now you’re headed to St. Louis for the day to see a friend. Is this the same friend?”

June had quickly added things together and Rebecca knew why she had never been able to keep secrets from her.

“Yeah,” Rebecca answered this question easily. She took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “Her name is Olivia. I met her about a month ago.”

“Oh.” June sounded a little surprised and looked a little disappointed. “I thought maybe you had finally met someone special.” She had often suggested guys from the area Rebecca might be interested in but her ideas had always been rejected by her younger sister.

Rebecca took another deep breath and decided not to lie. “Well, June, I think I have.”

“No, Bec, you know what I mean, a boyfriend,” she said and laughed. She stopped suddenly when she saw that Rebecca wasn’t laughing.

Rebecca leaned forward with her elbows on her knees, clasped her hands in front of her and stared at a spot on the floor a few inches past the ends of her fingers. She searched for the right words to say, to get her point across without upsetting her sister more than necessary. “June, you know I’ve always been different from you and Kate. I’m figuring out more all the time just how different I am.” She paused and took a deep breath, then plunged ahead. “I am really interested in Olivia, you know, like a girlfriend, and she likes me, too.”

The kitchen was silent for several seconds and Rebecca looked up to see June staring out the window. Her face displayed the multitude of emotions she was sorting through—confusion, pain, and even understanding vied for control.

Finally, Rebecca could wait no longer. “Say something, June.”

“Do Mom and Dad know?”

“I think Mom figured out how I felt before I did. You know how she reads our minds. But I don’t know what she has or hasn’t told Dad. I haven’t said anything, but he’s probably noticed a change in my moods.”

June had nodded at her comment about their mother. “Well, Bec, I don’t really think I understand. Are you sure about this? I mean, do you think this is permanent, or just a one-person thing or what?”

Rebecca understood June’s questions because she had asked herself the same questions. “I don’t know. I think it’s probably just who I am. You know, when I think back over the past several years, it all makes a lot more sense when I think of myself as attracted to women instead of men.”

June thought for a minute or two, nodded again. “I guess I can see what you mean. I just didn’t think I would ever have a sister who was a…who liked women.”

The two sisters finally looked at each other.

“I think the word is lesbian, June,” Rebecca said, trying to inject a teasing quality into her tone. “But, do me a favor, would you? Let me tell Dad and Kate on my own time. I want to be sure before I do, and this is all still pretty new to me, too.”

“Sure, Bec. Can I tell J.T., though? He’ll keep it to himself if I threaten him. I’ll just tell him I’ll cut him off sex for a month if he talks, and he’ll keep his mouth shut.” She laughed as Rebecca blushed. “We promised to never keep things from each other, or I wouldn’t ask.”

“I guess you can.” Rebecca was a little unsure about her brother-in-law keeping his silence, but she didn’t want to put her sister in a spot in her marriage, either. “I do want you to meet Olivia, though. I think you’ll like her. Mom and Dad do. Dad even gave her a grand tour of his machine shed.”

“She’s not one of those really butch women, is she?” June said, suddenly sounding worried.

“No, not at all.” Now it was Rebecca’s turn to laugh. “I think I fit that description much better than she ever would. She is actually very pretty.” She described her as best she could to June.

“If I didn’t believe you before, I do now,” June said. “I can tell how much she means to you by the look in your eyes when you talk about her. Be careful, little sister, don’t get your heart broken,” she cautioned. “After all, you just met her.”

“I’m trying to take it slow, June. But it’s really hard to do,” she admitted.

The phone rang, interrupting their conversation. June answered it, spoke briefly then hung up. “Well, duty calls. Gotta go, Sis. Dean is awake.” She gave Rebecca a tight hug, giving her an extra squeeze before letting go. “Love you, Bec. Call if you need to talk.”

“Thanks, June.” Rebecca felt moisture gathering in the corners of her eyes. “Love you, too.”

After June left, Rebecca was able to study a little, but concern for Olivia still interrupted her thoughts frequently.

By the time her parents arrived home, she had given up on studying and was wandering through the house. Her father said nothing but looked up questioningly when she entered the living room a couple of times on her route. Her mother tired quickly of Rebecca’s aimless pacing and insisted she play cards with her. She played half-heartedly and checked her phone occasionally to make sure it was working.

It was late that evening before Olivia called. Rebecca answered it before anyone even had a chance to recognize the ring tone. Her mother was relieved to see some of the tension drain from Rebecca’s face as she listened to Olivia.

Olivia explained all of the medical details, finally summarizing that it was a mild heart attack and her grandmama would be in the hospital for a few days, but was expected to make a full recovery. The doctors had indicated it was due to a combination of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Olivia reported her grandmama had been previously diagnosed and had been prescribed medications for both, but thought she knew better than her doctors so had refused to fill the prescriptions. Olivia’s mother had assured her that the heart attack had nothing to do with any stress Olivia may have caused, regardless of what her grandmama wanted her to think.

“What happened?” Rebecca asked, trying to understand Olivia’s concerns about guilt.

“She caught me pumping Uncle Steve for information,” Olivia began, suddenly sounding very tired. “That’s what started it all, but it’s really a long story. Did you say something about coming here tomorrow or was I hallucinating? I can explain it all then.”

“Yeah, I’m going to hitch a ride with Aunt Patsy,” Rebecca said excitedly. “Can you pick me up at the St. Louis Outlet Mall?”

“What time?” Olivia answered, sounding like she’d caught her second wind at the prospect of Rebecca’s visit.

“Well, the earlier the better,” Rebecca said. “I hate shopping. Aunt Patsy wants to be there by five and we’re going to Cabela’s first. I’ll text you where we are.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven for breakfast,” Olivia offered. “That will only be a couple of hours of torture for you. You can survive that long, can’t you?”

Rebecca groaned. “I guess I can. But you have to buy breakfast if I have to wait that long.”

They laughed and joked for a few more minutes but Rebecca could hear the fatigue creeping back into Olivia’s voice. She suggested they get some rest for the early day to follow and wished Olivia a good night and sweet dreams.

She updated her mother on Olivia’s grandmother’s condition before hugging her goodnight and heading off for bed. She was meeting Aunt Patsy at 2:30 a.m. and that wasn’t too many hours away.

Chapter Eleven

This was it, she was sure she couldn’t take another step. Rebecca collapsed onto a bench in the mall as her Aunt Patsy dashed ahead, a bag over each arm, shouting her destination over her shoulder so Rebecca could find her. She had managed to keep up with her shop-a-holic aunt for one hour. O
nly one more to go
, she thought, looking at her watch.

Her vision was suddenly blocked as two hands covered her eyes. She nearly leapt to her feet in surprise, but relaxed when she recognized the soft and silky, “Guess who?” whispered in her ear.

She reached up and grabbed the hands, pulling Olivia around the bench, laughing, to sit beside her. Her green eyes sparkled with merriment and Rebecca was struck again by her radiant beauty.

“Surprised you, didn’t I?” She smiled mischievously at Rebecca.

“Maybe for a second.” Rebecca laughed, shaking off the spell she’d fallen under at the sight of her. “I’m so glad you’re early. Now I can get out of this mall.”

“Not so fast!” Olivia stopped her, pulling her back down onto the bench. “I’m early so I can shop, too. This is one thing we are
not
going to agree on, Rebecca Wilcox. You obviously hate to shop. I, however, do not. So, where is Aunt Patsy?”

She stood and looked around at the crowd expectantly, waiting for Rebecca to guide her. Rebecca could tell from the determined look on her face that she had lost this argument before it even got started. Besides, she wasn’t sure she wanted to deny Olivia something that meant so much to her. She stood and took Olivia’s hand, leading her along the path she had watched her Aunt Patsy take only minutes before.

Aunt Patsy was thrilled to meet Olivia and the two shoppers spent the next hour digging through piles of clothes, exclaiming over bargains and congratulating each other on their good taste and good fortune. As she laughed at the antics of the self-confessed addicts, Rebecca even found herself having fun. About a half hour after Olivia had arrived, her cousin caught up with them and Rebecca decided the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree when it came to her two relatives and their shopping.

At a few minutes after seven, Olivia caught Rebecca looking at her watch. “Oh,” Olivia exclaimed. “Ladies, I’m afraid you’ll have to continue without us. I promised Rebecca breakfast at seven and I’m already late.”

Her shopping cohorts expressed their disappointment but said they understood, and Rebecca began to breathe a little easier. After quick hugs, with Aunt Patsy promising to call Rebecca so they could meet at the end of the day, they headed for the registers. Rebecca shifted anxiously from foot-to-foot as she stood behind Olivia in the long lines at the registers. When they finally finished checking out, she couldn’t help but increase the pace of her steps as she neared the exits.

Olivia grabbed her elbow as she struggled to keep up with Rebecca’s longer strides. “You really don’t like to shop, do you? I thought you were exaggerating.”

“I just prefer more open places,” Rebecca explained, slowing down as they entered the crisp November air outside the mall. “But if you want to shop, I’ll grin and bear it,” she added, smiling sheepishly.

“No, I think I’ve fed my shopping bug enough for today,” Olivia said. “Let’s eat.”

“Now you’re talking my language,” Rebecca said with a laugh. “Take me to some pancakes.”

Rebecca kept Olivia laughing throughout their breakfast at the local pancake house. She recounted some of the livelier events of the previous day at her Grandma’s gathering. Olivia seemed to like the part about her capture by her aunts for kitchen duty. She remembered to tell her about Grandma’s words about her, also, and that she really wanted her to visit again.

Afterward, they headed south for ten minutes on the interstate then they exited into a suburban residential area. Olivia turned onto a quiet street and pulled up in front of a three- story brick house which had been converted into apartments. She led Rebecca up to the second floor and unlocked the door, motioning for Rebecca to step in ahead of her.

Rebecca noticed a comfortable living room with a small table near the back right corner and a small kitchen inset opposite it. Two doors on her right she surmised were a bedroom and a bathroom. In an easy chair, she spied a large gray cat curled up with his tail resting in front of his eyes, undisturbed by their arrival.

“This must be Pooh,” she exclaimed, scooping the startled feline into her arms, settling onto the easy chair with Pooh nestled in her lap. She stroked the cat and quickly identified the places behind his ears and under his chin that he couldn’t resist having scratched. Olivia watched Rebecca’s deft fingers with a smile, then turned and opened her bedroom door to place her packages inside. She removed her coat and waited as Rebecca stopped her petting duties long enough to remove her jacket.