The Brooch

I Have To Tell You Something

You ever get a premonition? A funny feeling in your stomach? You know something out of the unusual is about to happen, but you can't put your finger on it?

That's exactly how Maple felt when she went home that evening after her luncheon with Josephine.

Like clockwork, the sun began to bid adieu to that little town of Ponchas. But just before it fully did, Maple walked a very talkative Josephine to her mother's little white cottage, with green shutters, just a few miles away from her house.

She always enjoyed having the long conversations with her best friend, whom always wore her  copper hair just right and smelled of sweet citrus. Time was nonexistent when Maple was with Josephine. However, when they arrived in the drive, Maple immediately noticed Andrew in the front window peeking through the curtains. No doubt he was waiting for his wife to return home. But Maple had a sunken feeling in the pit of her stomach that she could not remove when she saw his eyes laid upon hers.

"Oh yes! He's here!" A boisterous Josephine exclaimed! "Naw you have to come inside foe dinner! I won't take no foe uh answer."

But seeing the peculiar expression in Andrew's eyes from where she stood, Maple declined.

"I promised mumma I would return and help her with suppa. Uncle Jeffy and Cornelia are on their way up." Maple replied wiggling her nose.

"Surly she is done by naw!" Josephine replied with an inquisitive brow. "Sides, it's late. At least when it comes to mumma Woods. Cuz one thang bout yo mumma, she is always punctual. Dinner is served sixth thirty on the dot! And it's high past. Why it's a quarter til! Sides, you of all people know, she would be havin a hissy with the search patrol if you weren't there with a good excuse by six twenty nine. Not to mention I told her earlier I was kidnappin you foe the day. So you have you no excuse. And naw you really have ta have suppa with Andrew and I."

"She knows?" Maple replied shocked.

"'Mmm-hmm." Josephine grinned knowing that Maple fibbed.

"Oh." Maple replied slightly disappointed that excuse didn't work.

So she came up with another one..

"Truth is, Jojo, I am jest a little worn. I wasn't expectin ta be out this long. You know me and my naps."

"But you kin rest in my house. Like you always used too. It'll be just like the old days. A sleep ova!"

"Why Josephine Pearl, we are grown women!" Maple laughed! "A sleep ova? Really..."

"So!" Josephine said clutching Maple's hands and holding them hostage. "Who's ta say we still can't have a gals night! And I bet Andrew won't mind at all."

"Hmm.. I beg ta differ." Maple replied dotingly squeezing Josephine's fair skin, freckled hands.

"And whuts that mean?" Josephine questioned.

"I thank... well if ya must know, I thank it means, by the way he is intently peekin out that winda right naw, and starin at you, I thank he really wonts alone time with his wife. If ya know whut I mean..."

"Ya thank?" A giddy Josephine said gazing back up at Andrew...

Andrew quickly closed the curtain as if he could hear the conversation.

"Yes.." Maple said wiggling her nose.

"I guess I betta get up there then!" She giddily replied.

"Snail time won't do." Maple teased.

Truth was something in his eyes, made her stay astray. She knew she would have to come face to face with him one day or another. But today was not the day. Or so she tried to persuade an insistent Josephine. For the time being, Maple was relieved that Josephine finally gave in.