Turkey Baster 10
Jerry wanted to go to a small Mexican restaurant near the theatre that only showed the really artsie movies most people didn't want to see. The food was authentic. My problem was, I not only felt so sick to my stomach I couldn't eat, but the thought of Mexican food on top of that nausea…there were no words.
As for the movie, a documentary about the social injustice in some part of the world I'd only heard of in geography class, well, people had endured much worse, take the people in the movie for instance, and not cracked, perhaps even been brave, so I would pray for grace, realizing, God owed me nothing.
But if Jerry shoved that buttered popcorn toward me one more time, I might not be responsible. And if he didn't stop chewing like a beaver….
He was such a nice person. And very, very tied to his mother. So when it didn't work out between us, and it wouldn't, wasn't, he'd still have dear old mom. Oh, and his dog Tawnie. Yes, with an 'ie.'
After the movie he wanted to go for ice cream and discuss the injustices the movie portrayed, but tempting as that sounded, my hands were trembling to feel my steering wheel beneath them.
"Jerry, I…," words just failed me.
"You don't have to say anything, Bella. We're not going out again, are we?"
I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans, "I'm sure you are…many times, you're such a nice guy, but just not…not you and me."
"Yeah, that's what I thought." I realized he was faking, too. I sensed relief in what he said. I swear, he was trying not to smile.
"At least it will keep your mom off of your back for a while."
His head snapped up. "How did you know?"
I laughed. "I didn't. But I do now."
He laughed too, but flushed a deep red. "She…thinks I should be married by now."
"Yeah. Mom's are great." Not that I knew by experience.
His step was light as we parted ways, him to his Prius, me to my Elantra.
I was relieved it was over. The whole time I'd been thinking about Edward Cullen and what would happen now. And where was Rose? This was the longest we'd gone without talking in a long time. I needed her.
When I got home and dragged into my building, I was brought up short by a package in front of my door. I put my hand on the wall and drew closer and closer to the fancy box. I looked around, but except for me, the hall was empty. I nudged it with my foot. It didn't seem heavy, and I didn't think it was ticking, or holding a puppy.
I wasn't going to take it inside, so I squatted before it, and tapped it again. Nothing. I smoothed my hand over the rough thick purple paper that covered the box. It was pretty, but the uncertainty kept it from being appealing.
Should I open this? I knew who it was probably from. My world of real friends was very small, and none of them were given to leaving expensive looking boxes outside of my door. If it was him…was it him? I ripped the top off. Inside, in purple tissue paper, sitting side by side and sprinkled with fresh white rose petals…Alice's shoes.
He'd been here.