Page 34 of The Spotted Cottage By the Sea
Sixteen
Patty and Eliza were staring at her. There was no going back now. Sheila had to tell them what she’d done…and what she’d not done.
It was important for Eliza to understand her mom was human. Eliza suffered from the curse of youth, thinking she was the only flawed one, the only broken one. Calling herself a failure – which was simply not the case!
Sheila made mistakes too, as she’d proven in this month of madness.
She looked around. The coast was clear, with no one but the seabirds to overhear her story. She took a deep breath and started from the beginning: her mother leaving, her dad capturing Lottie and selling her off.
She went on, telling them how, on her birthday this year, she’d heard about Tokitae’s death, how the guilt kept her up at night and drove her to madness. About the burglary box, how she’d gotten herself fired from her job and, finally, how she nearly got caught committing a break-in.
When she was done, she sat back and waited to be scolded.
“Mom, that issocool!” Eliza said. “I can’t believe you did that!”
“I can’t believe you kept it to yourself for so long,” Patty said. “Normally you can’t keep a secret to save your life.”
Sheila crossed her arms. “Oh, I’m sorry I’m not more like the woman who never told us how much she was struggling until she almost had to move out.”
Patty waved a hand. “That was nothing. Just typical life stuff. Nowthis!”She tapped a finger on the table. “Thisis something. It’s a story. You should tell Russell. Have him turn it into a movie.”
“No one is telling Russell!” Sheila said, cutting her off. “Don’t tellanyoneabout this. I mean it.” She turned to Eliza. “I’m going to tell your sisters, of course. I just have to find the right time.”
Patty started gathering plates, but when Sheila stood to help, she slapped her hand away. “Please let me take care of my own home.”
Sheila ignored her and started stacking cups. “Let me help while I can. Before I go to prison.”
“Oh hush!” Patty laughed, balancing a serving plate on the top of the stack. “It’s not even serious. You didn’t steal anything! What’s that, a charge for trespassing? That’s nothing.”
“Nothing?” Sheila dropped her voice to a whisper. “I had aburglary boxin my car. I presented it to my boss! Everyone saw it!”
A laugh burst from Eliza. “Pleaselet me tell Mackenzie. She’ll die laughing.”
Sheila shot her an exasperated look. “No, don’t do that. I’m just saying, Patty. It certainly feels like something.”
A grin spread across Patty’s face. “Yes. It feels like the Sheila I’ve missed is finally back.”
She grabbed the teapot with her free hand and sauntered back to the cottage.
Sheila followed, her arms full. As much as she wanted to resent Patty’s teasing, she couldn’t help but smile a little.
Yes, running through the woods had been terrifying, and her hip really hurt, and what she’d done was terribly irresponsible, but at the same time, she hadn’t felt so alive in years.
She dropped the dishes off in the kitchen and returned to the table. Eliza was busy wiping up crumbs.
“Can you believe I just pulled weeds with Russell Westwood?” she said, straightening and shaking her head. “I mean, I know you’re busy with your exciting life of crime, but isn’t that insane?”
“It is,” Sheila admitted. She’d hardly had time to reflect on it or feel self-conscious about being around him.
“Do you remember when we went to see him inHearts under the Rhododendron? I was in love with him for like three years.”
Sheila laughed. “I hope you told him about that.”
“No.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m way over that. He’s too old. He’s your age!” She froze and made a face. “No offense.”
“None taken.” Russell didn’t look old to Sheila. He looked picture-perfect, like he’d been cut out of a magazine, with his piercing blue eyes and chiseled features.
If he wasn’t old, then maybe that meant she wasn’t old either?
