“You be sure to tell us about what you find out.” A smile curled up on Harriette’s mouth because she knew I’d be checking into all of this gossip. “’Cause we all know how you have a way with folks and finding out the truth.”
“Why, Harriette Pearl, if I didn’t know better, you’re saying I am a tad bit nosey.” I winked and waved behind my back as I headed down the street, passing the next few houses because they belonged to the Front Porch Ladies.
The house next to me was owned by Mac and was a rental that’d been sitting empty for a few months. I wasn’t sure, but I think Mac had been a little hesitant, considering what’d happened there a while back, which was another story for a different time.
When I’d moved to town from the farmhouse, I was looking forward to having a nice neighbor who I could talk over the fence to and share vegetables from my fancy garden boxes with.
“Buster,” I called into the house when he wasn’t at the door to greet me. The chocolate lab sounded like a horse galloping down the hallway, and he skidded around the corner with his tail looking like a whirligig that’d fallen from a tree. “You must’ve been taking a good nap.”
I put the mail carrier bag on the floor in the family room so he didn’t bowl me over with his excitement. With a few good rubs and kisses, he was ready to go do his business. While he was outside, since it was a lovely afternoon, I took my time before letting him back in and made myself a little salad to help curb my hunger.
“How are you today, Rowena?” I asked the lazy feline, who was rolled over on her back with her paws in the air like she had no care in the world. She shouldn’t. She lived the life. “I hear your brother scratching at the door.”
As soon as she heard me open the screen door, she darted back to the bedroom where she’d stay until the coast was clear, or at least until she heard me open the to-go box Mom had sent them once Buster had sniffed it out and reminded me it was in the mailbag.
“Your granny loves you two so much.” I put the box on the counter, took a few pinches of food, and put some in each of their bowls. “Be good, kiddos. I’ll be late because I’m meeting Julia at the doctor’s office.”
My insides churned with giddiness at the thought of playing with baby Clara while Julia was at her appointment, even if it was in the lobby of the doctor’s office. Any time spent with her was well worth it.
“You look like you’re far off.” Monica Reed was behind the counter of the post office when I walked through the front door. “Whatcha thinking about?” She had her elbows planted on the counter with her hands cradling her chin.
“Clara.” The name always put a huge smile on my face. “I am ready to get this last loop finished so I’m not late to Julia’s doctor’s appointment, where I’ll get to watch my baby girl.”
“My goodness, Bernie, I never thought I’d see the day when you turned into a girly woman.” Gerome was right on time and grabbing a few of the plastic bins to throw in his truck.
I laughed.
“Monica, Bernie here is a boy’s mom to the core.” He winked. “Grandma looks good on you.”
“Maw-maw,” I told him with a hard nod, trying to wear the name with pride since Grady and Julia had told me that was what they were going to teach Clara to call me. It would’ve been my last choice, but I’d embraced it or, really, forced myself to embrace the name.
“Maw-maw Bernie.” Monica cackled.
“Before I forget.” I dropped my mailbag on the counter and opened it to get the certified letter. “There was a certified letter in my second loop for Simon Little at the mechanic shop. I did try to deliver it to him since I’m running early, but he wasn’t there. I told Nick to let him know I would give it to you.”
“Sure.” Gerome walked over and waited for me to get it.
“I swear I put it in the side pocket.” I continued to search through the mailbag. All the second loop mail was gone, and the only thing in there was a bag of duck pellets. I knew I’d put the letter in the front side pocket, but it was empty.
I took my hands out of the bag and stood there a second, retracing my steps.
“I delivered the mail to the Front Porch Ladies, then I went home to let Buster out.” I snapped my fingers and stopped talking after I realized what I bet happened. “My mom had given me some scraps for the dogs, I bet when Buster was all up in my bag, he must’ve scratched out the letter. I bet it’s on my floor at home.” I let out a long sigh. “I’ll come in early tomorrow and bring it in for you to give to him.”
“No problem.” Gerome grabbed another plastic bin filled with mail and stuck it on top of another one, picking both of them up at once. “I’ll see you two cool cats tomorrow.”
“Bye!” Monica and I called out in unison.
“And I’ve got to grab my third loop.” I hurried to the back of the post office where it was employees only and filled my bag, heading out with a little jig and with the thought that I’d soon be playing with the sweetest little girl in the world.
Chapter 5
The doctor’s building was actually next to the post office, and I’d been so quick to deliver the mail to finish my day, I’d decided to drop off my mailbag and leave it in my locker at the post office instead of fooling with it at Julia’s appointment.
I only wanted to focus on Clara and not worry about keeping up with the work bag.
“I can’t thank you enough, Maw-maw.” Julia handed me the little pumpkin seat with Clara in it.
“Julia,” I gasped when I noticed the little blond curls. “Her hair.” Just looking at Clara brought tears to my eyes. “She looks just like you.”
“Can you believe it? She’s starting to get some little features.” Julia reached down and adjusted the little blanket over Clara. “She’s got Grady’s lungs, though,” she teased.
“He did have a nice set on him when he was a kid and hungry.” I’m sure she was so sick and tired of me telling her stories about Grady as a baby.
“And that’s when she acts like him.” She took the baby bag, unzipped it, and pointed to the inside straps holding the bottle. “I put in a bottle because soon she’ll wake up and want to eat.”
“I’ve got this.” I was confident.
Julia and I sat there chitchatting about various things, and I could tell she was avoiding the topic on everyone in our family’s mind… Mac. One of the main reasons for her checkup was to see if the doctor would clear her to go back to work. It wasn’t her OBGYN that had an issue; it was the family doctor who wanted to make sure Julia’s blood pressure had returned to normal since it was the cause for why Clara was born so prematurely.
When they called Julia back to the exam room, I couldn’t help but give a few little shakes to the pumpkin seat in hopes Clara would wake up. I couldn’t wait to see if she had Grady’s big brown eyes. Julia’s blond hair and his eyes would make the prettiest combination. But anything looked pretty on Clara.
The door to the exam rooms opened, and I looked up.
“Hey, Simon.” The excitement exuded from me. “I’m so glad to see you. I’ve been thinking about you all day.”