Scarlett Rose's Arc

Chapter 32 of 57

Scarlett hung up with Rose on the sidewalk outside the cedar street house. The doctor wanted her tomorrow. Clayton was already driving. That meant she had to tell Aunt Lorraine tonight that she wasn't staying the full week. She walked back slowly. She had come for seven days. It had been four. Aunt Lorraine had cleared a drawer for her, bought crackers in three flavors, and read aloud from a storybook the first night like Scarlett was still eight. Cutting the visit short felt like taking back a gift already opened. Inside, Aunt Lorraine was on the couch in her pink cardigan, a paperback open on her lap. She looked up over her round glasses. "You look pale again," she said. "Sit down." Scarlett sat on the ottoman. She put her hands flat on her knees. "The doctor's office called the cottage," Scarlett said. "They want me in tomorrow. Clayton's already on the road to come get me." Aunt Lorraine closed the paperback on her finger to hold the page. "I'm sorry," Scarlett said. "I know I said a week. I wanted a week. I just —" "Scarlett." Scarlett stopped. Aunt Lorraine set the book aside. She leaned forward and took Scarlett's face in both hands. Her palms smelled like the hand cream she kept on the kitchen sill. She pressed a kiss to Scarlett's forehead and held it a second longer than a kiss usually lasted. "Okay, my dear," she said. "I love you. You keep me posted on those babies. And you don't hesitate to call if you need anything. Day or night." Scarlett's eyes filled. "That's it?" "That's it." Aunt Lorraine sat back. "I had you four days I wasn't going to get. That's four more than I planned on Monday." Scarlett breathed out for what felt like the first time all afternoon. She had braced for a wounded silence, for the pink slippers scuffing off down the hall. Instead her aunt patted her knee and stood up. "Now," Aunt Lorraine said, "go pack. I'll wrap you some banana bread for the truck. That man of yours drove all day, he'll want something in his hand." Scarlett went to the guest room and opened the drawer. The lace nightgown was already back in the suitcase. She folded the blouse on top. She left the storybook Aunt Lorraine had read from on the nightstand, so there'd be a reason to come back. Her phone buzzed on the dresser. Clayton. "Two hours out," he said. "You ready?" "I'm ready." She looked at the open suitcase. "She wasn't upset. She kissed my forehead and told me to call." "Good woman." "Drive careful." "Always do." She hung up and zipped the bag. Tomorrow was the doctor. Tonight was the truck, the road home, and whatever the doctor had called about that couldn't wait three more days.