“Get that in the oven if you want to eat before three. It’s preheated,” Bernice called out.
Goebel took the dish of lasagna from the bag and slid it onto the middle rack in the oven. “Done,” he said. “What can I do to help?”
Robert, normally quiet as a mouse, spoke first. “You want to find some garlic powder in the pantry for me? I looked and can’t find it, though Bernice swears it’s there, except that she can’t find it, either.”
Sophie laughed at Robert’s sudden burst of words. “Wonders never cease. Goebel, have a peep. You’re taller than Robert, so you can see what’s on the top shelf.”
Goebel nodded and headed to the pantry.
“Where are the others?” Sophie asked Bernice.
“Ida is supposed to be helping Toots look for something to wear, but they’ve been up there ever since you left. I called up the stairs about fifteen minutes ago, but they never answered. They probably got lost in the closet. I’ve never seen a woman with so many clothes. And shoes, too. Every time she runs to the store for something, she comes back with another pair of shoes. She’s gonna have to build another place just for her shoes if this keeps up.”
Tapping her fingers against the countertop, Sophie couldn’t wait to rush upstairs to see for herself what was going on. “That’s nice, Bernice. I’m going up to check on them.” Sophie raced up the stairs before Bernice could stop her.
She stopped when she reached Toots’s bedroom. The door was closed, so she gave a light knock. If they’d decided to take a quick nap, she didn’t want to bother them. She knocked a second time, then Toots opened the door. She held an index finger over her mouth, indicating silence, but motioned for her to come inside.
“Follow me,” she mouthed.
Sophie trailed behind Toots as she led her to the master bathroom. Whispering, she said, “She won’t come out and doesn’t want me to come in, but I can see inside. You need to take a look at this.” Inching away from the door, Toots stood back so that Sophie could peer inside the huge master bath. From her position just outside the door, she could see Ida. She was in a fetal position in the middle of the floor, surrounded by a puddle of urine. When Sophie saw this, she knew there was no time for questions. She had to act, and she had to do it now. “Ida, let’s get up now!” She entered the bathroom and hooked her arms under Ida’s as she tried to lift her.
“Come and help me, Toots. She’s as limp as a rag doll.”
Toots raced to her aid. “I’ve been trying to coax her out, but she’s been totally unresponsive but not in a ‘call the medic’ way. This isn’t good, is it?”
Together, they hoisted Ida into the Jacuzzi tub, uncaring that they were both standing in urine. “No, this is not good. Help me get her clothes off.”
Sophie was remembering a time when just the thought of anything unhygienic near Ida would cause her to freak out and disinfect everything around her. She did not want her to fall back into her old OCD habits.
“You get the shoes,” Sophie instructed. “I’ll work on the dress.” Together, they removed Ida’s clothes, and neither of them spoke. When they’d finished, Toots took the cup she used to rinse her mouth out with after she brushed her teeth and filled it with warm water. “Let me rinse the tub out first,” she said. A few cups of water later, Toots closed the drain and began to fill the tub with water. During all of this, Ida hadn’t said a single word, hadn’t moved a muscle. The living dead, Toots thought, but didn’t voice the words. She didn’t know if Ida’s ability to hear was affected at this point.
“Hand me a washcloth,” Sophie instructed.
Toots raced to the closet, where she kept a full supply of large, fluffy bath towels and washcloths. She handed one to Sophie, amazed at her ability, but remembered that she had been a nurse and this came natural to her. Later, she would tell her how impressed she was.
“Do you have any bath gel?”
Toots reached across the Jacuzzi tub for the bottle of gardenia-scented bath gel she used. She squirted a large amount in the center of the washcloth. “This will make her smell human again.”
Sophie nodded, then proceeded to bathe Ida as if she were a newborn. Her ministrations were precise and gentle. Toots observed how efficient and caring her dear friend was. Someday, she would have to tell Ida how Sophie cared for her, but not today.
After she rinsed the gel away, Sophie gently pulled Ida into a sitting position. “Help me get her feet over the tub, then, on the count of three, let’s lift her out. It’s okay if we put her in your bed?”
“Of course it is,” Toots said.
Five minutes later and a bit short-winded, they had dried Ida, and Sophie managed to put one of Toots’s nightgowns on her.
“So, what’s next?” Toots asked, knowing this was just the beginning.
“I want her to wake up, and I’m not really sure how to go about doing this. I think we should allow her to wake up naturally, see if she’s in her own mind, then go from there. You’re okay with leaving her here for a while?”
Toots shook her head. “I can’t believe you’d even ask me such a stupid question. Ida’s one of us even though she is a bit on the weird side. Of course she can stay here. Forever, if that’s what it takes.”
Sophie rolled her brown eyes toward the ceiling, then genuflected. “And let’s pray that it doesn’t. A day with Ida is pure hell.”
Toots laughed. “I’m sure you’ll remind her of that when she wakes up. Seriously, Soph, shouldn’t we be doing something? I don’t want to say the word, but don’t you think it’s time we called in a . . . specialist?”
Sophie whirled around so fast she jarred her neck. “We are doing something, and if you so much as whisper that word, I will kick your ass from here to California and back. Round-trip. I’m going to take care of... this”—she nodded at Ida, who had remained motionless on the bed the entire time—“as soon as she’s awake. Now, aren’t you supposed to be helping out with lunch?”
“Is this your way of telling me to get out of my own room?” Toots asked.
“Yes, now go. I have a few things I need to do, and I really do not want an audience.” Sophie stood by the bed, one hand gently resting on Ida’s head.
“Okay. Give me a shout if you need anything. And I mean anything, Sophie,” Toots said, the last words filled with total sincerity.
Drawing a deep breath, Sophie shook her head. “I know that. I just need to spend some time alone with Ida right now. I have an idea, and I need to focus.”
Toots understood and left the room.
As soon as the door closed Sophie walked to the opposite side of Toots’s big bed and hoisted herself onto it. After propping the pillows up and leaning against them, she took Ida’s hand in hers and began to pray.
Chapter Nine
Bernice served the lasagna, giving Toots a portion that would feed three people at the very least. Toots, unsurprisingly, didn’t have much of an appetite. But for appearances’ sake, she took a few bites. “When will Daniel return? He might be the only one able to reach Ida at this point.” As soon as she came downstairs, Toots had explained Ida’s condition without giving away what they really suspected. She didn’t want to frighten Bernice or Robert.
“I’m not sure. He’s going to that attorney thing, a conference or something. Abby said Chris was going, too,” Bernice explained.
Toots looked at Goebel. “Is that true?”
“I think he mentioned something about going the other day when we spoke. Said if he wanted to offer pro bono services, attendance was required for those practicing in the state of South Carolina.”
“Abby told me that Chris was going—at least I think she did. It doesn’t matter now. What matters is . . .” Toots wanted to say something about Ida’s soul, but knew this wasn’t the time or the place. Instead, she said, “I think now would be the perfect time for Bernice to reveal her big secret, don’t you?” She aimed her question at Goebel.
“I told you I wasn’t going to tell any of you
,” Bernice shot back. “You’re all too darn nosy, I swear.”
Robert cleared his throat, wiped his mouth with a paper napkin, then reached for Bernice’s hand, and said, “Dear, I think maybe we should let them in on our little secret. They will know soon enough, don’t you agree?”
Bravo for Robert, Toots thought. About time he spoke up for himself. Still, she couldn’t help but smile. He and Bernice were such an unlikely pair, but apparently their love of recipes and one another was much stronger than she’d first imagined. They were an adorable couple, but Toots wasn’t about to tell them that.
“Oh hell, I suppose we should,” Bernice offered up. “I think we should at least wait until Daniel returns.”
Goebel chuckled. “Makes one wonder what you two are up to, that’s for sure. Don’t you agree, Toots?”
She couldn’t help it. She wore a grin the size of the moon. “I do. They’re not very subtle, if that’s what you mean. Just tell us and get it over with, Bernice. You and Robert plan on getting hitched, am I right?”
Robert’s eyes twinkled like shiny stars. Bernice’s face turned a deep shade of rose.
“All right, I might as well spit it out,” Bernice said. “Yes, we are ‘getting hitched’ as you so graciously put it. We wanted to get our marriage license this week. Robert wants to get married in the garden. Here. That is, if you don’t mind.”
Toots’s eyes filled with happy tears. There was nothing she liked more than planning a wedding. She was quite experienced. She walked around the table and leaned over and gave Bernice a hug, then did the same to Robert. The pair beamed like lasers.
Goebel got up and walked around the table to congratulate the pair. “This is the best news I’ve heard all day. Congratulations to you both.” He shook Robert’s hand and kissed Bernice on the top of the head. “You know, this gal here is about the best cook in the world. She makes a mean Southern fried chicken with white gravy.”
Goebel remembered his first visit here years ago. He’d been more than a hundred pounds heavier, and never missed a meal back then, and most of them were fried and heavy. This group of women had worked their magic on him, and now Robert was about to succumb to the headstrong Bernice, and in doing so, he would gain the love and respect of the godmothers and their leader, Toots. He chuckled at his thoughts. These women were life changers, of that there was no doubt.
“So,” Toots inquired, “when do you two want to hook up? I’ll take care of all the arrangements, if that’s all right with you two?”
Robert looked at Bernice. “Whatever you want, dear.”
Bernice rolled her eyes. She was getting as ornery as the rest of the women. “You’ve certainly had enough experience, that’s for sure. How many times has it been?” Bernice asked, then waved her hand in the air. “Don’t answer that. I’m afraid it will jinx me. And yes, Tootsie, you can plan my wedding. I don’t have time. Robert and I are planning to self-publish a cookbook. We’ve been taking computer classes at night to learn about the formatting.”
So that’s where they’d been all those nights, Toots thought. “I think it’s delightful. We’ll have three authors in the group now. So, when do you want me to make this blessed event happen? I can have Jamie design the cake; she’s quite the expert at that.”
Toots was rambling. Of course Bernice knew Jamie could bake. She’d practically adopted her. Jamie had lived in the guesthouse for three years before purchasing a beautiful old house in Charleston, and when she wasn’t at the Sweetest Things, she could be found at her new house, scraping paint off the solid oak floors. Being in a relationship with Mike, a pilot she’d met and who appeared to be madly in love with her, and she him, completed her. Once lonely and down on her luck, she’d put every bit of her energy into the bakery, had opened another one, and now landed an occasional guest spot on the Food Network since rising to fame in the world of pralines. Toots was proud of her and never forgot to tell her so. Jamie was like a daughter to her. That Jamie and Abby were practically best friends pleased Toots immensely.
Life was good. Except for the issue with Ida, but she wouldn’t think about that until Sophie came downstairs with a plan to rid Ida of whatever evil being had taken possession of her.
“So, just tell me when you two want to get hitched, and I’ll take it from there,” Toots said, struggling to keep her thoughts from returning to the negative but worried sick over what was happening in her bedroom.
Bernice turned to Robert. “It’s his choice, but it can’t be on the evenings we have classes. Tuesdays and Thursdays are out.”
As usual, Robert smiled and agreed. “A weekend would be best for all of us, unless Toots thinks it’s a bad idea.” He looked to her for an answer.
“You’re right. Weekends are perfect. Most of the time. I’m assuming you’ve a lengthy guest list?” Toots inquired of Robert.
“No, just Mavis and Wade on my side. And Daniel. He’s almost like my son now. It is okay if I refer to him as my son, isn’t it?” he asked Bernice.
“Shit! He’s old enough to be a grandfather himself, but to answer your question, yes, you may consider him a son.” Daniel’s own father had taken off when he was very young. “He likes Daniel very much, you know that?” Bernice directed her question to Toots as if she needed her approval.
“Daniel is crazy about Robert, too. I think you all will make a nice little family, but first things first. You said you were planning to get your license. Would you like me to take you to the courthouse this afternoon? I don’t have anything scheduled. Abby might stop over with the twins later, but I can call her and tell her I won’t be here. Plus, I can share the good news. Or would you rather tell her together?”
“Let’s tell her together. Can you call her now and invite her over?” Bernice asked excitedly.
Toots was about to agree to this when she remembered the situation upstairs. It wouldn’t be wise to bring those children in this house with Ida still lingering in a state of semiconsciousness upstairs. She wasn’t about to tell Bernice what they suspected, so she went with the first thing that came to mind. “I just remembered. Abby told me she had to take the babies to see Dr. Pauley today. Something about their one-year checkups.” There. That sounded perfectly feasible to her. She was becoming quite the liar these days.
“Well, we can fill her in the next time she pops in. It’s not like this comes as a big surprise, right? It was obvious to all of you that we were eventually going to end up getting married.” Bernice stated this in a very matter-of-fact way.
Goebel piped in. “Sophie and I suspected there was something in the works, but you never know about these things. I thought Tootsie and Phil would be making an announcement when Abby was kidnapped, but I was wrong about that.”
Toots squinted her eyes like two arrows. “I barely knew the man then! I know I have a bad record in the marriage department, but I’m not going to up and marry the first man that comes along!”
“Shit! I’ve upset you. I didn’t mean to,” Goebel apologized.
Toots got up and started clearing the table. They’d barely touched their food, but it didn’t matter. Lunch was just a reason to stay in the same room together. “No need to apologize, Goebel. I do have a track record. Some I’m ashamed of, some I’m not. I am old enough to acknowledge my mistakes and wise enough to know when to laugh them off. Two of those marriages were real. Six were not.”
They all knew that John Simpson, Abby’s father, had been the love of her life. He was husband number one. He’d died in a car accident when Abby was just a baby. Chris’s dad, Garland Clay, ranked high on the list, but, like all the others, he’d died too soon. Only the good die young, she thought.
“Let’s stop all this talk of bad marriages, okay? You win some, you lose some. Right, Toots?”
“You’re absolutely right. Personally, I consider myself to be a winner. The day I met Abby’s godmothers, and, of course, the day I met Bernice, were two of the best days of my life.”
No one said a word
as Toots carried a stack of plates to the sink.
Chapter Ten
Tuesday, September 6, 1955
Bishop Verot Catholic School
New Jersey
“So, what did you think of Sister Clara Marie?” Sophia asked Teresa.
“Not much really. This math is too easy, so I guess she is a bit behind in her curriculum. I learned this stuff in fifth grade. I don’t think I’ll need to cheat on the exams.”
“She’s an old biddy. I would bet my last smoke she’s ninety years old if she’s a day. Can you imagine being that old? Try not to get too close to her. Her breath smells like rotten cheese. I don’t think she bothers to brush her teeth.”
Teresa laughed. “I’ll try not to.”
They walked down the hall together and out the front door. The end of their first day of seventh grade. “You wanna hang out and wait for the other two?”
“Ida and Mavis?” Teresa asked.
“Yeah. I think they want to hang out with us. What about you?”
Teresa wasn’t sure what Sophia meant and asked her. “Do I want to hang out with them, or do I mind if they hang out with us?” She wasn’t sure. She probably came off like a total jerk, but she’d just met this girl today. She was still feeling her out.
“Both,” Sophia answered immediately.
Teresa thought about it. They seemed like nice girls. Her mother would let her invite them over, that much she knew. Ida seemed a bit uppity, but Teresa knew girls like her were really just scared and acted all haughty just to cover up their fears. They were new to Catholic school in general and this one in particular, just like her. Yes, she thought they deserved a chance to become friends. “I like them. Mavis is funny.”
“She’s a sweet girl, but Ida . . . I ain’t so sure about her. She’s kind of a bitch, don’t ya think?”
Teresa laughed, then felt bad for doing so. It was wrong to poke fun at others. Her mother reminded her of this at every opportunity. She wouldn’t mind being friends with the other two girls. “I think she’s a bit . . . unsure of herself, that’s all.” She didn’t want to talk about a girl she hardly even knew.
Spirited Away Page 5
