Southern Belles, a Novel About Love, Purpose & Second Chances (9781310340970) (28 page)

“Mass was so beautiful—wasn’t it?” I said to
CeCe who was preoccupied with something else or possibly someone
else down below.

“What? Yeah it was.” She answered. “Hey do
you want to go to Trixie’s afterwards?” She asked still focused
below.

“I’ll have to check with my parents to see
if they can watch Lucy. It’s already so late.” I
said holding a sleeping Lucy.

“Okay, I’ll meet you downstairs.” CeCe
replied, quickly kissing Lucy’s forehead before dashing off.

“Okay.” I said as if she heard me after she
was barely in sight.

“I’m sure mom and dad won’t mind,” Richie
said, “if you want to go.”

“I know. I want to visit with her for as
long as she’s here but she’s always running off somewhere. Unlike
her, I have responsibilities and can’t just run off whenever to
hang out.”

“It’s probably some boy—you know CeCe. You
can’t get mad at her.” Richie laughed.

“I know, but it would be nice if she
actually visited with me since she’s here for such a short time.” I
said as I started walking towards our parents.

“Do you mind if I join you two?” Richie
asked.

“Nah, you know you can always come. It’ll be
like the three Musketeers again.”

“Thanks sis.”

Several moments later I was helping to get
Lucy strapped in her car seat while my mom set Lucy’s baby bag into
the backseat. My parents were happy to help but asked me not to
stay out too late as my mom would be busy with more cooking, early
in the morning, for Christmas brunch. I kissed a barely awake Lucy
goodbye and closed the car door.

“Thanks mom and dad. I won’t be too long.” I
said, before Richie and I caught up with CeCe at the car.

“So, do you know who that cute guy was at
mass this evening?” CeCe giggled excitedly.

“Huh? I wasn’t paying attention to any guys
at mass. I was actually there to celebrate the reason for the
season, ya’ know.” I said, pulling out of the parking lot.

“Oh c’mon—it was Eric Sothersby. I don’t
know what happened to him but man o’ man is he hot!” CeCe
exclaimed, barely unable to keep her voice down.

“Geez Ce, I thought I was your homegrown
hottie.” Richie joked.

“Oh yeah, but I always see you. I’m not sure
what he’s eating but you might want to ask because it is doing his
body good.” CeCe nodded.

“Hmm, maybe Richie can ask him because there
he is walking into Trixie’s now.” I said, amused and surprised by
how tall and handsome he had gotten since high school.

“I can’t talk to him. I haven’t talked to
him since fifth grade.”

“Really? The CeCe I know can walk up to
anyone and come away with their number.” I said, closing my car
door.

“Well, I already got his number and I never
called…so I don’t think that’s going to happen again.”

“Whatever! There are plenty of hotties back
at school. No worries, right?” I said, dismissing her dilemma.

“Okay girls, I’m going to go see what Eric’s
been up to?” Richie said nonchalantly as he walked away.

“See if he still thinks I’m hot, okay? But
don’t be weird about it, I mean—don’t make it look like I asked you
to or anything?” CeCe directed.

“I’ll tell him you’re stalking him.” Richie
said without turning around.

“Oh my goodness, he’s totally going to
embarrass me.” CeCe looked concerned.

“They probably aren’t going to even talk
about you.”

“Well that’s not good. How will I know if he
likes me?”

“Slip him a note that says ‘do you like
me—yes or no’.”

“Char, that’s not funny.” CeCe said, rolling
her eyes at me.

“Does it really matter? You haven’t talked
to him since fifth grade and all of a sudden you’re worried about
Eric Sothersby?”

“It matters. I liked Eric Sothersby.” She
said as serious as she could with a slight grin.

“Well then you should have called him.” I
said dragging her towards the door.

“It was fifth grade, girls didn’t call boys.
They were supposed to call us.”

“You didn’t even give him your number if I
recall correctly.”

“So, he could have asked me for it.”

“Before or after you freaked him out in the
closet?” I said pulling her arm towards the diner still.

“I did not scare him.”

“He was a nice and very shy boy.” I said
opening the door.

“Wait, wait, wait—do I have any eye boogers,
nose boogers—are my teeth okay?” CeCe asked sticking her nose in
the air before opening up her eyes wide and smiling with her
perfectly big Chicklet teeth glaring at me.

“Yes, you are fine. But before you go
running off, I’d actually like to see you while you’re here
visiting CeCe.”

“I’m not running off and I’m not going to go
over by him. I just want to make sure I look okay if he sees me. By
the way, I still have another two days before I leave and we will
spend plenty of time together before I have to go to the Bahamas
with my parents.”

“When were you going to tell me that you
were going to the Bahamas? You didn’t tell me you were going to the
Bahamas?” I was shocked and a little mad now.

“That’s because I didn’t know. My parents
decided to surprise me as part of my Christmas present.”

“I’d like one of those Christmas presents
myself.” I said a bit nerved.

“Hey ladies,” Trudy called from the
cashier.

“Hey Tru, it’s good to see you.” CeCe said
walking in her direction to give her a hug.

“It’s good to see you. You must be doing
yoga still—you look great CeCe.” Trudy said looking her over before
she hugged her.

“Thanks, you think so?” CeCe said, fishing
for more compliments.

“I sure do. What do you ladies want?
Heck—Char you can just come and get it yourself. You know where
everything is.”

“Thanks, I’ll be happy to get it on my day
off.” I smiled, with a bit of sarcasm in my voice.

“Perfect. It’s on the house then.” Trudy
smiled back at me.

“Thanks Trudy.” I said, feeling a little bad
for the sarcasm especially since it was so busy after mid-night
mass ended and everyone else thought a mid-night snack might be
nice.

“You’re too sweet Tru.”

“Thanks, it’s a good night to celebrate.
Have fun girls.” She said as she flew away.

“Char, get me a chocolate milkshake, some
cheesy fries and Eric’s phone number please.” CeCe pretended to be
reading the menu.

“We’re out of Eric’s numbers and potatoes.
The milkshake machine is broken too.” I said waiting for her to
notice I was talking to her. “Is there anything else I can get
you?” I smiled.

“Are you mad at me?” CeCe looked up from her
menu innocently.

“Yes, I haven’t seen you in months and
you’re home for two seconds and gone again. All of your Tri-Delta
sisters see you more than me. When you’re home you’re still busy. I
get it; but I miss my best friend. Is it too selfish to ask for
just a little bit of your time?”

“Char sweetie, I didn’t know I was going to
the Bahamas until earlier tonight. Move over so you can get closer
to my awesomeness.” CeCe said as she scooted herself into my side
of the booth purposely putting her butt just about on top of me to
break the seriousness of my words. “I’m sorry I don’t have more
time during break—you know I love you and miss you so much.
Charlotte Renee there is no one like you and none of my other
friends could even compare.”

“Keep talking, I’m listening.” I said,
looking for more of her loyalty as my best friend.

“How about we spend the day together when I
get back from the Bahamas before I leave for school? We can take
Lucy somewhere?” CeCe said with head on my shoulder.

“That would be nice.” I said leaning my head
back on hers.

“So are you still mad at me?”

“No, I can’t stay mad at you.” I smiled and
raised my head to look at CeCe.

“Good! Now go get us some cheesy fries and
milk the cow if you have to—I want my chocolate milkshake.” CeCe
smiled with her big white teeth glaring in my face.

“CeCe.”

“I was joking, kind of. Please.” She
returned to her big smile.

“Okay, I’ll be back.” I said moving her out
of the booth so I could get out.

As I headed to the kitchen, I scanned the
diner. There were a lot of people. I saw Richie sitting with Eric.
He was so cute. And he was always nice. I saw some other girls that
we had gone to the school with—the nicer, quieter ones from band
class. I was happy that I didn’t see Veronica or any of her
friends. I’m sure that after the last time I saw her in the diner
that she learned to stay away if she wanted to protect herself from
undesirable liquids spilt on her shoes and hair. I chuckled,
thinking about that day as I headed behind the counter to order the
fries and make the milkshake.

“So, cheese fries and two chocolate
milkshakes?” Trudy asked.

“No.” I said writing the ticket for the
kitchen.

“Really?” She asked.

“No, you’re right. Of course, it’s cheese
fries and chocolate milkshakes.”

“I figured. Is everything okay Char?”

“Yes.”

“Really?” She pursued a more truthful
answer.

“I’m okay, just frustrated. My best friend
is never home. She’s here for a second and now she’s going to the
Bahamas for most of her winter break. She has no responsibilities
only lots of exciting trips and opportunities while I’m stuck here
making milkshakes.”

“What do you want Char?” Trudy asked.

I looked at her and I could see she was
impacted by my last statement. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean it to come
out like that. I love CeCe and I’m happy for her. I just feel like
I’m stuck here, in this little town, that I worked so hard to get
out of so I could do all of those exciting things that CeCe is
doing with everyone else but me. And I can’t go because I’m a mom
and have responsibilities that I can’t just drop and she doesn’t
get it. I’m sorry, I’m unloading on you.”

“I get it Char. You’re talking to me. I’ve
been there. It’s okay to feel angry but if you let yourself get
swallowed up by the bitterness of the what if’s then you’re going
to miss all the what now’s. The hardest thing I’ve learned to do is
to enjoy the journey every step of the way. The journey never takes
us to our destination on our schedule. When we’re lucky, we get to
take the scenic route. The adventure of the journey is to allow it
to take you somewhere new every day. If you focus on just the
destination—you’ll miss all the beauty in between.”

There was profound truth in her words even
though my psyche wasn’t willing to grasp it yet.

“Char, you are only limited by the words you
speak in this life. I get it. Sometimes, we have to cry and whine
and get out all the unfairness that life threw at you. But two
minutes later—you’ve got to stop crying and start expecting the
best life has to offer you. You’ve got to look for the unexpected
good things in life. They are all around you if you’re willing to
look beyond yourself.”

“Thank you Tru. You and my mother always
seem to know just what to say. I’m sorry. I just know there’s more
out there for me—for Lucy and me.”

“There is sweetie. Sometimes the best
surprises come in ways we don’t expect. Whether or not
he
ever comes back, life has good things for you and Lucy.”

“I guess that’s true. Are you happy—I mean
really happy?” I asked as I looked across the room and saw CeCe
talking to some of our high school friends.

“Yes. It took me some time like you. I
wasted more time feeling sorry for myself that could have been
spent making my dreams turn into reality much sooner. Like today—I
am now the proud owner of this diner.”

“What?” I asked, turning towards Trudy. “You
bought Trixie Rox?”

“I sure did. I’ve been saving for some time
now. Old man Fellows bought a home in Daytona Beach and is
retiring, finally. He said he only trusted me to keep up the diner
he put his blood, sweat, and tears into for so many years.” She
said, smiling.

“Oh Mylanta! That is so wonderful Trudy!” I
said, still in shock and so happy for her.

“You asked am I happy—yes I’m happy but more
than anything, I’m thankful.”

“Wow. I can’t wait to tell CeCe.”

“Make sure to tell her the new name too.”
Trudy smiled proudly.

“What is it? Trudy’s?”

“I had to promise that I would keep Roxie’s
somewhere in the name so…I decided to rename it Tru Rox.” She
laughed, biting her bottom lip.

“I love it! Congratulations—you proud owner
of the best diner food on the east coast!”

“Thanks Char. Expect good things always.
It’s only a matter of time.

“Thank you Tru.”

I walked back to the table much lighter and
inspired. I didn’t want to own a diner but Trudy did and now she
had one of own. Anything is possible; she was right. I just needed
to be open to the possibilities all around me. Like Lucy, good
things came in different packages. The best ones were
unexpected.

As promised, CeCe spent the day with me and
Lucy the day after she got back from the Bahamas. It was one of the
most fun days of my life. We drove down to Jacksonville, Florida
and went to the Jacksonville Zoo. It was a beautiful warm and sunny
day, a perfect day for the zoo. Lucy was very content sitting back
in her stroller seeing all the exotic animals for the first time.
We took our time and walked, slowly, throughout the zoo. Lucy
pointed at the lions and even seemed to mimic their roars after she
let go of her initial panic from hearing their roaring matches.
CeCe and I were able to catch up about all the little things going
on in our lives. She shared that last semester she often stayed in
to study for her chemistry and law classes that were increasingly
challenging for her. CeCe felt the burden of her parent’s
expectations to live up to their legacy on campus. She even got a
tutor, for the first time ever, to keep up her grades. She had
chosen not to tell them about the tutor as if it made her less
capable then them. I missed this CeCe—the one who trusted me with
all her secrets and who didn’t have to be anything else but
herself. Underneath her feisty and pretty yoga finesse was a good
person with a delicate heart. I treasured up that day in my
heart.