by Sharon Sala
Dori watched him shuffling through the papers in his briefcase, and then he paused and handed her a debit card.
“This is from the joint account belonging to you and Meeker. You stated that you had signed the card to write checks on the account, but the debit card for you was never picked up. Even though his estate is in probate, your name on the account does allow you access.”
Dori sighed. Now she had access to his money too, when hers ran out.
Peanut handed her an envelope.
“These are some bank checks for you. One is for your personal account. The other is the joint account. You can use those while waiting for your replacement checks to arrive. I gave them this mailing address, although your old address will still be on the checks. You’ll have to deal with that later. For now, you should get them within five or six days.”
“Thank you. This is so thoughtful,” Dori said and laid them in her lap on top of the card.
“And last but not least,” he said and handed her a set of car keys, “the car I drove here is a rental. Per your insurance policy, they have to furnish one for you until yours is replaced. That’s the beauty of full, comprehensive coverage. I took the liberty of acquiring one for you.”
Dori sighed. “This is so thoughtful of you, Mr. Butterman.”
Peanut paused in the act of closing up his briefcase to explain.
“My job is rarely pleasant. I’m almost always trying to solve a criminal issue. This is different. This was a tragedy coupled with the legal issues of a good man’s passing. I really liked Meeker Webb. I admire your courage, and I’m sincerely honored to get to do this for you.”
“Then, thank you,” she said, struggling once again not to cry.
He shut his briefcase and stood.
“The gas tank is full. There’s a baby seat in the back for your boy. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call. I’ll see myself out.”
Moments later, he was gone.
Dori got up and locked the door behind him, then laid the checks, the debit card, and the keys on the side table and turned and looked at Luther, who was still mesmerized by the spinning blades.
“You’ve stared at that thing long enough,” she muttered and turned off the fan. She dragged the box with the playpen away from the sofa and tore into it.
Luther squawked, then heard the noise his mother was making and squawked again because he couldn’t see her.
“You sure are bad off,” she said, laughing as she dragged his pallet out where he could see what she was doing, and then she finished setting up the playpen and put him in it.
* * *
The phone had been ringing all day at the Curl Up and Dye. Women who would normally be getting their hair done on other days were all trying to get their appointments changed to today so they’d look good to attend Meeker Webb’s funeral tomorrow. It wasn’t so much that they’d held Meeker in such high esteem as the fact that they wanted to see if Dori Grant showed up with Johnny Pine.
Ruby was juggling customers without complaint, but there was a bead of sweat on her upper lip and her blond curls were in serious disarray. The twins were working double-time but with less grace. Grumbling was a part of their repertoire, and no one thought too much of it. Even Mabel Jean was being pushed to take as many manicures as she could squeeze in. The place was full to overflowing, with ladies still sitting up front and waiting to be called back. So when the bell jingled over the front door signaling yet another customer coming in, everyone turned to look.
* * *
Dori buckled Luther into the car seat, tucked the blanket around him, and then got into the car. She took a couple of minutes to locate all the controls, then adjusted the seat and the rearview mirror before backing out of the drive.
It felt good to be in control of something, even if it was just a car. She had a baby bottle and extra diapers in the diaper bag and Luther’s favorite teething ring, but she was hoping he’d be so interested in his surroundings that he’d be good for the short time she would be at the salon.
As soon as she knew she had wheels, she’d called the Curl Up and Dye to see if Ruby could trim the ends of her hair and get rid of those dry places. She had no idea that her call would put Ruby in a tight spot or that most of the clients in the shop that day were indirectly there because of her.
Upon arrival at the salon, Dori was surprised by the lack of parking and circled the block twice before a spot became empty. She got out with the diaper bag and her purse, unbuckled Luther from the car seat and cradled him in her arms, blanket and all, and walked in.
The women up front stopped talking.
Dori smiled at them as she noticed all the seats were taken.
A couple nodded a hello, others stared, and none of them budged.
Without an empty seat to sit in, Dori shifted the baby to her shoulder and moved back against the wall to wait.
By now, the customers already in the stylist chairs had spotted them and chatter inside the shop dwindled to almost nothing.
It was the sudden lack of noise that made Ruby pause and then turn around to see what was going on. When she saw Dori and the baby standing, and five women seated and looking at her with unconcealed disdain, the hair crawled on the back of her neck.
“Excuse me a minute,” she told her client and marched to the front of her store and took Dori by the arm.
“Dori, honey, I’m so sorry there are no more empty seats up here, but there’s a spot in the back. You’ll be up next.”
The other women had been waiting for some time and began to fuss and whisper among themselves when it appeared the girl was going ahead of them.
Ruby turned around and gave them a look that silenced the whispers before she led her toward one of the dryers.
“Sit here, honey. We don’t use the dryers on these chairs as much as blow-dryers these days.” She saw Luther peeking at her from under his blanket, and she lifted it and grinned. “You are such a cutie pie,” she said and poked her finger lightly at his belly.
Luther immediately giggled, and the sound carried through the salon.
Ruby poked his belly again and he giggled even louder.
Now everyone was turning to look. The sound of a baby’s laughter was a hard thing to ignore.
“He is so darling,” Vera said.
Dori smiled. “He likes that game. Granddaddy used to play that with him.”
Ruby sighed. “I’m sorry, honey. I had no idea.”
“Oh no, I’m glad he’s happy,” Dori said.
Ruby patted her knee. “Give me a couple of minutes, and I’ll get you in and out before he loses his sense of humor. How’s that?”
“Perfect,” Dori said and settled back to wait.
A few moments later, the lady in Ruby’s chair got up and began gathering her things and walked straight to where Dori was sitting.
“Honey, my name is Rachel Goodhope. I run the bed and breakfast, and I wanted to give you my condolences. I know eventually you’ll figure out what you’re going to do, but if you find yourself in need of a place to stay for a short while, give me a call. I’m rarely booked solid and the cost would be on me.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Goodhope. That is a very generous offer, but I think Luther and I are going to be okay. A friend from high school has kindly taken us into his home. It will take a while for everything to go through court, but eventually I will find Luther and me a new home.”
Everyone heard what she said. The fact that she had spoken of moving herself and her baby away from Johnny Pine didn’t fit the gossip.
Rachel smiled and then cupped Luther’s face.
“He is a beautiful boy. You must be so proud.”
“Yes, ma’am, I am, and thank you,” Dori said.
Rachel waved as she went up front to pay, and then she was gone.
“You’re next, Dori. Into
the chair with you,” Ruby said.
Mabel Jean came out of the workroom and saw Dori trying to maneuver the baby around the cape Ruby was fastening around her neck and hurried over.
“Hey, honey, why don’t you let me hold this little chunk while Ruby gets you fixed up? I don’t have any kids, but I sure wish I did.”
Mabel Jean scooped Luther up and into her arms. He took a look at her, popped his thumb in his mouth, but kept his eyes on Dori.
“We’ll make this quick in case he decides to complain,” Ruby said. “Now tell me what we’re going to do here.”
Dori ran her fingers through her long, dark hair and then grabbed one of the places where it felt dry and frizzled.
“There are these dry places that stick out like fuzz. They weren’t there before the fire, and I didn’t notice…” Her voice broke, and then she took a deep breath and started over. “It feels burned, so I guess it happened the night of the fire. I don’t remember much after Granddaddy died, so I could have been on fire myself and wouldn’t have felt it. Luther wouldn’t stop screaming, and everyone was gone except the firemen, then Johnny Pine walked up and took him out of my arms. Luther likes men, you know, because Granddaddy took care of him every day I was at work. He took one look at Johnny and laid his head on Johnny’s shoulder and closed his eyes. I figured if Luther was okay with him, then I should be too.”
There was a lump in Ruby’s throat as she ran her fingers through Dori’s thick hair.
“I think you made a wise choice,” she said. “Now then, do you want length cut off or just trim the burned ends?”
“I think just the trim. I don’t have time for a hairstyle these days, and I need it long enough to put in a ponytail.”
Ruby led her to the shampoo station and then a few minutes later back to her chair, and she began cutting.
Meanwhile Mabel Jean was taking Luther on a tour of the shop and talking to him in a sweet, singsong voice, and for the first time since his birth, he was being presented up close and personal to some of Blessings’s residents. The consensus was final. He was a darling baby, even pretty some said as they touched his soft baby curls and took note of how sweet and clean he smelled. Dori didn’t know it, but her little man was about to sway more public opinion her way.
Ruby was finished within fifteen minutes, complete with trim and a blow-dry, leaving Dori’s hair in soft, wavy curls.
“Luther has your hair, doesn’t he?” Ruby said as she put down the brush and hair dryer and gave the style a quick spritz of spray to hold it in place.
Dori nodded. “My hair and eyes, and my daddy’s name,” she said softly. “How much do I owe you?”
“Not a thing,” Ruby said. “I’m happy to help in any way I can. If you need help with the baby tomorrow during the services, we’ll be there. Just send someone to find us, and we’ll be happy to hold him.”
Dori hugged Ruby’s neck.
“Your kindness is more appreciated than you can know,” she said, then opened up her arms as Mabel Jean handed the baby back. “Thank you for the help too.”
“It was totally my pleasure and ditto to what Ruby said. I’ll gladly do it again tomorrow.”
Dori nodded. “I appreciate your offer.”
She slung her purse and diaper bag on her shoulder, cradled the baby in her arms, and walked out the door.
Ruby stood in the middle of the salon, watching until she saw them drive away, and then put her hands on her hips and gave everyone in the salon a look.
“Amazing young lady, isn’t she? Sweet baby, isn’t he? Anyone want to talk ugly about them again, you won’t be doing it in here. Are we clear on that?”
Silence.
Ruby glanced at the women waiting.
“I’ve lost track of who’s next. If you can make that decision without a fight, come on back,” she said and then smiled at the lady who got up and walked toward her. “Morning, Sue.”
“Morning, Sister,” she said.
Ruby smiled as she whipped out a fresh cape. She liked it when people in town called her by her nickname. It made her feel like she belonged to a real family. Even if they were a little hateful now and then, what family wasn’t?
“Take a seat and we’ll get you all fluffed up.”
* * *
Johnny came back from the job site at noon, hauling the dozer. He’d already called his boss to tell him the hydraulic system was leaking.
Mr. Clawson was disgusted by the news, but not at Johnny, as he unloaded the dozer and moved it into the repair bay.
“Did it go out all of a sudden, or could you feel it going loose?” Clawson asked as Johnny killed the engine and jumped down.
“I think it blew a seal somewhere,” Johnny said. “It seemed okay one minute and then it wasn’t and there was fluid spray all over this side here.”
Clawson saw it and shrugged. “I guess I can’t complain. It’s almost as old as you are. Listen, the other two dozers and drivers are on jobs, and this one’s gonna be down. Why don’t you call it a day and go on home? We’ll finish up work on that job site first thing Monday.”
“You sure?” Johnny asked. “I don’t mind helping here if you need me.”
“I’m sure,” he said. “I have mechanics. They can earn their pay today.”
“Okay. See you Monday, then,” Johnny said and headed for the car.
It wasn’t often he got to go home in the middle of the day, and he welcomed the downtime to catch up on some other things. Dori was on his mind as he started home. He thought about calling her to see if she needed anything and then decided he’d find out when he got there and go out again later if need be.
When he turned down Admiral and saw the strange car in his driveway, he frowned, wondering who else was there. He parked on the other side of it and got out, then headed to the house.
* * *
Dori was in the kitchen when she heard someone at the front door. Then she heard a key in the lock and headed to the living room with the dishrag still in her hand and saw Johnny.
“Hey,” she said. “Is everything all right? Are you sick?”
The answer was on the tip of his tongue, and then he saw her—really saw her—standing barefoot with her hair down and framing her face in long, soft curls. She was wearing a pink T-shirt and blue jeans and the rag in her hand was dripping water, and he forgot what he was going to say.
“Johnny?”
He jerked. “Oh. Sorry. I, uh…what did you say?”
“You’re home, and I asked if you were sick.”
“Oh, right. No, I’m fine. Hydraulics went out on the dozer. Mr. Clawson sent me home for the rest of the day.” Then he saw the playpen and Luther in it asleep and sucking his thumb.
“Mr. Butterman brought it,” Dori said. “Did you eat yet?”
He shook his head and held up his Tupperware container.
“Then come in the kitchen. I just made myself a sandwich. I’ll make you something to drink,” she said.
He followed her, still shocked by what he was feeling.
“Whose car is that?” he asked as he opened his lunch box and took out the food.
“It’s a rental. Mr. Butterman brought it too. He said it was a benefit from the insurance coverage Granddaddy had. I can use it at their expense until they issue the money for me to replace the one that burned.”
“Nice,” Johnny said, but his mind was racing.
Did that mean she would be leaving soon? He wasn’t going to ask, because it might seem like he wanted to be rid of her when he’d just realized that wasn’t entirely true.
“Is iced tea okay?” Dori asked.
“Uh, yes, thank you,” he said, sitting down and beginning to unwrap his food.
She set his drink in front of him and then took a seat on the other side of the table.
“Want a chip?”
she asked as she pushed a bag of potato chips his way.
He realized she’d bought some groceries on her own, and he helped himself to a handful. This was the first time they’d been together like this without the boys. It was like being on an almost date without his chaperones. He wanted to know her, to know about her, and he took a chance.
“Can I ask you something?” he asked.
She looked up and met his gaze. There was a long moment of silence and then she nodded.
“What do you want out of life?”
She paused, a little surprised by the question. “I want to be happy, and I want Luther to grow up to be a good man. After I took the GED, I began taking college courses online to design websites. I am…was getting pretty good at it.”
He was both surprised and pleased by her answer. Like him, she wanted more than to settle for where life had thrust her.
“You can get right back in it as soon as you get a computer, right?”
She nodded.
“That’s a very creative outlet and a great avenue for income,” he said.
Dori smiled, pleased that he didn’t make fun of the idea, and took another bite of her sandwich.
Johnny put his elbows on the table and leaned forward, his food forgotten. “Can I ask you another question?”
She tensed. “You can ask.”
Johnny heard the hesitance in her voice and panicked. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “I don’t know what you think I was going to ask, but it had nothing to do with your privacy. I would never presume to—”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Ever since Luther, I have this big thing hanging over my head… It’s like being shot at. After it happens once, you find yourself ducking for the rest of your life.”
Johnny reached across the table and took her hand. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened between you and your boyfriend to cause the separation, but I would never—” He stopped, shocked by her reaction to what he’d said.
She had doubled her hand into a fist, and there was a muscle jerking at the side of her mouth. “There was no boyfriend, and that’s more than I’ve ever said to anyone.”
When she went to pull her hand away, he grabbed it and held on.
