Authors: Roseanne Dowell
She didn’t have long to wait before Aunt Beatrice Lulu made her appearance. This time Callie
wasn’t going to get away with just a mild reproach. Not by a long shot.
“You, young lady, had better learn some manners. What’s the matter with you Callie? You weren’t raised to be so
boorish.”
No need to reply, her aunt didn’t expect one. She only paused to catch her breath.
And she wasn’t finished.
“This is the second young man you’ve left in a lurch. Do you realize how
ill-mannered you appeared? Of course you do. But you just don’t seem to care. It’s not easy finding young men, you know. Bruce was the perfect man for you. He even liked to cook. You can certainly benefit from that trait.” Aunt Beatrice Lulu walked around the room and waved her hands while she spoke.
Callie pulled the covers over her and sighed. Her eyes could hardly stay open and her aunt rattled on and on. Last thing Callie heard before she fell asleep was something about being an old maid.
Chapter
11
The next morning, Callie wheeled into the kitchen. Using the wheelchair was much easier than the crutches. She’d give her aunt that. She poured coffee, took a bagel off the counter, and headed toward the dining room.
Uncle Ed and her aunt were locked in an embrace. The sounds coming from Aunt Beatrice Lulu were like nothing she’d ever heard before. If ever she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her, this was the time. You couldn’t have fit a strand of hair between them.
She stopped so quickly the bagel slid off her lap, and her good leg went under the wheelchair. A gasp escaped her mouth.
It was like a scene out of a movie. Uncle Ed stood. Aunt Beatrice Lulu slid off his lap, fell to the floor and screamed. Floozy jumped onto Callie’s lap, pawing and jumping all over her like a rabid animal. The cat jumped up, scratched Callie’s face, and spilled her coffee over her and the brand new carpeting.
The welts on Callie’s face developed almost instantly. She tried to push the cat down, but she’d have none of it. She jumped on Callie’s shoulders, slid down to her lap and so did her shirt. Her left breast was exposed for everyone to see. Callie was horrified. How in the hell was she going to recover?
Aunt Beatrice Lulu pulled herself up on the edge of the table, knocked her juice and coffee cup, her face beat red. Her hands automatically went to her hair, a habit she’d had for years when she was nervous or embarrassed. Not that she was nervous often. Her aunt was the most in control person Callie had ever met. She avoided looking at her.
Uncle Ed, seemingly unaffected, sat down and let out a loud laugh, “Well, good morning sunshine. How are you today?”
Her aunt recovered quickly, stood, and hurried to clean up the mess she’d made with the coffee. “Oh for heaven sakes, Ed, can’t you see the girl’s embarrassed. Wouldn’t hurt you to show a little mortification.”
“For what, kissing my wife? I have a license. Nothing wrong with showing affection. If Callie’s gonna be around here for any length of time, she damn well better get used to it.”
Callie turned her chair and hurried from the room. The sound of Uncle Ed’s laughter echoed after her. She couldn’t get away quick enough.
Okay, he was right. Nothing wrong with a kiss, nothing wrong with affection, but there’s kisses and there are kisses. Looked like he was trying to swallow her aunt whole. Not that there was anything wrong with that either. Certainly, neither of them expected her to walk in on them. She over reacted. It just surprised her to see them like that. To see her aunt like that. She’d always been so strait-laced, so prudish. Apparently, her aunt wasn’t as prim as Callie thought.
At least Uncle Ed didn’t say anything about her exposed breast. How was she going to face him again? The man saw her breast. Okay, call her a prude. She wasn’t in the habit of exposing herself and ignoring it. Never in her life had she wanted to crawl in a hole more. She just wanted to go home. Surely, she could get along there with the wheelchair.
Fortunately, the doorbell rang before Aunt Beatrice Lulu had time to follow. Jim Landry appeared in the doorway.
“I brought the lists of applicants. Thought we could go through them together since I know most of them. It’ll still be your decision.”
“Thanks, Jim. I appreciate that.” Finally, something to keep her occupied and, hopefully, out of Aunt Beatrice Lulu’s focus. Surely, her aunt wouldn’t bring anyone around while she was interviewing, would she?
Jim followed Callie to her room, pulled out the list of names and sat down in the only chair in the bedroom. Callie pulled her wheelchair next to him. It would be more comfortable in the living room, but no way was she going anywhere near Uncle Ed. Besides, Aunt Beatrice Lulu was bound to come in and nose around. Didn’t need the whole town to know what was going on.
Jim handed Callie an application. “This here’s Josh Wilton. Good man. Bit young, but we all got to start somewhere. Works over in Northton. Passed the academy last year.”
“Then there’s Milt Foley. Been with Reed Valley for three years. Wants to relocate. Wife’s family is from Smytheville. Another good man. And finally there’s Sam Vansworth. He just graduated the academy. No experience to speak of.”
She glanced at all the applications. “Thanks, Jim. I’ll give them each a call and set up the interviews. I appreciate you helping out.”
Aunt Beatrice Lulu suddenly appeared in the doorway. “My goodness, Callie, you know better than to entertain guests in your bedroom. Especially males.” She turned her attention to Jim. “Come in the living room for heaven’s sake.”
Jim stood. “I was just leaving anyway, Mz Eberhardt.”
“No need to rush off on my account,”
“Not rushing off. Just finished with my work and going fishing.”
“Well come into the living room for a cup of coffee at least. I made those good Italian cookies you love.”
“Well now, can’t refuse them, can I?”
“Coming Callie?” Aunt Beatrice Lulu motioned for her to follow.
“Huh? Oh no, I’ve got work today.”
“Nonsense. Come along. You have all day to work.” Her aunt got behind her chair and pushed her through the door. Not much Callie could do to stop her. Like it or not, she was going to the living room. Didn’t take long to discover why.
Another of Aunt Beatrice Lulu’s men
sat on the couch, waiting to meet her. Callie groaned. Had to admit he was kind of cute with his crew cut, sandy blond hair, high cheekbones and long straight nose. But his skinny lips turned Callie off, especially when he smiled. His large yellowed teeth were crooked. She had a thing about teeth. Not sure why, maybe because she worked for a dentist during her high school years. Not to mention his big, round brown, almost black eyes. Reminded her of cow eyes. Okay, she was being overly critical. But seriously, what was her aunt thinking bringing all these men for her to meet. Especially after Callie told her about William.
“
Jim, this is Carl Hammesfar. Carl, our former police chief, Jim Landry and my niece, the new police chief, Callie Johnson.”
“Howdy.” Jim reached his hand out and shook Carl’s hand.
Aunt Beatrice Lulu couldn’t have stopped the wheelchair any closer to Carl without dumping Callie in his lap. Callie smiled. Partly because her aunt was so obvious, and partly at the discomfort Carl showed. He ran his fingers along the collar of his shirt and slid his hands in his pockets. Callie eased the chair back, turned and rolled across the room, picked up a cookie and shoved it in her mouth. She couldn’t think of a thing to say to Carl, nor did she want to.
“Carl works at the bank.” Aunt Beatrice Lulu beamed as if that was a great accomplishment. Had she said president
or even vice president of the bank, she might have been impressed. But a lot of people worked at the bank. Nothing spectacular about that. Nothing wrong with it. It was an honest living. Just didn’t see the significance in it.
Obviously, Callie was supposed to remark on his occupation that Aunt Beatrice Lulu found so impressive.
Good grief, first quilting now the financial world. Only thing she could think of was the horrible economy. “So have you foreclosed on anyone lately?”
Carl’s face turned pale. “I…uh….um…yes, that’s a necessary part of my job.”
Aunt Beatrice Lulu sent a warning look that Callie ignored. What did her aunt expect? She’s the one who brought up the subject of banking.
“I see. And do you have any interesting stories about foreclosures?”
His gaze went to the clock then the door. If ever someone wanted to escape, it was Carl. Obviously, Callie made him as uncomfortable as he made her. Why in the world had he agreed to her aunt’s crazy plan to set them up? He wasn’t a bad looking guy. Surely, he could get a date on his own. Well, he could if he’d do something about those teeth. She almost gave him the name of her dentist, but decided not to embarrass him further.
“You let me know if you got any questions on those applicants.” Jim took three cookies from the plate. “Don’t mind if I take these for the road, do you, Mz Eberhardt?”
“Not at all, Chief. Take as many as you like.”
Seeing an opportunity to leave, Callie took advantage. “If you’ll excuse me. I’m feeling tired.” She wheeled the chair as fast as she could with her good
leg and her hands. Moved pretty darn quickly if she must say so. Within seconds she was out of the room. Didn’t prevent her from hearing her aunt voice her disapproval. Something about not knowing what was wrong with her. Wasn’t difficult to figure out. She wasn’t interested in meeting anyone. How many times did she have to tell her aunt that before the woman got it?
She had to get out of here. She grabbed her phone and punched in a number. “William, hi, it’s me, Callie.”
“Callie, hi. I wondered if you’d ever return my calls. I left several messages.”
Callie hobbled from the chair to her bed. “I’m sorry. I should have called sooner. I’m not home. I’m staying with my aunt. That’s what I called you about.”
“Is something wrong?” Concern registered in William’s voice. Callie could picture the way his brow wrinkled, his hand going to the back of his neck.
“Actually, yes. I hurt my leg and have to stay off it.”
“What happened? How can I help?”
“I’ll explain later. Can you pick me up? Take me home? I’m going crazy
here.” Callie couldn’t stay with her aunt. Not for one more day. She wanted to be in her own home, doing her own thing. No interruptions. Eating what and when she wanted. Walking around in her pajamas if she felt like it. Okay, she couldn’t walk around. At least not yet, but she could get around. She could manage.
“Sure, but will you be okay by yourself?” Again, Callie heard the concern.
“I’ll be fine. I have a wheelchair and crutches. I just have no way to get there.”
“Okay, when do you want me to come?”
“How does now sound?”
“Sure, just tell me where.”
Callie gave him the address and directions.
“I’ll be there in ten, fifteen minutes. Is that soon enough?”
“Make it ten.” Callie hung up and started packing. Not that she had much. She never intended to stay long to begin with.
“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?” Aunt Beatrice Lulu came in just as Callie set her travel case on the bed.
“I’m going home.”
Aunt Beatrice Lulu stood
legs spread, hands on her hips, her heavy bosom lifted with her deep sigh. The vein between her eyes bulged. “What do you mean, you’re going home? Of course you’re not.” She tapped her foot.
Callie sat down on the bed, leaning her crutch against the nightstand. Taking a deep breath, she prepared to do battle. “Yes, Aunt Beatrice Lulu. I am. I need to be in my own place. I have work to do, and there’s just too many disruptions here.”
Her aunt’s voice filled with sarcasm. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. And, by the way, there was no reason to be so rude to Carl. You’re becoming more and more bumptious every day. I’ve never been so disgraced by the way you reacted, asking him about foreclosures. What were you thinking?”
Callie couldn’t help but laugh. Bumptious? Sometimes she thought her aunt swallowed a dictionary.
“Don’t be loutish, Callie. It doesn’t suit you.”
“And big words don’t suit you, Aunt Beatrice Lulu. Bumptious? Why couldn’t you just say arrogant? Which I wasn’t being, by the way.”
“Don’t be insolent, Callie. Watch who you’re talking to.”
“I’m sorry. I really appreciate you taking me in, but it’s time for me to leave. I’m used to being on my own. Besides, I don’t appreciate you bringing every Tom, Dick, and Harry to meet me.”
“I’m only trying to help you find someone. I only have your best interest at heart. You never date. Do you even know any men?”
Callie laughed. She couldn’t help it. “I know you care about me. But honest, I don’t need your help finding men. I can find plenty on my own.”
“How are you going to get home?” Aunt Beatrice Lulu sat down on the bed next to her.
“William is picking me up. And don’t get any ideas. He’s a friend. Okay?”