Page 4 of Spring Showers

“Here she is now,” Leo said and caught a running America in his arms. Their lips met, and he swung her around one time. Her dark hair came loose from the pile on top of her head and cascaded around her shoulder. Her feet hit the floor, one and then the other, like a dancer. The scene was straight off the set of a Hollywood rom-com.

Thandie giggled at the two lovebirds and hid her smile behind the back of her fingers. She couldn’t help but note how good-looking the couple was together. He looked much like all the boys she had gone to school with in Iowa. Someone with northern European heritage and a ruggedness that came from knowing hard work. America was beautiful, with olive skin and a smile as wide as the sea. She looked as though she’d be home among the grapevines and Roman ruins of Italy. The couple reminded her of her own parents, the way they just looked like they were supposed to be together.

Hand in hand, the pair joined Thandie beside thecucina.

“I see you found our little kitchen,” America said and pointed with her thumb. “Thandeka? I’m America.”

“Nice to meet you. You can call me Thandie,” she said as America hugged her. “Why is it called thecucina?”

“It was my mother’s idea, the kitchen. Thecucina. She’s sort of obsessed with all things Italian after her trip to Tuscany a few months ago. Family history and all.”

“I get that,” Thandie said, though she didn’t. She had little idea of her family history.

“Where are you from, Thandie?” America asked.

“Iowa,” Thandie said. “But my parents are from South Africa and moved to the States before I was born.”

“Do you ever want to go there?” America asked, but continued her own story before Thandie could answer. “I’ve never been to Italy, even though that’s where my family comes from. Maybe someday I’ll go check it out.”

“Maybe you could go for your honeymoon. Mr. Thorpe tells me you’re engaged,” Thandie said. “Congratulations, by the way.”

“It’s Leo, please. And,” he looked at America adoringly, “that’s not a bad idea.”

“I’ll think about it,” she said. “So, Thandie, what part of Iowa do you call home?”

“I’m from a tiny town?—”

Leo squinted his eyes. “So, youdoknow about small towns?”

“Well versed.”

“I think you’ll fit in quite well here, and we’re glad you could come help us out on short notice,” Leo said. “I had mentioned the job to Jenny when I bumped into her a couple weeks ago and she said she knew just the person. And here you are.”

“It’s so funny to hear you call her Jenny. I’ve always called her JB,” Thandie said. “We met during college, in North Carolina. She’s the best. We keep in touch here and there, but I’ll tell you, I was surprised when I got her call about this job out of the blue. It’s as if she knew I needed it. I’m really looking forward to seeing her again.”

America and Leo looked back and forth at each other and to Thandie with goofy grins and mischievous eyes. “Well...” America drew out the word like a drumroll.

“We have a surprise for you.” Leo pointed over Thandie’s shoulder, and she turned to see.

JB was a sight for Thandie’s weary eyes, and she ran to meet her old friend at the door. “Jenny Bailey Townsend. It’s been too long,” Thandie said and wrapped her arms around her, patting something squishy on JB’s back. “What happened?”

JB stifled a giggle in her throat as she unstrapped a long band at her waist and shoulders. Swinging her arms around like a trapeze artist, she retrieved the lump from her back and presented a baby. “This is what happened. Meet Charlotte Victoria Townsend.”

Thandie loved babies. Perhaps it was part of getting older, not like twenty-seven years old was old, but she was old enough to know that she wanted to be a mother sooner rather than later. Perhaps there was still a wound left behind by her failed wedding to the man whom she had seen as a possible father to her future children. Or maybe she just knew that she was destined to be a great mom.

“May I?” Thandie asked. JB handed the baby over like she was passing off a ticking bomb, but Thandie was thrilled to take the baby. “She’s precious. How old?” Thandie cooed.

“Six months next week. She was born right before Christmas, and not a day too soon.” JB sniggered. “With how swollen my feet were and how much my back ached morning and night, I was ready for her to come into the world, you know what I mean?”

It was Thandie’s turn to laugh. “I’m afraid I don’t, but I can imagine all the same.” Thandie handed Charlotte back to JB.

“How did I not know you were having a baby?”

JB recoiled from the question before answering in a hushed tone. “We didn’t tell anyone this time around. It’s too hard to have to call everyone back with bad news when it...you know?”

Thandie held her friend’s hand. “Is that why you said you couldn’t come to my...wedding,” she whispered.

“A giant baby bump would give it away.” JB looked at her baby with a kind of dreaminess in her eyes that Thandie guessed could only come with motherhood.

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