"Either way, it's definitely something to think about. She's just so kind to me. It's almost like she's not even human."
Missy snorted. "I bet she's perfectly human, but you're just not accustomed to being treated the way you should be treated. Let's face it: you and Shelly should have broken up a long time ago. Everyone saw it. I know you thought that you were able to keep up a facade that people couldn't see through, but there was just no warmth between you."
Bette felt as if somebody had punched her right in the stomach. The air puffed out of her quickly. No one had ever told her. "Are you serious? You could tell?"
They were interrupted once more when their food arrived. Missy thanked the young waiter, winking at him and thoroughly embarrassing Bette. He took it in stride, laughing casually and telling them to let him know if they needed anything else.
Leaning forward, Bette lightly scolded Missy. "You've got to stop doing that!"
Missy's look said she didn't see anything wrong with it. "You only live once, Bette. He doesn't seem to mind, and if flirting with that young man makes me feel a little happy, then what's the problem?"
Indeed, what was the problem? Did it hurt anything? At the graduation party, she had been hesitant to talk about what Kerrie did for a living, and she had stopped Kerrie from mentioning her alcoholism to Shelly. At what point would she stop caring what others thought? On more than one occasion, she had worried others would see her relationship with Kerrie as moving too fast or beneath her. After all, they had only known each other for a few months, and she was fresh out of a 20-year marriage.
Bette focused on her taco salad as she mulled it over. She really liked Kerrie. They got along great, and she brought out feelings in Bette that she hadn't felt in forever. So, if their feelings matched up, what did time have to do with anything?
"Missy?"
The dark-haired woman was busily cutting up her carne asada, shoving a piece in her mouth. She chewed it while motioning for Bette to continue.
"Do you think I'm moving too fast?"
It took a moment for her to finish chewing and swallowing. "I don't think it matters what I think or what anyone else does if she makes you happy. You deserve to be happy regardless of the time."
"I just got a divorce. Doesn't that look awful?"
"I mean, yeah, you were married, but when was the last time you and Shelly were actually a couple? If the two of you have just been roommates for the last few years, then why do you have to wait to start your life when you'd already had it on hold and had gotten over the relationship?"
Bette nodded slowly, taking a sip of her margarita. That's true. She had mourned the loss of their relationship years ago, and then they fell into a comfortable routine. It was almost like she had been single, and now she was starting to date again. "I think you're right. If Kerrie makes me happy, why not be happy?"
Chapter 24
Kerrie took a sip of her sweet tea, bobbing her head to herself at its sweet taste. "Kenny, you've outdone yourself on the tea this week."
"Yep, I did," he agreed, nodding his head. They were sitting in their respective recliners watching a rerun of SpongeBob. Kenny was a huge fan of Mr. Krabs.
One of Kenny's chores around the house was making the sweet tea they had with meals throughout the week. Every Sunday evening, he reminded Kerrie that he needed to make the sweet tea. Kerrie would boil the water and help Kenny count out the amount of tea bags that were needed for the large pitcher. Once the boiling water was done, Kenny would carefully drop the bags into the pot. He would then go over to the windowsill where a timer sat. Kerrie had marked the spot needed for him to turn the dial to start the timer. Kenny couldn't read, but he could match things up. He knew to take the dial and turn it until it went to the red line that she had put on it. Once that was done, he would carefully scoop two large cups of sugar from the sugar canister and put them into the pitcher. After scooping out the tea bags, Kerrie would transfer the tea to the pitcher. Kenny was diligent about making sure the tea was done. He took his chores seriously. His other chores were to empty the bathroom trash can and remind Kerrie to take it to the curb on Wednesday. And every day, he would check the mail.
Kerrie glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that it was getting to be about 9:15. She was surprised that Bette hadn't arrived home yet, but just as she thought that, she noticed car lights pull into the driveway.
"Bette's home," observed Kenny, rocking back and forth lightly in his recliner.
Kerrie nodded. "Do you think she had fun at dinner?"
"I bet she did."
At 9:30, Kenny announced that he was ready for bed. He rarely stayed up late, and Kerrie had been surprised that he was still awake. Her brother enjoyed his sleep, even if it was sometimes interrupted, which meant sometimes hers was too.
As she helped Kenny go up the stairs to his bedroom, she rubbed her chest at the tightness within it. She chalked it up to indigestion. It had been chili dog night, and she had been a little heavy-handed on the diced jalapeños.
Kenny's nightly routine was usually the same. His medication consisted of a cocktail of 12 pills. She helped him out of his T-shirt because he liked to sleep without one on, tucked him into bed, helped him take his glasses off and put them on the bedside table, and turned off his light. Most nights, she didn't use the baby monitor on his nightstand, but she wasn't sure if she would be staying in the upper part of the house or going down to Bette's.
"I'm going to turn your monitor on, okay? I may go down to Bette's apartment, but I'm not sure. If you need me, just call out, and I'll hear you."
"Okay, Kerrie. I love you."
"I love you too, bud."
She made sure he was settled once more and then left the room after turning on his nightlight and turning off his overhead light.
