Catching up
Bethany felt free now she handled the missing persons problem and was considered alive again by legal standards. No more fake identification no more running. But now she had to buckle down. Axel would be home in a month and she wanted to have half of the wedding planning done and the engagement party arranged. She knew it was foolish to set a date with our a venue was secured . Venues were important to have parties .
Axel was being optimistic about turning her engagement party into a double surprise wedding. Why not if all their friends and family was going to attend it might as well be entertaining. Axel was hopelessly romantic like that. He even jumped ahead of where they were going to live. Bethany was always the planner in things and Axel he figured it out along the way. They were almost like polar opposites in the methods of handling life.
Today Bethany was securing a venue . It was going to be in a small barn area that opens up into meadows of flowers and an open bar. She had just put a deposit on it . And had ordered the flowers to be classic and traditional . Sure they could have eloped and just be done with it ,but she felt like she would rob sunny from a rite of passage .
Every little girl should see a full blown traditional wedding once in their life. Axel push more for the big wedding since he roped sunny into helping him with the proposal without Bethany knowing about it Bethany grew sad as she realized she really didn't have anyone to invite on her side other than her tenants and she really wish Norma -jean was hear to give her sage advice and see her off like a real mother to her daughter on her wedding day.
She realized she was missing out on a lot of things the way her life was panning out since she had been on the run. She couldn't invite Ryder or Roger . All her closest friends betrayed her. She felt utterly.alone at this mment. Bethany shook those thought as she tried to think more positive.
It was all coming together. Her lawyer was drawing up papers for her prenuptials. Bethany left the flower shop ordering white roses and babies breath as centerpieces. She was due to pick up her dress next week she had made a month ago. She shook her head how eager Axel wanted to get married. But to be honest he had always loved her even in college. Her and Axel was best of friends in college. She remembered him always being nice to her and he was always patient with her no matter what time of day or night she needed him to study for finals or upcoming midterms. Axel was always there for her .
She wish she could have seen it before how sweet he was but she was planning a future with Gregory . Bethany wasn't the greatest at noticing things right in front of her. She was only focused on things she wanted to see not the entire parifial landscape. But Axel loving her hit her hard. It was easy to love him. Before family aspirations and ambitions made the dating scene more political alliances rather than a true love match.
Axel was a love match. They fell into each other like they always needed each other. Axel was strong as hard . Straight forward thinking. As Bethany was soft and gentle and gentle how she saw things. Two different personalities to make up one union.
" Samantha is that you. " She heard a loud twangy voice bellow out louder than she wanted to hear. Bethany froze as she wondered if she ignored them they think she didn't hear them and could walk away.
Wanda and Sandra came into Bethany's view. The look of fright plastered on her face. She thought shit no not now. Wanda hugged her in a bear hug as tight as she could. It was too late to disappear she had been spotted.
" Hi." Waved Bethany awkwardly.
" Where the hell did you go. One day you stopped showing up and your house was sold. We all were talking about it in our coo sessions . " Explained Wanda now taking Sunny in.
" Oh my word is this sunshine. " Asked Wanda as Sunny snapped her head up at the mention of her name. " She has gotten so big and look at those eyes." She said pinching Sunny's cheeks as Sunny pulled away from the woman's hands .
Sandra glared at Bethany as Wanda boasted and grabbed on.
" What the matter Samantha you look like you've seen a ghost." Chimed in Sandra .
" I'm sorry I forgot myself. I didn't expect to see you two all the way down here. It's so far away from that small town." She confirmed.
" Didn't you know Sandra here and I opened a bakery up in these neck of the woods. Small town living wasn't paying the bills. Plus Sandra going through a separation." Included Wanda as Sandra eyes went wide.
" Oh I'm glad for you. For the bakery not the separation." Bethany clarified.
" What's the name of your bakery?" She said as she arrived in front of the pastry tasting appointment. The two women smiled.
" Well you are here aren't you. We were just headed in for our cake testing appointment." She said as Bethany's face turn white in realization. Their bakery was her appointment.
" Okay ladies there is something I need to tell you. " Bethany racked her brain to see how she could get out of this situation.
" I know you used a fake name to do book reviews. It's okay to keep personal and professional life out of the lime light. " Said Sandra. Bethany froze not knowing what to do next.
" I recognized your voice when we made your reservation for today. I was looking forward to seeing my old friend today " smiled Sandra .
Bethany didn't know to be relieved or worried Sandra kept tabs on her. Wanda didn't look to accepting of their findings .
" I didn't know how to explain it without ruining my position. It was easier to review books incognito. " Bethany said playing on words as she read the women's faces .
" It happens you come to a small town to get a fresh start and have the peace to work. You had a new baby and your husband died . It's a lot to take in all at once." Sympatheticly said Sandra.
Sunny's eyes looked up between the woman not understanding what was going on. She never heard her mother mentioned her father before.
" How is Hannah and the new baby doing ?" She said facing Wanda feeling her eyes on her.
" She is to prospect number six. The baby was a lie. My brother gave her divorce papers and she fabricated a baby. He caught he during he monthly in the bathroom and cut it short. He said it was the best thing he did " boasted Wanda now happy she was in a conversation.
" Seriously. A fake baby. When was she going to tell him. When she went into non-existent labor? What happened to Chancery?" Asked Bethany now more at ease with the two women from her past.
" Chancery went to my brother. Child support payments wasn't the same as steady income when it came to the family court. She has to pay him child support. She tried getting pregnant and passing off the baby as his mid way through the divorce." She whispered conspiratorial .
" No."gasped Bethany.
Wanda and Sandra both nodded their heads like a joined thought. The three woman went into the shop and Sandra prepared the preordered slices of sample wedding cakes . The three woman gushed and talked until Bethany sampled all the cakes.
"Listen I have an engagement party coming up next month . Well to be honest we are going to spring it as a surprise wedding for all the guest. " Bethany smiled at the deception of the party. " I would love you two to attend. Not just as my pastry makers but as my friends. I don't have a lot of friends that I know. My tenants may come but we not on friendly terms other than landlord and tenant relationship." Bethany said as her face twisted not realizing how it sounded out loud .
" Wow I sound like a grumpy mountain hermit now it's said out loud." Bethany said sitting back as she took in her words .
" Of course we will come we won't miss it for anything in the world. I'm glad we ran into you . We were getting board with the small town feel." Said the two women as Bethany now just observed they were sitting very close to each other . She smiled not wanting to make it obvious about the closeness of the two woman.
" Sandra how are the twins? And Wanda you boy what was his name Walter?" She reminissed .
" They are great who knew both of our kids would be so close to each other. They practically grew up together." Beamed Wanda sneaking a look at Sandra and a small smile placed on her face .
" So how long have you two been together?" Bethany said softly between sips of coffee and cake . She watched the two women's reaction as the exchanged looks.
" Well . Um. Well. "Sandra said shyly .
" It's okay. I'm happy for you two. I saw it when we were in that country town. I take it that kind of relationship isn't accepted in those parts I assume. " Bethany said as they both looked at each other relieved .
" What kind of relationship, momma?" Interjected sunny confused at what was said.
" Sometimes sunshine people like different types of people and other people don't understand sometimes." Explained Bethany gently not going into detail .
" No it isn't. It also why we moved away. The small town judgemental eyes. That me and my ex aren't eye to eye with me not liking well men anymore. Our separation was for him to save face with the farmers. Can't have a wife who like other wives in the group. I allowed him to file it on bases of just well disconnection. I told him he had two years to play that card and that way we won't have messy custody battle over the twins. We live separate lives until we decide to remarry." Said Sandra looking at Wanda careful not to exclude her .
" It works out. We get to be together until we are ready to come out . We are still testing the waters with our families about the idea. Both our families well they are traditional. I know it looks bad for Sandra ,but she chose to leave with me when my husband left me when I told him. I couldn't bare having Sandra be outed like I did." The two woman now held hands as they smiled at each other.
" I'm happy for you two. Love is love. You can't dictate it. I know some people see it as taboo but it's not their life. It's not their relationship. So it shouldn't be their problem. " Smile Bethany glad to have her old friends back together.
" Tell me about this man that stole your heart ,darling ?" Boasted Wanda.
" Oh. Um.Axel. he is great .we both went to college together ." She smiled talking about him.
" Axel. That's a sexy name for a man. " Elbows Sandra as she teased Bethany.
Sunny shot the woman a look " what is sexy?" She asked as she was a curious little girl.
" Oh it's a compliment like saying your pretty or handsome but only for adults to use. It is an adult word . Used between adults." Explained Bethany in an awkward manner . As Sandra stifled a cough and a laugh at her exploration. Bethany looked at Sandra as she was always the one with a sense of humor about awkward conversations.
Sunny hadn't seen her momma with many friends and these two seemed like they new her when she was younger. They called her mother Samantha . Her momma's name was Bethany. Sunny was so confused about her momma's past and these two woman. Sunny ate the cake as she was in heaven also trying wedding cakes of all colors and flavors. Some with really sweet cream and others with candy flowers on them.
Sunny really liked cake as she payed her momma no mind as she ate to her heart content.
The women talk and talked until the shop closed and Bethany placed her order and pulled out two invitations to her engagement event . She smiled at both
woman and her and Sunny waved goodbye .