Page 19 of A Magnolia Move-In
An awkward silence fell between us as I paused and raised my eyebrows. She laughed softly. “Do you read?”
I took another bite. “Can you be the sister of an author and not read?”
“Touché.”
I smiled. “Is there something you want me to read?”
She fiddled with the napkin dispenser on the table. “Well, sort of. I’m part of a book club—just a few of us on the island—and we’d love to have you be a part of it.” She looked cautiously up at me. “If you want.”
My heart swelled. I’d always wanted a sister, and this was my first chance at it. I wanted to say yes, I did, but I couldn’t find the words. Part of me wanted to reach out and take the olive branch that she was extending to me, but there was a part of me—a small part that was growing larger every day—that made me pull back.
Magnolia wasn’t my home. This was just a stop on my way to trying to figure out what my future held. It was a block in the road that was keeping me from Walker.
“That’s so sweet, but it’s hard to get around.” I motioned toward my chair. “I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”
Her eyes widened as she shook her head. “It wouldn’t be a bother. The ladies would love it if you were there, and I think…” She paused. “I think it would be good for you.”
I knew she was trying to be nice, but I hated being pushed. Especially when I already felt incredibly vulnerable. But, not wanting to offend, I gave her a quick smile. “I’ll think about it.”
That seemed to appease her. She nodded. “Our next meeting is this weekend.” She stood and crossed the room to her bag. A moment later, she returned to where I was sitting with a book in hand. “This is what we are reading,” she said as she held it out to me.
Just as I went to take it, she added, “We don’t really talk a lot about the book we are reading. I mean, it starts out that way, but then we get to talking about other things.” She sighed, a soft smile emerging. “There’s not a lot of secrets between us anymore.”
I swallowed. There was no way I wanted to go there. I was struggling with the direction of my life right now. The last thing I needed was a group of women pulling my secrets from me. Especially when I didn’t know how I felt about my secrets. I didn’t want to expose myself to anyone else’s judgment.
I nodded and thanked her as I took the book. I didn’t want to be rude, and I figured that appeasing her was the best way to handle this situation. I tucked the book next tomy leg and armrest, and then unlocked my wheels. “I think I’m going to lie down for a bit,” I said with a soft smile as I started to wheel myself back to my room.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded over my shoulder. “Yeah. I’m just beat.”
I wasn’t lying. This pregnancy plus trying to heal broken bones was exhausting. If I could, I would spend my whole life in bed. Then I wouldn’t have to deal with the current state of my life. Or the fact that Walker had yet to text me. It was depressing every time I opened my message app to find my text to him was the last message. A plea of desperation stared back at me.
I felt pathetic.
I didn’t emerge from my room until the sun had begun to set. I could tell it was evening from the direction of the light seeping through the closed blinds. Not wanting to turn intothatperson—the one who stayed in bed all day—I pulled myself off my mattress and into my chair. I blew out my breath as my hands found the wheels.
I couldn’t wait to get the go-ahead from the doctors to remove the dumb cast I was wearing. I wanted to feel like normal.
I pushed open my bedroom door and wheeled out into the living room. The only sound I could hear was from the TV. Jackson was sitting on the couch, occasionally jumping out of his seat to yell at the screen. He looked like a crazy person, sitting a foot away from the TV. And I wanted to laugh, if it didn’t break my heart. His eyesight was getting worse, and I feared he would lose it forever.
My previous response would have been to tease him, but I bit back the words. He was going through so much; it would be mean of me to make fun of him—even if I was certain that he craved some normalcy.
I wheeled over to the couch and locked my wheels before I pulled myself out of my chair and settled onto the couch next to him.
“You’re finally up,” he said with his eyes still glued on the screen.
I squinted, hating that I was this close to his massive TV. “Yeah, figured I couldn’t stay in bed forever.” My stomach growled, and I pressed my hand against it. “Plus, I’m starving.”
That seemed to draw his attention over. “Want me to make you something?”
I raised an eyebrow. “You.Youare willing to make me dinner?” I pointed my finger at him just to make sure we were talking about the same person.
He scoffed. “I can make dinner.”
“Mm, okay.” I shook my head. “I remember the crab stick debacle of ’92. I don’t think I can even trust you to get me an apple.”
He scrunched up his nose. “It only made sense that if it takes an entire day for a crab stick to defrost in your lunch, it would take ten minutes to defrost in the microwave on high.” He glared at me. “I was a genius if you think about it.”
