She sticks her tongue out and I laugh to myself as I walk back to my office. Don’t we all have things to tease each other about at every stage of our relationships?
Not that Tucker and I have a relationship.
I sit at my desk and pull out my folders. I need to get a move on it if I’m going to get any work done before my meeting with Henry.
And now Mama wants me to help her with Meemaw’s house. The damn place has sat vacant for five years, and she is just now ready to deal with it?
My mother is only fifty-five years old, but her weight and health are mirroring that of Meemaw’s, and I’m worried about her trying to do all that work alone. And Daddy is up in trees all day.
So I will have to help her, and hopefully get my brothers to pitch in as well. It’s hard for them, though, running their own pet resort business. Mama just doesn’t understand how much we all have on our plates.
Also, my siblings and I need to sit down and decide how to tell Mama she needs to stop putting so much FOOD on her plate, or she’s not going to live very long, either.
I decide to put off Mama for just a little bit because if I have to listen to one of her lectures, I’ll never be able to concentrate on work.
It’s bad enough I can’t help but think of Tucker in the restaurant the other night, and how good that felt. And his hands on me on New Year’s Eve.
Shoot, maybe the new guy in the neighborhood will divert some of my attention away from Tucker. A harmless flirtation wouldn’t hurt, and it would be best for Tucker anyway. He needs a younger woman who is starting out fresh. I have so much baggage. My emotional attic and basement are both full.
Ugh, that reminds me of Meemaw’s house. I’m sure Tucker would like to help…
No, no, no…I can’t be expected to behave myself alone in an attic or basement with that man. And you never know, my Meemaw’s spirit might still be hanging around. Wouldn’t want to give her a show.
***
“Yes, I’m hosting the St. Patrick’s Day party!”
I squint as I walk up the path from the resident parking area to my apartment. There is a spirited (nice word for ‘deranged’) redhead running around the lawn in the middle of our complex like his hair is on fire, and not just red.
Our new tenant, Shawn the accountant, is either drunk, high or more than likely—Ashley just gave him some attention.
However, as I get closer, I see that our new apartment manager is nowhere to be found, and there is a cluster of residents standing outside the clubhouse door, staring at a paper.
As tired as I am, I can’t resist seeing what’s going on, especially now that I see my daughters are involved in these shenanigans.
I hoist my big bag up higher on my shoulder and approach the chaos.
Dawson turns to me and says, “Hey Molly, what event do you want to host this year?”
He points at the paper on the door and I wrinkle my brow. “What are you talkin’ about, Dawson Swanson? We don’t plan who’s hosting that far in advance. And why is that little nerd boy runnin’ around yellin’ about St. Patrick’s Day?”
Emma, Dawson’s girlfriend, says, “Well Molly, apparently this is how we do it now.”
When Lia moved to Pentagon Place and took over our social calendar, we each got to plan an event, and then we chose the next host at each event, not in advance.
I make a face and say, “How are we supposed to know what event we want to host so far in advance?”
Zinnia says, “Mom, Ashley wants to do it this way. She put up the sheet and started yelling for everyone to come out. She said you’re all adults and you should figure it out on your own.”
I put my hands on my hips and stare in the direction of Ashley’s apartment. “That is just crazy. This job isn’t that hard. I have a mind to go over there…Magnolia Blossom, what are you starin’ at?”
Well isn’t this just great? My eldest daughter, who is all of fifteen, is gaping at the redheaded fool running around the yard, like he hung the moon.
Tucker waves his hand in front of Magnolia’s face and says, “Your mama asked you a question?”
I suppose the sight of another attractive man made her stop looking at loony Shawn. I just don’t know if I can take these girls going through this hormonal phase all on my own, and my mama is no help.
Magnolia sighs and says, “Isn’t Shawn funny? And cute? Did you meet him, Mom? He said he works at your new company.”
Shawn is now yelling, “Erin Go Bragh!”
Dawson says, “Hey, did he just say he wants Emma to go braless?”
Oh for the love of… “No, Dawson, that means somethin’ in Irish, I think. I don’t know, ask Olivia, she’s the librarian.”
I walk over to both of my daughters and put a hand on each one to corral them towards the house.
“Yes, I met him. Why is he so excited about St. Patrick’s Day?”
Dawson says, “He claims he’s all Irish, and we’re in for a real treat.” He lowers his voice and continues, “If you ask me, he’s as dippy as one of those leprechauns. Although I think they’re evil. Or they give you money. Maybe he’s goin’ to hand out money at the party.”
Emma shakes her head and I know she will take care of explaining leprechaun folklore to Dawson. I just can’t right now. My feet hurt and my eyes are tired, and now I see Tucker staring at me.
“Hey Tuck, thanks again for bringing the girls home. You know you don’t have to do that every day.”
“I know that. I want to do it. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
His smile is so slight but yet it warms me in all the places. This is so insane. I feel like I’m possessed or something. But he asked, and I can think of something.
“Yes, actually there is something. Girls, go on in the house now and get going on your homework. I’ll be right in.”
Zinnia has to practically push her sister to our apartment as Magnolia’s eyes don’t leave the overly excited accountant.
If that boy thinks Ashley is going to be impressed by his enthusiasm for her sign-up sheet, he is sadly mistaken. That girl is as cool as a cucumber.
And she’s not stupid, either. She’s basically going to collect an extra part-time salary as apartment manager and do jack crap for it.
The rest of the residents are still staring at the sign-up sheet, debating what to do about it.
The Washingtons look annoyed and I know Ken just wants to go home so Beth can cook his supper.
Emma and Dawson have gone home, and of course Olivia is nowhere to be found. She probably thinks she’s too good for the sign-up sheet.
Actually, we are all too good for it. If Ashley isn’t going to do any work, we don’t need her.
I watch my girls disappear into the house and it’s a wonder Magnolia didn’t hit her head on the door watching Shawn.
Now he’s leaning up against his front door, as if Ashley is going to come out and ask him about his party planning ideas.
Tucker says, “So, what can I do for you, Miss Molly Mae?”
I keep a safe distance (it’s me I don’t trust, not Tucker) and say, “I would like you to knock on our new apartment manager’s door and ask her about this sign-up sheet. It’s not the way Lia did it, nor we did it, all the years we’ve lived here.”
“Why do you care so much?”
I huff and say, “Because I care about this community and I know you do, too. And I don’t like her attitude.”
“Okay, fair enough. You know, you could go tell her yourself.”
“I would, but I’m tired and I don’t feel like gettin’ in a fight with someone who’s taking pictures of my dolls.”
Tucker sighs and looks at his boots. “Why is it that just when I thought the drama had ended in this neighborhood, it’s all startin’ up again?”
“It’s called change.” I turn him around and point him towards the door. “And I don’t like it either, but it’s all around us.”
Tucker shakes his head and says, “Anythi
ng for you, Molly Mae.”
I blush a little, but he can’t see me in the dark. It’s so cold out here and I can’t believe anyone is still hanging around outside for no reason. These poor people are just such sheep. If I had been here when she put that thing up, I would have told her what I thought of her sign-up sheet.
But then of course, Lia had to go and make everything complicated by hiring people for my company and renting them apartments. That child has no idea what she’s doing.
I walk back towards my apartment and try to sneak a peek at Tucker. He’s shaking hands with Shawn, who keeps pushing his glasses up on his nose and standing up taller. I guess Tucker could come off as a little intimidating.
Shawn looks nervous and hurries into his own place. He probably has his ear pressed to the wall between the two apartments, waiting to see what happens between Tucker and Ashley.
Shoot, I suddenly realize that I hope nothing does happen.
I decide to go inside and forget about this nonsense. I really did want to see if anyone has signed up for any other events, but I didn’t even get a damn chance to think about it.
I am glad to be inside my warm apartment and it’s quiet, so my angels are either doing their homework, or Zinnia is on her YouTube channel with her headphones on, and Magnolia is upstairs with the binoculars watching Shawn and Tucker.
Hmm, I am a bit curious, too. I put my coat in the hall closet and sneak a quick peek back outside. Ashley’s light is on, and now I see Tucker standing in the doorway talking to her, and what the hell? Now Olivia is also at the door. They’re both wearing yoga pants! I have never once seen Olivia dressed like that. I almost didn’t recognize her out of her librarian uniform.
Hmm, I wonder why Olivia is over there? Does she know Ashley? She couldn’t have just met her—neither one of them is very friendly.
No matter. I’m sure Tucker will tell me all about it.
One last glance and I am marching into the kitchen to make something to eat for my children, and give this neighborhood gossip a rest. Tucker is right—things were nice and peaceful again and…well, I’ll be damned.
Ashley and Olivia are both laughing and pulling Tucker inside.
My logical brain says that they’re freezing their skinny asses off talking to him with the door wide open, but I can’t help but wonder what weirdness is going on in there, and how long Tucker is going to stay.
Maybe Ashley prefers brooding country boy mechanics with rough hands, dark eyes and a firm…
Well shoot, who wouldn’t prefer that kind of man to the goofy ginger?
My daughter.
Ugh, another wrinkle in the new drama.
As I close my blinds, I see another man. It looks like the new guy has moved in across the courtyard. Funny, I never saw a moving van or anything, but I see a tall man entering Fred’s old apartment with a key. Maybe he lived nearby and he’s moving in slowly.
I wanted to ask Lia more about him, but I figured I’d find out in good time, and I’ve been preoccupied with the whole Tucker thing.
I start banging around some pots and pans in the kitchen and try not to think about what Ashley and Olivia might be serving Tucker.
***
“We keep tellin’ Mama that we don’t mind helpin’ out with Meemaw’s house, but she hasn’t been very interested in workin’ on this project.”
My brother Billy blows on his hands as I fiddle with the heat in Meemaw’s house. I keep telling Mama that the pipes are going to freeze if she doesn’t keep some heat on in this place. Hopefully we can get this house on the market soon, but I don’t know—it’s a big mess.
Billy holds a photo of Meemaw with us as kids and looks misty-eyed. “Well apparently she’s not too interested in it today, either—seein’ as she ain’t here.”
I love my brothers, but they have intense emotions. Bobby is happy and upbeat all the time and Billy tends towards the sappy and sentimental.
Being uneducated and backwards people, my parents were worried that their sons were gay growing up. I’m grateful that they’re not, only because I know Mama and Daddy would have made their lives difficult and nobody deserves that for being who they are.
Fortunately, they both married young and squashed that concern. Both of their wives are sweet and right now they are both pregnant.
I take the photo out of Billy’s hand and place it back on the mantle, before he starts bawling all over it. “We’re better off that she bowed out of coming. Would you really want her sittin’ on the sofa giving us orders?”
We all laugh because the boys know that’s all she would do. She’s bossy and too out of shape to move around. There’s no way she could do this project, so she conveniently woke up with a sore back this morning.
It’s Wednesday but I’m off from the restaurant and no one needs me at the factory. Truth be told, I don’t see why they ever need me.
We decide to get started, even though it’s an overwhelming task. The boys took the day off from their business. They run a popular pet resort together, and January is a slow season for both locals and tourists to drop off their dogs.
Billy puts his gloves back on, and says, “Let’s start in the attic. It should be hotter up there. Heat rises and all.”
I don’t bother to explain that the attic is only hot in the summer, but hopefully this ancient heat will kick in soon.
Bobby and I follow him upstairs, with Bobby carrying some spare cardboard boxes and packing tape, and me with a roll of huge trash bags.
Without Mama here we can also throw out and/or donate a lot of crap she’d want to keep. And I am not transferring Meemaw’s junk to my parents’ house so when they pass, I can move the same crap again.
I can’t say that to my brothers, though. Billy will start crying and Bobby will say I’m being negative.
We get up to the attic and Billy pries open the dusty, sticky door. Thank God Meemaw didn’t have a crawl space or an attic where you have to climb a rickety ladder. It’s bad enough it’s probably full of bugs.
Bobby and I don’t even make it through the door before Billy closes it and says, “I’m goin’ back to the truck to get the shop vac.”
I peek in against my better judgment and yes, it’s definitely bug city in there. At least he can vacuum up the webs and some of the dirt and dead bugs before we attempt to sort through the boxes that should probably just be tossed out the window anyway.
Bobby leans against the wall and sighs. “So, what’s new with you, big sister? How’s business?”
I lean back against the opposite wall and say, “I don’t really know what I’m doing, honestly.”
“Oh no, sure you do. Molly, you’re so talented and this is your big chance to make it big for you and the girls.”
He puts his hand on my arm and squeezes. I’m so fortunate to have these guys as little brothers. Growing up they were a pain in my ass, but now they’re so supportive.
“I know, Bobby. But I’m just a little overwhelmed. I don’t know anything about business—I just make my dolls.”
“That’s all you need to do. Those smarties over there at the plant know how to sell your stuff. You’ll see. And how are my little nieces? I keep tellin’ Sam we need to come over and see ‘em before she pops.”
Samantha is due in a few months, and I know my brother will burst with pride on her delivery day.
“They’re good. Zinnia’s still like a little girl with an old lady’s brain, and Magnolia has been bitten by the love bug.”
I roll my eyes as I explain to Bobby that Shawn has captured my daughter’s attention. As I get to the part about him being in his early twenties, Billy comes up the stairs with the Shop Vac.
After I talk them both down from wanting to kill Shawn by explaining that he has not done one thing wrong, Billy proceeds to suck up the bugs and webs while Bobby takes deep breaths. I guess he’s using the Lamaze techniques they learned in class. My brothers are super positive, but also very protective.
Bobby says, “W
ell keep a close eye on that situation. I’m glad we’re havin’ a boy. Girls are scary.” He shudders and I can’t help but silently agree. When I think of the dumb mistakes I made in my youth.
It’s like Bobby read my mind. “So how are you holdin’ up? You know, I mean since Ray left, we haven’t really seen you with any men. Don’t you think maybe it’s time…you know?”
He raises his eyebrows and I laugh out loud. There is nothing that makes my brothers more uncomfortable than talking about my love life, but it’s sweet that he’s concerned. I’m guessing that it’s a big topic of conversation in both of my brothers’ homes and at the pet resort. The dogs of Applebarrow probably know all about my lack of man action.
I squirm a bit but realize I’m being ridiculous. We are all adults now. Billy and Bobby are the same ages as Tucker and Dawson. They all played together as children, but the age difference between me and all of them is just not so great anymore.
“Well actually, I kind of wanted your opinion on that. What do you think of Tucker?”
Bobby spits his coffee on the floor. Great, now we have to clean that up.
“Tucker as in Tucker Swanson?”
Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to mention this to my brothers.
“Yes, Tucker Swanson. He’s been comin’ around my place a lot lately. Helping with the girls. And we sort of went out and—”
“Billy, man you need to get out here!”
Bobby yells and waves at Billy in the attic room, and Billy turns off the Shop Vac. “What’s wrong? Y’all see a ghost or somethin’?”
That’s not really funny, since we’re in Meemaw’s house, and I wouldn’t put it past her to watch us cleaning up her beloved treasures if she could. But that’s just silly.
Bobby explains my revelation to Billy and both of their eyes widen.
“Y’all just forget it. It’s probably just his silly crush left over from when he was a kid. Let’s get in there and start working through these boxes. And those bugs aren’t gonna finish sucking up themselves.”
I gesture towards the attic but neither Jenkins brother is budging.
Billy grins and says, “Why Molly Mae, you’re a cougar!”
Something Molly Can't See Page 4
