Hope Springs - 05 - Wedding Cake Read Free

“Yet,” she added. “But I intend to find out more as soon as I can.” She thought about her earlier conversation. “I must say, though, she sounded smitten.”
    “Smitten?” Jessie repeated. “I can’t say as I have ever heard Charlotte sound smitten.” She shook her head. “A Navajo police officer.” She smiled. “And she sounds smitten.”
    “Yes, and he has a Spanish last name,” Beatrice noted as she drank a sip of coffee and then placed her cup in front of her.
    “How did they meet?” Jessie asked, leaning back in her chair.
    “Don’t know,” Beatrice answered.
    “How many times have they gone out?” Jessie asked.
    “Two, I think,” Beatrice said.
    Jessie nodded her head, taking in the information. “Well, good for her,” she responded.
    “Well, let’s hope it’s good for her,” Beatrice said, sounding concerned.
    “Beatrice, finding a boyfriend for Charlotte has been all you have talked about for months. I thought you would be happy for her.”
    “I’m not saying I’m not happy.” She leaned up and rested her chin on her fists. “I’m just saying I think she should go a little more slowly.”
    “What?” Jessie asked, sounding very surprised. “You think somebody should go slowly? When have you ever gone slowly about anything? After all, you’re the one who got us all to shave our heads for Margaret before we found out that she wasn’t going to have chemotherapy. You’re the one who started that cookbook and that ChristmasCake Recipe Contest before you ever thought about how much work those projects would be. You’re the one who got a funeral van to drive Margaret back to Texas last year. You are not somebody with qualifications to hand out advice about slowing down!”
    Beatrice blew out a long breath. “I did not come over here for a lecture,” she said. “I just came to let you know what I had heard. I thought you would be as concerned as I am.”
    Jessie smiled. “Oh Beatrice, Charlotte has a boyfriend. Be glad for her. She would never pick a bad guy. I’m sure we will like him as much as she does when we get the chance to meet him.” She took a sip of her coffee. “This has gotten cold. You want me to brew another pot?”
    Beatrice was looking down. She shook her head.
    “What?” Jessie asked. She could see her friend was upset about something.
    “She’s never coming back, is she?” Beatrice looked up at Jessie.
    Jessie reached over and took her by the hands. “That’s what this is about, isn’t it?” She smiled at Beatrice. “You wanted to find Charlotte a boyfriend back here so that she would move home.”
    “Well, I don’t see what’s so wrong with that,” Beatrice responded. “Robin still doesn’t ever come home to visit. Teddy has gotten some teaching fellowship in Japan, and Jenny and the twins are so busy in their own lives,” she said, speaking about her children and grand-children. “Louise is all wrapped up in her gardening classes and now talking about Roxie all over again. You and James stay completely involved in the lives of your children and grandchildren. Dick works all the time. Margaret is—” She stopped and took a breath. She still missed her friend so much. “I just thought it would be nice to have Charlotte back,” she confessed. “Even if she doesn’t want to be our preacher again, she could come back and be our friend.”
    Jessie nodded. “It would be nice.” She also thought about Margaret and how empty life seemed without her. She understood Beatrice’s reasons for wanting their young friend back in their shrinking circle. “But Charlotte has made her own life in New Mexico. And we get to see her once in a while. I miss her too. But she’s happy out there, and she’s doing very good work at that shelter.”
    Beatrice pulled her hands away and reached over and got a napkin. She dabbed at her eyes. “Well, that’s true. She does seem happy helping out those women.” She paused. “But we got women who get