Thirty-Nine

  

“The Last Word in Lonesome Is Me “

~ Selection H-4 in the jukebox of the Chat ‘N’ Chew

  

It had been several days since Dooley’s funeral and a pall hung over the Bottom Dollar Emporium. Mavis never saw Attalee cry, but each morning her friend came to work pink-eyed and subdued. During the day, she would stand behind the soda fountain with a dishtowel, drying the same petal-lipped glass over and over. Mavis had to call her name more than once before she’d snap out of her daydream.

Mavis was also feeling morose lately, but for a different reason. She checked the inbox in her computer several times each day, but there was never a return email from Hank. Her cheeks burned with shame every time she thought of the brazen email she’d sent him the night of Attalee’s bachelorette party. How could she have been so free with her emotions? Either Hank didn’t return her ardor or she’d scared him off for good.

Mavis’s evenings were as lonely as ever. A grief-stricken Attalee always went home immediately after work, and Birdie had been stepping out most nights with Morty Ames. Then, to make matters worse, Mavis had run into Courtney Cooper, the real-estate agent, who’d given her some disturbing news about Brewster.

“He eloped with that woman, Prissy Stevens, right after the reunion, and they’re living together in New York City,” Courtney had said. “Brewster’s hired me to handle everything with the sale of his aunt’s house, because he’s not coming back to Cayboo Creek. When I went to inspect the property, I found some obituary notices he’d left behind in his bedroom about Prissy’s husband, who died a year ago. Guess he’s had his sights set on Prissy for a while.”

Mavis had always suspected that Brew had used her to plan the reunion so he could hook up with Prissy, but it didn’t help her sour mood any to have it confirmed.

One evening, just as Mavis was turning out all the lights in preparation to close the store, Mrs. Tobias came in.

“Hey, Mrs. Tobias. I mean Mrs. Williams. I mean Gracie,” Mavis said, tapping her temple as if to jar loose the correct information. “How was your honeymoon?”

“Delightful. I got back late yesterday afternoon.” Mrs. Tobias glanced around the store. “Where’s Attalee? I want to tell her all about South of the Border. We took rolls and rolls of photographs.”

“It was real decent of you and Rusty to go there. I know you did it for Attalee,” Mavis said in a low voice. “I’m sure South of the Border wouldn’t have been your choice as a honeymoon spot.”

“It was more fun than I’d expected. Rusty and I kept imagining it through Attalee’s eyes,” Mrs. Tobias said. “And it would have been a pity to waste all those arrangements.” She looked in the direction of the soda fountain. “Where is Attalee? Are the two of you ready to go?”

“She’s in the back hanging up her uniform.” Mavis frowned. “And where are we supposed to be going?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten Glenda’s first birthday party?” Mrs. Tobias said.

Mavis pressed her hand against her cheek in distress. “Heavens to Betsy. I surely did. It’s just been so crazy around here, what with the funeral and—thank heavens I bought a present for Glenda ages ago. I’ve got it in the back.”

She strode to the stockroom and called out to her friend. “Attalee! We almost forgot. Glenda is having her first birthday party tonight.”

Attalee stepped out of the back room, her thin shoulders sagging as she hobbled toward them. For the first time ever, she carried herself like the octogenarian she was.

“Y’all go on without me.” Her fingers fumbled to fasten the top button of her thin cotton coat.

“Elizabeth will be so disappointed,” Mavis said.

“She’ll understand,” Attalee said, refusing to meet her eyes.

“Oh dear,” Mrs. Tobias said, dramatically wringing her hands. “I guess those presents Rusty and I brought back for you will just have to wait.”

“Presents?” Attalee said, a flicker of interest registering in her eye.

“Yes. Lots of them!” Mrs. Tobias said. “A whole bag full. Rusty and I got you a souvenir everywhere we stopped, and we took so many pictures. We wanted you to feel like you’d been right there with us the entire trip.”

“Did you get a shot of the Great White fiberglass shark?” Attalee asked softly. “The biggest one in the world? They mentioned it in the brochure.”

“Of course!” Mrs. Tobias said. “And a panoramic shot of the sun setting on the sombrero tower.”

“I bet that was just breathtaking.” Attalee fidgeted with the sleeve of her coat, and she cleared her throat. “Well, maybe I could go for a little while. I’d hate to seem ungrateful.”

“Lovely!” Mrs. Tobias said. “Let’s all pile into my Caddie. Rusty will be meeting us there.”

Mavis retrieved her present from the stockroom and locked the front door. Then the three women climbed into the car, and Mrs. Tobias took a right turn out of the parking lot of the Bottom Dollar Emporium.

“Where are you going, Gracie? Elizabeth’s house is to the left,” Mavis said as she adjusted her seat belt.

“We’re not going to Elizabeth’s house, remember?” Mrs. Tobias said. “The invitation instructed us to go to her grandmother’s old house in Dogwood Village.”

“That’s right,” Mavis said. “I guess this all has to do with Elizabeth’s big surprise.”

After a few minutes, they arrived at their destination. Several cars were already parked in the yard, and a large, colorful sign was erected near the door.

“A Place for Us,” Mrs. Tobias said, reading it aloud. There was a painting of a mother and a small child walking hand-in-hand. “That Elizabeth. I wonder what she’s up to now.”

The trio emerged from the car, arms loaded with presents for Glenda. A smiling Chiffon met them at the door and snapped their pictures as they walked inside.

“I’m the official photographer for this event,” Chiffon said. “Wait until you see what Elizabeth’s done in such a short time.”

They entered the front room, painted in bright primary colors. A long table was set up for a birthday party, and helium balloons in all colors of the rainbow were tied to each cane-backed chair. Laid out on the table was a pink-and-white frosted sheet cake with icing script that said “Happy Birthday, Glenda!” Elizabeth stood in the middle of the room surrounded by a group of well-wishers. When she spotted her friends, she bounded toward them.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Put your packages down. I can’t wait to show you around.”

The women stacked their gifts on a chair and glanced about the room with wonder.

“How charming!” Mrs. Tobias noticed a watercolor mural on one wall depicting a group of youngsters playing in a park. “What’s this all about, Elizabeth?”

“It’s a place for children and their parents,” Elizabeth explained. “This is the birthday room. Parents can rent it out for parties, and I’ll help them with all the decorations and games. It’s an alternative to those overpriced, noisy parties at pizza restaurants and arcades.”

“I’ve already reserved this room for Gabby’s birthday party in two months,” Chiffon said as she snapped pictures of the group. “No more Mozzarella Monkey for me.”

“I’m going to offer packages with themes like dress-up tea parties for girls or space blast-off parties for boys. It will be an old-fashioned kind of fun,” Elizabeth explained.

“Did you tell them about the meeting room?” Chiffon asked.

“I’m getting to that. Follow me.” Elizabeth led them through the hall and stood by an open bedroom door.

“Meemaw’s old bedroom will be used for Mommy Time meetings or informal gatherings of mothers so they won’t feel so isolated during the day,” Elizabeth explained. “For a small membership fee, moms can drop in for coffee and cookies or a little chat and bring their children along.”

The room had been painted a restful light blue, and sunlight poured in through the large window looking out to a backyard with a tire swing. There was a mishmash of comfortable seating places: two big-bottomed wicker chairs with daisy-patterned cushions, a low-slung Victorian love seat, and several overstuffed armchairs. A stack of magazines and a squat, red vase filled with fresh white tulips graced a long, wooden coffee table.

“If a mother is really feeling stir-crazy she can drop off her child for up to three hours for a few dollars extra,” Elizabeth said.

She led them to a bedroom across the hall that had been set up for children. Framed nursery-rhyme characters of Little Bo Peep and Jack and Jill hung from the walls and an assortment of clear bins stored toys and books. Several sleeping mats were stacked in a corner, and a small portable crib was set up by the window.

“In the kitchen I’ve got coffee, of course, and snacks, but Meemaw’s old table can be used for crafts like scrapbooking,” Elizabeth explained. “Later, I might hire some people to give art lessons or teach baby massage classes. There’s so many possibilities.”

Timothy had joined the group of women by this time and was holding Glenda, who was decked out in a pink taffeta party dress. “Isn’t this a great idea? My wife’s a genius,” Timothy said.

“I don’t know about that.” Elizabeth took Glenda from his arms. “But it’s been the perfect compromise career-wise. I’m able to take my daughter to work with me to a place I’ll know she’ll enjoy. And I’ve found a job that excites me. I’m just bursting over with ideas.”

“You can take the girl out of the business, but you can’t take the business out of the girl.” Mavis hugged Elizabeth. “You’ve done it again.”

“Yes, indeed, you have,” Mrs. Tobias said, joining her in the embrace.

“Good going, gal.” Attalee eyed the presents on the chair. “You think we can get this party on the road?”

Taffy and Dwayne came in carrying a giant stuffed panda, and Daisy Hollingsworth arrived with a small wrapped box from Tiffany’s. Birdie scooted in late—the city council meeting she’d been covering ran over—but she’d brought Glenda a wooden rocking horse with a yarn mane.

After everyone at the party had arrived, including Rusty, and they’d been given a personal tour of “A Place for Us,” cake and soda were served in the birthday room.

Glenda was treated to a miniature cake of her own, which she promptly dived into headfirst, much to the delight of her parents, as well as Chiffon, who was capturing every sticky moment with her camera.

Attalee, who was finally allowed to open her gifts, couldn’t get over the loot she’d received from South of the Border. Among her presents were three different kinds of back scratchers, a snow globe, a shot glass filled with seashells, and a t-shirt that said “My friends went to South of the Border, and all I got was this stupid t-shirt.”

Additionally, Mrs. Tobias had prepared a photo album for Attalee of all the attractions she and Rusty had visited. In every photo, either Rusty or Mrs. Tobias held up a hand-lettered sign saying “Wish you were here, Attalee.”

“I ain’t never in my life seen nothing as nice as this.” Attalee hugged the album to her chest. “I’m much obliged.”

The party broke up shortly afterward, since the guest of honor was getting cranky and needed a diaper change. Mrs. Tobias dropped Mavis and Attalee off at the Bottom Dollar Emporium.

“Where have you decided to live?” Mavis asked Mrs. Tobias as she helped Attalee gather up her gifts from the backseat of the car.

“I’m living like a gypsy,” Mrs. Tobias said. “Currently we’re staying at Rusty’s house. I’m putting my house in Augusta up for sale, and hopefully we’ll find a suitable lot here in Cayboo Creek to build our new home.”

“It’ll be such a treat to have you so close by,” Mavis said as she climbed out of the car.

Mrs. Tobias’s smile was visible in the weak green light of the dash. “My life is here in Cayboo Creek now.”

Mavis and Attalee waved good-bye as Mrs. Tobias put her Caddie into reverse, and then Mavis helped Attalee to her car.

“Endings are hard, and they don’t get any easier no matter how old you are,” Attalee said as she loaded her trunk with her gifts. “I felt like my world ended when Dooley died. It does my heart good to see all the beginnings going on in other folks’ lives.”

“Like Elizabeth and her business. Or Rusty and Mrs. Tobias,” Mavis said.

“And that little young’un turning one year old,” Attalee said. “She’s got a heap of beginnings to look forward to.”

Mavis kissed Attalee’s cheek. “So do you, dearie. You just wait and see.”

She waited until her friend had gotten safely into her car. As Mavis headed for her own vehicle, she noticed a light left on over the soda fountain.

I thought I’d turned them all off, she thought as she unlocked the front door of the Bottom Dollar Emporium. Striding to the back, she passed her office door and her eye caught the blue glow of her computer monitor.

It’s been over a week since the reunion, she chided herself. There’s not going to be any mail from Hank. Not today, not tomorrow, maybe not ever.

Still, she couldn’t stop herself from checking. She wondered when she’d finally give up on him. Mavis signed on to the computer and heard the familiar AOL voice say, “You’ve got mail.”

Right, Mavis thought. Probably just some of that silly spam she occasionally received. She’d likely open her inbox and find an email from a mortgage refinancing company or a firm peddling Viagra. It couldn’t be Hank. Not after all this time.

Mavis held her breath as she clicked on the box, preparing to feel disappointment. Instead, her heart jumped when she saw an email from HardwareMan38.

  

Hi Mavis. When I got home from Cayboo Creek my computer had crashed, and I just retrieved your email today. I, too, had a fine time at the reunion.

Best,

Hank

  

P.S. I can’t stop thinking about you either. What do you think we should do about it?

  

Mavis read the email several times just for the sheer pleasure of it. He can’t stop thinking about me, she thought over and over. His ending sentence, “What do you think we should do about it?” was the most exciting one of all. His words held the promise of some sort of future between the two of them. Maybe he was thinking of moving back to Cayboo Creek, or maybe he was willing to pursue a long-distance relationship for a while.

Mavis sat at her desk and eagerly typed a reply:

  

Dear Hank,

So good to hear from you again. I don’t know what we should do, but whatever it is, I hope I will see you again very soon.

Fondly, Mavis

  

She hit the send button and sighed, knowing for certain that this time, her response would be warmly welcomed. She didn’t know what was going to happen between her and Hank, but through the courtesy of their computers, they were planting the seeds for their future.

How wonderful, Mavis thought, as she printed out Hank’s email so she could continue to marvel over it when she got home. It looked like she was getting her own beginning.