Thelma told her about the young man who had hung out his window and catcalled Thelma at a red light. The fact that Robbie had been a part of it made Pauline die of secondhand embarrassment, but Thelma had reached a point where she could laugh even harder at her preposterous reality.
They had spent the better part of that Tuesday afternoon shopping for and gathering supplies for Thanksgiving dinner, which was shaping up to be a grand affair at Thelma’s place.Six people! I can hardly believe it.Besides her immediate family, Pauline and Ethan were swinging by, and Gretchen hadpromised to bite her tongue around Robbie. The only person missing would be Emma, who was having Thanksgiving with her own family.I can’t wait to cook for everyone.Thelma remembered all her favorite Thanksgiving recipes by heart and was about to embark on a pie-baking spree that night. The fact that they were capable of finding a decent turkey that late in the game cheered her up almost as much as the feelings still swimming inside of her after Vegas.
She hadn’t told anybody aboutthat.Not even Megan knew that her grandmother had spent the night making love and remembering what it was like to be independent andfree.
Now Gretchen would have Thanksgiving dinner with everyone. Wasn’t it lovely?
“Hope you don’t mind if I leave some of these groceries with you all until Thursday.” Pauline popped some gum into her mouth as they approached the residential streets. “I can’t believe I have to work tomorrow. They gave me every daybutWednesday off this week!”
“That’s diabolical. But of course. You’re still planning on swinging by early on Thursday, though, right?”
“Around nine, yes.”
“Megan says she wants to help and learn from some ‘historical’ pros.” Thelma turned down her street. “You ask me, nine is way too early for that night owl to get up. But she might just have to.”
“Great. A sleepy-headed student in the kitchen. Shall we give her the potatoes to peel?”
“Only if we want her blood all over the sink.”
Thelma pulled into the driveway. One light was on upstairs, where Megan probably hung out after coming home from class. Next door, Gretchen’s truck was missing from her own driveway.She said she had to work this week. They landed a big construction project that kicks into high gear next week.Already, Thelma missed her—although, experience in marriagetold her she didn’tneedto be with her girlfriendallthe time. Having separate space was imperative!I’ll see her again on Thursday.Probably not any sooner, since there was so much prep to do.
But if they could steal a moment for themselves after the dishes were done and everyone else had their food comas…
“Helllooo.” Pauline snapped her fingers by Thelma’s dreamy head. “Earth to Thel. What’s got you spacing out? Thinking about that girl again, are you?”
Thelma attempted to brush it off like the mature, grown woman she was, but just one look at Pauline’s knowing face made her sputter in withheld titters. “No,” she squeaked. “Thinking about thatwoman.”
“Uh-huh… well, try to keep the lovemaking to a minimum on Thursday. My husband is easily distracted by awkward family moments.”
“For the love of… my son will be there! And my granddaughter!”
“Something tells me it’s your son that will be the biggest thorn in your merry side.”
Thelma shrugged as she unhitched her seatbelt and opened her door. “He can gripe all he wants. He’s not my keeper.”
“That’s right, hon. We left that shitlongbehind.”
Thelma considered that as Pauline got out. With a flick of the fob in her hand, the trunk opened without her having to get out of the car as well.Robbie is not my keeper…Even if Thelma had lived her natural life and now needed to reside with her son for medical reasons, he wouldstillnot be her keeper. Just because she had been a fish out of water when she first arrived in this era didn’t mean he could dictate who she dated or how she chose to live the rest of the life God granted her.That’s between me and the Lord.And whatever person she decided to remarry!
I still can’t get over it… same-sex marriage… in this day and age…
She went to help Pauline haul the groceries into the house. When she rounded the SUV, however, she saw some people crossing the street.
She vaguely recognized them as next-door neighbors from across the way. The younger man was named Ben and lived with his elderly mother. The middle-aged woman was Heather, and she was nosier than any of the other ladies on Hemlock Street.Ask me how I know.Thelma was well-trained against women like Heather, who joined forces with Ben as they approached with the kind of friendly, neighborly smiles that instantly put Thelma on edge.
“Thelma, right?” Heather extended her hand and weakly shook Thelma’s fingers before retracting her digits close to her chest. A rose pink sweater hung loosely from her boxy body, and the graying brown of her hair fluttered in the breeze. Ben, on the other hand, wore a brown T-shirt and khaki shorts, impervious to the November chill. “Heather Davidson. From the white house right there.”
“Of course. And yes, my name is Thelma.”
“Thelma Van der Graaf.” Ben grinned like he had discovered her deepest, darkest secret and was about to tell the whole world.That’s impossible.Yet Thelma was now on edge, her ears ringing and her cortisol levels rising. “Robert’s niece, yeah? You reallyarethe spitting image of your grandmother!”
Pauline closed the trunk, only holding one shopping bag in her arms. “What’s going on?”
“Please, don’t mind us,” Heather cheerfully said. “We’re true crime fanatics, that’s all.”
“I don’t think Thelma knows anything about that.”
Thelma held her hand up to Pauline, insinuating that she would handle this. “Can I help you with something? Is this regarding my… grandmother?”
