Page 11 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
“Are you kidding? Pass up the chance to have an entire bed all to myself? No way. Besides, Alan wants me to stay and get you drunk.”
Alan was probably the nicest guy in the world, not to mention the world’s best husband. Lauren had offered to stay with Beth every night since Gram passed away but Beth wouldn’t let her. But tonight, after the hardest day of her adult life, she was grateful for the company.
Beth got up from the sofa and stretched her neck from left to right. A long, hot shower did sound ever so good and a hot whiskey sounded even better. With no more fuss, she made her way to the bathroom, then paused when she saw her favorite paperback resting on the side table. She touched her fingertips to its tattered cover, then continued on her way.
“Now, get in that shower. I don’t want to see you for at least twenty minutes.”
“What am I supposed to do for twenty minutes in the shower?”
“Wash that hellcat hair of yours three times to get that grave dirt out, for starters. When you come out, I’ll have hot whiskeys for both of us.”
While Beth showered, Lauren put the kettle on and sliced a lemon. The bright scent of the freshly cut lemon felt wrong on a day like today, but right somehow. She poked whole cloves into the extra thick lemon slices. That was the secret to a good hot whiskey. They had never heard of hot whiskeys until Beth had read that book,Under the Irish Stars.
That got Lauren thinking. Which got her thinking about Beth’s love life, or the lack thereof. Which got her thinking about Danny. Which then made her mad and want to spit. Beth is too nice! She always has been! But do people appreciate that about her? Of course not! Suddenly Lauren's feelings came flying out of her mouth and right out loud she hollered, “Men walk all over her and she’s so damn trusting!”
“What?” Beth called out from inside the shower.
“Nothing! I just turned on the TV!” Lauren quickly found the remote and turned on the television. It didn’t matter what program played so long as it was on. She hated lying to Beth. Even a little white lie felt like a betrayal.
Shaking her head, Lauren placed the remote down beside Beth’s book. Ever since Beth read it, she always had a copy with her. For some, it was an American Express card they never left home without, for Beth, it was this Irish romance novel.
That was six years ago.
Lauren picked up the book and flipped through its worn pages. Six years of Beth being in love with a story but never being in love. Enough was enough.
If Lauren had anything to say about it, Beth was going to find herself an Irishman who adored her, and they were going to live happily ever after and that was all there was to it! But getting Beth to go would take a little finesse. Finesse wasn’t exactly Lauren’s specialty. This was going to require some thought.
The teapot whistled, summoning Lauren to the kitchen to finish making the drinks. She placed the lemon slices into the cups, then fetched the bottle of Jameson and as she poured the golden whiskey, was reminded of the important papers inside her purse.
Lauren finished preparing the drinks, set the bottle aside, and fetched her purse just as Beth appeared in the kitchen freshly showered, and looking cute in her flannel Garfield pajamas.
“Do you feel a little better?” Lauren asked as she handed Beth her drink.
Beth took a sip of the warm whiskey and let it slide down her throat, nodding her head. “You made this perfect, thank you.”
With the papers in hand Lauren suggested they take their drinks and relax in the living room.
Lauren sat at one end of the sofa and patted her lap instructing Beth to lay down and place her feet there.
Once Beth was comfortable and had finished half of her drink Lauren handed over the two envelopes. “Gram gave these to me a few months ago and asked me to save them for after she was gone. It’s her will and a letter. She left everything to you.”
Beth unfolded the will and tried to read it but the legal jargon was too much for her frayed wits, so she folded it back up and placed the will back inside its envelope. She was much more interested in the letter anyway but when it came down to it, she didn’t have it in her to read that either. “I always thought she would leave most of it to the church.”
“That’s what this will says. It’s not enough to let you sit on your ass the rest of your life, but it will keep you comfortable.”
“Have you read the letter?”
“No, I haven’t. Do you want me to read it to you?”
“No, not tonight. I’ve cried enough tears today. Is that okay?”
“Of course it is.” Lauren rubbed Beth’s foot with her free hand. It had been a long, long day. Whatever Gram’s last words to Bethany were, they could wait.
The two friends stared blankly at the television where a rerun of Buffy the Vampire Slayer played. This was not ideal. Lauren took the remote and cruised through the channels, stopping on a travel show where a couple was strolling down a white sandy beach.
“That beach looks wonderful,” said Beth.
“You know, Gram left you enough that you could take a long break. Do something for yourself. And only for yourself.”
