Surviving Broken(98)
She rushed down the narrow pathway laid between the tall palm trees. Crested small hill, she stopped. “Shit.”
JC didn’t know what expect, but one thing was certain: her mother always came home with a lack of tan lines. Shielding her eyes from possible nudity, she ambled on, keeping her gaze on the sand beneath her feet. When the roof of the bungalow came in to sight, she called out, “Momma?”
No answer.
JC set her purse on a teakwood table under a vibrant red umbrella. The glass doors of the bungalow recessed fully into the walls, exposing it to the outdoors. She peeked inside, calling out for them. Scanning out over the glimmering lagoon, she noticed two snorkels bobbing above the clear turquoise water. “Just great.”
She huffed with an eye roll, noticing what appeared to be two very tan bodies.
Lifting the umbrella from the hole in the center of the table, JC grabbed two towels hanging on the back of the chairs and tucked them under her arm. Avoiding the view, she strolled down to the beach where two low lounge chairs sank into the soft white powder. She tossed the towels near the lagoon’s edge and turned one of the chairs around, shoving the metal pole deep into the warm sand.
“They should notice this!” She settled into lounge chair and waited.
Thirty minutes passed before she heard voices of unhappy concern coming from the lagoon. “Hey! Who’s here?” Tom shouted gruffly.
JC stood, keeping her back to the water, waving her hand in the air. “It’s me!” she yelled. “There’s two towels by the water!”
“JC?” her mom hollered, distress saturating her tone. The sloshing of the water quickened. “What’s wrong, baby girl? Is something wrong?”
Tom and Tess tramped up the beach, coming to her side, dripping wet with towels wrapped around them. Nerves got the best of her and waterworks flowed. Unable to speak, she shook her head. “No, nothing’s wrong.”
Tom guided both women by the elbow toward the table, returning the umbrella to its designated spot. Tess draped her arm over JC’s shoulder with a tender squeeze, wiping the falling drops of wetness from her chin. “JC, what’s wrong?”
JC sniffled. “Reed asked me to marry him.”
Tess’s eyebrows rose in shock to a defining point. “Oh! Holy crap!”
“Oh shit,” Tom mumbled, pulling out chairs from around the table, encouraging them to sit. “You answered no? I thought for sure—”
“No! I didn’t answer!”
Tess’s mouth gaped open, wrenching her back in surprise. “You didn’t answer?”
JC’s stomach burned with nausea, suddenly feeling as if she’d done something horribly wrong. Her chin quivered and she started bawling, burying her face in her hands. “I wanted to say yes.”
Tom disappeared into the bungalow. He returned wearing shorts with a bottle of wine and three glasses. “I thought for sure you were going to say yes,” he admitted with a deep groove notched between his brows, handing JC a glass.
Tess flung around, her mouth hanging open further in dismay. “You knew about this?”
Tom tossed her a haughty smile then floundered, “Ah…well yes. I did know. But I gave him my word I wouldn’t say anything.” He shrugged. “Who knew? I never imagined in my wildest dreams it’d get this far. I thought the poor man was dreaming. But I had a great feeling about Reed. He seemed like a good guy, honest, bold and crazy about you, so yes, I gave him my blessing.”
Tess whacked him in the shoulder.
“Ouch,” he laughed. “Ultimately it’s JC’s decision anyway.”
Tess pointed her finger at Tom. “I’ll deal with you later.” Focusing on JC, she questioned, “It’s obvious you’re in love, baby, and if you wanted to say yes then why—”
“Because I need to ask you something,” she blurted. “I have questions for both of you. I couldn’t answer without knowing.”
“Questions? Okay. Ask away. What do you need to know?” Tess leaned forward, resting her forearm on the table and Tom scooted his chair forward, getting closer in on the conversation.
Both of them stared at her, anxiously waiting. JC gulped her wine, entwining her fingers around her mothers. “Let’s take a walk, Momma.”
Tess stood and glanced at Tom, who looked completely dejected. A small teasing smile curved at the corner of her lips. “I guess you’re not invited. Let me change.”
Tom relaxed back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest glumly, unhappy about being left out. Tom loved it when the whole family gathered in on discussions or when one of them called him for help or advice.