While Betty sliced her honey cake, she hummed “Tiptoe rough the Tulips” by Tiny Tim; I found it quite unnerving. Charlotte brought the coleslaw, potato salad, and condiments out of the fridge while glancing over at me every twenty seconds as if on cue. I wanted to ask her what she meant by what she said earlier, but not in front of Betty. Betty seemed like a busybody and that was the last thing I needed. I poured the skillet of sizzling brussels sprouts into a large serving bowl. It was the second batch I heated up, and there was far too much for this size of barbecue, especially since Calvin hated them.
“So, Grace . . . do you feel like you got what you were looking for out of this vacation?” Betty slid a knife through her cake. It slapped against the cutting board, punctuating her question that was thinly veiled as innocent but I knew it was anything but.
Charlotte paused and looked to me, waiting for an answer.
“Not yet. Still have lots to do.” I brought the pan to the sink and turned on the faucet. e hot skillet sizzled under the water while a cloud of steam lled the air around me. It felt like I was in some sort of stando with these two women—like they were Calvin’s protectors. Charlotte, the wannabe lover, and Betty, the stand-in mom. I understood wanting to protect the people you love, but they went beyond that. It had to be because of his parents and ex. Death made people paranoid and cautious—to a fault.
Betty gave a slight nod while Charlotte went back to unsealing the
condiment bottles.
I decided this was the time to nd out more about Calvin because he hadn’t been exactly forthcoming.
“What happened to Calvin’s parents?” I asked.
Betty squeezed her eyes tight, and Charlotte’s head shook from side to side. I had hit a nerve. Something bad had happened to them—that I was sure of. I could see it in Calvin’s eyes and Joe’s excess drinking.
Betty opened her eyes, icking them toward me. “ at’s not really a topic of conversation I’m interested in discussing.”
I had a feeling she wouldn’t tell me what really happened. ese people
were full of secrets, and it seemed they intended on keeping it that way. I shut the water o and put the pan in the drying rack.
“Sorry,” I muttered.
“No need to apologize. Just know your place,” Betty said matter-of-factly.
e sliding door opened, and Calvin popped in. “Food’s ready, ladies.” He walked to the counter and leaned over the honey cake. “It looks as good as it smells, Betty.”
“ anks, Calvin. Only the best for the birthday boy.” She smiled.
He strolled to me and slung an arm around my shoulder. “Your dish looks great too,” he whispered, planting a kiss on my forehead. I knew he was lying.
Charlotte’s eyes darkened. “Calvin, can you help carry some of this?” She collected the containers of potato salad and coleslaw.
Her eyes brightened when he glanced in her direction, always changing colors like a mood ring. Calvin couldn’t see it but I could. I knew what she was doing. She was the type of woman who would do whatever it took to get what she wanted. And what she wanted was Calvin. But I was in the way.
