Where Broken Hearts Go by Murray J. J

Author:Murray, J. J.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kinfolk Books
Published: 2024-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

15

Bernadette set her alarm for four AM, and when it buzzed, she looked outside.

Oh, it is far too dark.

She reset her alarm for 5:15, and when it buzzed, she showered, dressed in her new jeans and a yellow top, and cooked scrambled eggs and cheesy grits with sausage just in time for Jim and Johnny to show up and inhale their breakfasts in less than five minutes.

“Did you even taste it?” Bernadette asked.

“Lots to do,” Johnny said, standing and sipping his coffee for the first time. “Whoa.”

“Good, huh?” Bernadette smiled.

“Is this what coffee is supposed to taste like?” Johnny asked.

“Yep,” Bernadette said, standing and removing his plate, placing it in a sink.

“Dad,” Johnny said. “What have we been drinkin’ all these years?”

“Not coffee,” Jim said. “This is wow.”

“You gon’ throw away that percolator now, right?” Bernadette asked.

Jim nodded. “What’s the rush, son?”

“Gotta run the combines a bit, make sure they’re up to snuff,” Johnny said. “And then I gotta get to McKeel’s when they open at ten. There’s a ring in the window Jovani likes.”

“How you know that?” Bernadette asked.

“Well, I went to McKeel’s last night before goin’ through the swamp to Jovani’s house,” Johnny said, “and I took a picture of the ring through the window and texted it to Jovani, but I told her not to tell me if she liked it or not until I got there.”

“Did she like it?” Bernadette asked.

“Well, she blew me a bunch of kisses from her window and hugged herself real tight,” Johnny said, “so I kinda assume she likes it.”

Jovani likes it.

“Can I see it?” Bernadette asked.

“I ain’t got it yet,” Johnny said.

“You still have the picture on your phone, don’t you?” Bernadette asked.

“Oh, right.” Johnny showed Bernadette the picture of the ring.

“This is nice, Johnny,” Bernadette said. “And it has diamonds in the band, too. Do you know her size?”

“Skinny,” Johnny said. “Her size is skinny.”

“It’s a number, Johnny,” Bernadette said. “Text her and find out.”

Johnny texted Jovani. “She says she’s a five and a half.”

“That is kinda skinny,” Bernadette said. “Get it sized.”

“Okay.” Johnny hugged Bernadette, kissed her cheek, and ran out of the kitchen.

I’m gon’ cry.

I am cryin’.

Lord, Lord, to have him hug me like that and then kiss my cheek …

Jim hugged her from behind. “Hope those are happy tears.”

“They are.”

Jim spun her around and kissed her. “I’ve been tryin’ for years to get that boy to settle down, and you have him practically settled in a few days. It’s a miracle.”

“He kissed my cheek, Jim,” Bernadette said. “Like I was his mama.”

Jim winked. “You’re the mama he has always needed. You listen to him, and you help him, and you fight for him. You gon’ be all right?”

“Yeah,” Bernadette said. “I always thought I’d want a child huggin’ on my legs, but to be kissed on the cheek like that …” Bernadette wiped her eyes on Jim’s chest. “I wasn’t expectin’ that.”

Jim put his dishes in the sink. “And let’s hope what you’re expectin’ to happen today doesn’t happen.

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