Six Miles From Nashville (16 page)

“At least five thousand.”

He filled the amount of ten thousand in the blank and tossed the check to her. “I will need a
receipt.”

The woman scurried around quickly and typed up a receipt. She gave him a carbon copy of it. “Thank you
, Mr. Barnes.”

As he stepped away from the desk, Phyllis
accosted him. “You are paying that from your mother’s money, aren’t you? We don’t have that much in our account.”

“It is none of your business, madam.”

“Who do you think you are?”

“I am a happy man. There is nothing you can say to get to me now.”

Gage arrived at the hospital late in the afternoon. He hurried up to Betty’s door only to find a sign reading ‘do not disturb’.

He searched for Betty’s dad and found Johnny in the private waiting room.

“Is she feeling worse?”

“The sign? I think hearing about Miss Sweetie sapped her strength. They are trying to keep most of the visitors away and the family visits down to fifteen minutes per hour.”

“Oh.”

“Her mother came. I don’t think that was good for her.”

“I want to ask you something. You might think it isn’t any of my business and you don’t have to answer, but, why didn’t you call her for over a year?”

Johnny’s face reddened. At first he was angry and then he put himself in
Gage’s place. It was a reasonable question. “I was afraid...or something.”

“I don’t get it.”

“A lot of stuff was happening at the farm. Dad had a heart attack. I had Mom and my brothers to think about. I don’t have a job. I just work on the farm. When I looked at making that final commitment to her, I realized that I had nothing to offer her. She deserves so much more.”

“I see what you mean.”

“What do you have to offer her? Are you serious about her or is she just one of many you go out with?”

Gage
rubbed his hands on his thighs and leaned back in the vinyl recliner. “I have dated some, but there is nobody that compared with Betty.” He left the room and went back to his truck to finish his route.

Johnny slipped into the room quietly so that the nurses wouldn’t know he didn’t heed the sign. Betty sat up in her bed when she saw him.

“Hi,” she said.

“Did you realize that this is Christmas Eve?”

“Oh?”

“Your letter said for me to see you by Christmas. I am here to give you your Christmas kiss.”

“So, are you asking for a kiss?”

“Yes, please,” he said as he edged closer to her and pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss.

He backed away and watched her face as she opened her eyes slowly. “I’m so glad I was able to be here for you at Christmas and that you are getting better.”

“I was afraid I would never see you again,” she said. “I have missed you.”

“Betty Barnes, I still love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Dr. Marsh looked over his patient and
deemed her well enough to go home and return to work at a much slower pace. Joan helped her zip up a new double knit dress she had brought for her. “I like things that last. Flowers just die. Besides, you needed something new,” she said.

The nurse gave her a manila envelope containing her
jewelry. Her bracelet and ring were in it. The ring was cut in two to get it off her finger, but the bracelet was intact. She hurriedly put it on her wrist and placed the battered ring in her purse.

“Lime green is not your color, Betty,” Phyllis declared
as she burst through the door of Betty’s room.

“I like it,”
Tom declared

Betty giggled. “Me too.” It seemed different to hear her dad offer comment that opposed what her mama said.

“Besides, Joan bought if for me and that makes it special.”

“
Humph. That girl is nothin’ but a...”

“Phyllis, that is enough!”

Phyllis backed down quickly. Betty wondered at that but was glad for it.

“Mama, Daddy, this is Joan. She is my best friend.”

Tom reached out and took her hand. “I’m glad she has someone lookin’ out for her.”

“Betty, y
ou are coming home with Daddy and me, aren’t you?”

“No. I have a life here.”

“Going out with those...men, no doubt.” Phyllis sniffed.

“Working at the cafe and writing songs. And probably going out with
Gage and Johnny when they come around. I am a grown up, Mama.”

“Don’t come runnin’ to me when you get in trouble.”

Betty wrapped her arms around her mother and whispered in her ear, “I never have and never will.”

“You are such a smart mouth.”

“Yes, I am smart now. I have forgiven you for things you aren’t even sorry for. I am going to try not to ever be a burden to you again. I am sorry for the burdens you felt you were carrying for me. One day, I think we will be able to even be friendly with each other.”

“Don’t make things up, girl. We are ‘friendly’. I came to see you in the hospital. Left everything behind just to be with you. You are an ungrateful girl.”

“Phyllis, watch your mouth,”
Tom said.

“Mama, I am so grateful that you and Daddy came. I am grateful to be alive. Since I woke up from the coma, I appreciate the Lord so much more. I want to live life like I should. I want to be forgiving...and forgiven.”

“When you prove yourself to me, I will forgive you for your meanness,” Phyllis said as she pressed her cheek on Betty’s in a cold embrace.

“Goodbye
, Mama.”

She raced to
Tom and threw her arms around him. “Goodbye, Daddy.”

“Goodbye
, little darlin’. Next time we come to see you, it will be to have some fun with you.”

She watched them drive away in their old Bui
ck. The feelings she experienced were mixed. She wished she enjoyed spending time with her mama. It was as if every time her mama felt they were growing closer, she had to say something hurtful. There were so many hurtful things said that it was hard to sort through them to find anything good.

Once, she told Joan some of the things her mama said and Joan didn’t see the cuts behind the words. Her mama was good at that. She gave a compliment with a slap behind it. Unless someone was around awhile, they didn’t see through it.

She thought about her childhood. There weren’t very many people that she could bring home with her. Her mama became extremely nervous if a stranger was in the house. It wasn’t worth the fight to have visitors, so her friendships through school were mostly superficial. She had been invited to slumber parties by the girls in her church, but when she wasn’t able to invite any of them to her house, the invitations ceased.

“Lord, show me how to forget the things I should. Help me to not be afraid of my mama.”

Bill watched the girls
remove the Christmas decorations in the cafe. Everything seemed unreal to him. He expected Sweetie to dash in with her stiff curls bobbing and sweat covering her upper lip. He knew she wasn’t the prettiest gal, but she made up for all of that with her personality.

He had never met anyone like her. She fell in love with people easily. Many times it caused her pain, but she always said it was worth it.

Susan directed the others as to how the decorations should be placed. She had never taken time off since she started working at the cafe years ago. She treated the place like her second home.

“Susan, could I have a word with you?”

“Sure.”

He didn’t know how to broach the subject. “Have you ever thought of owning a cafe like this one?”

She gulped before she answered, “What do you mean?”

“Would you want to buy this place from me?”

“Me? I don’t have enough money for that.”

He considered his words carefully, “I could finance it. You would need to have a down payment so that I know you are serious about making the payments and keeping the place going.”

“I have a little socked away.”

“Good girl. Then, it’s a deal?”

She stuck out her hand and he shook it. “It’s a deal.”

They drank a cup of coffee together and she asked, “What are your plans?”

“I have a recording contract. I will be moving to Nashville and getting my feet wet.”

“Is Betty going to write songs with you anymore?”

“I need to talk to her about that when she comes in to work today. Would you mind if I take your best waitress away to music city?”

“I don’t mind. I think you both need to get away from this place and move on.”

“It hasn’t been long enough to move on.”

She knew what he was saying, but didn’t know how to take his guilt away. “Sweetie was proud of your singing voice. Do it for her.”

Betty entered through the kitchen, as was her custom. Her hours were cut to twenty a week because she needed to build up her strength.

She picked up a coffeepot to refill some mugs. “Betty, I need a word with you,” Bill said.

“What is it?”

“The cafe has been sold to Susan and I am moving to Nashville.”

“Really?”

“They gave me a contract. I would like for you to come with me and be part of my band.”

Her head swam with the thought of all the changes in her life if she did this. “Do you think I am qualified to be in your band?”

“Girl, you sing like an angel and write like a poet. I have heard you play the piano and who knows what else you can do. You are more than qualified.”

“Then, I guess I need to find a place to live in Nashville,” she said.

“I have been looking around for places that are affordable and close to the studio. I think I found the perfect place for you.”

“Thanks.”

“
My place is close so I can watch over you. Sweetie would skin me if I let anything bad happen to you.”

“When do we start?” she asked.

He grinned and said, “Yesterday.”

“Oh.”

“Go ahead and pack your stuff. I will show you your new place today.”