Anything but Normal - Melody Carlson [14]
Sophie gingerly removed the offensive burnt offering from the oven, carried it out to the metal trash can outside, and dumped it.
“Everything okay in there?” called out Mrs. Poindexter from next door.
Sophie gave the old woman a smile. “I think my dad decided to cremate his dinner tonight.”
Mrs. Poindexter made her way slowly across her driveway toward Sophie. “Well, I smelled smoke and heard that ringing noise, and I was about to call the fire department.”
“Thanks, but it’s under control now. Sorry about the noise.”
She nodded, then looked concerned. “Goodness gracious, Sophie girl, what in the world has happened to your face?”
Once again Sophie explained about falling at the lake.
“Oh my, you know what the Good Book says, don’t you?” “What’s that?”
“Pride comes before a fall.”
Sophie considered this. “So, do you think that’s what made me fall?”
“Were you feeling mighty proud of yourself about something?”
Sophie shook her head. “Not even close.”
The old woman smiled. “Then I’m sure it wasn’t related.”
Sophie sighed.
“How old are you now, Sophie girl?”
“Seventeen. But I’ll be eighteen in February.”
“You’re nearly grown then.” She shook her head. “You kids grew up so fast. Seems like yesterday you and your brother were playing in the sprinklers, dressing up for trick or treat. And now you’re a grown woman.”
Sophie laughed. “Well, not really a grown woman.”
Mrs. Poindexter shook her finger at her. “I was just your age when I wed my Arlen more than seventy-five years ago. And just eighteen when I had my first baby.” She chuckled. “Not that I recommend it. No, no . . . the younger generation is smart to wait.”
Sophie nodded somberly.
Mrs. Poindexter took Sophie’s hand and clasped it warmly. “You are a very smart girl, Sophie. Why, I still remember when you were a little thing, and how you’d come over and play chess with Mr. Poindexter while he was recovering from heart surgery. Do you remember that?”
Sophie nodded again, smiling a bit this time. “He was a good chess player.”
“Well, one day after you left, he took me aside and told me that you were the smartest child he’d ever laid eyes on.” Her faded eyes lit up. “And if you knew my husband, you knew that was high praise indeed.”
Sophie didn’t know what to say to that.
“And I know how you thought he was letting you win sometimes, Sophie girl. But the truth is, he never did.” Mrs. Poindexter chuckled. “Nope, he never did.” She sighed and glanced back at her house. “Well, I better get back before my own fire alarms start going off. I’ve got green beans cooking.” She turned and slowly walked back to her house.
Sophie stood there thinking about what Mrs. Poindexter had just told her. She had no idea that Mr. Poindexter hadn’t been letting her win. In fact, she distinctly remembered him teasing her, saying that if and when she won, it was simply because he felt sorry for her. Anyway, it was a sweet story and a nice compliment. But she’d been a child then, and despite having a high IQ, she’d been a bit on the naive side. Maybe she still was.
The truth was, she hadn’t changed all that much. In the same way she’d fallen for Mr. Poindexter’s tricks back then, she’d fallen for Dylan’s deception just a few weeks ago. For a smart girl, she was pretty dumb. Or maybe she was just living in denial. Deep, dark denial. And if ignorance was bliss, which seemed unlikely, then knowledge was power.
Sophie marched into the house, grabbed her purse, ran out to her car, and drove to the nearest Walgreen’s. She parked the car and hurried inside, heading straight to the feminine hygiene department. She searched until she found what she was looking for—an early pregnancy test.
She glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was around, then picked up the box and began scanning the back.