Southern Belles, a Novel About Love, Purpose & Second Chances (9781310340970) (21 page)

“Wow, that’s so cool—talk about futuristic!
And the car—that’s a sweet ride CeCe!”

“Thanks, my dad wanted his SUV back. I
wanted an old VW bug but he said he didn’t want me to break down on
the highway and be stranded somewhere so we agreed on this little
gem. Isn’t it cute?” She squealed delightfully.

“It’s so cute and I’m so jealous.” I said
smiling back down at her through the window.

“Stop being jealous and get down here so I
can hug your neck and take you for a ride.”

“Okay, I’m throwing on some sweats. I’ll be
down in a minute.”

I threw on my bra under the tank top I had
slept in, pulled on my overalls and flip flops and headed
downstairs. Half way down, I heard CeCe talking with my mom and
Richie.

“Oh my gravy, it’s so good to see you!” I
screamed trudging over to tackle CeCe with hugs.

“I missed you too. It’s not the same without
you bestie!” CeCe said as she met my embrace.

“Wow, she’s gotten so big, Char!” CeCe said
pulling back to look at my stomach.

“I know; it’s like I’m trying to shoplift a
soccer ball under my shirt.” I said, so happy to see CeCe.

“Is she awake? I want to feel her
moving.”

“She’s sleeping right now. I’m sure she’ll
wake up the moment I sit down. We’re still trying to figure out a
schedule here.” I said reaching for my mom’s coffee cup.

“Oh that’s funny. She’s feisty just like her
Auntie CeCe.” CeCe said dropping down to her knees to talk to my
belly.

“You do what you need to do and just let me
know if that momma’s keeping you awake. I know she likes to poke
you when you’re trying to get comfortable. She told me so when we
were on the phone last week.” CeCe said nodding her head and
rubbing my belly, hoping for any kind of movement from Lucy.

“Auntie CeCe—are you going with Char tonight
to her childbirth classes?” My mother asked.

“We’re working on breathing and relaxation
exercises tonight. I heard we are teaching our partners how to
massage us.”

“Well that was nice of you.” CeCe said
turning her head to look at my mother and Richie.

“Yes, indeed. I get a mini massage from the
Doula and then one from you—since you missed me so much—it’ll be
like a little gift from you to me.” I smiled from behind my
mother’s coffee mug.

“Char, I can get you a cup of coffee.” My
mother said, wondering if she was going to get her coffee back.

“Nah, I don't need to drink too much
caffeine—just a little of yours to open my eyelids. Thanks mom.” I
said, taking another gulp before pushing it back across the
table.

“CeCe, would you like some coffee?”

“No thank you; I drank about four cups this
morning on my here. I do need to use the bathroom before we go
though.”

“Yeah, I might have to go supervise these
ladies so they don’t get into any trouble.” Richie spoke up.

“Of course Richie—because I might get more
pregnant?”

“I wasn’t thinking about that—but good point
Char. I just wanted to make sure there was no crazy driving in that
little convertible out there with a baby in the car and all.”

“CeCe, Richie wants to drive your car.” I
hollered into the bathroom.

“I know; I figured he would.” She said
drying her hands on a towel, as she walked out of the bathroom.

“Can I, can I?” Richie asked like a little
boy getting his first bike.

“I don’t care.”

“See you later mom. I love you. We’ll be
back before dinner.” I said throwing a kiss at her from the front
door.

“Bye mom.” Richie yelled before running down
the steps.

“I’ll see you for dinner Mrs. B.”

“Bye guys, be careful and have fun.” She
waved to us from the front door.

“Wow CeCe, this is so nice! Leather and a CD
player, I’m so jealous! I don’t even have a car. I’ll have to put
the baby on board sign on my bike.” I joked.

“You can borrow it whenever you need it—this
summer.” CeCe said as we all buckled in.

“Oh, thanks. But you’ll need it and anyway,
you can drive us to the beach.” I said stretching out my arms in
the backseat, as Richie adjusted the rearview and side mirrors.

“Well, about that. I’m going to be traveling
with my dad and grandma.”

“For the whole summer?”

“No, I’ll be here for Lucy’s birth. We
aren’t leaving until the end of June.”

“Oh—oh good. My heart would be sad if you
weren’t here for her big day.”

“I wouldn’t miss her birth for anything.”
CeCe turned around from the passenger seat, smiling.

“Awe—thank you Ce. Where are you going
anyway and when are you getting back? I want to be able to see you
before you have to go to college.” I said grabbing her hand.

“We are going to France and Germany. My
grandma wants me to go and see where my roots are from—at least on
my dad’s side. My dad didn’t trust me to go alone with her because
he thought I’d probably sneak out at night to go exploring or
something.”

“You’re going to France and got a brand new
car?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“One, I’m super jealous and need to be
adopted. Two, I think they miss you and are trying to bribe you
into coming home more often! I’d try to bribe you myself but I
couldn’t keep up with your parent’s gifts.” I said, slightly
jealous, on the inside, and excited on the outside, for her.

“Yes, I wish you could go with. I’m not sure
about spending the whole summer with my grandma. She’s nice—nicer
than my mother most of the time. But she always makes snide, little
comments about my mom—about her lack of cooking or doing anything
herself other than helping to split families apart and billing them
for it. She only helps those whose families are already broken and,
anyway, I’m the only one allowed to talk about my mother not
cooking or whatever.”

“I know CeCe. But it’s France—you could
ignore her little comments and just enjoy being in the most
beautiful place in the world. My Aunt Juanita just came back from
Paris and brought me the most incredible painting I’ve ever seen of
the Seine River with the Eiffel Tower in the background. I wish I
could go to places like that but I’ll have to wait before I can
go.”

“I know; I’m very appreciative. I just don’t
know that I want to be away almost all summer, in the most
beautiful place, without my most favorite person to see it with
me.”

“Awe; thanks CeCe. You’re such a sweetheart.
I wish I could go to France with you but I just got cast into my
next big play.” Richie said pretending to be sad.

“Congratulations Richie, that’s wonderful!
CeCe said leaning over to kiss his cheek.

“Thanks CeCe, I’d love to be able to go but
you’ll have a great time—I know you will. One day we’ll go
together.” I said trying to make myself sound and be
optimistic.

“Ladies, I don’t mind driving but where are
we going?” Richie asked loudly as the wind kicked up with the
convertible top down.

“I don’t care. Drive wherever you feel like
going.” CeCe said laughing.

“Hey, Lucy said she’d like some ice-cream.”
I yelled from the back seat.

“Ice-cream it is.” Richie yelled back.

I sat back and enjoyed the ride to the ice
cream parlor. I had never been in a convertible before. It was
really windy from the back seat but it felt nice and open with the
warm spring sun shining down on us. I leaned into the side of the
car and made myself comfortable. I could see CeCe and Richie
talking but only heard muffled sounds, which was okay because I was
still a bit tired and now hungry. I looked up into the big blue
sky. There were only a few clouds hanging out. It was nice to be
together again with CeCe and Richie. I missed her company and her
silliness. I had been so tired and very busy between work and
school that most of the time seemed to pass by quickly, although my
heart felt her absence. I looked forward to hearing her stories and
what I had missed. I wondered if she was dating anyone seriously.
Probably not, I thought. I thought about all the time she had spent
with her new sorority sisters and hoped that she didn’t have a
back-up for me. Not that I didn’t want her to be happy, I just
didn’t want to be replaced especially by someone who was fake and
wouldn’t appreciate CeCe for CeCe. I knew there was no replacement
for CeCe. She’s a one-of-a-kind. I missed the laughter and the
trouble that we got into, the times we just hung out when we
weren’t doing anything special but were together talking or
quiet—watching a good movie. I was so glad she was here even if it
were only for spring break. I didn’t even want to think about her
being gone for most of the summer yet. Inside, I felt honored that
she was holding off going to France until after Lucy was born;
she’s a true friend.

We pulled into Oink’s Ice Cream Parlor and
ordered our ice-cream. I had a triple brownie-fudge sundae with
pecans. I loved hot fudge with brownies and pecans and a little bit
of vanilla ice-cream. I was craving chocolate. It made me smile
after the first bite touched my taste buds. The ooey gooey warm
fudge with equally warm brownie bits and pecans mixed with the
melting vanilla ice-cream and whipped cream swirled around in my
mouth until at last I swallowed it down. I quickly took another
breath before reaching for my next bite.

“So, how are the childbirth classes going so
far?” CeCe asked as she took a huge bite of blue moon.

“It’s okay; I’m the youngest one of course.
There are about six other couples in there.”

“Are they nice?”

“They’re okay. The first class I got a few
stares. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m so young or they thought
mom was my ‘partner’.” I giggled.

“Hmm, I could be your
partner
tonight? Hmm?” CeCe smiled with her nose wrinkled, raising her
eyebrows again and again.

“Oh my gravy woman—Jerry Springer would call
me for his next show then.” I continued. “The instructor is really
nice and I’m super excited about the Doula too.”

“Yeah, that doula thing sounds nice. Do you
have to watch the birth video with the baby’s head coming out—like
in sex ed?” CeCe asked nervously.

“Yuck CeCe! Thanks for putting that image in
my head!” Richie said in disgust.

“No, we didn’t watch it because she was
afraid some of the dads might get sick and she didn’t want to scare
them off.”

“Wussies!” CeCe said loudly.

“Shhh CeCe—not so loud.” I said embarrassed
by her frankness.

“Hey there, don’t be hating on us guys.”
Richie barked out in between gulping up bits of banana, fudge and
pecan sprinkled vanilla ice-cream.

“It’s okay Richie. I’d still love you even
if you are on the floor when Lucy comes out. I’d just tell her that
you fainted over her breath-taking beauty.” I said licking my spoon
clean of hot fudge.

“Thanks sis, you know I’m there for
you.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.”

“What time did you say your class was
tonight parent?” CeCe asked.

I looked at my watch, “about 6:30 PM—we
should leave here soon.”

“Oh, okay. I just need to stop at home first
and change into my yoga pants” CeCe added.

“Since when did you start doing yoga?” I
asked curiously.

“All my sorority sisters do yoga every
morning—it’s kind of like a requirement. You should try it Char. It
hurts at first but makes you really limber.”

“Obviously, she’s already limber enough if
you know what I mean.” Richie teased.

“Ouch! Stop hitting me!” Richie yelled after
moving away from my jab to his right bicep.

“You totally deserved that one!” CeCe said
laughing as she we walked out the parlor door.

A short while after dropping Richie off and
changing our clothes we were walking into the large carpeted
classroom for my childbirth classes.

“I can’t believe Richie said that.” I said
leading us over to where the Doula was standing.

“I know, what a turd! It was a little
funny.” CeCe said letting out a little chuckle under her smirk.

“Yeah, he’s so clever. At least he’s on my
side even though he loves to give me grief.”

“Is that your instructor?”

“Yeah, I’m going to introduce you. She’s
really cool and down-to-earth. She didn’t look at me crazy or judge
me when I walked in for classes.”

“Hi Megan, this is my best friend CeCe that
I told you about. She’s home from college and is going to be with
me for the labor.”

“Hi. I love your hair—those are really nice
highlights. Thank you for being good to my Char—she’s an incredible
person with a ginormous heart! She deserves to be around people who
are good to her.” CeCe said, holding out her hand to shake
Megan’s.

“Well, thank you. I think Char’s going to be
a great mom—she always comes in here, smiling and has the best
attitude. I love helping new parent’s discover the awesome gift of
parenthood. We’re glad Char’s here.” Megan said smiling and rubbing
Char’s back with one hand.

“Awe, you can keep doing that—that feels
really good. Remember I’m the guinea pig tonight.” I reminded
Megan.

“Yes, yes, I remember. Although some of the
dads tried volunteering after they heard I needed a guinea pig to
exhibit the different types of massage strokes.” Megan said,
laughing.

“You know they just wanted you to massage
them.” I added.
“I know. It’s always the dads wanting to be comforted during
childbirth.” She said, laughing.

“That’s funny.” CeCe smirked.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. We’ve got to
get started—I hope you two have fun.” Megan said, before she walked
towards the front of the classroom.

“I like her.” CeCe said as we found a good
little spot in the middle of the classroom.

“Okay everyone; find a spot quickly so we
can get started.” Megan raised her voice slightly above the murmur
of the classroom voices.

“I think almost everyone showed up. There
are a lot of people here tonight.” I whispered to CeCe.