Lily of the Springs

by Carole Bellacera

  “I like his long hair!” Debby Ann said hotly, glaring at Jinx. “Come on, David.” She grabbed his arm. “I don’t want to talk about that stupid war! That’s all grown ups talk about anymore.” She led him away.

  I watched her go, torn between calling her back to reprimand her for sassing Jinx or to try to defuse the tension between my two friends. I decided on the latter. “Well, I’m starving!” I said brightly. “Who wants to go with me to the buffet table?”

  Both women ignored me. Jinx, her jaw tight, locked gazes with Betty. “Lily tells me your husband is a lieutenant colonel in the Army. What does he think when you talk all that anti-war stuff?”

  I held my breath. If Jinx wasn’t careful, Betty just might knock her block off. Jeez, they’d just met! How could things have gone downhill so quickly?

  But Betty maintained her cool, giving Jinx a brittle smile. “You don’t know my Eddie. He’s a breed apart from most men. He actually encourages me to have my own opinions and speak my mind about them.”

  “Even if your opinions are anti-American?” Jinx shot back.

  Betty’s eyes narrowed. “Is it anti-American to be against American teenagers dying in rice fields while rich politicians play their power games in Washington? I don’t think so.”

  That did it. I knew I had to do something or it was very possible one of my friends would end up in the pool, fully-dressed. I grabbed Betty’s arm. “Jinx, why don’t you find us a table while we go scout out the food?” And I practically dragged Betty away.

  “Why didn’t you tell me she’s a goddamn Republican?” Betty hissed. “God! You’d think she’s got a cattle prod stuck up her ass.”

  I sighed. “So much for you two liking each other.”

  ***

  It was a beautiful summer night. At least, Betty and Jinx could agree on that, I thought, gazing up at the millions of stars glimmering like diamonds on a black velvet tablecloth. Nowhere else in the world could compete with Kentucky when it came to a star-lit night. Even Texas, as open and barren as it was, couldn’t produce a star show like the Blue Grass state could. And somewhere up there…

  My gaze turned to the crescent moon hanging over the lake, looking like one of those whimsical photo sets at the county fair. Somewhere up there, Astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins were rocketing their way toward that moon, and if everything went according to plan, would be landing on it. Somehow, that thought made me feel very small, just a spec of inconsequential life on this planet in the middle of a vast universe.

  Uneasiness filled me. What on earth did I think I could offer this world with my silly little love story? Who did I think I was for even trying to get a book published? Maybe Jake was right. Maybe I was reaching in vain for those stars.

  Betty, at the table next to me, must’ve sensed my thoughts. “Why so quiet, Lil? Are you plotting a sequel to ‘Swede’s Passion?’”

  Before I could answer, Jinx, on my left, leaned toward me, grinning. “Oh, did you finish it, Lily Rae? I remember you were close. When do I get to read it?”

  “Well, I…” I didn’t remembering offering to let Jinx read it. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to. Much as I considered her a good friend, Jinx had a tendency to always try to “one up” me, and something told me if I got the book published, she wouldn’t be able to contain her envy. So, if she read the novel before I sent it off, she’d probably find all kinds of things “wrong” with it.

  “I read it,” Betty said, and even to my ears, she sounded smug. “And it’s wonderful.”

  Uh oh. Here we go again. The last hour had been tolerable, with only a slight undercurrent of tension between my two friends. A pop band had begun to play on the upper terrace, and couples were dancing on a plywood floor that had been set up on the other side of the pool. Jake and many of the other men had excused themselves at nine o’clock to head into the house for the annual poker game. Of course, the young man Roxanne Dawson had set her sights on tonight wasn’t one of them; he was dancing with her to a cover of Deep Purple’s “Hush” as his wife sat at a table with several other young wives, wearing a stiff smile and pained eyes.

  The pool had been taken over by teens and the younger kids, among them all of our kids. It was just past ten o’clock. The poker game would probably go until well past midnight, so that meant at least two more hours left to referee between Betty and Jinx.

  “Well, if you let her read it, you’ve got to let me read it, Lily,” Jinx said, trying to inflect a teasing note in her voice. But it didn’t come across that way at all.

  “I’m sure she would, Jinx,” Betty cut in before I could respond, “…if it wouldn’t be terribly bad luck. I know a thing or two about the publishing industry, and it’s a well-known fact that if you let more than one friend read an unpublished manuscript, it’ll never get published.”

  I stared at her. “What?”

  Betty gave me a look that screamed out shut up and go along with me on this, birdbrain! “You remember, Lil. It was in that writer’s magazine I gave you. The interview with Philip Roth. Or was it Kurt Vonnegut? I forget. Anyway, it was one of those big name writers who said it.”

  I looked at her, impressed, almost believing her myself. “Yeah, I forgot about that.” I turned to Jinx with a contrite look. “I’m sorry, Jinx. It might be a stupid superstition, but…well…” I shrugged. “I need all the good luck I can get. But when the book comes out, I promise, you’ll be the first to get a free autographed copy.”

  “Oh, great.” Jinx rolled her eyes. “And if it doesn’t come out, I just don’t get to read it, right?”

  Fear rippled through me. Jinx obviously didn’t believe I’d get the book published.

  “Have a little faith, Jinx,” Betty said, her eyes shooting daggers. “She’ll get the book published. Like I said, it’s wonderful. It’s as good as anything Jacqueline Susann puts out.”

  Jinx’s mouth gaped. “Oh, Lord! It’s that steamy?”

  Hot blood rushed to my cheeks. “No! It’s not at all like Jacqueline Susann’s books.” I’d read Valley of the Dolls two years ago, and loved it. But I could never ever write sex scenes like that! “Betty is just pulling your leg.”

  Betty snickered. “Well, that kissing scene between Sven and Laura was pretty yummy. I’m betting you’ll be giving Miss Jackie a run for her money one day.”

  Jinx gave me a searching look. “Out of all the people I know, I’d say you’re the least likely to write steamy novels, Lily Rae. You always seem so prim and proper.”

  Betty gave me a wink. “That’s because you’re not privy to her sex life with Jake.”

  “And I don’t want to be,” Jinx snapped, sending a dark scowl in Betty’s direction.

  I sighed. Leave it to Betty to say something to get under Jinx’s skin. Would this night ever end?

  “Mommy!”

  I turned toward the voice. A towel-wrapped Kathy Kay ran up to the table, Paul John close behind her. They looked so cute with their wet blond curls matted to their heads, blue eyes dancing with excitement.

  “Mommy,” Kathy Kay burst out in excitement. “This maid lady said we can make our own sundaes over in the summerhouse…just for the kids. Can we go, huh?”

  “Yeah, Mom,” Paul John echoed, his eyes pleading with Jinx. “Make-your-own sundaes! For free!”

  The two children waited breathlessly for permission, and their identical expressions of yearning looked so comical that the three of us couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Once the two kids got our permission, they let out simultaneous “Yays!” and ran off in the direction of the summerhouse.

  Betty followed them with her eyes, an amused smile on her face. “Now, there goes two peas in a pod. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear they were brother and sister.”

  I laughed. “Oh, please! Kathy Kay better not hear you say that. She’s planning on marrying Paul John someday.” I signaled a waiter circulating through the tables with a tray of tropical drinks.

  It wasn’t unt
il I chose a pina colada and lifted the glass to my lips that I noticed the odd silence. Only the sound of the band singing “Along Comes Mary” floated in the summer night. I looked from Betty to Jinx. “What’s wrong?”

  No one spoke. Betty wore an odd expression on her face as she stared at Jinx, a speculative gleam in her eyes. Jinx seemed to be having trouble looking at either one of us, and her face was as white as paper. Not only that, but she’d become fidgety, twisting a diamond ring on her finger, her eyes darting around the pool area, almost as if she were searching for an escape route.

  “Did I miss something?” I said.

  Jinx shoved her chair away from the table, making a horrible scraping sound on the flagstone deck.

  “Excuse me,” she said. “I’ve got to go to the restroom.” And she hurried off in the direction of the terrace.

  I stared after her, and then turned back to Betty. “Do you know what the hell just happened?”

  Betty studied me a moment, then looked away. “How long ago did Jinx lose her husband?”

  I didn’t even have to think about it. “Twelve years ago. I was at Lonnie’s funeral when I went into labor with Kathy Kay. Why?”

  Betty toyed with the straw in her tropical drink. “So, Paul John was born after his father died?”

  “Yeah, that’s right. I remember finding out she was pregnant the day of the funeral.” I studied her. “Betty, why are you so interested in Jinx and Paul John?”

  She looked away. “Nothing I can put my finger on. I just…” She shook her head. “I’m just not crazy about her, Lil. I don’t trust her. I don’t feel like she has your best interests at heart.”

  “Oh, come on, Betty!” I protested. “Just because she doesn’t share the same political viewpoints you do doesn’t mean she’s a bad person. I’ve known the girl since grade school! I think I can trust her.”

  Betty was silent for a long moment. The band on the terrace started singing The Box Tops’ “The Letter.” Betty stared at a lone couple locked in each other’s arms in the pool. Her straight white teeth nibbled on her lower lip as if she were deep in thought.

  Finally, she turned and met my gaze. “Just be careful around her,” she said, her blue eyes solemn. “I’ve known women like her, Lil. They’ll stab you in the back the first chance they get. Especially…” she hesitated, and then went on, “…if you have something she wants.”

  Great Aunt Ona’s Sweet Potato Cake

  1 ½ cups raw grated sweet potatoes

  1 ½ cups vegetable oil

  2 cups sugar

  4 eggs, separated

  4 tbsps hot water

  2 ½ cups sifted flour

  3 tbsps baking powder

  ¼ tsp salt

  1 tsp vanilla

  1 small can crushed pineapple

  Combine oil and sugar and beat until smooth. Add egg yolks and beat. Add hot water and flour which has been sifted with baking powder and salt. Stir in sweet potatoes, vanilla and pineapple. Beat egg whites until stiff, fold in mixture. Bake in two 9-inch pans at 350 degrees for 25 or 30 minutes.

  Coconut-Walnut Icing

  1 large can evaporated milk

  1 stick Oleo

  1 cup sugar

  3 egg yolks, beaten

  1 tsp vanilla

  1 cup coconut

  1 cup chopped walnuts

  Combine milk, Oleo, egg yolks and sugar. Cook about 12 minutes, stirring constantly over low heat. Add coconut, nuts and vanilla.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  “Here it is.” I ran a hand over the cool, smooth rock face in front of me. “He painted it the day before Valentine’s Day to surprise me.” I smiled, my index finger tracing the large red heart inscribed with “Lily Rae & Chad, February 14, 1951.”

  “He sounds like he was a real romantic guy,” Betty said. “That’s so sad about his wife.”

  My smile faded. “Yes. Poor guy. My heart just aches for him.”

  “Life is hard sometimes,” Betty said. Then, as if to shake off the gloom that had fallen, she took a step backward and glanced around at the enormous rock formation arching over us. “This is an amazing place! Thanks for bringing us here.”

  I grinned, my heart filling with pride. “Everybody says that about Rock House Bottom. Isn’t it just gorgeous?”

  On the drive home from Glasgow last night, Betty had expressed an urge to see Russell County, and since this was their last day here, all of us had gotten up at the crack of dawn and headed for Opal Springs, but not before dealing with a tantrum from Debby Ann, the silent treatment from David and an unusual snappish mood from Kathy Kay. The teens had begged to stay home because they couldn’t possibly miss American Bandstand; Andy Kim-somebody was supposed to be on it, and Debby would just die if she missed it, and everybody knew that Mother and Pa Pa didn’t get good reception on their TV out in the Russell County sticks. Her pleas hadn’t fooled me one bit. I knew the real reason they wanted to stay home. Jake was doing some over-time at the factory, and the two teenagers would have the house to themselves. American Bandstand, my hind-end. They just wanted an opportunity to neck. Or do more than neck. I had no intention of giving them that opportunity.

  The teenagers weren’t the only ones disgusted with me. Kathy Kay was upset because she hadn’t got the chance to ask if Paul John could come along to Opal Springs; it was way too early to call over at Jinx’s before we left. Needless to say, there had been a lot of sullen silence in the back seat for the hour and a half drive. But once we arrived at my old home, Mother’s chocolate gravy over hot biscuits had cheered everyone up.

  Betty had been on her best behavior with Mother and Pa Pa, having realized from years of conversation with me just how conservative they were. She hadn’t uttered one cuss word the entire morning in Mother’s presence—a record for her, I guessed.

  Mother seemed to have aged since I’d last seen her. Had there been that much gray in her hair two months ago? Every time I came home and saw how my parents were aging, it brought a twinge to my heart. It had been 17 years since I’d left this place I’d once called home. Debby Ann was only three years younger than I’d been on the day I’d married Jake and made my way with him through the woods to his parents’ home. A life-time ago, it seemed.

  After washing the dinner dishes, I suggested we drive out to Rock House Bottom, a natural arched bridge in the southern end of Russell County, carved thousands of years ago by the force of the Cumberland River. It was the most beautiful place I could think of within an hour’s drive, not to mention that it held a lot of memories for me from high school.

  Rock House Bottom, known as a local “lover’s lane,” was frequented back then—and probably still--by hormonal Russell County high school students looking for romance; I’d spent lots of memorable hours there with Chad. Good memorable hours, mostly, except for the night we’d broken up.

  I turned back to the heart Chad had painted on the rock wall so many years ago. Smiling, I traced my hand over it, my eyes misting with tears. So much time gone by. Two teenagers, so in love back then, had grown up and gone their separate ways. I felt sad for them—those teenagers. They’d been so idealistic, so sure their love would last forever.

  That Valentine’s night when he’d brought me here to see the heart—the memory of it was still vivid. That night had been the first time he’d tried to do more than kiss and engage in light petting. And I’d wanted to do more. If I hadn’t been such a “good girl,” I might’ve given in that night. Instead, a year later, after the break-up with Chad because I wouldn’t “go all the way,” I’d turned around and given my virginity to Jake without barely a thought—and that had set the course of my life, bringing me to this moment.

  The moment of truth.

  I glanced over to check on Kathy Kay. The 12-year-old squatted at the edge of Jim Creek, tossing stones into the water, an expression of deep concentration on her heart-shaped face. Debby Ann and David had climbed onto an automobile-sized rock, and sat with their bare legs dangling, hold
ing hands and talking quietly. Betty stood a few feet away, her hands planted on her hips, gazing off at the Cumberland River making its slow, tranquil way toward Tennessee.

  I took a deep breath. It was time to ask the question I wasn’t sure I wanted an answer to. All night long, I’d tossed and turned next to a gently-snoring Jake. Wondering. Thinking back. Remembering things that hadn’t seemed all that significant before, like Jinx’s anger at that very first Danson barbecue as she watched Roxanne flirting with Jake. Even then, through my pain, I’d been surprised at how livid she’d become. Almost as if she was the betrayed one, not me.

  And then, there was the time in Myrtle Beach when Jinx had frantically called Jake about Paul John’s sudden illness, and we’d had to cut our vacation short. I remembered being outraged at her gall, wondering why she hadn’t called her parents in Russell Springs for help.

  And finally, there was Katydid, and the falling out she’d had with Jinx seven years ago. What had caused it? Could it be that Katydid had found out something that she couldn’t bring herself to share with me? Something about Jinx and Jake?

  A pleasant breeze wafted off the river, sifting through my shoulder-length hair, cooling the sudden heat on my face. Could I have been so stupid not to have seen what was happening under my nose all these years? Could I have been so blind? It was time I faced the truth.

  I looked over at Betty. Her lop-sided, Aqua Net-sprayed, Irish Setter-red hairstyle hadn’t budged in the breeze. She was looking down, rummaging in her handbag for her cigarettes.

  I cleared my throat. “Betty, I need you to be straight with me.”

  She looked up, her hand growing still in her bag. The darkening of her eyes told me she knew exactly what I meant. I waited for her answer, barely breathing.

  She glanced over at Debby and David, and then to Kathy Kay. A resigned look crossed her face and she gave a sigh. “Okay. Just let me grab a cigarette, and we’ll talk.”