Twenty

  

Wanted: Meaningful Overnight Relationship

~ Graffiti in the men’s room in the Tuff Luck Tavern

  

“Dang, Mavis. That was some good eating.” Brew crumpled his napkin and placed it on top of his dinner plate. “I could live off that feast for two weeks.”

“Glad you liked it.” Mavis cleared a stack of dishes from the table and took them into the kitchen, just off her small dining area. “I thought it might be nice to take an after-dinner walk. It’s not as cold as usual, and there’s a fall moon.”

“Maybe,” Brew said. “I was just wondering, have you gotten any more RSVPs from our classmates?”

“I got several in the post yesterday. I made a list for you. Would you like to see it?”

“Yeah.” Brew leaned back in his chair. “If it’s not too much trouble.”

“Not at all.” Mavis wiped her hands on a plaid dishtowel that hung on her refrigerator door. Then she withdrew the list from the drawer beneath her telephone and went into the dining room to give it to Brew.

He muttered to himself as he read the list. “These are all the people coming so far, huh?”

“Yes.”

He tapped the paper with his index finger. “And you were able to find everyone except—?”

“Dolores Montgomery.”

“Who?”

“Remember, I said she used to be treasurer of the stamp-collecting club. Cat-eye glasses, a bit stout—?”

“Yeah, yeah, I remember now.” Brew folded the list and stuck it in his shirt pocket. “It probably wouldn’t hurt to call some of those people who haven’t responded. Just to make sure their invitations didn’t get lost in the mail.”

“I’ll do it,” Mavis said. “Now, Brew, I was thinking about the decorations for the gym and the refreshments. I have some ideas—”

“That’s my department, sugar. I’ve gotten it all taken care of.” He unfolded his sizeable frame from his chair. “We’re a team, remember?” He eyed her as she stood in the door frame leading into the kitchen. “How did I ever overlook a pretty filly like you? I must have been blind in high school.”

Mavis relished the compliment for a moment but quickly remembered that Brew’s use of flattery was often a prelude to his departure for the evening.

“You aren’t running off just yet, are you?” she said, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice. “How about a quick stroll around the block?”

Brew shook his head with regret. “Much as I hate to leave your company, darling, I gotta go. Big day tomorrow. Got a crew of painters coming in at seven sharp.”

“Wait one minute. There was something I wanted to discuss...” She stared down at the hooked rug underneath her feet. “That is... I was wondering about. . .” She glanced up quickly. “Birdie.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What about Birdie?”

‘There’s been some talk around town. Is it true that you’ve been seeing...” Mavis avoided Brew’s eyes, and her voice grew softer. “Both of us?”

“Are you jealous, m’lady?” Brew’s lip curled in amusement.

“Of course not, I just—”

“You tell that pretty, little green-eyed monster of yours to take a powder,” Brew said. “There’s not a thing between Birdie and me.”

“It’s just that... people have seen your car outside her house, and—”

“I know.” Brew shrugged on his sports coat. “Call me old-fashioned. I just can’t ignore a damsel in distress.”

“Birdie’s been in distress?”

“You could say that. You know how things around a house get out of sorts. Faucets drip. Toilets run.”

“I see.” Mavis also knew Birdie was perfectly capable of making her own simple home repairs. In fact, she prided herself on her handiness with tools, and even owned a soldering iron.

“She calls me over there, and I just can’t say no,” Brew said. He touched her chin with one finger. “But you’re my special gal. I thought you knew that, Mavis.”

“Are you sure?”

“Does a hound dog have fleas?” Brew chuckled. “See you on Thursday.”

Her heart fluttered as she watched Brew walk out the door. I’m such a lucky woman, she thought. Mavis could hardly blame Birdie for trying to steal Brew away from her. Instead of feeling angry toward her friend, she felt a twinge of sympathy. Poor dear Birdie. Reduced to out-and-out chicanery in an attempt to win Brew’s affections. How lonely she must feel!

  

The next day after work, Mavis stopped by the Winn-Dixie to shop for her upcoming dinner date with Brew. The weatherman had warned that Cayboo Creek could expect a hard frost, so she thought a hearty bowl of chili and a skilletful of corn-bread would be just what the doctor ordered. She turned her buggy down the baking aisle to get a bag of cornmeal when she saw Birdie reaching for the White Lily Flour.

“Hi, Birdie,” Mavis said. “Long time no see.”

Birdie gasped and immediately backed away.

“Wait, Birdie,” Mavis said, following her. She figured Birdie was fleeing because she was ashamed of her recent actions. “Can’t we patch things up? Does it have to be like this between us?”

Birdie paused beside the cake mixes. “Yes. It does, Mavis. You’ve made that choice.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Ha!” Birdie cocked her hip against her buggy. “You understand perfectly. I’m referring to this latest business you’ve been pulling with Brew. I know what you’ve been up to.”

“I figured you’d hear sooner or later. And I’m sorry. But, after all, I did see Brew first, and—”

“Mavis, this isn’t primary school. You can’t call dibs on a man and think he’s yours.”

“I know that, but—”

Birdie shook a finger at her. “And if you have any hopes of saving our friendship, you must stop this nonsense with Brew immediately.”

Mavis opened her mouth but no words came out. “It’s not fair of you to ask me that,” she said, finally recovering her voice. “I’m sorry, Birdie. But that’s the one thing I won’t do.”

“Of all the nerve! I never imagined you could stoop this low.” Birdie swung her buggy around. “Go on, then, make a fool of yourself. I simply don’t care.”

She stormed down the aisle, leaving behind a stunned and shaken Mavis.