The Strawberry Hearts Diner(54)

“What on earth makes you ask that?”

“A mother can tell when her daughter is lyin’. Something is going on,” Vicky said.

“Okay, okay, I am seeing someone, but I don’t want to jinx it. I’ll tell you all about him this weekend and maybe even introduce you to him,” Emily said. “But only if you and Nettie promise to be nice.”

“Did you meet him at college?”

“Kind of, but I’m not having this conversation on the phone. Good night, Mama,” Emily said. “I will see you and Nettie tomorrow night.”

The phone went dark, and Vicky laid it on the window ledge beside her.

“So?” Nettie asked.

Vicky shook a fist at the ceiling. “Kids can drive you crazy.”

“What’s goin’ on?” Nettie asked. “Is the surgery over? Did I do okay?”

“It’s over, and you did fine. If everything continues like it is, you can go home tomorrow night,” Vicky told her.

“Hit the button to raise me up.”

Vicky pushed one on the side of the bed and raised Nettie to a half-sitting position. “It’s Emily. She admits she has a boyfriend, and I know that Ryder and Shane and probably Jancy already know the whole story. That’s why there’ve been sparks flittin’ around every time they’re all in the room together. She says we might get to meet him this weekend. You ready for this, Nettie? Something down in deep in my gut says she’s serious about this guy.”

“Of course I’m ready,” Nettie said. “I want a drink of water. My mouth feels like it’s got sand in it.”

Vicky circled around the bed and poured a cup full of cold water, stuck a straw in it, and held it up to Nettie’s mouth. After a couple of sips, she waved it away.

“I’m downright scared, Nettie. What if he’s really rich and breaks her heart when he sees that she’s from a little town like Pick and her mama runs a diner?”

“Didn’t she tell us that she wanted to stay in Pick? I bet it’s someone from our area, and besides, a boyfriend does not mean a wedding,” Nettie said with a yawn.

Vicky groaned. “But she’s a small-town girl, not a big-city one. And she is so trusting.”

“Like Shane?”

Vicky fell back into the recliner. “Exactly, only without the stutter.”

“She’s a big girl. Let her make her own mistakes.”

“She’ll get her heart broken,” Vicky said.

Nettie’s eyes fluttered. “Maybe, but it’s her heart and her decision. Just be here to catch her when she falls, like you’ve always been.”

Vicky reached over the rail and patted Nettie on the arm. “I had the best example of that.”

“She’s five years older than you were when you started dating Creed and your mama was crazy with worry about you and that wild boy.” Nettie’s eyes flew open. “I told Thelma then that you had a good head on your shoulders and to trust you. I’ll tell you the same thing today about your daughter.”

“I wanted a different kind of life for her. What if she has fallen for the wrong guy? She’s worked so hard for her education, and she’s so close to getting a degree.”

“What you want and what she wants are two different things,” Nettie said. “Stop worryin’ about what might not even be happenin’. Now, let’s talk about Jancy and Shane. We know that those two are definitely fallin’ for each other. I ain’t never seen that boy look at a girl the way he does her.”

“You got that right.” She sighed.

“Do you wish you’d found someone like Andy Butler instead of Creed Rawlins?” Nettie asked.

“No, because it would have changed the whole course of my life and I might not have Emily. She’s been the biggest ray of sunshine a mother could ask for, even if I’m worried.” Vicky reached for a cookie from a box on the window ledge.

“We can’t none of us change the past. If we could, I wouldn’t have ever married at all. I’d have just slept around and enjoyed the sex,” Nettie said.

“Nettie Fields!” Vicky sputtered.

The old gal was fully awake now, without a doubt. Her shoulders popped up in a shrug, and then she winced. “Ouch. Stitches. That kinda smarted. I always liked sex.” She frowned. “Do you think anyone ever slapped Jancy around like my sorry-ass husband did me?”

“She’s pretty skittish when it comes to trusting,” Vicky said.

“Yes, but she’s got nerves of steel, that one does. I’m surprised she didn’t kill that boyfriend who was stealin’ cars,” Nettie chuckled. “Now, put my bed down. Ain’t no use in either of us frettin’ about what we don’t even know. Let’s get some sleep, and when we wake up, it’ll be the day I get to go home. I’m glad you were here every time I opened my eyes. Only good things I ever did was buy the diner with Thelma and finish raisin’ you and that sweet baby girl you produced. Y’all are my pride and joy,” Nettie said.

“Thank you.” Vicky patted her on the arm. “God only knows I would have been lost without you when I found out I was pregnant. I was glad Mama didn’t ever know, because she would have been so disappointed in me.”

Nettie’s smile turned sad. “Not for long, honey. She adored the ground you walked on. Don’t ever think that she would have lost an ounce of love for you. And she would have spoiled Emily even worse than I did.”