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MARIE WAS NOW MRS. Harvey Chicoron. A very pregnant Mrs. Chicoron.
“Big Eddie, I’m here to pick up the clothes that Harvey and I ordered.” Marie stopped when she spotted Marge. “Oh, my Lord.” Marie screamed and waddled toward them. “You three are back!”
Gertie stepped forward and hugged Marie. “You’re pregnant?” she asked, releasing Marie. “Nobody told us.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise.”
Ida Belle stuck out her hand. “Congratulations.”
Marie rolled her eyes. “A handshake?”
“Well, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“For heaven’s sake, Ida Belle. Hugging me won’t cause the baby to pop out, you know. Well, actually, you probably don’t.” Marie hugged a stiff Ida Belle, who often treated hugs as if they were torture. Marie released her and shook her head. “Then again, you never were much of a hugger.”
Marie turned to Marge. “Well, don’t I get a hug from you?”
Of all the things Marge hadn’t expected to see, it was Marie pregnant. She was still having a hard time getting used to the fact that Marie was married to Harvey Chicoron, and she’d been Mrs. Chicoron for several years now. Marge felt momentarily paralyzed.
Marie stepped forward and pulled Marge to her in a hug. “I’ve missed you three so much.”
“Me too,” Marge said, pulling away from the hug. “I mean, not them, of course,” she said, nodding toward Ida Belle and Gertie. “I’ve seen them every day for the past nine years.” Stupid thing to say, thought Marge. But then, she was used to saying stupid things around Marie. That woman always made her tongue tie itself into a knot.
“Bet you’re surprised to see me like this,” Marie said, pointing toward her huge stomach.
Marge was. She’d always hoped there would be a miracle and Marie would be divorcing Harvey at some point. But, seeing Marie pregnant, she knew that was never going to happen now. The Chicorons were powerful. No way would Marie ever get custody of her child in a divorce. This marriage would never end.
Marge hated Harvey, as did many in Sinful. He was a sexist, arrogant man who acted as if he owned the town, which he almost did. The Chicorons owned half the buildings on Main Street, including Louanne’s photo store. Harvey was an only child, so stood to inherit all of his father’s properties. And he’d never let any business owner forget it. The only friends Harvey had were those he bought in some shape or fashion, whether it was money given to politicians to vote the way he wanted or given to those he hired to do his dirty work.
Marie was one of those he bought, so said the gossip mongers behind her back. But her friends knew the real story. Marie’s brother Charlie had been born with emotional problems. Problems that required full-time care. Expensive care. Care neither Marie nor her tyrannical mother could afford. Marie never had an ounce of self-esteem, so after years of badgering from her mother and pressure from Harvey, who no doubt wanted a beautiful wife to give him beautiful children, Marie gave in.
Marge stared at Marie’s belly. Harvey was finally getting his wish. Marie was the most beautiful woman in Sinful and would smooth out the “ugly” in the Chicoron line.
Marge forced a smile on her face. “Congratulations.” She hoped it sounded sincere.
“Thank you,” Marie said. Then she promptly slugged Marge in the shoulder. “Now that we have the niceties out of the way, when did you get in?”
Marge shrugged, rubbing her shoulder. Marie was lucky. She was the only person who could ever lay hands on her like that and get away with it. The last person who slugged her had a black eye to show for it. “We arrived by bus yesterday.”
“And you didn’t call me right away? I had to find out you were coming back by hearing it from Kitty over at the beauty parlor?” Marie balled up her fist and slugged Marge again. “I thought we were best friends.”
They were, Marge thought. Not like she was best friends with Ida Belle and Gertie. She’d always felt differently toward Marie, though that was something she’d kept to herself. Some things were better left unsaid.
“The truth is, Marie, we haven’t told anyone outside of our families just yet,” Gertie said.
Marie folded her arms over her ample stomach. “I thought I was family.”
“You are,” Ida Belle said. “We were planning on calling you this afternoon. We were all tired last night when we got home, and this morning we had to move on a house we’re looking to rent.”
“You’re going to rent a house?” Marie looked puzzled. “Well, I didn’t hear Harvey talk about renting a house to you. I wonder why he didn’t tell me.”
“It wasn’t one of Harvey’s,” Marge said, trying to look anywhere but in Marie’s eyes. She was sure her friend would be hurt by that news. The three of them had discussed it before returning to Sinful, and although they would have loved to throw some business to Marie, the houses that Harvey rented out belonged to the Chicoron family. They’d be paying rent to the Chicorons, not Marie. That was something none of them could stomach.
Marie sighed. “I understand, I guess. When can I expect you to come over? This afternoon?”
“At your house?” Marge asked. “I thought maybe it would upset Harvey.” In fact, it was Harvey who’d been the last person to lay his hands on her after she’d called him a snake. That was the best black eye Marge had ever given anyone. It earned her a night in jail, offending a Chicoron usually did, but it was worth it. Marge had heard that Harvey was a bit more gentlemanly around Marie for a while after that.
“You leave Harvey to me,” Marie said. “And for heaven’s sake, don’t end up in jail again.”
“He needs to appreciate what he has.”
Marie sighed. “He’s been making lots of changes. You wouldn’t even recognize him.”
Ida Belle and Gertie, who were standing off to the side, shot one another glances and rolled their eyes. Marie had said that once before about her husband. But, once a lout, always a lout.
“He’s perfectly fine with all of you coming over. And he’s forgiven you for the black eye.”
Marge folded her arms. She knew Harvey would never forget or forgive how she had humiliated him.
Marie threw her hands in the air. “He’ll just have to get over it and get used to seeing you all at the house, because I want you three to be godmothers to my baby.”
“Godmothers?” Ida Belle stepped toward Marie. “But we...” She looked at Marge.
“You what?” Marie asked. Ida Belle looked away. Gertie grabbed a can of beef stew and pretended to study it.
Cowards, Marge thought. They could risk their lives as Army spies, but they couldn’t tell Marie they weren’t planning on living permanently in Sinful.
Marie arched her brows. “Marge?”
Big Eddie walked in from his back storeroom carrying an armload of plastic-wrapped shirts. “Here are Harvey’s shirts. Three Arrow and three Hathaway, just like he ordered. And your Butterick patterns also arrived. I have half your fabric order in. The rest you ordered should arrive tomorrow.”
Marge rushed over and took the shirts, fabric and patterns from Big Eddie and walked back over to Marie. “Look, my mom just baked a peach pie this morning. Why don’t you come over later this afternoon and we’ll all catch up?” She turned to Ida Belle and Gertie. “I’ll help Marie carry her stuff to her car and then meet you out back by the boat.”
Gertie put the can on the shelf and glanced back at Marie. “We’ll see you this afternoon.”
A new Chevrolet station wagon parked in front of the store caught Marge’s eye as she and Marie stepped outside. It was a beauty. Top of the line as well, with wood siding and chrome hubcaps gleaming in the sun. A far cry from the old DeSoto that Marie had been driving before she was married. That old thing leaked oil and had a bumper held together with masking tape. But this new station wagon... A Chicoron would never be seen driving anything less.
“Nice ride,” Marge said.
“Well, Harvey said we should have a wagon for the baby.”
Marge looked down at the pattern sitting on the top of the pile she was carrying. “Men’s shirts? I wouldn’t think Harvey would want something handmade.”
“They’re not for him. I’m making some clothes for Charlie. Harvey will pay for Charlie’s care, but anything extra I buy for Charlie comes out of my clothing budget, so I make my clothes and his clothes.” They stopped at the wagon. “I left the back window open. You can just put that stuff on the floor.”
Marge placed the items through the window and onto the floor. She noticed a pattern featuring dresses. She held it up and pointed to the dress in the middle. “You’ll look nice in this one. Pick something green. To match your eyes.”
“What about the one next to it?” Marie asked. “I could make you one. I think that would look lovely on you. If I heard correctly, your mama’s trying to set you up with one of the Martin twins. That dress would make a great impression.”
Marge laughed. “I don’t need any dresses right now. Thank you, though.”
They paused. Awkward. Finally, Marie sighed.
“I know you don’t like that I married Harvey. You made that perfectly clear in your letters. They were short but to the point.”
Those were the letters Marge had actually sent Marie. The ones she wrote but never sent were epics. No one would ever see those.
Marge could feel her face flushing. “I just... I think you deserve someone special. A person who loves you and treats you with respect.”
“Don’t you worry about me, Marge Boudreaux. Harvey’s manners may be abrupt, but he’s learning how to treat a woman special. Maybe he just needed to be married.”
“Do you love him?” Marge blurted out, then instantly regretted it. Did she really want to know? Either answer didn’t seem pleasant to hear.
Marie didn’t answer. Instead, an odd smile filled her face. “Quick. Put your hand on my belly.”
“What?”
She grabbed Marge’s hand and placed it on her stomach. “Do you feel that?”
Marge did.
“The baby’s kicking,” Marie said.
It felt familiar. Marge had two younger siblings. As a young girl, her mother would always have Marge feel when they’d kick. It was wondrous and creepy all at the same time.
“What was that look between the three of you when I said I wanted you all to be godmothers?”
Marge pulled her hand away. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Marge, I can read between the lines.” She glanced away. “I always have been good at that.”
Marge cleared her throat. “We’re looking to rent a place for just a few months.”
“And then?”
“And then move to New Orleans.”
There was silence. Then Marie simply said, “I see.”
“But we’d only be two hours away,” Marge said. “If you needed anything.”
“But why? Sinful is your home.”
“I don’t know if I belong here anymore,” said Marge. “If any of us three belong here anymore.”
Marie opened the driver’s side door. “Well, then I guess I have a few months to convince you otherwise.” She positioned herself in the front seat and pulled the door shut, then started the car. Before pulling away she stuck her head out of the opened window and said, “All of you belong here. You’ll see.”
When Marge returned to the dock behind the General Store, Gertie and Ida Belle were waiting in Big Eddie’s motorboat. As she took a seat inside the boat, Gertie asked, “Did you tell Marie we weren’t staying permanently?”
Marge nodded. “I told her we could be godmothers from two-hours away.”
“And?”
“And she said she’d convince us otherwise.”
“Good luck with that,” Ida Belle said as she started the motor. “We’ve done too much with our lives to be tied down to a town that’s still in the Middle Ages.”
Just then another motorboat passed by. Two men were inside, both with their shirts off, exposing their skinny, sunburned chests. The men whistled at the three women. One man then flexed his nonexistent muscle and smiled a grin minus a tooth or two. The driver of the boat swerved, and the grinning man was pitched into the water.
Gertie shook her head. “And we need a place where God has blessed the male population with brains and all their teeth. There’s no way anyone can convince us to stay here.”