When I got back to the studio, I went directly to the kitchen. I put my head under the faucet and let cold water pour over my hair. I squeezed it out, pinned it up off my neck, and went back to my drawing board, where I drew sketches of horrible, big-eyed babies wearing nothing but diapers and sensible shoes. They were scary even to me.
I’d been working for over an hour before Gloria said anything.
“Anything going on at the post office today?”
“You heard?”
She nodded. “Before you got back here. Arlene Gillman got it from Mae Finley, who, I’m guessing, got it from her sister, who works at the post office.”
I put my head down and banged it a couple times on the drawing board. “I’m going to have to leave town,” I said. “Maybe move to Michigan. Milwaukee, I’m thinking. Someplace cold, yet in need of good design services. Preferably where nobody knows me.”
“Keeley, sweetie, Milwaukee is not actually in Michigan. It’s in another of those M states I think. Anyway, none of this is your fault,” Gloria said soothingly. “GiGi should have left you alone. She was in the wrong here, not you.”
“Then why am I the one who’s the talk of the town—yet again?” I asked. “Did Arlene tell you that GiGi actually expects me to take A.J. back? She thinks this whole thing is just an unfortunate misunderstanding!”
Gloria laughed. “I heard you told her in colorful detail just how you found A.J. and Paige. I believe the phrase ‘going at it like a couple of barnyard animals’ came into play? Is that accurate?”
“I was so mad I’m not sure exactly what I said, but that’s probably a close approximation. But you know the amazing thing? She still doesn’t believe any of it. GiGi flat-out called me a liar! The woman adds new dimensions to denial.”
My aunt cocked her head and gave me a serious look. “The thing is, all the Jernigan men in this town have always gotten away with bloody murder. And do you know why that is?” She didn’t wait for me to answer. “It’s because they could. They run around and cheat and lie all week long, then stand up in church on Sunday in the front pew and sing louder ’n anybody—because everybody looks the other way. GiGi knows for damn tootin’ sure that A.J. cheated on you. Just like she knows Drew cheated on her, and old Chub cheated on his wife. They all knew. They had to. But none of ’em ever said anything, ’cause they didn’t want to cause a stink.”
I closed my eyes. I could feel a tension headache coming on.
“But why? Why would GiGi want to live like that? I never knew A.J.’s grandmother, but I do know GiGi. She’s an attractive woman, and no matter how she acts sometimes, I know for a fact that she’s not stupid.”
Gloria smiled, but it wasn’t her usual, angelic smile. Her lips twisted down at one corner. “Family tradition. GiGi lives a nice life over there at The Oaks. And out at Cuscawilla, and wherever else she chooses. Drew knows she knows. And she makes him pay. And the sad thing is, for all their games, I think they probably do love each other in their own sick way.”
I put my hand up to the back of my neck and rubbed the base of it. For a second I pictured Grandmother Jernigan’s pearls wrapped there, choking me, tying me to a long line of other defeated women.
Gloria misses nothing. She got up, came over, and massaged my neck right where the muscles were all knotted up. “Anyway, it’s over and done with. And I don’t care what anybody says, you’re much too young for pearls.” She brightened then.
“I forgot! Speaking of ugly gossip, guess what else Mae Finley said when she called?”
“Don’t know. Tell.”
“Madison’s official slut population just dropped by two.”
“Huh?”
“Paige and Lorna! Mae saw them loading stuff into a moving van this morning. And there’s a sold sign in front of their house.”
“You’re kidding,” I said, feeling my spirits lift a little. “Where’d they go? What happened?”
“I heard they’re moving to Marietta. Lorna’s been on disability since June, with emphysema. And now Paige lost her job at the ad agency,” Gloria said, her eyes sparkling. “A little bird told me they let her go because Madison Mutual took their account to another agency.”
“No!” I had to laugh despite my wretched mood.
“The same little bird told me that GiGi let it be known to Drew that she didn’t want to see that little blond hussy anywhere near her precious son. Didn’t want Paige getting any ideas that once you were out of the picture she could just slide right into the picture.”
“Poor Paige,” I said. “I guess she won’t be spending Christmas morning at The Oaks after all.”