Page 37 of Grounded (May Hollow Trilogy #1)

There was no sense in putting on airs, and as much as Beulah might like her guests to come to the front door, it rarely happened.

The back door was her front, and there were no two ways about it.

She was about to open the screen door when a scream ripped through the air and nearly knocked Beulah off her walker.

When Beulah opened the door, she saw Camille, or so Beulah assumed since they had not properly met yet, running to the car, Jake right behind her, and Evelyn looking at Beulah with an apology on her face.

“What’s happened?” Beulah asked.

Evelyn reached for a tobacco stick that stood next to the back door.

“It’s the black snake,” Evelyn said. “We forgot to warn Camille about him.”

“Booger’s out here this late? That’s unusual,” she said as she watched Evelyn scoot him off the porch with the stick until he slithered into an opening in the concrete below the porch. It was still daylight, but he liked the millstone for his sunbath and when the sun moved on, so did he.

“It’s all right, he’s gone.” Jake had his arm around the young woman and walked toward them.

Strands of golden hair fell over the girl’s face, like the flax Beulah’s grandfather grew, ready for the harvest. She wiped her eyes and pushed the strands back off her face, and gave Beulah an embarrassed smile.

“I’m sorry. It’s quite a way to make an entrance,” Camille said and extended her hand.

Beulah shook her small hand, smooth and free of calluses. “It’s our fault. We forgot about him,” Beulah said. “Do come in.”

She stood back as the group moved into the back room. Camille reminded her of a lovely, rare bird. Her teeth were as white as any Beulah had ever seen, and her skin looked like the porcelain on her old china doll.

“Is everything okay?” Annie asked, coming from the kitchen.

“We forgot to warn Camille about the snake,” Evelyn said.

Camille smiled tentatively. “I’m terrified of them,” she said.

“This is Annie,” Jake said, and Beulah sensed pride in his voice as he introduced the two women.

“I’m barely used to him myself,” Annie said in a consoling tone as she extended her hand. Camille smiled warmly back at Annie.

The only mar to Camille’s beauty was a black smudge of mascara under her left eye from the excitement. This child needed a minute to collect her wits, Beulah thought. “If you would like to use the restroom, it is right there,” she said, and pointed the way to the downstairs bath.

“Oh yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you,” Camille said as she turned to go.

“I’m so sorry,” Beulah said. “I never thought to check on Booger this time of day.”

“Don’t worry,” Jake said. “She might as well get a taste of country life sooner rather than later.”

“Annie, did you do this canning?” Evelyn asked, pointing to the jars of beans on the counter.

Beulah watched as Annie’s face shone with pride. “I did! Grandma told me what to do, but I think I can do it on my own now. It was fun!” she said.

“I’m impressed,” Jake said. “You’ll make a good farmer’s wife,” he teased.

Camille appeared, much more composed, and Beulah moved them into the living room for a visit before dinner. No sense in rushing into the meal when everything was fine to sit for a minute. While Annie brought glasses of tea, Beulah said, “Camille, how long will you be here?”

“A few days, I hope. It depends on the hotel. We’re wrapping up our spring conference season, so it depends on how many problems happen while I’m gone.” Her accent was Northern, Beulah noticed, but of course it would be living up in Cincinnati.

Annie handed a glass of tea to Jake and with one in her hand, sat down. “Tell us about your job,” Annie asked.

Cam’s eyes lit up. “I’m the director of sales for my father’s largest hotel. We book the conventions and meetings. I love it!”

“It’s a lot of responsibility, I suppose,” Evelyn said.

“Yes, but it doesn’t feel like work. It’s kind of like putting on a big show every week.”

They were quiet for a moment and Beulah watched Camille lift the tea and sniff it before taking a sip. She hoped Jake or Evelyn might jump in with something to keep the talk moving.

“Your house is beautiful,” Camille said, looking at Beulah. “It’s very quaint and farmy.”

“Thank you,” Beulah said, wondering what “farmy” meant. Had someone tracked in manure?

“Camille was telling me on the way over she wouldn’t mind riding while she’s here. What about Nutmeg?” Jake directed the question to Annie.

“Sure, anytime,” Annie said.

Camille’s dimples deepened. “When I was a child, my father took me for lessons in Northern Kentucky twice a week for a couple of years. I have several trophies and blue ribbons from horse shows. It’s been a long time, but I would love to ride again.”

“You can probably teach me a thing or two,” Annie said, standing. “I’ll get dinner on the table, family style, then ya’ll can come.”

When Annie left the room, Evelyn said, “Beulah, Annie is talking Southern again. Have you noticed?”

Beulah chuckled. “I’m glad. She’ll be easier for me to understand.”

Jake laughed, but Camille seemed lost at the joke.

Annie seated Jake at the head of the table with Camille on one side and Evelyn next to Camille. Beulah was instructed to sit next to Jake and Annie took the seat next to her and closest to the kitchen.

Jake offered the blessing and after he said “Amen,” something Annie was wearing caught Jake’s attention when he opened his eyes.

He stared for a moment and looked back again as he handed her the casserole.

Camille noticed his attention on Annie and Beulah thought she saw a faint twitch of irritation on the girl’s face.

Annie seemed oblivious as she handed the casserole to Beulah.

“Jake said you live in New York,” Camille said, directing the question to Annie. “Where do you live?”

“I had an apartment in Greenwich Village with three other flight attendants. Fortunately, there were usually only two of us there at a time, so we made it work.”

“I love Manhattan. My dad takes our whole family every year in December. It’s been a tradition since we were small.

We stay at the Waldorf, see the Rockettes and the latest Broadway shows, shop and eat at the best restaurants.

I told Jake he has a lot to live up to,” she said, looking up at him with large brown eyes through the longest eyelashes Beulah had ever seen.

“I can’t argue with that,” he said. “Cam’s dad is a great guy. He’s been a business mentor to me.”

Beulah noticed Camille’s plate had a small amount of food on it, a sampling instead of a portion.

What’s more, Beulah noticed, she delicately sniffed each bite of food before putting it in her mouth.

It was ever so subtle, one might mistake it for just a pause, but Beulah detected a slight flaring of her nostrils before the food went in.

She felt a tickle rising up inside her, but chastised herself immediately.

For goodness sakes, she thought. You’re an old woman acting like a child!

Thank God Fred wasn’t here to egg her on.

The rest of the dinner conversation flowed like milk.

The awkwardness of the snake scare had worn off and everyone was putting in to make it a nice evening.

Beulah didn’t know about fashion, but Camille was put together as neat as you please, like a Christmas gift wrapped with a large bow from one of the old department stores up in Lexington.

Beulah could see why Jake was taken with her. She was a beauty and smart as a whip.

At times, the dinner had the feeling of an interview, as much as Beulah thought everyone didn’t want it to feel that way, but there was no way to get to know people without asking questions.

Camille was the center of attention, except when Jake was casting sideways glances at Annie.

But Camille was a sharp girl and she seemed to know when Jake’s eyes were off her and looking toward Annie for what reason, Beulah did not know.

Annie seemed unaware and paid full attention to Camille, but Jake looked to have a question he couldn’t ask.

They finished up supper, and Evelyn helped Annie clear the dishes away. It was one of those times Beulah wished she could get up and do it herself. After all, it was her house, and here she sat like a queen, letting everybody wait on her.

Annie brought out the chess pies, and Beulah explained which pie was lemon and which was plain. Annie poured decaffeinated coffee for everyone, set out the cream and sugar, and took a seat while Beulah cut pieces of pie.

“Beulah, you made my favorite,” Jake said, scooping up a large slice of the plain chess.

Cam refused dessert at first, but Jake finally persuaded her to take a small slice of the lemon.

Beulah couldn’t help herself but to watch Camille sniff the small bite of pie before she ate it. Never in her life had she seen such. She had heard of folks smelling their food before eating it, but every bite?

“Have you shown Camille around town?” Annie asked.

“Yeah, we spent part of the day there,” Jake said.

“Jake bought me a bracelet at the jewelry store downtown,” Camille said and held up her arm to show off the gold circle.

“Chaney’s is a treasure,” Beulah said. “We’re so glad to have a local jewelry store.”

Cam set her fork down and leaned in. “His inventory isn’t very large, but Jake wanted me to find something and this worked nicely with what I already have.”

“I think it’s wonderful that you’re trying to do business with Mr. Chaney. All the big stores are pushing businesses like his out, until every community in America looks all the same,” Annie said.

“That’s exactly how I feel.” Jake’s blue eyes flashed with intensity. “We can’t keep running to the big stores every time the small independent stores don’t have exactly what we want or need.”

“But it’s so limiting,” Cam said. “America is all about freedom of choice.”

Jake leaned in to make his point. “What happens to the American dream when a person can’t have their own business and be their own boss because the big stores make it too difficult to compete with their massive buying from China? We need to buy local and support each other.”

“I agree,” Annie said. “I can’t tell you how many cities I’ve been in and literally wondered where I was, because they all look exactly alike when you get out of the downtown area. Same stores, same restaurants, same gas stations.”

Jake started to say something, but Cam interrupted. “What a treat,” she said and folded her napkin. “Thank you both so much for a lovely dinner.”

Jake took the hint. “Yes, we better go. Can we help you clean up first?”

Evelyn said, “I can stay and help you clean up, Annie, if you don’t mind running me home afterwards.”

Beulah thought Annie would refuse Evelyn’s help, but she surprised her by saying, “That would be great, thanks.” Then Annie turned to Camille. “Cam, anytime you would like to ride Nutmeg, come on over. I’m not good at saddling her up yet, but you probably know how to do that anyway.”

“Thank you! I’d love to ride before I leave.”

“Maybe you two could have lunch together this week. I’d like for you to get to know each other better,” Jake said.

“Great idea,” Annie said. “I’ll call and set it up.”

With Jake and Cam out the door, Evelyn and Annie sat back down at the table, forgetting the dishes.

“What do you think, girls?” Evelyn asked.

Beulah sighed. “Looks like a doll and smart enough,” she said.

“Puts on shows for a living,” Annie said.

“Adores Jake,” Evelyn said.

They sat in silence for a few seconds.

“Evelyn, honey, do you think he could marry her?” Beulah laid it on the table.

Evelyn sighed and shook her head. “I don’t know. I think this visit is crucial to see how she likes it around here.”

“We can pray for wisdom,” Beulah said.

“Yes, that’s the only thing to do. She might be exactly who he should marry,” Evelyn said.

“Guess we need to try harder,” Annie said. She fingered the cross around her neck and stared at the pantry door as if it held the secret to a mystery. That necklace was what Jake was staring at, but Beulah still couldn’t figure out why.

Evelyn reached across the table and grabbed Annie’s hand. “Thank you. I need to try harder to do the same.”

“Does ‘trying’ mean not scaring her to death?” Beulah asked, looking at Annie.

“Grandma, I didn’t know Booger would still be there.”

“Annie, you devil!” Evelyn pointed her finger and then broke out with laughter.

Annie gave herself away with the hint of a grin. “Old Tom drug up a half-dead mouse, and I tossed it over to Booger this afternoon to finish off. I guess he decided to let his meal digest before going back to the smokehouse.”

Beulah cut a sharp glance at her granddaughter before allowing herself to laugh too. “Well, I swan. You can almost set your clock by that snake’s habits. I couldn’t figure out what happened.”

They laughed and talked some more with Beulah drying the dishes while Annie and Evelyn washed and put them away.

That was something she could do easily enough sitting down, as long as someone set the dishes in front of her and put them up.

The twisting and turning in the kitchen was the hardest for her to do.

That would come later when she was all healed.

While Annie drove Evelyn home, Beulah put on her nightgown. She heard a car creep back up the driveway. Beulah went to the window, looking out over the back porch to make sure it was Annie. Her granddaughter had gotten out of the car and was leaning against it, looking up at the waxing moon.

There was something to that necklace she had worn. There was an unspoken communication going on between Annie and Jake that no one else was meant to understand.