Free Constant Surprises (Wrong Numbers Series) by Jamallah Bergman, Molly Waters Page B

dessert. We spent the whole night, eating dinner, laughing and
reconnecting. Are you sure you slept with him last night? When I left him, he
was out of it completely,” Amie said.
    Susan’s face screwed up
with fury. Sandy put a hand over her mouth, slightly stifling a laugh. Amie
remained calm as she continued, “Listen, I know what the fuck you are trying to
do. Trying to one up me because you think I still care and love Roy. We are
both grown ass women and I stopped playing childish ass mind games years ago.
But if you want to do that to me this week, I am so game for it. While you may
think you can try to one up me, I’m sorry, sweetheart, there is no way I will
ever let your sorry white trash ass get to me―ever. I suggest you stop or
you’ll find yourself face first in the tomato cart over there.” Her face was
cold and callus.
    “See you later, Sandy,”
said Susan.
    She walked away quickly
leaving Sandy in awe at her friend’s tenacity and strong willingness to stand
up for herself. Putting her hand up for a high five, Amie smiled and gave one
back to her. They both laughed and hugged each other. “Come on, help me find a
good onion,” Amie said while they walked through the crowd of people.
      After Amie dropped Sandy at home, she decided
to pay Mrs. Fulton a surprise visit.
    “Amie Brown, get your
butt in here young lady,” Agnes said with a smile. She gave Amie a huge hug as
soon as she stepped through the door. “You look amazing! Come in, I was just
about to make some lemonade.” Both ladies walked to the kitchen. Agnes got
another glass while Amie sat down on the stool. “How’s the café doing?”
    “Great, really great,
it’s been a nonstop party every day. I’m glad to have this break. I’m just
hoping they are holding down the fort while I’m gone.” Amie smiled as Agnes
handed her a glass.
    “Let’s go on the deck
out back. Please bring that plate of cookies with you.” Amie followed her to
the deck and set the plate of cookies down on the table. She sat down taking a
cookie. She bit into it and smiled. “You baked your famous Oatmeal Raisin
Walnut cookies. I so missed these.”
    “Haven’t you ever tried
to make them yourself?”
    “Yeah, I have but they
never ever turn out the way you make them. There is no comparison, yours are
the best I’ve ever had.” Amie said taking another bite.
    Agnes took a sip of ice
tea. “So what brings you here to see me, darling?”
    “I thought I’d just
stop by and say hello, I’ve missed talking with you. Miss the ranch.” Looking
out over the fields where some of the cattle were grazing, Amie took a sip of
lemonade. The two women sat in peaceful silence. The silence was quickly
interrupted by her phone ringing. When she looked at the caller ID, she was not
too pleased.
      “Will you excuse me for a moment?” asked Amie,
walking off the deck and around the corner so Agnes wouldn’t be in ear shot of
her conversation. “What is it?”
    “I’m sorry, Mistress,
to be calling now but I needed to know when you will be available again. I need
to redo the schedule and such.”
    “I am away on vacation
for pleasure right now for the rest of this week, so it will be next week
sometime unless I call to let you know. How have you been?”
    “Doing just fine,
Mistress, you sound chipper this evening. You must have found someone.”
    He knew her like a
book, way too well, she sometimes thought. He was her assistant in all things
she needed done. “Actually, I have darling, I have found someone to play with,”
Amie said thinking about Roy.

 
    * * * *

 
    Roy and Steven were up
with the sun feeding and watering the livestock. Then they went out to the
fields to see how the crops were doing. Steven and their father planted them while
Roy was in Chicago, so now they were checking to make sure insects and weeds
were kept at bay. They also got his cows branded. After they had finished the
late afternoon round of feeding, Roy brought out