Southern Belles, a Novel About Love, Purpose & Second Chances (9781310340970) (23 page)

“Let’s get you home. Mrs. Megan will be
unhappy with me if I keep you out too late young lady.”

“Okay, I am kind of tired after all that
stretching. My body feels pretty good now—I think I got most of my
gas out too.”

“Man are you telling me—I thought I was
going to pass out.” CeCe giggled.

Letting out a small chuckle, I turned
towards CeCe, “Thank you, by the way, for coming with me tonight. I
know this was not on your list of most exciting things to do.”

“Girlfriend, you are always on my list of
people to do the most exciting things with. Where ever you are,
there’s life…and that’s where I want to be.”

“I love you Ce! You are the bestest friend a
girl could have!”

“Awe, that’s enough sap for tonight. I love
you too—no more crying, I don’t want to mess up my mascara,
lady.”

“You’re a softy under all that tough girl
stuff.” I said, leaning back into my seat.

“Whatever—just don’t tell anyone.” She
exaggeratingly pursed her lips as she put the car into drive and
headed towards my house.

Chapter 14: Lucy Grace and a Side of
Grits

Today
was going to be a long day; I had to work a double at the diner. At
least I was done with school for the semester. I’d be off of school
until the fall, taking a semester to focus on baby Lucy. I was due
in one week and was more than ready to be done being pregnant. It
was almost June and hotter than hell. I felt like a whale swollen
from the heat and swallowed up by my skin; I was puffy everywhere.
I mean everywhere. I couldn’t see beyond my belly button, which now
looked like a very large third nipple. Megan reassured me the
protruding nipple was normal and that my belly button would return
to normal after Lucy was born. She laughed and compared it to a
turkey timer—like the kind that pops up out of the turkey when it’s
done cooking.

CeCe finished the school year and had come
home a week earlier. She’d hang out with me after I got off work in
the evenings. Shortly before the diner closed for the day, she’d
come and talk to Trudy and the other diner staff, taking full
advantage of the left over fries and sweet-talking the cooks to add
cheese to them. CeCe was happy to be home before her first trip to
France. She had always dreamed of going to Paris but wished she
wasn’t going for the whole summer—so she could be with me and
Lucy.

It was getting harder to carry the platters
at the diner, especially when they were full. Trudy always offered
to help but I felt bad about having to ask when we got busy. And
now all the college kids were back from school and so it seemed we
were busy from morning to night with the regulars and the kids with
nothing to do but hang out. If I had any pride it was most
certainly gone by now as I heard whispers and caught some of my
former classmates eyeing my very large belly. I was just glad CeCe
wasn’t at the diner during those times or she would have had a fine
time starring back and making a spectacle in my defense. Gotta love
that girl, I thought to myself as I prepared the silverware for the
day, shortly before dawn.

“Are we ready to put the open sign on?”
Trudy asked as she wiped off the counter.

“I think so.” I added putting the
napkin-wrapped silverware into the tubs on the shelf.

“You feeling okay today?” She asked.

“Yeah, I’m feeling pretty good despite
looking like the Michelin man.”

“You are so silly! You are a stick with a
low-hanging basketball. By the way, you looked like you dropped. I
meant to tell you that yesterday.”

“What does that mean?” I asked
curiously.

“It means it looks like Lucy is getting
ready to pop out any day now.”

“That would be nice but I’m not due for
another week and my mother said we were all at least a week or more
late.” I sighed stretching my neck and back out.

“Well, if you start to feel funny—you let me
know. Also, no more carrying the trays—I hired a bus boy last week
and he’s starting today. He will carry your trays and clean up the
tables.”

“Oh, okay. That’s great.”

“Char, I mean it. You feel funny, you let me
know. You could go any day now and you probably don’t want Lucy to
be born sunny side up at the diner—do you?”

I laughed, “Preferably not. Besides, I’m not
sure if my doula makes diner calls unless you make her a chocolate
milkshake.”

“I’m serious Char.” Trudy said, starring me
down.

“Okay, I got it.”

That morning was super busy. It was non-stop
customer after customer which was good for the tips but taxing on
my body. I had been on my feet for five hours already and decided
to take a break before the crazy lunch hour herd came in. I had my
favorite— cheesy fries and a chocolate milkshake with loads of whip
cream and two maraschino cherries. It was so yummy and Lucy seemed
to agree.

“Hey there pretty lady.” I heard a
wonderfully familiar voice call out from behind me.

I turned around to see CeCe. “Hi there
lady—what are you doing here so early?”

“Well, I was bored and figured I’d come by
for some lunch. My mom wants me to go shopping with her later and
I’m not sure what time we’ll get back, but I’ll stop at your house
when we do.”

“That sounds fun!” I said licking my
milkshake covered spoon.

“Yeah, I could use some new outfits for
summer. I think she missed me a little.”
“She has CeCe. She just doesn’t seem like her usually high-strung
self at mass.”

“I guess that’s a form of love.”

“CeCe, CeCe.” I started to say as I heard
the door open abruptly with the bell ringing loudly followed by
familiar, obnoxious female voices.

We turned to see Veronica Sweetly and
several other girls from high school, along with a few new faces,
laughing and talking.

“Oh my gosh—I don’t want to see her today.”
I said, hoping she didn’t see me as I quickly turned back around to
my milkshake.

“That blonde twit drives me nuts.” CeCe
scowled. “I don’t know what Richie sees in her other than her fake
boobs.”

“Oww!” I said as my stomach suddenly knotted
up sharply.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just had a weird sharp pain all of
a sudden in my lower belly.”

“You might be in labor Char.” CeCe said
looking concerned.

“No, I’m fine. It’s gone now and I’m not due
yet. Besides I have to get back to work but I wish I could hide
instead.”

“Why?”

“Ughh, I don’t want to see Veronica or any
other girls from school. I don’t want them to say anything about my
belly.”

“Just pretend she’s not here and if she says
anything, I’ll introduce my palm to her face.” CeCe said sternly,
giving Veronica the stink eye.

“I’d love to but she’s sitting in my
section. I have to go take their orders. I feel a little sick.”

“Maybe you should go home.” CeCe
suggested.

“I can’t Trudy needs me—we are too
short-staffed today. I’ll make it through.” I said, feeling another
little sharp jab in my lower belly.

“Are you sure you’re okay Char?” CeCe
frowned.

“Yes, it’s probably just more gas.”

“Well, I’ll just go find a little seat maybe
next to Veronica and her posse to keep an eye on her.”

“Okay, it’ll be fine.”

I pulled the order pad out from my small
black apron and slowly wobbled towards Veronica’s table. Out of the
corner of my eye I saw CeCe heading for the table directly behind
Veronica. Just before reaching the table I felt another strange
sudden pain stretch across my belly before it subsided.

“Hi ladies, hi Veronica.” I said in the most
cheerfully fake voice I could muster up.

“Charlotte Renee—what happened? You look
like you gained the freshman fifty.” Veronica said in a sickly nice
yet counterfeit tone in front of her plastic Barbie-like
followers.

“Hmm, no that would be the fishbowl she
accidently swallowed.” I heard from behind her.

“I’m pregnant Veronica and due in about a
week.”

“That’s strange Richie didn’t mention that
you got knocked up.”

“No, it’s my personal life—he’s pretty
respectful in not gossiping about me or other people. What can I
get for you ladies to drink?” I asked, trying to end the
conversation from going any further and keep CeCe from flying over
the booth and strangling Veronica.

“I’d like a diet Coke,” Veronica smiled in
an arrogant way.

I took the rest of their drink orders and
disappeared towards the bus station to gather their beverages. I
began loading up their drinks when I felt another sharp pain and
movement in my lower abdomen. I quickly grabbed my belly as this
pain tightened across my entire belly and was more intense than the
others. I couldn’t be in labor, I thought, it would hurt a lot more
than this. This felt like the cramps I got on the first few days of
my period. I picked the tray back up and headed towards the girls
table feeling a little perturbed by Veronica’s insolence.

“I think we’re ready to order now too.”
Veronica said as I handed out the drinks.

“What would you like?”

“Hmm, I want breakfast. Can I get breakfast
still?” She asked nonchalantly.

“You can get whatever you’d like my dear?” I
said in a bubbly voice.

“Okay, I would like two eggs over easy, with
grits on the side and wheat toast. Please make sure they don’t put
butter on the toast. This girl’s got a body to keep up.” Veronica
smiled as she handed me her menu.

“Absolutely, you don’t want your boobs to
get any bigger.” I said, before quickly turning to the other girls
at the table for their orders.

That felt a little good, I thought to
myself, as I took the rest of the orders and got away from that
caddy table as soon as I could. I usually wasn’t rude and
definitely not as outspoken as CeCe but that girl, for once, was
starting to get on my nerves. I could see why she drove CeCe
nuts.

“Order in.” I yelled as I put their ticket
up. “Oh and this one needs extra butter.” I said, pointing to
Victoria’s wheat toast.

I headed back over to CeCe for a few minutes
while the order was being made. Victoria’s group was the only table
so far in my section.

“She’s such a you know what—but I won’t say
it because I’m a lady.” CeCe whispered.

“Since when?” I asked smiling.

“Oh miss, can you get me another sweet tea
please?” I heard one of the girls say behind us.

“Sure, coming right up.” I yelled. “I’ll be
back, CeCe.”

I made my way over to the counter again.

“Isn’t that Veronica over there?” Trudy
asked.

“Yes it is and she is as pleasant as never.”
I said, filling up her friend’s cup with ice.

“Her boobs look even bigger than last time.
She looks like Dolly Parton’s younger sister. Doesn’t she?”

Trying to hold in the giggles and pee I
answered, “Yeah I noticed that too.”

“Too bad they can’t do brain implants, she
could use one.” Trudy snickered.

“Order’s up.” One of the cooks hollered.

“Wow! That was fast Jimmy! Good job!”

“Thanks Char—oh and I put extra butter on
the wheat just like you asked.”

“You’re so good to me.” I said as I suddenly
felt another sharp-tightening pain on my abdomen.

“Char, let the bus boy carry that tray—you
should not be carrying or lifting anything heavy like that.” Trudy
demanded from behind the counter.

“I’ve got it. It’s okay. I’ll ask him for
help if I need it. Can you hand me a butter dish please.” I said
with my tray all loaded and ready to go.

“Here you go.” Trudy said, frowning at me
with disapproval for carrying the tray.

“Thanks. I’m okay, really.”

I turned and trudged towards Veronica’s
table while CeCe looked onward. The girls were all busy talking,
probably about their summer plans or all the fun they were going to
have.

“Okay ladies…” I started to say as I felt a
sudden and stumbling pain attack my body, causing me to drop the
tray on their table abruptly.

“Oh my God—you put grits in my hair!”
Veronica scowled from behind her grit-covered face and hair. “You
idiot!”

“Char, are you okay? Let me help you.” CeCe
offered from behind as she picked up a dishtowel from the bus
station nearby and walked over to us.

“Are you hurting?” CeCe asked as she placed
the wet dishtowel on Victoria’s hair and started rubbing vigorously
to mop up the grits.

“Get out of my hair! Now!” I heard Victoria
scream as my attention turned quickly downward—towards an
unexpected gush from below.

“Eww! My feet and legs are soaking wet,”
shrieked one of the girls followed by Victoria’s grousing of
wetness on her shoes.

“Trudy put your girls in check!” Victoria
demanded as she came swiftly over to me.

“I told you not to carry those trays—are you
okay Char?”

“I don’t know, I think I just wet myself.
And I think I might be having contractions.”

She looked at me and the pool of fluid
surrounding myself and the floor under the table as the girls
continued to moan and complain. “I think your water broke Char—we
need to get you to the hospital right away,” Trudy urged.

“Her water broke?” Victoria asked disgusted.
“Oh my God, you peed on our feet!”

“I will take her to the hospital.” CeCe
instructed, “Trudy can you call her mom and tell her we’re on our
way to the hospital?”

“I sure will; don’t worry Char, you’ll be
okay.” Trudy said as she hugged me.

“Is somebody going to help us?” Victoria
said indignantly as CeCe and Trudy were focused on helping me to
the door towards CeCe’s car. “Hello, somebody?” Victoria raised her
voice, stomping her foot in the puddle of amniotic fluid, causing
her to slip and fall in my slimy mess.

The last thing I remember hearing as we
neared the car was Victoria screaming in repulsion, followed by,
“Oh my God, Oh my God!”