Page 53 of Grounded
“Be glad you’re not on the cardiac diet. I’ve heard its worse,” Annie said, smiling. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come today?”
“Law, no. My Sunday school class is coming today. That will keep me entertained. I will be ready to leave in the morning as soon as they sign me out.”
“I’ll be there by nine. Call if you need me.”
Annie had taken over lunch preparations for the painters. Evelyn was busy straightening up her house, preparing the guest room, and “laying up food” as she called it, for the next couple of weeks. Annie prepared fresh hummus dip and baked pita chips as well as a large Greek salad with grilled chicken for each man.
“What is this, if you don’t mind me asking?” Jim pointed to the bowl of hummus.
“Garbanzo beans, garlic, olive oil, a little lemon and a touch of sugar,” Annie answered.
“Never heard of garbanzo beans,” he said.
“They are also called chickpeas,” she said, realizing her menu choice might have been a mistake.
“Never heard of that either,” said Elbert. “But it don’t taste bad,” he quickly added.
After the meal, Annie cleaned up the kitchen and made a list of grocery store items before heading out in her grandmother’s Marquis. Approaching the hardware store, Annie had a pang of fear at the thought of having to parallel park on Main Street. It had been years and she had never been good at it.
She slowed and searched for two spaces together that she might slide into, but there was only one space. Scanning both sides of the street, Annie saw this was the only spot available. With a deep breath, she pulled up next to the car in front of the space, wishing all the while her grandmother had traded for something smaller than a Marquis. With her arm over the back of the seat and her body twisted in order to see, she backed up, but soon realized she was too far from the curb.
Turning and putting the car in drive, she pulled forward and tried again. This time she cut too sharp and the front end was sticking out in the middle of Main Street.
The car behind her waited patiently while she pulled forward. She tried again, but was still not close enough to the curb. A group of men in jeans spilled out of the diner. By this time, several people had stopped on the sidewalk, faces curious, to watch her effort. Annie felt her own face flush as she put it in drive once more. Just as she was about to pull forward, a knock on her window made her jump. It was Jake, motioning for her to roll down the window.
“Want some help?” he asked.
Annie hesitated, determined to figure the thing out. But the growing spectacle brought her to her senses. “Please!” she said, and scooted over in the seat.
Jake didn’t say a word while he positioned the car, then slid it perfectly into the parking space. When he put it in park, he said, “The space is small. It’s no wonder you had trouble.”
“Thank you,” she said, surprised he didn’t tease her.
“Alright, I gotta go. We’re headed over to Rutherford to look at a farm,” he said, sliding out of the car. “See you later?”
She nodded and he turned to go. Jake was home. Why did that make her feel so happy?
Inside the hardware store, Annie admired the wooden porch swing Duke had set aside for her. “Anything else?” he asked before ringing her up.
“That should do it,” Annie said, pleased with her purchase. “Will it fit in the backseat of the Marquis?”
“Oh yeah. That’s one advantage of a big car,” he said, and winked at her.
After Duke loaded the swing, Annie walked down the street to Wyatt’s Drug Store, where ceiling fans hung low from the ancient tin ceilings. A massive wooden soda fountain claimed a section of wall. Round tables with woven iron chairs sat on the hardwood floor near the soda fountain and the film development was in the back, past the dining area and the gift section.
A young woman behind the counter took the pictures after Annie explained the enlargements she wanted. She was nearly out the door when a nostalgic craving for a chocolate milkshake pulled her like a magnet back to the soda fountain. Instead of asking for it to go, she sat at the counter and enjoyed every drop.
“We’re almost done,” Elbert said after they helped Annie unload the swing and take it to the front porch. “If you don’t mind us staying late, we’ll try to finish up tonight.”
“You’ve still got hooks up there,” Jim said, pointing to the robin’s-egg-blue beadboard ceiling. “Want us to hang it for you?”
“Sure,” she said, wondering if accepting all this help would serve her well later. Independence was a valuable survival skill in the city.
“I’ll grab the ladder,” said Elbert.
Jim sorted through the chain and as Elbert held the other end of the swing, he looped a link onto the hook. They did the same on the other side, counting the links so the swing would be level.
“Now, see how high you want that seat. I can raise or lower the chain.”
