Page 50 of Grounded
“You’ll get to know her much better,” Annie said.
“I hope she likes me,” Evelyn said in a rare display of vulnerability.
“Evelyn, you would be the best mother-in-law! She’ll love you,” Annie said. She bit into the pasta and savored the pungent flavors. “Is this pesto sauce?”
“Homemade from my own basil. I freeze it and use it year-round.” Evelyn glowed at the compliment.
“I haven’t had anything like it since leaving New York. I should add some basil plants to Grandma’s garden.”
“Better do it before she gets home.” Evelyn spoke in a comical stage whisper. “If there’s any available space left, she’ll want to plant green beans.”
Annie laughed. “You’re right. We ran out of seeds on the last row, and she fretted about the wasted space.”
“I don’t know how Beulah has managed it these last few years. She can’t seem to scale down her garden, even when she knows she should. It’s that Depression-era mentality, feeling the need to store away lots of food and money for hard times. I’ll bet if you go down into the cellar, she’s got canned goods stored there from several summers ago. We should all probably be more like her.”
After they cleared the supper dishes away, Evelyn filled the coffee maker with water and added grounds to the gold filter.
While they waited for it to brew, Annie said, “Do you mind if I use your computer? I’d like to look up a few things.”
“Of course, dear. You know we leave the back door unlocked, so anytime you need to use it, come on over. You don’t have to ask.”
Evelyn had turned the small maid’s room just off the kitchen into an office, with a large walnut desk, a computer, printer and filing cabinets. A recent framed picture of Jake sat on the desk. Next to it was a picture of Evelyn, Charlie and Jake taken at Jake’s college graduation. Another showed Evelyn with her younger sister, Dixie, a Bohemian opposite of Evelyn.
After deleting all the junk in her e-mail account, she was left with a few updates from friends but no communication from Beverly Enlo.Chickened out,Annie figured. After all, Janice delivered the news and the voided rent check was returned. What else could she say?
After logging off her e-mail, she typed “Stella Hawkins” into a search engine. Pages of results came up. After ten pages, she stopped looking. She couldn’t find anyone by that name who was an author. Maybe it was a first book, or possibly a pen name. On the other hand, there was no one by that name associated with a criminal record that she could see.
“Coffee’s ready if you want some,” Evelyn called from the kitchen.
Annie pushed away from the desk with another glance at Jake’s picture.
“There’s a nice picture of Jake in here. Where was it taken?”
“Camille’s father recommended him for a charity board position and they took professional pictures for their annual report. He would never have a picture like that made on his own, so it was nice when he had a copy sent to me.”
“So, how serious is he with Camille?” Annie asked as Evelyn poured the coffee.
“Let’s go out on the porch. We can watch the sunset from the back.”
The screen door squeaked as Evelyn pushed it open. They settled into two comfortable patio chairs with bright floral cushions.
“Jake has great respect for Camille’s dad. Her brother is one of his good friends and Jake’s been embraced by her family while he was grieving his own father. Sometimes it’s hard to separate those feelings.”
“So you think what he feels for Camille is more of a corporate feeling?” Annie took a sip of the rich coffee.
“I guess that’s one way to put it. Time will tell. I think bringing her down here will be good for him. He needs to see her in his own environment, especially if he is thinking of moving back.”
Evelyn held her cup close to her face and stared at the landscape before her. The sun peaked behind the rolling hills, casting pinks, purples and silver against the horizon.
“I must say, I would love for him to come back,” she continued, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “Charlie would have loved it too. But I don’t want to say too much. It has to be his decision.”
“My sense is that is what he wants, but he is trying to fairly weigh all the options. Either way, I think he wants to spend more time down here even if he stays in Cincinnati,” Annie said. “So you’ll likely see more of him one way or the other.”
Evelyn smiled. “And I hope more of you too.”
Annie went to bed early, so when the phone rang at eleven, she thought it was the middle of the night.
“Annie Taylor?”
