Chapter 37 Pick Me Up
"Beth, I don't owe you a damn thing. Least of all answers. You were willing to let my sister lay in her sickness and die because you didn't want to take her to see a doctor, that should've been covered for an office visit if you and your husband ever gave us our insurance... But you didn't. So, tell me Beth, what are you talking about?" I demand, standing up straight. "Because I can still call the cops and tell them about your neglect. I'm the one paying to take care of my sisters health. Not you. So it should be none of your business where I got my money!"
"You WHORE! You are sleeping around to get money?! And you don't even tell me about it?" She snarls, slapping me hard across the face. It stings, but what's new?
Then she pulls me by my hair. I close my eyes, trying not to let the tears slip out. Not that it would change anything. I just don't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing she hurt me.
And honestly, does she expect me to talk just because she hits me? I swear this woman is an idiot. I've been putting up with her abuse for years. She should know I know how to hold my tongue. The only difference now is that I'm finally fighting back instead of letting her walk all over me to protect my sisters.
Finally she releases my hair and throws me to the floor. I end up on my hands and knees. I don't even bother looking at her as I wipe the small trickle of blood off my face where she scratched me.
"Wow... That's where your brain goes automatically... I wonder what you are keeping from your husband," I chuckle darkly as I crawl back to my feet. "And still, I don't give a damn what you think. It's my money, so you can go to hell," I say and saunter passed her raving about me sleeping around.
It was still dark by the time I got to Wild Blooms, but it was warm and the atmosphere was friendly. I would take that over hostile territory any day. I sigh in relief as I set my purse down under the counter.
My body is achy from the fight with Beth and sleep deprived from staying up all night with Charlie. I just need a few good hours of sleep and maybe I might make it through my day without falling apart. Maybe I could take a nap in the back room in a little bit?
"Josie, you look exhausted! What happened?" Hailey asks, giving me a warm hug. She has no idea how much I needed that. I almost want to cry right now. This is what I miss about my Mom. She gave me the best hugs that seem to be able to cure anything... I'm hoping my hugs can heal my sisters broken hearts. I'm not their mother, but I'm the closest thing they have.
"I came home last night and Charlie has pneumonia, and Beth had refused to take her to see a doctor. So I had to take her to the ER and get her the antibiotics. I didn't get to bed until midnight... And then I kept waking up to check on Charlie," I sigh completely washed out.
"Oh, you poor dear. I'm going to make you some peppermint tea. It might give you a little boost to your morning," she insists, rushing to the back room. "Maybe I can find you a couple oatmeal cookies to go with it," she says with a smile.
Much to my surprise, the tea and cookies really did help. They gave me a bit of sugar and the peppermint helped sharpen my sagging mind... For a little bit.
After my little pick-me-up, I started working on the order. We only had another couple days to get it finished for the wedding. But was fine because we were really close to finishing everything. Hailey is working on the bouquets and I've got about 3 more arrangements to do before we are done with the whole order. Then I'll get started on Rick's order.