Elderly tourists are easy to spot. They have a walk.
A slow, stop-and-look-at-things-that-don’t-even-matter walk. The elderly tourists that had been at Paige’s yesterday were coming down the street away from the square I had yet to vacate. No sign of their son, Prince Charming. Paige hadn’t mentioned him at church earlier today, though she did enter smiling and depart quickly. Nor did she answer her cell phone when I called to invite her over for my “picnic on the stoop.”Who knew? But this twosome could be perfectly captured in a comic strip with their attire teetering on ghastly and plunging over the wall of tacky.
Then I watched as he patted her tushie. It was a soft pat, a love pat. A pat that happens between two people who have loved each other way past the point of teenage desire. Or at least one should hope. But it was the familiarity that caught me. She slapped him teasingly, and by the up-and-down movement of her shoulders it was evident she still got a kick out of him.
He wrapped his arm around her and tugged her toward him. It wasn’t a smooth movement, the way Dad took Vicky in his arms the other night. No, this was an eighty-year-old’s tug. A shaky tug, because of the old-people tremors. A cushioned tug, padded by years of good eating. But it was real. It was engaging. It was as it should be.
An ache formed in my gut . The ache of longing for that kind of familiarity. For someone who knows how you like your steak cooked and what makes you scared. For someone who knows even the things about you that you are too proud to admit.
It was a Grant ache. I flipped open my cell phone and speed-dialed Paige.
“Where have you been?”
“At the mall.”
“I’ve tried you for two days.”
Paige sounded perturbed.“My phone hasn’t worked.”
“Why?”
“Why? Well, that would be because I flushed it down the toilet.”
“Ooh, nice.”
“Yep, real nice. Happened on my date.”
“Ooh, tell me all about it.”
“He went to one bathroom. I went to another. Leaned over to flush with my bag strapped over my arm, and out went the phone.
It’s somewhere in the Atlantic now, or lower Savannah. Who can be certain?”
I was laughing hysterically.“Why didn’t you reach in and get it?”
“So funny, aren’t we? All I could do was let out a scream. My date was waiting at the door with a rather perplexed look on his face.”
“He heard you, huh?”
“The whole thing, I’m certain. Got home from Tybee Island quicker than if I’d have driven myself.”
“Scared him, huh?”
“I think it was when I yelled, ‘Don’t make me come in there after you!’”
“Well, no need in both of us losing our men . We’ve got to develop a plan.”
“Hello to you too.”
“I can’t just let him get away, walk into the arms of a stranger without a fight. What am I thinking, sitting around here like a doormat? I’m smart and talented and sometimes funny. Don’t you think?”
“I think you are all of those things, dear one, but don’t leave out ‘borderline insane.’ He is only weeks away from getting married.”
“So? I know people who stole fiancés only a week before the wedding. Even left notes on church doors saying,‘Due to circumstances beyond our control there will be no wedding here tonight,’ when they couldn’t contact all the guests . Why should this be any different?”
“That’s a good point.”
“I thought so too. I mean, he is my soul mate . We have loved each other our entire pubescent lives and then some. So, what’s your idea?”
“What’s my idea?”
“Yes. What. Is . Your. Idea?You always have great ideas . You know men . You love men. Not so good with phones, but I don’t need an idea for a phone. I need an idea for a man. I’ve got to win back his heart and get rid of that redheaded annoyance.”
“Ooh, catty. I like it. Okay, let me think. I’ll get back to you.”
“Don’t take long . Time’s a-wastin’.”
“Time’s a-wastin’?”
“Just get to work or I’m liable to have to go home and clean something. By the way, have any suggestions on a cleaning lady who cooks and isn’t named Mrs. Gonzalez?”
“You sure are needy today.”
“Not as needy as you’ll be if that pastel-plaid-arrayed duo become your in-laws.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I wasn’t crazy about him anyway. Poor fella was cute, but still lived at home with Mommy and Daddy. At thirty-five-years old—”
“Thirty-five?! My word, that man is old.”
“Ancient, I know. But anyway, forget about me and let’s stay focused . We’ve got to get your man back. Stay close to your phone and I’m going to the drawing board.”
“You’re going to go paint?”
“I always think better when I paint.”
“Well, whatever works. Call me soon.”
“Bye.” And she hung up to rescue me one more time.
Needing a bite of something sweet, I walked down York Street to get a key lime square from Wright Square Café. Opening the door, I was shocked to see Ms. Austin standing at the counter. She turned around holding a key lime square and bottled water.
She looked at me and smiled a beautiful smile. Her lips were covered in a rich red that accentuated her perfect smile and rich complexion.“Savannah, right?” Her soft Southern accent kept the words lingering for a moment.
“Yes, Savannah,” I said, pointing to myself as if discovering who I was for the first time.“And you’re Ms. Austin.”
“Oh, please call me Faith.”
“Okay. Well, I see you’ve found one of the best things in town.” I winked at Eric, the college student who worked here during the summer. He stood behind the counter, unable to take his eyes off of our new guest.
“What is that?”
“That square of sheer delight you hold in your hands.”
She studied the key lime square between her fingers.“Oh, is it good?”
“It’s beyond good; it’s divine. I came in for one myself.” I thought that might be Eric’s cue to get me one too, but I had to actually ask before he turned his attention back to me.
“I’m sorry about my mother,” I said, paying for my dessert.
“I deal with people that fana—that dedicated all the time.” She took a seat by the window.“Would you like to sit down?”
“Sure. So, how long have you been a crusader?”
She laughed and opened her bottled water with her perfectly manicured left hand.“Well, I’ve never thought of it that way.” Faith twirled her single strand of pearls as she looked out of the large, paned window.“A crusader, huh? Well, ever since I graduated college almost, oh Lord, well, almost ten years ago now.”
“You’ve been out of school for ten years? You look great.”
She raised both eyebrows.“Well, I’m not that old.”
I felt my face flush.“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.”
“It’s okay . Thirty-two sounded ancient to me when I was your age. How old are you? About twenty-two?”
“Twenty-four actually.”
I watched her take a bite of her square. “Oh my goodness. This thing is delicious.” Eric leaned over the counter as if he would have wiped her mouth himself. I squelched my intense desire to roll my eyes.
“So, will you be here long?” I asked.
“Until this is over. Probably only about a week. I figure the courts will remove the monument soon and life will be back to normal.”
“Normal. Now, that’s a concept.”
“You have a rather adventurous mother, I take it.”
“Oh, let’s just say she is involved.”
“Well, it seems like you have a great head on your shoulders.” She finished up her square and wiped her mouth.“You were right, Miss Savannah . That was one of the best key lime squares I’ve ever eaten. I think I’m going to take another for the road.”
“You’re going to eat two?” I asked, amazed that she could maintain such a figure while eating sugar slathered across some graham cracker crumbs. Might as well just slather it on my thighs.
“I do most anything I want, Savannah.” She gave Eric a wink as he failed miserably in catching his drool. “I have to get back to work now. I hope I’ll see you soon.” I scratched my left hand.“You okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. My hand’s just itching. But it’s a good thing. It means you’re going to get some money.”
“Ooh, well, call me when you do.” She eyed me suspiciously.
“Yeah, I’ll do that.” I laughed a dorky laugh. Fortunately she was already answering her ringing cell phone and was oblivious to my world of dork.
“Take care.”
She offered me a wink and a mouthed,“You too.”
I walked back to the cooler, debating another Coke. I consumed excessive portions of the sugar-laden caffeine drink each day. Here at the café, it looked beautiful sitting in that cooler all chilled and inviting. I had never debated such a concept before.
And Ms. Austin had just given me permission. So, I didn’t tarry long. As I handed it to Eric, he looked rather perturbed.
Once he slammed the cash register shut, he and three vibrant young men came running out from the back and watched Ms.
Austin all the way up the street. I looked at them with nausea, threw my napkin away, and had to part them to make my way to the door.
“You do that every time I leave too, don’t you?” I quipped. They never responded. The dark-headed siren, sauntering up the street, rendered them deaf. And the tired, old, worn-out-looking twenty-four-year-old slipped out utterly undetected.