Page 23 of Petals of Blue: Part Two
She takes another sip and tucks her hair behind her ear. "I think I need to tell you about Blue. What sh-she's been through. It might help find her. Maybe not, though. I’m not sure. I c-can't sit around and donothing..."
"We get it," Felix states with a nod. "If you're comfortable with it, we'll listen. Just please relax, Beth."
Thankfully, I'm not the only one who noticed thetremble in her voice or the shakiness of her hands. I fear she's panicking a little, or maybe she's hungry?
Bethany releases an airy giggle and waves her free hand around as if to swat our worries away. "I'm fine. This is pretty normal for me. Just my own issues. Let's talk about Blue's instead, okay?" Her pale cheeks flush bright red as she gasps. "Oh my god, that sounded terrible!"
I can't help but laugh. "I have issues, too. Everyone does, and we know you didn't mean it badly. So what do you want to tell us?"
She bites her lip and wiggles around. "I'll just start at the beginning..."
Seventeen
VIOLET
Convincing Jared's wonderful parents to drive me to the guys' house tonight wasn't my greatest moment. I begged and pleaded with Clara after waking up from a nightmare.
Honestly, I just needed to see for myself that they hadn't found Mama yet. I'm so thankful for Derrick and Clara, but I'm a mess. I can't sleep, can barely eat. Sometimes I forget what day it is and just how long Blue has been missing because it feels like years.
It's night two at Clara's, and this time Clara was already in the kitchen eating chocolate frosting with a spoon. Watching the older woman's tears roll down her cheeks made my tummy coil uncomfortably with guilt. I've been so difficult.
When she turned to find me watching her, her tears dried, and her face softened into worry.For me. In that moment, she reminded me so much of my mama. Any and all emotion Clara was struggling with was thrown out the window once she saw my red-rimmed eyes.
With my arms wrapped around my midsection, I broke. Clara wrapped me in a hug and asked me what she could do to help. So I told her. I even texted Roman to see what they were up to, knowing they had to go back to their place once they were done searching for the day.
He confirmed they were headed back to their townhome, which I relayed to Clara. Her mouth twisted when I asked to go see them. I could tell she was conflicted, then her gaze snapped over my shoulder, and Derrick announced that there would be rules if he were to drive us there.
I quickly agreed that I wouldn't put up a fight when it was time for us to head back, and we could only be at the guys' place for an hour, considering it's super late—or early, however you want to look at it.
So here we are. Derrick, Clara, and I are walking up the path to their backdoor. I glance at Bethany's patio, wishing I were just coming to hang out with Mama and her friend for the night.
Picking Blue up from here after she's had some wine have been some of my favorite times. Blue and Beth are a damnhootafter sharing a bottle and a half of chardonnay.Barf,but whatever makes Mom smile and fall to the grass laughing has my stamp of approval.
I miss her.
"Come on," Derrick murmurs as he reaches for the patio door. Sliding it open, he steps aside and ushers me forward.
Once again, I feel so freaking bad for how I've treated them the past few days. They've been so patientand kind. "Thank you," I whisper and breathe a sigh of relief when the warm air heats my chilly face.
Voices greet me, which I expected, but the feminine one gives me pause.Is there another woman here?Keeping my steps light, I tiptoe toward the living room and pause before they might see me.
"I think I need to tell you about Blue. What sh-she's been through. It might help find her. Maybe not, though. I’m not sure. I c-can't sit around and donothing..."
Bethany? Why is she here? What would be so important about Blue's past that she needs to tell them?
"We get it," Felix—I think—responds. "If you're comfortable with it, we'll listen. Just please relax, Beth."
There's silence for a moment or maybe someone says something, but Clara and Derrick distract me when they come to hover behind me.
Bethany finally speaks up, sounding tired and definitely hesitant. "I'm fine. This is pretty normal for me. Just my own issues. Let's talk about Blue's instead, okay?" She gasps. "Oh my god, that sounded terrible!"
Issues? What the hell is she talking about?
"I have issues, too. Everyone does, and we know you didn't mean it poorly. So what do you want to tell us?" I can’t tell who says it, but I just need them to shut up so I can hear what Beth has to say.
A hand touches my shoulder, but I pay it no mind just like how I ignore Clara's suggestion of us leaving. There's no way I'm missing out on story time.What does Bethany know that I don't?!
"I'll just start at the beginning..." Bethany starts,sounding uncertain, but that doesn't stop her. "So, from what I know, Blue only really ate at school when she was growing up. Other kids made fun of her while she was grieving her parents. Then I guess in middle school she started mowing lawns, doing odd jobs, to earn money. She bought makeup, newish clothes, and changed herself to fit in."
