Merritt and Owen sat next to each other with their backs against the kitchen table, facing the large window over the sink. The window framed the streaks of lightning as they flitted across the sky, Merritt and Owen spectators with their own personal viewing. Owen was afraid of storms, which was why Loralee had rushed home when the sky had first started rumbling. She’d imagined him under his bed with a flashlight and a book instead of in the kitchen watching the storm’s impressive light show.
Merritt and Owen each held a glass Coca-Cola bottle, and an opened bag of salted and shelled peanuts sat on the table behind them. Loralee watched as Owen took a sip of his Coke, then sucked in his cheeks for a moment before swallowing. “Wow!” he shouted. “It’s like it just popped in my head. Are there bubbles coming out of my ears?”
Merritt looked at her brother, her face serious. “Not yet. Maybe you need to take another sip.”
Owen shook his head. “It’s your turn. You have to take a big sip, and make sure you get a bunch of peanuts on your tongue.”
Merritt tilted her head back, the Coke bottle to her mouth, and clenched her eyes. After taking the bottle from her face she began chewing and then swallowed, sucking in her cheeks just like Owen. “Wow!” she said, just as loud as Owen. “You’re right. Do I have bubbles coming out of my ears?”
Owen giggled so that he didn’t even notice the flash of light outside, or the roll of thunder that quickly followed, and Loralee was certain that was Merritt’s intention. Just as she was sure that the peanuts and Coke had been Merritt’s idea.
She must have made a noise, because Merritt turned her head and spotted her. Loralee smiled, hoping Merritt knew how thankful she was.
“It’s a real gully-washer outside, that’s for sure,” Loralee said as she shrugged out of her raincoat. She folded it over the back of an empty chair, then slid gratefully onto the seat. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve got to get these boots off my feet. They’re soaked through.”
As she unzipped the first boot, Owen sprang from his chair. “Merritt said she didn’t like storms and wanted company, so we decided to come down to the kitchen together and wait for it to be over. She said when she was little her mama used to say that thunder was just the sound of angels bowling and that lightning happened when one of them made a strike, and that made her not be afraid anymore.” He laughed and took another drink from his bottle.
“That would do it,” she agreed, meeting Merritt’s eyes. Merritt smiled softly before looking away.
Loralee slid off the second boot and wiggled her toes, wishing she didn’t have to stand up ever again.
“You know, Loralee, your feet wouldn’t hurt if you wore sensible shoes. I’ll never understand why you wear those high heels.” Merritt’s serious expression was softened by the small trace of Coke bubbles on her upper lip.
“Maybe you should try them sometime, so you’ll know why so many women wear them.” She imagined Merritt in five-inch Louboutins, strutting about feeling tall, powerful, and sexy, and the thought didn’t make her want to giggle.
Merritt looked at her doubtfully as she slid her chair from the table. “It’s time to get dinner started. I bought three lobsters—I do know how to do that, at least. I thought we could celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?”
“I got a job today. At a small museum in Port Royal. I hadn’t expected to find one in my field so quickly, to be honest. I saw the ad in Sunday’s paper and sent in my résumé. I interviewed today and they hired me on the spot. I guess my degree and work experience really paid off.”
Or maybe they just liked you, Loralee wanted to add. But she knew that Merritt wasn’t good at taking compliments, and Loralee had begun to suspect that it was because she wasn’t used to them.
Merritt continued. “It’s only part-time for now, with not too many hours, but that’s fine until I get more settled here and decide what kind of renovations I want to do to the house.” She bent over one of the lower cabinets where the pots and pans were located and opened it. Without looking at Loralee, she asked, “How’s your job search going?”
“Oh, I’ve sent a few résumés, and while I’ve been out running errands I’ve checked out help-wanted signs in stores. Nothing yet, but I know the right job will come along soon.”
Merritt nodded, her silence meaning only that she was thinking of the next thing she wanted to discuss with Loralee. Eager not to repeat the conversation they’d had regarding Owen’s education and whether Loralee could afford private school, she forced herself to stand, leaning heavily on the table.
“I bought something for you today that I think you’ll enjoy. Don’t worry—it wasn’t expensive. I found it at a garage sale. And if you don’t like it, I’ll sell it on craigslist.”
Merritt eyed her suspiciously. “I hope it’s not clothes. I don’t think you and I share the same taste.”
Loralee bit her lip so she wouldn’t say the first thing that came to mind: Thank goodness for small mercies. “No. But close.” She held out her hand. “Close your eyes—it’s a surprise.”
For a moment Loralee thought Merritt would refuse to take her hand, and maybe she would have if Owen hadn’t been there. After a small hesitation, Merritt put her hand in Loralee’s and allowed herself to be led through the kitchen door.