by Peggy Webb
“Daring to change your dreams shows that you have an open mind, and an open mind is a sign of great intelligence.”
He chuckled. “I don’t think that was exactly what I wanted to hear, but I guess I can live with that for a while.”
The movie ended and the crowd began to disperse. Dan and Janet stayed in their seats rather than join the press of people in the aisles.
“What do you do for exercise, Janet?”
She grinned at him. “How do you know I exercise?”
“It’s the body, Doc.” He leaned back, lifting his eyebrows and leering at her with mock lasciviousness. “Anyway, a woman as health conscious as you is bound to do something,” he added.
“I jog.”
“So do I. We’ll jog together in the morning.”
She laughed. “How do you know?”
“Because I’m the kind of guy who won’t take no for an answer.”
“What time?”
“I’m flexible. You name it.”
“Early. I have to be at the hospital at eight.”
“Six-thirty, then.”
“Your place or mine?”
“Mine. Harvey is lonesome to see you.”
“How do you know?”
“Man talk. We understand each other.”
They kept up the lighthearted banter all the way back to her apartment. Thank God, he escorted her to the door then did nothing more than give her a light kiss and say, “See you in the morning, Doc.”
She raced inside to email the Dixie Virgins.
From: Janet
To: Molly, Belinda, Joanna, Clementine, Catherine, Bea
Re: Confused
All of you are right. I’m falling for Dan. I went to the movies with him and got so hot sharing his buttered popcorn, I’d have shared Virginia if he’d asked! All this is happening too fast. Good God, I’m not even through with my internship! I don’t have time for this! And even if I did, what would happen if I actually married the man! We’d have to find jobs in the same town, and what if we didn’t? I’m not going to waste years of medical training to stay at home and just be somebody’s wife. Granted, I want the white wedding gown as much as the next Dixie Virgin, but still, I want more!
What am I going to do?
Janet
From: Catherine
To: Janet, Bea, Clementine, Molly, Joanna, Belinda
Re: What to do
Just breathe! Some of the best things in life are those we don’t plan! Speaking of which, I found the sexiest pair of boots in this cute shop on Canal. Bea, you’d LOVE them. See attached picture.
Oh, I wish you could all come down to New Orleans for a Dixie Virgin vacation! We could listen to jazz on Bourbon Street and drink hurricanes with little umbrellas and shop for French perfume and cute shoes!
Cat
From: Joanna
To: Janet, Catherine, Clemmie, Molly, Bea
Re: Wedding
A vacation in New Orleans sounds wonderfully DECADENT, everything I would LOVE and the nuns would HATE! But I’ll bet we’ll all be at Janet’s wedding before then! Dan Albany sounds like such a dreamboat! You know, sexy in that rough and tumble way like a younger Harrison Ford in that fabulous old movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark. If anybody like that ever showed up here, I’d GRAB HIM while the nuns weren’t looking. And I’d never let go!!!
Joanna
From: Molly
To: Janet, Catherine, Clementine, Bea, Belinda, Molly
Re: Luck
Daddy always says all the planning in the world won’t beat dumb luck! Of course, in your case, Janet, even the luck is not dumb. But Cat’s right. Just go with flow! And for goodness sake, wear something cute!
Molly
From: Clementine
To: Janet, Bea, Molly, Joanna, Catherine, Belinda
Re: Dumb luck
Janet, you’re so lucky that Dan Albany just sort of showed up in your life. If anybody like that ever showed up in Peppertown, I’d faint! Do let’s have lunch!
Clemmie
From: Belinda
To: Janet, Catherine, Clementine, Bea, Joanna, Molly
Re: Love
I worried about everything before I married Reeve. None of it turned out to be real, and now I’m the happiest woman alive! Betsy and Mark have asked if it’s all right to call me Mommy. Naturally, I talked with Reeve first. I don’t want to replace their mother, just be a mother. He not only said it was okay, but he took that BIG portrait of his dead wife off the wall and stored it in the attic for the children. In its place is a portrait of the four of us. I have a real family now, a real home, and it’s the best feeling in the world!
Don’t over-think your relationship, Janet. Can’t wait to have lunch with you!
Belinda
From: Bea
To: Janet, Molly, Clementine, Joanna, Belinda, Catherine
Re: New Orleans
Cat, you little temptress! You know I’d drive to hell and back for a pair of cute boots! If you don’t have a big test coming up next weekend, I’m going to drive over to New Orleans and get a pair of those boots.
Janet, get your head out of your books and onto your Virginia! You’re a Dixie Virgin, girlfriend! You can have it all!!!!
Bea
o0o
Nothing in Janet’s closet qualified as cute, but she did discover a red hoodie that was long enough so she could wear tight leggings instead of baggy sweats. Feeling energized and optimist, she set off to Dan’s house.
He bounded down his front steps and helped her from her car. “You look smashing, Doc.”
She smiled, genuinely pleased by his compliment. “Why, thank you.”
“Turn around. I want to feast my eyes.” He took her hand and gently spun her around. “Yes, indeed. You’ll do nicely.”
She could hardly believe herself, the serious Dr. Janet Hall submitting to the outright admiration of a man. And enjoying it, to boot.
“Do for what?”
“At the moment, jogging,” he said. “What do you prefer, the sidewalks or a regular track?”
“It’s such a lovely morning, why don’t we use the streets. I love to see the neighborhood this time of morning.”
“Great. I’ll adjust my pace to yours.”
He closed her car door, and they started jogging south on Church Street. To his delight, she didn’t slow him down at all. She had the long legs of a tall woman and was obviously in excellent form. They turned west on Jefferson and jogged down past the library and all the stately old homes that were a part of Tupelo’s quiet charm and Southern heritage. With their breath making white clouds in the still morning air, they set a smart pace past his school and up Robins Street where small bungalows had been restored with loving care by Tupelo’s young married set. They turned back east on Jackson Street, still not winded, past the football stadium, then south again on Church until they were back at his house.
“Thanks for the workout, Dan.” Janet started for her car.
He took her hand. “Whoa there, Doc. I’ll bet you haven’t had breakfast yet.”
“Not yet.”
“Then you’re in for a treat.” He took her hand and led her up his front walk and into his house.
“Come with me, Doc.”
Laughing, she followed him. “I’m not used to taking orders.”
“I’m used to giving them. I promise you, obeying will be painless.”
He tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and led her into his kitchen. It was a large, airy room with huge bay windows that let in the early morning light, tall ceilings hung with racks of brass pots and pans, and glass-fronted cabinets filled with a mixture of antique depression-glass plates, heavy pewter mugs and handmade pottery wineglasses. A big iron restaurant stove stood in one corner, and an oak claw-foot table sat in gleaming splendor underneath the windows.
“This is where I do my dastardly deeds. Sit right here.” He led her to a chair beside the table. Harvey came padding in from his rug beside the fireplace
and laid his head on Janet’s lap.
“Wish I could do that, Doc.”
She rubbed the dog behind his big, silky ears. “If you did, we might both starve to death.”
“I’d be willing to make the sacrifice.”
“I would, too—some other time. I have patients waiting.”
“In that case, we’ll have to postpone the cuddling until... tonight, Janet?”
“Yes, Dan. I want to see you tonight.”
He gave her a happy grin, then turned his attention to preparing breakfast. He whistled while he worked. Janet sat back in her chair and relaxed. Dan’s kitchen was warm and cozy and cheerful, and sitting there watching him prepare a high-cholesterol, high-fat, starch-laden meal was infinitely better than being in her kitchen alone with her fruit and cereal. Of course, that kind of diet was bad for his heart. If she said anything to him then told her friends, one of the Dixie Virgins was liable to kill her.
She played it safe by setting the table and enjoying having Harvey underfoot and Dan nearby, humming. She even enjoyed her meal without once thinking of fat grams and high cholesterol.
She glanced at her watch. “Oh my God. Where did the time go?’
“It flies when you’re having fun.”
“It had been fun, Dan, but I have to go.”
He walked her to the car then leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. It was a tender gesture that said take all the time you need, and it touched her more than she’d have imagined.
“See you tonight, Doc.”
“You, too.”
When she drove away, he was standing on the sidewalk, smiling and waving. A woman could get used to that.
o0o
Dan hurried back inside to his kitchen where Harvey waited.
“Didn’t she liven this place up, old boy?” Harvey whined his agreement. “Did you see the way the sunlight streaked her hair? It looked like flame. That woman inspires me to poetry.”
He began to clear the breakfast dishes. “I think it’s love, Harvey.” The dog woofed. “Why, thank you. When you fall in love, I’ll offer my congratulations, too.”
After Dan had stacked his dishes in the dishwasher, he let Harvey out into the backyard to get some sunshine. He had just come back in when the phone rang.
It was Betty June.
“Dan, I’m desperate.”
Dan wasn’t alarmed. Betty June was given to drama.
“Tell me what’s wrong. Maybe I can help you.”
“Would you? I knew I could count on you.”
“Count on me for what, Betty June?”
“To babysit. You see, Ron and I were watching this special about Andrew Wyeth on educational TV and he got this brilliant idea to drive up to Memphis today to see the Rodin exhibit. You know how these art history professors are. Well, we haven’t been anywhere in three months, and... anyway, I called Peg in Pontotoc, but she’s going to run a booth at her church’s winter bazaar and so I thought of you. I hope I’m not interrupting your plans.”
Dan thought of his plans, and it was on the tip of his tongue to tell his sister that he couldn’t babysit. Then he thought about her life, how she and Ron stayed home most of the time, attending school and church functions that involved their children. And how they so seldom went anywhere because they couldn’t find a sitter for their four lively offspring.
“Bring them over, Sis. I’ll be glad to do it.” Janet would understand. She might even want to come over and visit. That idea perked him up considerably.
“You’re an angel, Dan.”
“Dress them for the outdoors. I’ll take them to soccer practice this afternoon.’’
After he had hung up Dan glanced at his watch. He didn’t want to call Janet and interrupt her work, especially with bad news. Would she consider a broken date bad news? He selfishly hoped so.
He picked up a dust mop and tackled the monumental task of dusting his knickknacks. The duster was old and ragged, and amidst the fog of loose feathers and dust, Dan decided that he would stop by Janet’s apartment on his way to soccer practice and tell her in person about the change in plans. That sounded good to him. Better than breaking a date. It also left the way open for him to include her in the new plans.
By the time Betty June arrived with the children, Dan was feeling chipper about the turn of events. He loved children, especially his niece and nephews, and he wanted Janet to know and love them, too. Now was a good time for that.
After Betty June had gone, Dan involved the children in a romp in the backyard. Butch and Samuel, budding engineers that they were, immediately took their pails and tin shovels and started digging a hole to China. Peter played a game of catch with his Uncle Dan, while Merry, the botanist, collected dead leaves and discovered Harvey’s sudden romance.
“Look, Uncle Dan,” she called from the west side of the yard. “Harvey’s got a girlfriend.”
Dan looked up in time to see his dog prancing and preening in front of the clapboard fence. His audience was visible between the wooden slats—a standard poodle, resplendent in pink ribbons and a pink doggie jacket.
“Gwendolyn,” the poodle’s owner called. “Gwendolyn, come away from that fence.” A fat little woman with a red pouty mouth and yellow store-bought curls that bounced like sausages around her face snapped a leash on Gwendolyn and led her away, chiding all the while, “Bad doggie. You know that big mutt next door doesn’t have a pedigree. Bad girl.”
Dan and Peter burst out laughing, and Merry said, “Uncle Dan, what’s a Pet Agree?”
Dan explained about bloodlines, and by the time he had finished, they were clamoring for food. He figured they were either hungry or bored to death. He fed them lunch, got the sleepy twins into bed for a quick nap, and took down some board games for Peter and Merry. Then he settled down to watch the clock.
Janet would be home soon—barring emergencies. He crossed his fingers and fervently prayed for the good health of everybody in Tupelo.
o0o
Janet was at her desk studying. Laying her reading glasses atop her work, she went to the front door.
Her quick pleasure at seeing him was obvious in her face. He took that as a good sign. She hadn’t seen the children yet, though, for they were suddenly shy at the thought of paying a social call a doctor and were hiding behind him. To them, doctor meant shots.
“Dan! What an unexpected pleasure.”
“I hope you’ll still think so when you see the rest of your company.” He stepped aside and urged the children forward. “My niece and nephews, Merry, Peter, Butch and Samuel.”
“The Mayhew children. I should have known when you mentioned your sister, Betty June.” Smiling, Janet leaned down and took Peter’s hand. “How are you, Peter?”
“Good, Dr. Hall. I don’t to the hospital and neither does Merry.” He put his arm protectively around his sister. Little Butch looked at the doctor and began to squall.
Dan scooped him up and patted him soothingly on the bottom. “It’s okay, little man. Doctor Hall is our friend.”
Janet ushered the children through the door. “Come in out of the cold.” They pressed against Dan’s legs.
“I’ve never seen them this quiet. Do you have a magic wand somewhere on your person, Doc?”
“No. They’re merely associating me with sickness and pain. It’s a hazard of my profession.”
Dan’s high hopes for a spontaneous family evening began to wane. Obviously he couldn’t take four kids and a pediatrician and make them into instant friends and bosom buddies. He also noticed Janet’s reserve. Maybe she didn’t even like kids—except the sick ones. It was a depressing thought.
“We can’t stay, Doc. We’re on the way to soccer practice.”
“All of you?”
“Yes. My assistant will be there today, and everybody on the team will be vying for the chance to play with these little tykes.” He set the now-quiet Butch on his feet and picked up Samuel, who was looking teary-eyed and uncertain. “I just came by to tell you
that I’ll have to change our plans for this evening—and to apologize. Betty June called me this morning and...”
He paused, trying to think of the best way to explain why he let his sister’s need preempt their plans.
“There’s no need for an apology, nor for an explanation.” She glanced from Dan to the children. He had never looked more dear to her. His dark hair, forever mussed, was more tousled than usual and his blue eyes were shining with love for the children. He stood watching her expectantly, the expression on his face both yearning and hopeful. What did he want of her? What could she give?
She had dealt with patients all morning, sick who had every reason to be cranky. She didn’t relish the idea of spending the rest of her day with kids. And yet, these weren’t just any children; they were Dan’s kin. She took a deep breath.
“Why don’t you leave the children with me while you have soccer practice, Dan?”
Dan sensed that her heart wasn’t in the invitation. Anyhow, that wasn’t why he had come.
“Thank you, but no. It’s sunny today and fairly warm. The outing will do them good. And if it gets too cold, I’ll leave the practice with Wayne.” He bent over Merry. “Button your coat, sweetheart.” Then he straightened back up to face Janet. “About tonight—I thought maybe we could rent movies, and you could come over to watch them with us.”
“That sounds like fun, Dan, but actually I have lots of studying to do.”
“I’ll call you, Janet.” He gathered his children and started for the door.
“Great.”
In the doorway he gave a small wave and then he was gone, the door closing softly behind him.
Janet leaned against the door. Why had she turned him down? It wasn’t that she didn’t like children. It wasn’t even that she didn’t want to be with the Mayhew children.
She went back to her desk and sat down, but she couldn’t get her mind on her studies. In a rare moment of spontaneity, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and made two calls.
Within fifteen minutes, she’d picked up Belinda and they were on the way to Peppertown. Another fifteen minutes and the three of them were sitting at Clemmie’s fabulous antique kitchen table eating homemade cookies and drinking sweet tea.
