The Devine Doughnut Shop(70)

Beezy opened up a suitcase and peeled out of her slacks and shirt. She removed a long, flowy dress and slipped it over her head. “Beer and pizza is good. Let’s take it to the beach. Y’all can take turns filling me in on what happened at the school. I know it’s got something to do with Carlita and Lisa’s girls, but for the first time in history, they aren’t spreading gossip. The only thing they’ve said is that Audrey got them in trouble.”

Grace looked down at Beezy’s shoes. “You can’t get sand between your toes in those.”

Beezy sat down on the sofa and removed her sneakers. “I hope I won’t need these the whole time I’m here.”

“Maybe not for most of the time,” Grace said with a smile.

“Get that pizza and beer and tell me what’s going on that I have to wear shoes at all while we walk down to that lovely beach,” Beezy said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Grace said with a salute. She picked up a six-pack of beer with one hand and the pizza box with the other. Just having Beezy there seemed to add another layer to the happiness of their vacation.

“I earned the title of Bossy Beezy when I was a little girl, and I will exercise it whenever I want,” she said with a giggle. “God, it’s good to be here with y’all. This is my idea of a real vacation—and, honey, I love this place. Now, talk to me about the other times when shoes are necessary.”

Grace led the way out to the patio, locked the sliding glass door behind them, and tucked the room key into her pocket. “We are all going to dinner at some place called the Perfect Pig tomorrow night for supper. Travis Butler will be picking all of us up at six thirty.”

“The Travis Butler who wants to buy your shop and/or your land?” Beezy asked. “Won’t he take no for an answer?”

“He’s already taken a few noes, but he’s coming down here to see me,” Grace answered. “Maybe it’s just to try to sweet-talk me into some kind of deal—and if it is, tomorrow night will be the only time I see him.”

“I don’t know anything about the man, but you be careful, girl. Remember what Sarah and Macy just went through,” Beezy warned. “Ira, Claud, and Frankie aren’t always the savviest fellers, God bless ’em.”

“I will be careful,” Grace said. “I’m glad we’re all going to supper together. I want all of you to give me your first impressions of him. Especially before I go out with him alone—that’s saying that he ever asks me out for a second date.”

“Oh, honey, you know you’ll get mine, and I will be honest. I don’t ever want you to have to suffer again like you did when Justin broke your heart,” Beezy said as she went down a couple of wooden steps and then out onto the sand. “This is as white and as fine as sugar. I guess that’s where they get the name for the motel.”

Before Grace could answer, Macy and Audrey raced across the beach to see who could reach Beezy first. Audrey won by several yards and wrapped Beezy up in a fierce hug, then took a step back for Macy to get her hug.

“I’m so glad you made it,” Audrey said. “I know it’s only been a few days since we’ve seen you, but it seems like forever. It’s like time stands still in this place. I could stay right here forever.”

“You’re going to love it here, Beezy.” Macy took Beezy by the hand and led her toward the rented chaise longues. “We’ve only been here one night, and we’re already planning to come back during Raelene’s Christmas break. We rented chaise longues for the whole time so we could have our chairs all close together, and we got you one as soon as we heard you were on the way. Sarah and Raelene should be back soon. They went for a jog down the beach.”

Beezy eased down into one of the loungers. “Okay, Audrey, while I eat, you can give me the real story behind why y’all were able to get out of school and come here. All I’ve heard is that you got Carlita and Lisa’s daughters in trouble. Those two may explode because they can’t spread gossip.”

“If they did, folks would find out the truth about Crystal and Kelsey,” Audrey told Beezy. “I was kind of an idiot, but Raelene helped me see what kind of mean girls I was running around with—and worse yet, letting control me.” She went on to tell Beezy the whole story and ended with the fight in school. By the time she had finished, Raelene and Sarah had returned.

Sarah hugged Beezy, twisted the top off a beer, and took a long drink. “Add all that to the mess Macy and I’ve been through, and you can understand why we all needed this time away.”

“I’m glad that y’all were able to leave for a while. I need to get away from Devine right now, too.” Beezy finished off a slice of pizza and opened a beer for herself. “We don’t see each other every day, but knowing you weren’t there . . .” She took a long drink. “Well, you’ve always been there, just like your mamas, and I didn’t like the feeling of not being able to pop into the shop or your house whenever I wanted.”

“Plus, all the drama was driving you up the walls, right?” Grace asked.

“Oh, yes it was,” Beezy agreed. “Raelene, I want to thank you for fighting for Audrey and not letting that spoiled brat cut her face all up.”

“You are welcome. But like I told Grace, it’s what you do for family,” Raelene said with a smile.