Charity chuckled. “I know what you mean, honey.”
“Why do we do this to ourselves? The heels, I mean?”
“Beats me sometimes. I suppose it’s to make us feel good about ourselves. I have a love-hate relationship with mine, too.”
Presley Ann chuckled dryly. “I wear them to impress men. Pretty soon I guess my feet won’t even fit in them…and I doubt I’ll be impressing anyone.” Her unfiltered honesty struck Charity as refreshing, despite the devastation that still showed in the dried tear tracks on her cheeks.
Charity smiled and said, “Enjoy them while you can, just be careful until you get something to eat. Your doctor will have the test results at your next appointment.”
Presley Ann turned to her, hesitated, and then held out her hand. “Thank you, Charity.”
Charity shook her hand gently, her heart filled with sympathy. “Hang in there, honey.”
Presley Ann finished up at the reception counter and was gone before Charity realized that she had dropped the juvenile speech affectation she normally used. Charity had thought it was put on but couldn’t understand why. Maybe Grace was right and she was afraid of being an adult, on her own. Considering the situation she was in, how grown up she could be was about to be tested. Parenthood was not for the weak of heart or character.
The afternoon rolled by at a quick pace and soon her workday was over. She pulled out her phone from her purse and checked for messages as she walked out to her car. Nothing new from Justine but there was a message from Justin.
“Hey, babe. Mom and Dad are coming to stay for the weekend. When you get home, pack a bag for a weekend getaway. Nothing fancy. You can pack some sexy lingerie but no guarantees you won’t go naked all weekend.”
“You’re a wicked man…and I love that about you. I’m taking Justine for a little treat after I pick her up at school. Beau will be home after practice. See you soon.”
“Can’t wait. I packed extra lube.”
Charity’s whole body quivered with anticipation as she started her car, pondering what evil uses he’d need extra lube for.
She turned off of Main Street onto the main entrance of Divine High School, home of the Divine Vikings. The line of cars picking up students had begun to dwindle, but there were still plenty of kids milling around the pickup area that was set up with benches and tables. She spotted her dark-haired daughter easily because her nose was buried in a thick book, studying no doubt.
Charity smiled, pride filling her. Justine had plans to one day be an interpreter and planned to learn as many languages as she could while she went to college. She had major goals and she pushed herself hard to achieve them.
Charity smiled again when she saw Beau get up from the table Justine sat at, along with a fellow classmate of his, evidently having spotted her car. Justine looked up for a moment, smiled at them, and nodded before quickly burying her nose in the text again. Beau was protective of Justine and would’ve sat with her while she waited for their mom before heading over to basketball practice. He’d always been protective of his bookish little sister and would’ve stayed with her, despite the fact she was studying.
Beau and his friend were talking and Charity removed her sunglasses and squinted, trying to get a good look at who he was associating with because she didn’t recognize the tall teenager.
“Who in the heck is that?”
He was tall and tan, had longish dark hair that nearly reached his shoulders and wore a baseball cap. He turned back to Justine at the last second, said something to her, and grinned before loping off on extraordinarily long, muscular legs after Beau.
“Good lord. Is he a teacher or a coach?”
He turned one last time and yelled something at her as he pulled his cap off to smooth his jet-black hair back before yanking it back on his head. He laughed when she buried her nose even deeper in the book and waved at him without looking. Beau frowned at him and whacked him in the chest when he drew close to him. The guy just grinned and Charity saw the smile Justine hid after a second.
“Wait a minute!” She knew that grin. She knew that kid. “Holy crap!” she shouted, startling herself with how loud she sounded, and was glad the windows weren’t down. “That’s Noah Cassidy? Fu—fudge!”
She took out her phone and dialed Grace’s cell phone and got voice mail. “Hey, sis. It’s me. It finally happened. I’m a dirty cougar. That’s all. Have a great evening!”
Noah Cassidy had been coming over to their house since he and Beau were in kindergarten. He’d gone on camping trips with their family, spent the night at their house, and helped build the outgrown treehouse in their backyard.