Page 21 of Grounded
“You’re punishing me for what Mama did. It’s not fair!” she exclaimed, stomping across the kitchen toward the back door.
Her grandmother turned at this and pointed the potato peeler at her. “This has nothing to do with your mother! If you don’t straighten up, I’ll cut a switch off that willow tree. You’re not too old for a spanking, missy.”
At that, Annie had fled to the barn loft and cried with the barn cats for comfort. She’d planned to stay there all night and catch pneumonia. Then her grandmother would be sorry. About dusk, the bats left their sleeping perches in the rafters of the loft and swooped down for their evening feast. When one fiendish creature swooped close to her head, Annie had decided a bed inside was worth foregoing her pride. She had crept in to find her grandparents already upstairs asleep, but a plate of food left warming on the stove. The next day it was never mentioned, but Annie knew she would not be going to the dance with a boy.
When she was here two years ago for her grandfather’s funeral, she had not thought about going out to the barn. Instead, she’d cleaned the house, done laundry, scrubbed floors and windows, swept porches, washed the many empty casserole and cobbler dishes left by neighbors and helped her grandmother write thank-you notes. The activity had made the time pass. When all the chores were done, she went back to New York without ever grieving her grandfather in the places he spent so much time.
A breeze lifted a piece of the tin roof up and laid it gently down. Barn swallows scratched around in the rafters, making nests. A cat meowed from somewhere down below. Maybe it wasn’t so quiet here after all.
Chapter Eight
Friday morning, Beulah piddled around the house, dusting furniture and doing a little laundry. About midmorning, she heard the wheels of a car crunch the gravel in the driveway. Evelyn came in carrying a Tupperware container while Beulah held the door.
“Your cinnamon rolls—how nice!” Beulah said.
“I couldn’t resist. Annie looks like she needs fattening up.”
Beulah reached for a coffee cup while Evelyn took off her jacket. “Well, Jake is coming down this weekend to meet with some farmers over in Rutherford. Camille has to work again and won’t be able to join him.”
“That’s too bad,” Beulah said.
“I do hope he brings her soon before they get too serious.”
Evelyn sat down at the table, the air seeming to go out of her with the effort.
“I had everything ready, flowers in the guest room, fruit and whole grain waffles for breakfast tomorrow morning. This is the third time she has canceled. What do you make of that, Beulah?”
“Probably nothing. You know the young folks don’t think much of commitments.”
“I suppose, but it makes me wonder all the same. Are you still going with us to Old Mill for dinner tomorrow evening? Jake said to invite Annie. With Camille not coming, he won’t even have to change the reservation.”
“Where are we going?” Annie asked as she entered the kitchen, taking a mug out of the cabinet and pouring herself coffee.
“I was just telling Beulah, Jake is coming down this weekend and has made plans for us all to go to the Old Mill on Saturday night for dinner.”
“Last time we all went there together was Jake’s graduation from college. What’s the occasion?”
“It was Jake’s idea for Mother’s Day,” said Evelyn, “and we thought it would be a nice place to take Camille.”
“Is she coming?” Annie said, her voice trailing off as she eyed the cinnamon rolls.
“Not this time.”
Evelyn pulled a cinnamon roll out of the container and put it on a plate for Annie. “I believe you still like these, unless your tastes have changed.”
“There’s not a bakery in Manhattan that makes anything close to your cinnamon rolls,” Annie said. She pulled a small piece of the dough and stuffed it in her mouth. “Mmm. They’re still warm.”
Beulah was heartened to see Annie interested in the sweet bread. Her appetite had been poor since she’d been home.
Evelyn reached across the table and took Annie’s hand. “I’m so sorry to hear about your job, dear. And your boyfriend.”
Annie swallowed and let out a sigh. “I think I’ll get my job back in a few months. I don’t want the boyfriend back.”
Evelyn leaned back in the chair, folding her arms and looking at Annie through narrowed eyes.
“Now, Annie, we have some fine, eligible bachelors here in town. You met Woody, and there’s also Scott. They are both single. I’m sure we can come up with a few other prospects.”
Beulah laughed. “Now, Evelyn, you know Scott and Mary Beth are sweet on each other, even though they haven’t figured it out.”
