Page 36 of Grounded
She pulled a wet washcloth over her face and let the heat open her pores. It reminded her of the day of spa pampering she enjoyed as part of Stuart’s Christmas gift. Those times seemed so long ago. In quiet moments, she thought of Stuart and wondered what he was doing, what he was feeling or thinking.
Did he miss her, regret anything? Maybe even that was pride on her part. The best thing for her was to move forward and leave it in the past. The lump in her throat and the tightness in her stomach eased as each day went by in this place far away from him.
Annie reached for her cell phone perched on top of the commode.
“Annie, I’m glad you called!” Janice said. She could hear the clinking of dishes in the background.
“Are you in the middle of dinner?”
“We’re cleaning up. Mama DeVechio fixed ravioli tonight.” Her voice fell to a whisper. “She’s cooking all the time. You know I told you she wasn’t adjusting well. It all had to do with the kitchen. Once I turned it over to her, she has done wonderful! She feels like her job is to take care of feeding all of us!”
Annie laughed. “You wouldn’t believe how much I’ve been eating these last few days. Every time I turn around, somebody is cooking a big meal.”
“Listen to you—you’re picking up that accent!”
“Really?” Annie was pleased. “It will be thick by the time I get back. I’m staying a while longer to help my grandmother through a knee operation.”
“Good!” Janice sounded happy, even relieved.
“How’s the peace lily?” she asked.
“Great! Mama DeVechio told me I was watering it too much, so now she’s in charge of that too.”
“I’m glad something survived the relationship,” Annie said.
When Janice was silent, she asked, “Is something wrong?”
“Why am I always the one to break bad news to you?”
“What Janice?” Annie felt her heart sink.
“Stuart kept calling me about you. Turns out, it came down to wanting to know where to deliver the rest of your things.”
“What things? I thought I got it all,” Annie said.
“Some box you put in a closet to unpack after you moved in,” Janice said.
“Oh,” Annie said, remembering the box of journals and books she had brought over ahead of time.
“Anyway, I told him you would be living with Beverly Enlo when you came back. I’m sorry. I should have had him bring the stuff to me.”
“No, that’s okay. He would know soon enough, anyway.”
“That’s not all.”
“Yes?” Annie waited.
“He took the stuff over last weekend. Apparently they ended up going out together that night.”
“What?” Annie was stunned. “Beverly Enlo? She’s not even cute!”
“It gets worse.” She heard Janice take a deep breath. “They went out again Sunday night. Beverly said they want to see more of each other, and she knows it won’t work with you living there. She is bringing your stuff to me later this week with your voided rent check.”
Annie felt the breath leave her chest and for a moment was unable to take another.
“Are you there?” Janice asked.
Breathe,she told herself. “I’m here. But what about Felicia?”
