Page 149 of Beneath the Blue Moon
“Do you do your own shopping, your pantry is like asupermarket I have everything I need.”
“I have a housekeeper who usually comes in once a week, butClara’s been filling in since you’ve been here.”
“Oh.”
She flits around the kitchen like a hummingbird, doing tenthings at once, slapping my hand away when I stick my finger into the batterfor a taste.After removing the roast from the oven, she places the cakesinside and then drains the potatoes.With a pointed look, she hands me the bowland the potato masher.
“Get to it,” she commands.
“Yes, ma’am!”
As I mash away, she reaches around me, adding differentthings—more things than I’ve ever added to my mashed potatoes.
“I got this recipe from the Pioneer Woman it looked really goodso I tried it and loved it.You’re gonna love it trust me.”
It’s so funny how fast she’s talking.I’ve never seen anyonego through the change, though I’ve heard stories.I watch as she adds butter,cream cheese, heavy cream, salt, and black pepper.Once it’s all mixed, sheplaces it in a baking dish, adds more butter on top, and pops it into the oven.Then she starts cleaning.She can’t stand still.
“Let me help.”
“Everything will be ready soon, why don’t you go shower?”
“Are you sure?”I ask.
“Go.I’ve got this.”
Before I even get to the stairs, I sense Charlie.I open thedoor, putting my finger to my lips for him to be quiet, then take him to theend of the driveway where she won’t be able to hear us.
“How is she?”
“Restless,” I answer.“She can’t sit still, she’s talking amile a minute, and she’s always hungry.”
“Sounds about right.When are you going to tell her?”
“Tonight.”
He seems a little tense.I realize that since Casey cameinto the picture, we haven’t spent much time together.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.Why?”
“You seem tense.”
“It’s a tense situation.”
“That stuff you told Anna… Is it true?”I ask.
“Yeah.It’s like I feel what you feel.Let me tell you,these last couple of months have been an emotional rollercoaster.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
He chuckles and bumps my shoulder with his.“Can you imagineme telling you some shit like I can feel your pain?”
“Yeah, I probably would have punched you in the nose.”
“Exactly.”He chuckles.
“But, if you feel what I feel… Casey?”
