by Webb, Peggy
“Nice,” he said. “Faded elegance.” His voice was muffled by the wide, toothy snout.
At that moment Miss Josephine stuck her head around the parlor door. Seeing the monster she let out a yell. Before Michael could explain that the creature in her hallway was an actor in costume, she marched through the door, grabbed Michael’s umbrella, and whacked Bobo’s snout.
“Take that, you big bully.” She flailed the umbrella over his head. “And that.” Hopping around like a spry little sparrow, she began to rain earnest blows on the monster’s tail. “Think you can scare folks in Peppertown, do you? Well, you have another thought coming.”
By this time Michael was too entranced by the chemistry between Miss Josephine and the monster to do anything except watch. Bobo’s thick scaly suit was more than enough protection from the frail old lady with the umbrella, and he was having the time of his life. He was hamming it up, howling in mock fear and rage, jumping around in his best creature-of-the-deep manner.
Clemmie hadn’t known what to expect when she heard Miss Josephine scream, but she certainly hadn’t expected to see Michael leaning against the wall, laughing.
“Good grief,” she said as she hurried toward the old lady. “Miss Josephine! Miss Josephine!”
Oblivious to the shouting, Miss Josephine kept whacking away at the fearsome creature who had invaded her quiet home. Clemmie grabbed her arm.
“It’s not a monster, Miss Josephine.”
“I know it’s not a lobster.” The old lady lowered her umbrella long enough to face Clemmie. “It’s a terrible monster. Stand back. I’ll save you.”
Clemmie shot a glance at Michael. “Do something.”
He approached the old lady, lifted her off the floor, and carried her into the parlor, umbrella and all.
“The monster is a movie actor. Movies!” he shouted into her ear as he placed her on the sofa.
“Movies?” Miss Josephine gave him a bright smile and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You want me to be in the movies?” She straightened the skirt of her print cotton dress. “Well, I don’t mind if I do.”
“Goodness gracious. What will we do now?” Clemmie turned as naturally to Michael as if she had been consulting him on important matters for years. “I don’t know if I can ever make her understand.”
Michael smiled at her. “You don’t have to. What happened between her and Bobo was pure magic—a filmmaker’s dream. If you think she’s up to it, I’d like to have a small part written into the movie for her. It will be a great touch of humor and humanity.”
“You’d really do that, Michael?”
“Yes.”
Bobo, standing unnoticed beside the fireplace, didn’t miss the looks that passed between those two. He’d already wagered a substantial amount that the unorthodox couple would end up at the altar. He was pleased to see things looking so promising.
“Thank you, Michael.”
“You’re more than welcome, Clemmie.”
Bobo grinned. It had been a hell of a night to come out into the rain, but he’d done it partially to protect his investment. Judging by those suggestive grins, he would not be disappointed. In fact, he might even add a little to his wager.
Clemmie moved to the sofa and took the old lady’s hand. “Miss Josephine, you’re going to be a movie star.”
“Wait till I tell Junior Wade about this.”
“Who’s Junior Wade?” Bobo asked.
Clemmie smiled at him. “If you have about an hour, we’ll tell you over a cup of hot chocolate.”
Bobo took off the head and tail of his costume while Clemmie brought a tray from the kitchen. The four of them toasted Miss Josephine’s success with hot chocolate.
o0o
The next morning flowers arrived—orchids for Clemmie and roses for Miss Josephine. Tucked into the orchids was another of Shakespeare’s sonnets. Michael’s note to Miss Josephine was one of congratulations to his latest discovery.
He called at noon to tell Clemmie about the part that was being written for her spunky boarder.
“It’s small, but it will require her to be on the set for a few days.”
“That’s no problem. I can bring her.”
“You’re sure? I can send a driver.”
“She’ll feel better with me. I’m familiar to her.” Clemmie clutched the receiver to her ear and listened to the silence on the other end of the line. Don’t say no, she thought to herself. Give me this one last chance to be with you, even if it’s only at a distance.
“Clemmie... I’ll look forward to seeing you on Monday.”
o0o
From: Clemmie
To: Joanna, Bea, Belinda, Janet, Catherine, Molly
Re: Michael
I was all set to break Rule Four and the consequences be hanged. It turned out Michael was the one with scruples! Oh, he’s really, really wonderful and I love him with all my heart. It’s an impossible situation, of course. I could never leave my obligations behind. Still, I’ll be forever grateful he came into my life.
Clemmie
From: Janet
To: Clemmie, Bea, Molly, Joanna, Catherine, Belinda
Re: Fate
Clemmie, now you’ve got me believing in this movie producer. I can’t imagine why he’d ever want to leave a wonderful woman like you. And there is always a solution to a problem.
Janet
From: Bea
To: Clemmie, Belinda, Joanna, Molly, Janet, Catherine
Re: Belinda
Ditto everything Janet said. You’re going to be just fine, Clemmie. You hear me? I won’t have it any other way.
Belinda and her crew arrived today, and Reeve is every bit as doting as she said. If I didn’t have my own Prince Charming, I’d be insanely jealous. You won’t be hearing from her. She looked a bit peaked, and I put her right to bed. (Hey, Molly, the bed rest cure runs in the Adams family!)
Belinda, I know you’re checking email on your iPhone. Did you hear that? Stay in bed. Don’t you dare get up and try to put on a brave front for everybody.
Joanna, are you okay? I know you’re bouncing back. That jerk is not worth one tear! Do you hear me?
Bea
From: Molly
To: Bea, Belinda, Clemmie, Joanna, Catherine, Janet
Re: Everything
If I had a magic wand I’d wave it over us and make everything turn out okay!!! There’s going to be a full moon tonight, and I’m lighting a white candle for all of us, especially Belinda, Clemmie and Joanna!
Molly
From: Catherine
To: Molly, Belinda, Bea, Joanna, Janet, Clemmie
Re: Confidence
Nothing can get the Dixie Virgins down, not even this awful test I’m going to have on equine medicine!
Cat
Her emails and the flowers got Clemmie through the weekend. Their fragrance sweetened the house and their beauty brightened her shabby rooms in a way that even a fresh coat of paint could not. Looking at them each day, she could almost feel Michael’s presence.
When Monday finally came, she was breathless with anticipation. After much ado, she got Miss Josephine dressed and into the car. They saw the other boarders as they drove past Woody’s Cafe.
Clemmie waved at them. “Looks like the schoolteachers are back.”
“I don’t like black. Makes me look like a crow. If they bring out a black dress, I’m not wearin’ it.”
“It’s Glen,” Clemmie shouted, “and the rest of the teachers. They’re back from their mini-sabbatical—that conference in St. Louis.”
“No, I never knew Louis. Junior was my only lover.”
Clemmie gave up. She had other things to think about, anyhow. What she would say to Michael? What he would say to her? What would they do? She knew it wouldn’t be the same as last time, but still... seeing Michael was always so exciting.
Her heart set up a nervous trip-hammer rhythm as she turned the car into the gravel that had been hauled into the pasture over the weeke
nd to keep cars from getting stuck in the mud.
Rick Love met them at the car. Clemmie tried to keep her disappointment from showing.
Rick helped Miss Josephine from the car. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I’m Rick Love, the director.”
“I never make love on the first date, young man. You’ve got the wrong woman.”
Rick arched one eyebrow at Clemmie and grinned.
“Don’t look at me,” she said. “This was Michael’s idea.” She swung her head around, searching the set. “By the way, is he here today?”
“He and Jay went into Tupelo. A press conference, I believe.”
“Oh.” Clemmie tried to hide her disappointment, but it showed on her face.
Rick was quick to notice. When he’d first heard of Michael’s intentions to court this woman publicly, he’d thought it was a publicity stunt. After meeting Clemmie, he’d changed his mind. There was something so warm and natural about her that it would be impossible not to respond. And Michael had. He’d seen it.
“I’m going to take good care of you today,” he told Clemmie. As he escorted them to wardrobe for Miss Josephine’s fitting he decided there was more to the romance than Michael was telling. And he was glad. He liked happy endings—in real life as well as in the movies.
“Watch your step. It’s muddy around here since the rain.” He helped Clemmie get Miss Josephine safely up the steps of the wardrobe trailer. “When you’ve finished here, I’ll be back to take you to lunch.”
Miss Josephine patted his cheek. “You’re a nice young man. Unfortunately my hand is spoken for.” She swept into the trailer as if she were born to be a movie star. “Young woman,” she said to the wardrobe mistress, “I want to wear something sexy. And don’t you dare put me in black.”
Maria Trivoli, the head of wardrobe, was accustomed to dealing with all sorts of eccentric and egotistical people. She smiled at the old lady, introduced herself, and set about making the next two hours one of the best times Miss Josephine had ever had.
Clemmie thoroughly enjoyed the fitting. When she saw Rick she was going to tell him so. She’d rather have told Michael, of course, but it seemed that she would never get that chance.
Time passed so quickly that Clemmie was startled when the trailer door opened. Smiling, she started toward the door.
“Rick, it’s been...” Words died in her throat and her hand flew to her mouth. The man standing in the door was not Rick Love.
“Hello, Clemmie.”
Backlit by the sun, Michael Forrest looked like a god down from Mount Olympus. One of the handsome, golden ones. One of the sexy ones.
He smiled. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“You didn’t disappoint me. You surprised me.” And thrilled me, she wanted to say. “I was expecting Rick.”
“I know. We finished the press conference sooner than I expected.” He stepped into the trailer and shut the door behind him. “I thought I would check to see how Miss Josephine was doing.”
His gaze never left Clemmie. Seeing her was like standing in front of a fresh ocean breeze. He felt invigorated, alive, excited, and refreshed. Today she was wearing a soft pink sweater that made him want to taste her. But then, he always wanted to taste her, no matter what she was wearing. He backed against the door to keep from following through on his impulse.
“She’s doing fine.” Clemmie put her hands in the pockets of her corduroy skirt to keep from reaching toward Michael. Always, when she first saw him, she wanted to touch him. “She loves the red dress Maria is making for her. Michael...” She pulled one of her hands out of the pocket, then self-consciously put it back.
He leaned toward her. “Yes?”
The ache to touch and be touched quivered in the air between them. Clemmie took a deep breath, turning her eyes away from Michael so she could think straight.
“Today has been wonderful—for me as well as for Miss Josephine. I want you to know that.” A flush colored her cheeks when she looked back at him. “You’ve given us something we would never have had without you.”
“And that is...”
“Excitement. Glamour.”
He didn’t know why he was disappointed. What had he hoped she would say? Love? He chided himself for a fool.
“I’m glad. Can you stay for lunch?”
“If Miss Josephine is not too tired.”
He watched her consult Miss Josephine. It took five minutes to make the old lady understand. Michael marveled at Clemmie’s patience. Her compassion, too. It was obvious to him that she was fond of Miss Josephine. He found himself almost envying the attention Clemmie lavished on her boarder.
When the matter of lunch was finally settled, Michael took Miss Josephine’s arm and escorted them to the dining tent. Every step he took heightened his awareness of Clemmie. It didn’t matter that the little old lady was between them. His blood sang with the nearness of Clemmie.
Their table was set with fresh flowers. On impulse he’d stopped at a florist in Tupelo and brought them back to Peppertown. When the three of them were settled at the table with steaming plates of food, he signaled to Lonnie Bobo. The multi-talented actor came over and serenaded them with his violin.
“This is enchanting,” Clemmie said. I love you, her eyes told him.
“I thought Miss Josephine would like it,” Michael replied. I wanted you to have music, his heart said.
Around them, the movie company watched. Not a single person believed that Michael Forrest had arranged flowers and music for Miss Josephine’s benefit.
They knew he was courting Clementine Brady. The intriguing thing was that they didn’t know what the outcome would be.
Rick and Jay, sitting across the tent from them, decided that this time, Michael had met a woman who was right for him. They just hoped he found it out before it was too late.
Lonnie Bobo, playing his violin, thought that sometimes real life was more fun than the movies.
o0o
From: Bea
To: Clemmie, Janet, Joanna, Catherine, Joanna
Re: Belinda
Don’t mention this unless Belinda does. Her period started today, and she’s devastated. It was just a few days late, so I don’t think she was pregnant, but she’s as upset as if she’d had a miscarriage. We’re doing everything we can to take her mind off the baby she so terribly wants to have.
Bea
o0o
From: Joanna
To: Belinda, Catherine, Bea, Molly, Janet, Clemmie
Re: Revenge
I put the word on the street that Fernando has a little dick, a big ego and no bedroom skills! You won’t believe this! Already, four women have come forth telling the same story!!! How many women did that PIG IN PANTS have??? I am SO LUCKY to be rid of him! Don’t tell Kirk any of this!
Joanna
o0o
From: Belinda
To: Catherine, Bea, Molly, Janet, Clemmie, Joanna
Re: The Baby
I just wanted all of you to know that I’m not pregnant. Bea has been a brick! (Bea, I know I’ve told you to your face, but I wanted to put in writing so you’ll know how much having you as friend during this time has meant to me.)
Anyhow, I’m not letting this little setback get me down! Onward and upward! That’s what I say!
Belinda
o0o
Clemmie’s days were defined by emails from her friends and flowers—roses on weekdays, orchids on the weekend. All from Michael. He was unfailingly generous and thoughtful. And he was always distant.
On the movie set, while Miss Josephine did her bit part, Clemmie sat in a special chair, a comfortable director’s chair placed close enough to the action so that she could be there if Miss Josephine needed her. Michael was always there. He smiled at her when she arrived, greeted her briefly and politely, then disappeared to whatever chore called to him, usually something as far removed from her as possible. But she could feel him watching her. Sometimes when she looked up, she’d catch hi
s eye. There would be a brief shining on his face, and then he’d turn away.
He kept his distance and he kept his vow: she would never be a one-night stand for Michael Forrest. It was just as well, she decided as she drove Miss Josephine home on the final day of her filming. Some women weren’t cut out to be one-night stands, and she was one of them. For one thing, she wouldn’t even know how to act. Would you say “Thank you,” and politely leave after it was all over? Or would you kiss passionately and pretend it would never end, then go home and cry quietly into your pillow?
She didn’t know, and now she never would. The brilliant days of October had given way to the apple crisp days of November, and soon Michael would be leaving. All she’d have would be the memories of a beautiful courtship and the sure knowledge that she loved him.
She turned her head so she could look at the movie set one last time. Michael was standing in the glow of sunset, watching her leave. He lifted his hand, and that was Clemmie’s goodbye. She knew that as surely as she knew her name. He’d discovered scruples, he’d said. He wouldn’t touch her again, wouldn’t hold her so close that their heartbeats felt like one, wouldn’t kiss her until she thought she’d fall off the edge of the earth. Never.
She hoped she could wait until she got home before the tears came.
“Well, if you ask me, somebody ought to give a party.”
“What?” She’d been so busy with her own thoughts she’d been ignoring Miss Josephine.
“A party. For me. After all, I’m a movie star now.”
“That’s a great idea, Miss Josephine. David and Daniel are coming home on Thanksgiving weekend. It will be a perfect time for a celebration.”
Celebrations and partings. How often were they intertwined? She’d think about that tomorrow, she decided as her Victorian house came into view. She’d think about a lot of things tomorrow.
o0o
Michael watched until Clemmie’s car was out of sight. He was reminded of the time when he’d been eight. His neighbor had gotten a cocker spaniel for Christmas. Michael, who had never been allowed to have a dog because it might dig in the yard or mess up the furniture, had been given permission to go next door and play with the dog. Roger was the dog’s name, a sturdy no-nonsense name for a spunky little animal that was all warm fur and wagging tail and wet tongue. Michael had spent six glorious weeks going next door every afternoon, playing with Roger.
