Page 56 of Screwed
The doorbell rang again as she dragged on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Hair and makeup was out of the question. She jogged down the stairs, her heart beating in fast pumps, her breathing quick and shallow. She peeked through the sidelight and saw her mother standing on the doorstep.
Sweet hopscotching Jesus. Shethunkedher head against the wall.
Mama knocked on the door. “Callie!”
Callie heard Cash’s heavy steps on the staircase as she reached for the deadbolt and slowly opened the door. Heart palpitating, mouth dry, she glanced anxiously over her shoulder to make sure Cash wasn’t there as she opened the door. “Good morning, Mama. What a nice surprise.”
Her mother stepped into the foyer, looking cool and elegant in a silk dress, pearls, and heels. “Why weren’t you in church this morning, young lady?”
Callie sighed. “It’s Sunday?”
“Callie! You haven’t been to church once since you got back from your trip.”
She flicked a glance behind her again. “I know. I’m sorry.” For Mama, church was another social opportunity. She and Daddy belonged to Garden Oaks Baptist Church, and she was sure they attended services more for the prestige of belonging to that church and the social and business networking opportunities than to satisfy their spiritual needs. “I’ve been praying, though.”
Right now she was praying that Cash would stay hidden. She sucked briefly on her bottom lip, all her senses alert, her stomach fluttering.
Mama shook her head and gave Callie an up-and-down look. “I apparently came at a bad time. Whose truck is that in the driveway?”
Callie smoothed her hair back and swallowed.
“Mine.” Cash spoke behind her. “Mornin’, Mrs. Sutherland. You look lovely today.”
Callie’s heart gave a kick against her breastbone. She and Mama both turned to see Cash stroll out of the kitchen drying his hands on a towel.
Mama blinked and shot Callie a sideways glance, then quickly recovered and smiled. “Why, hello, Cash. And thank you.”
“Callie had a leaky tap. All fixed, by the way.” He threw a charming grin her way. “Anything else you need looked after while I’m here?”
“Um.” Her head was a vacuum, her nerves jumping. “I don’t think so.”
“Okay. I’ll be on my way, then. You call if you need anything else, you hear?” He handed her the towel. “Nice to see you again, Mrs. Sutherland.”
Callie nodded in dumbfounded silence, and Mama’s gaze tracked him as he walked out the front door with a wave. Her fingers trembled on the doorknob as she closed the door behind Cash.
“Callie, what are you thinking?”
Her insides seized up. “What do you mean?”
“Looking like that with Beau’s friend here. Your hair’s a mess, you have no makeup on, and…what are you wearing?”
Callie touched her tangled hair. “Oh. Um. Right.”
Mama’s eyes narrowed. “Callie. What are you doing?”
“What am I doing?” Callie whirled and hurried into her kitchen to hide her burning cheeks. “I’m making coffee, that’s what I’m doing. Because I slept late, and I…I had that leaky tap…and I need coffee. Would you like a cup of coffee, Mama?”
“No, thank you.” Mama followed, her high heels tapping on the kitchen tiles. “We had lunch with the Wyatts after church.”
“Ah.” Callie gripped the counter, her back to her mother. “Well, if you’re here worried about my eternal damnation, you can see I’m fine.”
“If you’re on your way to burning in everlasting hellfire, it might not be just because you’re not going to church.”
She sucked in a breath. “What do you mean?”
“The Wyatts were at a wedding last night. The Walden-Bishop nuptials.”
“Oh.”
