Page 17 of Family Secrets

Chapter Seven

“It’s about time you got back to work!” Karen shouted from her spot behind a cluttered desk. Her normally perfect hair was a bouffant mess, resembling the after effects of a battle with an electrical outlet. “I mean, I’m sorry about Birdie and all, but life happens, and it’s been nearly a week and these people never stop calling.”

Elizabeth took a measured look at the girl who’d taken great pleasure in making her life for the past few years difficult. She’d chosen to turn a blind eye when Karen and Jonah shamelessly flirted right in front of her, scampering off to the parking lot at least a dozen times to have sex in one form or another. She’d ignored the habitual calling in sick on Fridays and Mondays, then seeing her out running around town, or her car parked outside a bar when she’d taken her granny to mass.

Pulling a box from behind her, Elizabeth set the thick cardboard on the desk she’d been assigned the first day she’d walked through the metal doors of the office. Today was a day of reckoning when Karma herself showed up to even the score.

“I’m not here to work, Karen. I gave Mr. Cullison my notice yesterday.”

“What do you mean you’re not here to work?” Karen demanded her eyes drawn in small slits as she pushed up from the chair.

Pulling open the bottom drawer of her desk, Elizabeth smiled inwardly as she saw the box to her candy stash was open and the rat trap missing. Rose suggested using something stronger than the standard mouse version, and she’d been right. Whoever found the business end of the steel contraption was surely hurting this morning.

“My answer was quite clear, Karen. As of twenty minutes ago, I no longer work for the Co-op. Since it will take a few days for the board to announce the position, you will have to cover both desks until they hire someone to replace me.”

“But you can’t quit. How will you live?”

Gently placing the photo of her granny and herself in the box. It was a photo taken a few years ago when the snow fell so deep, they were stranded for three days in the house.

“I can and have,” Elizabeth spoke with confidence. “As far as how I will pay my bills, that's none of your business.”

“It is if you think you're taking the job at Tinkers Garage. My mom ain’t decided if she’s leaving or not.” Karen crossed her arms, quirking the brow over her left eye in challenge.

“No, Karen, I’m not taking the job at Tinkers. For the record, and so you can tell everyone who asks, I’m leaving Middleton for good. I’ve accepted a job far away from here.”

Lifting the box from the desk, Elizabeth planned to leave with her head held high and the knowledge Karen was in for a rude awaking.

“You’ll be back,” Karen moved to block Elizabeth’s path. “Everyone who leaves this town comes back. Heed my warning, Elizabeth Smith,” Karen’s index finger came up to the center of her chest. “Jonah won't be waiting around for you. He’s a good man, and those don’t last long around here. So, you better think long and hard before you turn your back on this job.”

Reaching down, Elizabeth grabbed Karen’s fingers, twisting them to the side before shoving them away.

“No, you listen to me, Karen Miller. You may think Jonah is a good man, and perhaps blissful ignorance will help you pass the time when he isn’t beside you or when you discover he isn’t where he said he would be. Honestly, the two of you deserve one another as there isn’t a slice of honesty between you. Jonah will never be faithful, and you will do anything, believe everything he tells you, to keep in his favor. As for me, I’m done with both of you.”

Elizabeth moved to skirt around Karen but was once again stopped by the determined blonde.

“You’re just jealous.”

Elizabeth had every intention of walking away and allowing the cards to fall as they may. But as she looked into Karen’s angry face, years of pent up frustration took over, unleashing every hurt feeling Karen and Jonah had ever created.

“You’re absolutely right. I’m jealous of how the guys in town spend their checks every Friday and Saturday night buying enough alcohol to pour down your throat, all so they can bend you over the bar and each takes a turn at you. I’m so jealous of the lifestyle you live, being the first Miller woman in Middleton history not to hold the crown of Cotton Queen, because your dress split down the middle when you bent over. I lose sleep at night because I’m so jealous you get to spend the rest of your life questioning what in the heck Jonah does with all his money, when he constantly comes begging you for a loan. Most of all, I’m so jealous of how you will spend day after day wondering if today is the day I walk back into town, only to be disappointed every night when you crawl into bed...alone.”

“I won't—” Karen started but was cut off by the smirk which colored Elizabeth’s face.

“I have never, nor will I ever be, jealous of you, Karen Miller. Not of your clothes, your over-processed hair, and certainly not your relationship with Jonah. Any man who disrespects the woman who fed him and gave him a place to stay when he needed it, by not attending her funeral or paying his respects is not a good man. No matter how many times you say it.”

For the first time in a long while, Elizabeth put one foot in front of the other and left the Co-op without an ounce of exhaustion or dread as to what was waiting for her. Jonah was Karen’s problem, and Lord forgive her if she didn’t toss back her head in laughter as she shut the trunk of her Chevy at the thought.

* * *

“You know,Elizabeth. You will always have a job at the Co-op in case things don’t work out as you planned.” Mr. Cullison spoke from behind the wheel of his truck. His eyes remained on the road, but his words were sincere.

“I appreciate it, Mr. Cullison, but I don’t plan on coming back. Not with Granny gone.” Elizabeth’s voice cracked as she spoke the latter, her attention remaining on the fields as they made their way to the airport.

“Can’t say as I blame ya,” Cullison admitted, having believed as long as he’d known Elizabeth she didn’t belong in their one-horse town.

After Elizabeth broke the news to Rose, who tried to talk her into turning down the job, she recruited Mr. Cullison and Mr. Parker from across the street to help her clean out the house and settle Granny’s accounts. It didn’t take much, a garage sale and two truckloads to the donation center in Grady County and the house keys were returned to Mr. Cullison. She sold her Chevy to Mr. Tinker for five hundred dollars, the antique something the older gentleman had his eye on for some time. What wasn’t sold or donated, was thrown in the trash, which wasn’t much.

Elizabeth held the email containing the confirmation number of her flight and hotel along with her state ID as she waited her turn in line at the ticket counter. She’d tried to argue with Mr. Vitale after he originally sent the information, but he held firm, claiming both the plane ticket and accommodations were part of the company’s sign-on bonus.

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