Beach Rental(80)
Now this would be his child’s room.
****
Juli stopped by a rental truck place in Morehead City to buy boxes and then went by Carteret Community College to schedule an appointment to take the GED.
Intent upon continuing her forward progress, she carried the boxes upstairs to Ben’s room as soon as she returned home. She jumped right into emptying drawers, but handling Ben’s garments was more stressful than expected. She didn’t attempt to remove the few photo frames and knick-knacks, but she did flush the contents of the amber prescription bottles she found.
With trembling hands, she leaned against the dresser trying not to look in the mirror, half-suspecting she would see him reflected behind her.
His brown leather Bible lay on the dresser. She touched it, then picked it up and ran her hand over the pebbly cover. This Book had been dear to Ben. She’d seen him with it often, especially in the early morning or late at night when he was wakeful. The soft cover flexed and she nearly dropped it. Securing her grasp, she felt the edge of something, an envelope, sticking out from between the pages. She slid the envelope out and opened the flap.
They were standing close together on the beach. Ben in a dark suit, she in the borrowed blue dress, both of them barefoot and looking amazingly normal. Maia had snapped this photo on their wedding day.
Their faces were almost cheek to cheek and both were smiling. No one would guess from looking at this photo they had barely known each other.
Juli slid the picture back into the envelope, but she didn’t return it to the Bible. She laid it on top. She’d frame it. Maybe she could get the negative from Maia and have it enlarged. This would be important to their child.
She carried a cardboard box packed with Ben’s clothing into the back bedroom that faced the road, then she climbed the cramped, steep stairs to the topmost room. The room was carpeted, long and narrow, and the sliding doors overlooking the ocean almost filled the entire front wall.
The sunlight streamed in through the glass doors and bounced off the white walls. There were a few items stored up here, including the easel and art supplies and the growing portfolio.
Her studio. Up here, up top. Only she would know. She’d been idle too long. She would fill her days for the next few months and wouldn’t worry over what the future might bring.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
One week after the blow up with Luke, Maia knocked on Juli’s door. That was Maia’s way. She rarely called, but just came straight over.
Juli opened the door. “I guess Luke told you.”
“Told me what? I wish he would tell me something. He’s stomping around like a thundercloud about to dump torrential rains. The least bit of levity in the showroom and he barks at us. I don’t want him driving Brendan away. I’ve finally got someone who’ll work evenings and weekends, reliably. I’m not losing him.” Maia swept in, speaking sharply, her usual lighthearted chatter nowhere to be heard. She pulled off her jacket and dropped it on the armchair. She put her hands on her hips. “Something has upset him or angered him. I intend to track it down and I’m starting with you.”
She deserved the truth. “Sit down. Please. We have to talk.” Juli walked around the counter and into the kitchen. “Would you like water or tea? Or a cup of coffee?”
“I don’t want anything to drink.”
Juli gave her a warning look. “You will.”
She frowned. “Alright. Whatever you’re having is fine for me.”
Maia settled on one end of the flowered sofa and leaned against the white rattan armrest. Juli put two glasses of iced tea on the glass-topped table in front of them. She added a small dish of sliced lemons, and then went back to the kitchen again for coasters.
“Stop it, Juli. You’re scaring me. Sit down and get it over with.”
Juli didn’t sit. She stood several feet away, not sure why. “I told Luke I’m pregnant.”
Maia frowned again. She pursed her lips. She shook her head. Finally, she raised her hands as if in surrender and said, “Are you?” She clapped her hands to her cheeks. “Of course you are. You wouldn’t lie about it.”
Juli let her sit and stew for a moment. Maia’s eyes traveled down Juli’s mid-section and focused on her abdomen. Juli couldn’t stop herself from touching her slightly bulging belly. She watched Maia’s eyes change as they saw past the camouflage of the loose blouse and the actuality registered with her.
“Please sit down and tell me. I want details.”
Juli didn’t move at first. “It’s Ben’s.”
“You’re at least…” She counted, her fingers moving in alignment with her lips. “You’re at least four months, I’d guess. Not much more, right? And Ben’s been gone for about three and a half months.”