What Matters in Mayhew (The Beanie Bradsher Series Book 1)

by Cassie Dandridge Selleck

“What mother wouldn’t risk her life for her child?”

  “One who has five children and a husband who would be lost without her, Sweet. Dear God, it’s one thing if you were having to choose your own life or a child’s, but this baby doesn’t have a chance and you do.”

  “I have to do what I think is right,” Sweet said. “I’m sorry if you disagree.”

  Bubba John sighed, a signal Sweet knew meant he was giving in. He would not change her mind and he knew it.

  “I’ll take you back on Friday.”

  “I’m going to call and see if Dr. Desmond will be there. I’d feel better if I talked to him about this.”

  “That’s a great idea. If he recommends the surgery, will you consider it?”

  “I’ve been considering it.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “I’ll talk to him Friday.”

  “There’s another thing we are going to do Friday, and I’m not taking “no” for an answer, dammit.”

  Sweet looked long and hard at her husband. He rarely swore, nor did he ever raise his voice.

  “We are buying a new car,” Bubba said, without a trace of a smile. “When Mam and Pap’s place sells, we’ll be able to pay it off. I want you to have a decent car, especially if you are going to have to traipse back and forth to Tallahassee for the next three weeks.”

  Sweet reached for Bubba John’s hand and held it the rest of the way home. Bubba John clung to her hand like his life depended on it. What would he ever do without Sweet Lee? And what would she do when she found out he just told a whopper of a lie?

  14

  It’s Getting Thick All Right

  LouWanda Crump was always welcome at the round table inside the Mayhew Café, though under normal circumstances she was more of a spectator than a participant in its often-lively political discussions. It wasn’t that she had no opinion; she was just tired of being constantly talked over and thus often kept her opinions mostly to herself. This morning, however, LouWanda held court with a status given only to those holding the most fascinating fodder to consume.

  “I’m tellin’ ya, fellas, this just thickens the pot.”

  LouWanda swept a stray piece of hair up the back of her head and, producing a black bobby pin from thin air, tucked it firmly into place.

  “Dottie is over there now watchin’ that store and, low and behold, Beanie Bradsher and Bubba John’s nowhere to be found. Word’s gettin’ around Beanie and Bubba done run off together to get that lottery money, and I’m bettin’ Sweet Lee Atwater ain’t gonna stand for that. She’s probably tracking ‘em down now.”

  “She ain’t gonna get very far without a vee-hickle,” said Eustace Falwell. “I noticed her mini-van down at the high school this mornin’. I was pulling through the Senior Parking lot this morning and stopped when I saw her car door open. I remember exactly, ‘cause I thought to myself, that Sweet Lee is sure lookin’ good this morning. I need to see what she is doin’ to keep that young, healthy look. Course then I realized it was her daughter, and not Sweet at all. B-Kay sure is pretty, just like her mama. She’s got to be sixteen now if she’s drivin’ and all. I waved at her, but I didn’t stop. They don’t like it when anybody stops. That school resource officer will come right over and invite you to leave. I know, because it’s done happened to me twice’t so far. Anyways, Sweet ain’t drivin’ her car today, so that ain’t it.”

  “Well, she wouldn’t be following in her car, anyway. How would she keep from being seen if she did that?” LouWanda asked.

  “Y’all got all this wrong,” said Clyde Owensby. “I saw Sweet and Bubba John myself this morning. They were headed toward Tallahassee, all right, but Beanie wasn’t in the truck. Did Dottie say where Sweet was off to?”

  “Well, of course she didn’t say,” LouWanda huffed. “She don’t never tell me nothin’. I got to drag it out of that hateful old thing. I saw her opening up the shop this morning and I waved at her like I always do, and do you know what she said to me?”

  “We need some more coffee.” Clyde held up an empty cup and shook it at Sissy as she passed the table.

  “Hold on, Clyde,” said Sissy. “I’ll be right back.”

  “She said, ‘Don’t even ask, LouWanda.’ Now, is that any way to talk to your best friend?”

  “Well, what I wanna know,” said Randy Kerner, “is what is going on with this lotto thing? Did Beanie win it or not?”

  “Oh, she won it all right. And I bet that’s why Bubba John is leaving his wife,” LouWanda said, pouring milk from the stainless pitcher into her own cup. “Who can resist all those millions?”

  “Well that would account for what happened the other day over at the courthouse. I wondered why Bubba John was applying for a building permit out at his mama and daddy’s old place. I thought maybe he and Sweet were finally gonna get a real house, but when I mentioned it to Bubba, he acted all nervous and asked me how I knew. I said the county commission always has to approve applications for building permits on the river and he said, oh, he hadn’t thought about that.”

  “You see what I mean? The pot thickens,” said LouWanda.

  “I think you mean, ‘plot’, not pot, LouWanda,” Randy said, shaking his head.

  “Whatever,” said LouWanda. “It’s getting sticky is all I can say.”

  Sissy reappeared with coffee, refilling cups around the table. For a moment there was silence, save for the clinking of spoons in cups.

  Two tables over, Suvi Jones peered over the edge of his morning paper and cleared his throat. He folded the paper neatly, plopped a ten-dollar bill on the table and stood to leave. His great bulk cast a shadow over the round table as the morning sun shone through the front windows. All heads turned and looked up. Way up.

  “Mornin’, Randy,” Suvi said.

  “Hey, Suvi, I didn’t see you come in.”

  “That’s because I’ve been here awhile. Matter of fact, I was just leaving.”

  Suvi tucked his shirt in neatly and brushed off his pant leg, then turned and headed for the door. He was almost past the table when he stopped short and shook his head. Turning to face the now silent cluster, Suvi placed both hands on the back of Eustace Falwell’s chair.

  “I heard what y’all said about Beatrice Bradsher and Mr. Atwater and I’d like to put your minds at rest. I can assure you, nothing could be further from the truth.”

  “Oh, we were just speculating, Suvi,” said Randy with a dismissive laugh.

  “I understand, I understand,” said Suvi. “But if I were Mr. Atwater, I’m not sure how I’d feel about my county commissioner discussing my private business.”

  “What?” Randy asked. “I didn’t say anything that wasn’t in the public record.”

  “Oh, I see, I see. Well,” said Suvi, “y’all have a nice day.”

  “You too, Suve,” Randy smiled.

  With his hands still resting on the chair back, Suvi nodded twice. Then he brought himself upright, smiled at the group, and left the café.

  15

  Driving and Dancing

  Beanie and Will sat in the kitchen drinking coffee and staring at the check in the middle of the table.

  “What in the world am I gonna do with all this money?”

  Will scratched his head.

  “I don’t know what you’re going to do, but I know what this means for me. I’ll be finding someone else to help me around here.”

  “Why? Are ya kickin’ me out?”

  “Of course not, but why would you stay? You could get your own place and have plenty left over.”

  “Well, I’ve thought about puttin’ a double wide up on stilts on my river property, but I’ve also thought about sellin’ that land and movin’ closer to town. Truth is, I’ve kind’ly gotten used to it here.”

  “I’ve said it before, you are welcome to stay.”

  “Reckon we can stop by the National Bank over in Live Oak on Friday? Oh, wait, they have a branch here, better make it that other bank, the one that sets out by
the interstate.”

  “If it was me, I’d want to have that branch close by or you’re going to need a car to get anything done.”

  “Oh, right, and Lord knows I am not ready for a car.”

  “I don’t know why you don’t let me teach you to drive, Beanie. There’s nothing to it.”

  “I don’t want to drive. Never have, and prolly never will.”

  “We could go down into Mallory Swamp – plenty of roads down there and almost no traffic.”

  “Less’n you count the turtles crossin’ the road,” Beanie said with a snort, “which, by the way, is one o’ the reasons I don’t never want to drive. I couldn’t bear the thought of smashing my car into an animal. It’s bad enough when I’m the passenger.”

  “I know what you mean,” Will said, lifting his coffee cup with both hands. “I never saw so much carnage in my life until I moved here. You need a strong stomach just to go to the store.”

  “I’ll never understand why so many turtles get hit though. It ain’t like they can dash out in front of you like a deer.”

  “And if a deer crosses in front of you, you better brake, because there’s at least one more inside the tree line. Why do they wait until you are right up on them to make a move?”

  “They’s just dumb animals, that’s all. But I do know how they feel, I think.”

  Will looked at Beanie, trying to think of something encouraging to say and failing.

  “They’s too many things comin’ atcha to figure out what to do. And by the time you think of something, it’s too late. It’s too much pressure, that’s all.”

  “Beanie, you are not some dumb animal, if that’s what you’re saying,” Will said, after a brief, awkward silence.

  “Well, I know that, Will, but every time I see a turtle smashed to smithereens out on the highway, I just think, Lord, if people cain’t make their way around a thing as slow as a turtle, how they gonna avoid me if I make the wrong move?”

  She had a point and Will knew it, but he pressed on.

  “Look, once you have control of your own vehicle, you learn to process things quickly and you can do the avoiding. It’s not as hard as you’re making it out to be.”

  “I ain’t never wanted to be in control of anything barrelin’ down the highway. That’s all they is to it.”

  “And yet, you ride your bicycle out there all the time. It doesn’t make sense to leave your safety in the hands of the fools out there now. You add texting to the mix and you’re a sitting duck on the side of the road. Seriously, Beanie…you need a car.”

  “How ‘bout a scooter? I can take it one step at a time, don’tcha know?”

  Will put down his cup and, laying his hands flat on the table, leaned forward and spoke firmly.

  “Beanie…if you were to ride a motorcycle of any kind, you’d have to get a whole new wardrobe, or at least make sure your underwear matched the rest of you, because that’s what you’d be showing to the world.”

  “Oh,” said Beanie. “Ooohhh! You got a point there, don’tcha? Ha! Wouldn’t that be a sight?”

  “It would,” said Will, in all seriousness.

  “Well, here’s the thing,” Beanie said, covering her mouth with her hand. “They do match, but I ain’t settin’ out to show them to nobody, that’s for sure.”

  Will let out a whoop and both of them collapsed into fits of giggles and snorts. Every time Beanie would try to breathe, Will would let out another whoop. And if Will calmed down, Beanie would try to follow suit, which resulted in a series of whoooo-weeee’s from Beanie. Every who-wee made Will relive the mental image of Beanie Bradsher racing down the highway with one hand on her cowboy hat and a face full of crinolines. It was too much.

  “We got to stop, Will,” Beanie gasped. “I’m ‘bout to pee my pants!”

  “You’re not wearing any pants!” Will shouted.

  And there they went again, laughing and spitting and slapping the table. They didn’t see Suvi standing in the doorway of the kitchen until he’d been there a while.

  Suvi Jones was not a jealous man, nor prone to anger, but it occurred to him this was the first time he’d ever seen Beanie laugh like that and it cut him to the bone. She’d invited him over to talk. Said there was something important to tell him. Said it was okay because Will knew all about their… What was it exactly? Friendship? It wasn’t a love affair – that word was never spoken, nor had anything physical happened. They just talked. Mostly about why they couldn’t be seen in public together.

  Will and Beanie were seen in public all the time, and yet no one thought a thing about it. Or at least no one said anything. Oh, no, they preferred the salacious twist of Beanie and Bubba John. But Suvi knew better than that. Beanie wouldn’t hurt a fly, much less another human being. That’s what he loved about her.

  This is not good, Suvi thought as he stood there watching Will and Beanie laughing like an old married couple.

  “What’s so funny?” Suvi asked, trying desperately to keep his voice light.

  “Suvi! Hey!” Beanie said, beaming over her shoulder. “Oh, Will, I forgot to tell you Suvi was comin’ over. We’re goin’ fishin’ this morning.”

  And just like that, the party was over. Will excused himself as soon as he could, saying he had a headache.

  ***

  Suvi leaned back against the rusted metal truss of the long-abandoned railroad trestle. Bracing one foot against the opposing truss, which formed a “V” in the opposite direction, he stared off into the distance. His fingertips worried a handful of broken twigs, snapping tiny pieces and dropping them into the river below. Beanie sat nearby, her legs dangling high above the water’s surface, hat perched beside her to avoid disaster. One strong breeze and the hat would be in the river, a fact she learned the first time she and Suvi came “fishing” out here.

  Now, however, Suvi seemed to be fishing at something else entirely, though Beanie couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. Neither of them was all that skilled at communicating, and both were perfectly happy with long periods of silence. But this had gone too long, Beanie thought, and felt uncomfortable in Suvi’s presence for the first time ever.

  “What is it, Suve?”

  Beanie squinted against the morning sun, shielding her eyes to bring his dark features into focus.

  “I don’t know,” Suvi said, flicking another twig fragment into the river. “I guess I’m just worried, is all.”

  “What about?” Beanie asked, fully knowing the answer.

  “Everything, actually.”

  “That narrows it down.”

  “I’m sorry, Bean,” Suvi sighed. “I wish it weren’t so complicated.”

  “You use that word a lot.”

  “I do?”

  “Yeah, you do. And I ain’t so sure it’s as complicated as we’re making it.”

  Suvi rested his head against the truss and closed his eyes.

  “Suvi?” Beanie leaned back on her elbows to look up at him from around the metal plate blocking her view.

  “Yeah?” Suvi did not open his eyes.

  “I’m kind’ly gettin’ tired of settin’ on the fence.”

  Suvi sighed and crossed his arms over his face.

  “Can’t say I blame you. It’s not very comfortable up here.”

  “No, it ain’t. And no amount of settin’ is going to solve the problem, neither. What I want to know is, what are you scared of? And don’t say ‘it’s complicated,’ less’n you want to pick yourself up outta this river.”

  Suvi grinned and sat up. God, she is pretty, Suvi thought as he looked down at Beanie, still resting on one elbow and peering solemnly up at him. Her hair, glowing golden in the sunlight, spilled curls down her arm and over her shoulder.

  “Not a day in my life have I ever felt jealous of another man – until today. I didn’t like it. Not one bit.”

  Beanie rose up on one hand and shook with pure indignation.

  “What do you mean you didn’t like it? We wasn’t doin’ a t
hing in the world but talking.”

  “I mean I didn’t like the feeling, Bean. I didn’t say you did anything wrong.”

  “I’ll say I didn’t do nothin’ wrong. And what’s wrong mean, anyway? For your information, Will tried to kiss me the other day. I didn’t let him, but it ain’t ‘cause they’d be anything wrong with it. Lord knows you ain’t never tried to kiss me. I don’t think I owe you a blessed thing, Suvi Jones. Seems to me you ain’t got nothin’ to be jealous about.”

  Pushing himself off the truss, Suvi stood up straight. Taut with anger and frustration, Suvi towered over Beanie, his massive arms bowed and his hands folding in and out of tight fists. The moment Suvi recognized fear in Beanie’s eyes, he relaxed his shoulders and the rest of him followed suit. He dropped to one knee and held out his hand to her.

  “Beanie, I’m sorry.”

  She sat up and turned away, ignoring his outstretched hand.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “I ain’t scared of nobody.”

  “I know you’re not. You’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever met. And the prettiest, and I know I’ve never told you before, but I’m telling you now. I think you’re beautiful and smart and funny and there’s nothing I’d like more than to kiss you, but…”

  Beanie turned back to face him, eyes wide until the “but,” and then they narrowed into a glare.

  “But, what?”

  “But there are other people to think of besides ourselves.”

  “Such as?”

  “Friends, family, hell…the whole town.”

  “I ain’t got no family left to speak of, and the only friends I have think the world of you. So, here’s the thing, Suvi – this ain’t about my family and friends; it’s about yours. And I’m thinkin’ you’re the one with the real problem here. And I’m tired of waiting for you to figure it out.”

  “So what are you saying?”

  “I’m sayin’ it’s time to poop or get off the pot. I ain’t waitin’ forever, and I just realized something I ain’t never even thought of before.”

  “What’s that?”