by Lesley Crewe
“That silly woman’s going to catch her death,” Bay tsked.
“Doesn’t she own a car?” Tansy asked.
“Well, not really.”
“What do you mean, not really?”
“She has one but it needs gas.”
Ashley and Matt laughed at Tansy’s expression. “Do you mean to tell me she’s too cheap to buy gas for her car?”
Bay nodded. “She’d rather buy nachos. We’d better pick her up.”
Tansy looked around at the back seat. “Where on earth will you put her?”
Ashley solved that. “I’ll sit on Matt’s lap.”
Bay pulled over to the curb ahead of Gertie and honked the horn. Gertie was wearing an accordion plastic head scarf on her head, which made her look eighty. She tried to wave, but her hands were full. The kids opened the back door and she hurried over to the car.
“Take these,” Gertie shouted. “My boxes of doughnuts are getting soggy.”
Matt grabbed the bags and Gertie grunted as she squeezed into the back seat. She took off her headscarf and shook it. Tansy cried out in dismay.
“For heaven’s sake, Gertie, you’re not a dog. Watch my hair.”
“Sorry. Look, Tansy, could you push your seat up a tad? My knees are up to my chins.”
Tansy pulled her seat forward. “Is that better?”
“Not really, but never mind.”
“Want to go to dinner with us, Gertie?”
“That would be great. Anyone want a doughnut?”
After arguing about where they should go, they decided on Swiss Chalet. They had a horrible time trying to get Gertie out of the back seat of the car. Even Gertie seemed distressed by the episode.
“I think I’m going to have to go on a diet.” She stopped for a breather before they got through the restaurant door. But once she was seated, she sniffed the air. “Oh darn, smell that chicken. Maybe I’ll start my diet tomorrow.”
“There’s no time like the present,” Tansy announced. “If you mean what you say, then act on it. Starting tonight.”
Gertie looked dismayed. “You mean I get invited to a restaurant with someone else picking up the tab and you’re going to make me eat a salad?”
“That’s what I’m having,” Tansy replied.
“Oh, brother. But the fries are so good here.”
Tansy patted Gertie’s hand. “Listen, Gertie, my sister loves you very much and right now she can’t afford to lose anyone else in her life, so let’s get you into shape. You don’t want to have a heart attack while walking home one night carting twenty pounds of Doritos, do you?”
“Well, no…”
“We’ll start an exercise routine as well. I’ll teach you everything you need to know. It’ll be fun, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“I forgot how bossy you were.”
“Suck it up, Gertie. Okay, everyone, what are you guys ordering?”
Everyone looked at Gertie’s long face and no one had the heart to eat in front of her, so they all had a salad, even Matt. The waitress gave them a funny look but otherwise did what she was told. While they ate, Tansy waxed poetic about healthy diets and vitamin supplements. It was a pretty quick dinner, as everyone was anxious to go home and stuff their faces. Gertie, Ashley, and Matt had a devil of a time trying not to make any noise while opening the packages of doughnuts in the back seat. They’d managed to wolf down three each by the time they got back to Louisbourg.
When Bay dropped Gertie off, Tansy reached behind the seat and grabbed the remaining bag of doughnuts. “Ah, ah, ah. Remember. No sweets. I’ll be over tomorrow morning at seven-thirty sharp. We’ll start our walking program.”
“Flippin’ wonderful,” Gertie groused. “Thanks for taking me along, Bay. A firing squad would’ve been more enjoyable.”
“Sorry,” Bay grimaced. “Do you still love me?”
“No.”
Gertie huffed up the porch stairs and slammed her front door.
Tansy looked at the others. “You have to be cruel to be kind. You know I’m right.”
“I know,” Bay sighed. “It’s just that she has nothing else in her life.”
“She’ll get a life once she loses some weight and starts to feel better about herself.”
When they got back to the house, Ashley said she’d drive Matt home, so Bay and Tansy said goodnight to Matt and went inside. Ashley drove over to his place and parked outside his house.
Ashley rubbed her hands gleefully. “I can’t wait for the prom. Aren’t you excited?”
“I’m excited about what’s going to happen after the prom, mostly.”
“You don’t care about the grand march and all that?”
“Guys don’t get as freaked out about stuff like that.”
“Well, I can’t wait. Tansy is buying me a dress.”
“I thought your mom made you one.”
Ashley rubbed the steering wheel with her thumbs. “She did, but it wasn’t fancy enough.”
“You liked it before your aunt showed up.”
“I know…”
“Don’t change who you are because of her.”
Ashley frowned at him. “I’m not. Mom said it was okay, so don’t make a big deal out of it.”
Matt leaned over and put his hand in hers. “You look hot no matter what you have on, but you look even hotter when you wear nothing at all.”
Ashley laid her head on his shoulder. “I wish we could spend the night together.”
“We will.”
She sat upright. “What do you mean?”
“The prom is the perfect opportunity to be together. We’re supposed to go to Ryan’s party, but I’ve made arrangements to go somewhere else instead. Just you and me.”
Ashley squeezed his hand. “Oh, good. Where?”
“Never mind. It’s a surprise.”
“Oh, I love you.” She kissed him then, and they were so wrapped up in each other that neither of them saw Matt’s mother, Ruth, come over to the car and knock on the car door window. They jumped.
Matt opened the door slightly. “Mom, you don’t need to scare us like that.”
“And I don’t need you two steaming up car windows in my driveway. I think you’d better go home, Ashley.”
“Okay, sorry.” Ashley gave Matt a guilty look. “Bye.”
“Bye.” He got out, shut the door, and turned to face his mother as Ashley backed the car out onto the street. “Don’t embarrass me like that.”
“Me embarrass you? I think you have it the wrong way around, buddy boy.”
“Why do you hate her so much?”
Ruth rolled her eyes. “I don’t hate her, Matt. I think you’re too young to be so involved, that’s all.”
Matt walked away. “I’m not too young and I know what I want.”
Ruth followed him. “You’re going to have to cool things down anyway. You’re off to university in the fall, don’t forget.”
Matt swung around. “You say that at least three times a day. Well, for your information, I don’t know if I want to go away in September.”
Ruth blanched. “You’re not serious.”
“I’m deadly serious.”
“I knew that girl was trouble.”
Matt gave her a dirty look. “You make it sound as if she’s asking me to stay here, but she’s not. It’s my decision, not hers and certainly not yours. Now leave me alone.” He stormed into the house and nearly took the hinges off the screen door when it hit the wall.
At seven-thirty sharp the next morning, Tansy was at Gertie’s door. She had on a fabulous Lycra workout suit that hugged her curves. Gertie answered the door, looked at Tansy, and put her hands on her hips. “Are you for real?”
“What?”
“I’m supposed to go walking with someone who looks like Pamela Anderson? My ass is the size of a barn door compared to yours.”
Tansy pointed at her. “Stop making excuses. And for your information, I’m a 34 B and my breasts are real. Now let
’s get a move on.”
“Wait, I need a jacket.” Gertie left Tansy standing in the doorway. While she was gone, the ugliest cat Tansy ever laid eyes on sauntered up and gave her the once over. She tried to shoo it away, but it wouldn’t budge. “What are you looking at?”
Jeffrey growled, so Tansy backed up. “What’s wrong with your cat?”
Gertie arrived back on the scene. “I told Jeffrey about last night and he wasn’t impressed by your strong-arm tactics.” She reached down and picked up her baby. “Mommy will be back soon…I hope. If I die, you’re well provided for in my will.” She kissed the top of his head and put him back down, closing the door behind her.
“Oh God, can we take a few back roads? I don’t want to be seen by the whole population of Louisbourg.”
Tansy started down the stairs. “Don’t be foolish. You live in this town. Why should you go slinking around the backwoods? Who cares what anyone thinks?”
“I do.”
“Well, you need to get over that. The only person you have to please is yourself.”
Gertie tried to keep up with Tansy as she marched down the road. “If I wanted to please myself, I’d still be in bed with a couple of cinnamon raisin bagels and a mug of hot chocolate.”
“Stop talking.”
Gertie made a face behind Tansy’s back.
The rest of the walk was an exercise in frustration. Tansy walked too fast and Gertie walked too slowly. Tansy spent most of their session walking briskly up the street, only to have to turn around and walk back to join Gertie. In the end, she walked a mile and Gertie walked a block. Tansy relented and told Gertie to turn around and head for home. She walked beside her.
“I’m worried about Bay,” she confessed.
“So am I,” wheezed Gertie.
“She gets annoyed when I say anything.”
Gertie took a tissue out of her pocket and wiped the sweat off her face. “Well, she would, wouldn’t she?”
Tansy gave Gertie a quick glance. “Why’s that?”
“Why do you think? You’ve stayed away for years and suddenly you come back and order her around. I’d be pissed too. As a matter of fact, I am pissed, because I’m about to have a stroke, thanks to you.”
“Hardly.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, why did you stay away so long?”
Tansy looked straight ahead. “I couldn’t be here.”
“Why?”
“Memories.”
“Of what?”
“A man.”
“Who?”
Tansy stopped. “Look, Gertie, you’re a great gal, but I don’t plan on spilling my guts, to you or to anyone. I’ll save that for my shrink.”
Gertie continued up the street. “Fine. But I’m a good listener, if you ever need one.”
Tansy gave her a pat on the back. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
CHAPTER SIX
“You look adorable,” Tansy smiled.
Ashley turned around in front of the store mirror and looked over her shoulder. “How does it look in the back?”
“Gorgeous. Don’t you think so, Bay?”
“Yes, it’s lovely.”
They’d spent an hour trying on prom dresses, and Bay was decidedly weary. She wanted Ashley to choose one so they could leave, but she knew that Ashley and Tansy were having the time of their lives, so she sat on the one chair available and let them go at it. Trouble was, every one Ashley tried on was better than the last.
“I can’t decide,” Ashley laughed. “I love them all.”
“I like this one the best,” Tansy said. “Violet isn’t a common colour and with your gorgeous hair and blue eyes, it looks perfect. Right, Bay?”
“Right.”
The saleslady concurred. “I think your daughter looks beautiful in this dress.”
“She’s not my mother.”
Bay stood up. “So, are we finished?”
Tansy busied herself with her purse, and then passed an American Express card to the clerk. “A gift from a proud auntie.”
“Of course.”
Bay was quiet on the way home, but when she saw Tansy and Ashley exchange glances, she gave herself a mental boot up the backside. She looked in the rearview mirror. “You’ll be the prettiest one at the prom.”
Ashley gave her a big smile. “Do you think so?”
“I know so.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
As usual, the heat in Sydney started to dissipate the closer they got to Louisbourg. Bay felt it as the air rushed by her open window. She loved the cool misty atmosphere that lingered over her hometown. The smell of the ocean rode on the gusts of wind and refreshed her spirit. She drank it in as they sped by the tall evergreen trees lining the side of the road. She started to relax.
“I always forget how isolated we are out here,” Tansy said. “Doesn’t it drive you mad in the winter?”
“No. I love it.”
“You need to get out of here. There’s more to the world than a small coastal town in Cape Breton.”
“This small coastal town suits me to a T. I don’t need to go anywhere.”
“How on earth did we come out of the same womb?”
“Beats me.”
When they got home, the first thing Ashley did was call her friends to tell them to come over and see her dress. Ten minutes later a gaggle of girls ran up the stairs and excited shouts rang from the bedroom. Bay and Tansy sat at the kitchen table with mugs of tea and smiled at each other.
“Thanks again for the dress,” Bay said. “You’ve made her very happy.”
“She’s a wonderful girl. You’ve done a great job bringing her up.”
“I didn’t do it alone. Mom was so good with her.”
Tansy cleared her throat. “I wish I’d seen them together more.” She looked sad, so Bay reached over and grabbed her hand.
“Mom was exactly the same way she was with us growing up; kind, patient, and loving.”
”I always ruined everything,” Tansy sighed. “I was such a miserable teenager. I don’t know why she didn’t hate me.”
Bay smiled. “You were a challenge.”
“I was a pain in the ass.”
“You still are.”
They laughed together.
After supper Tansy came downstairs and said she was going out for a while. Bay looked up from her newspaper. “You’re dolled up. Where are you going?”
“I’m not sure. Just out.”
“If you’re looking for something to do, we could go to the movies.”
“Nah, I hate sitting in the dark. See you.”
“Tansy?”
She turned around.
“I thought you were here to see us.”
“What? Twenty-four seven?”
“Well, it’s nice to be together, isn’t it?”
“Of course it is, but I was with you all day.” She walked back in from the porch and sat at the table. “Bay, can I ask what a great-looking girl like you is doing alone on a Friday night? Why don’t you have a boyfriend?”
“I don’t know.”
“Aren’t men interested?”
Bay shrugged. “Some are, but I can’t be bothered.”
Tansy crossed her arms. “Are you telling me you haven’t been with a man since Bobby died?”
Bay didn’t say anything.
“Well?”
She put down the paper. “I was sort of with one once.”
Tansy’s mouth dropped open. “In almost eighteen years, you’ve only been with one man? Are you crazy?”
Bay got defensive. “I loved Bobby with all my heart. It was hard to be with anyone else. The thought of…” She couldn’t continue.
“The thought of sleeping with someone else bothered you?”
“Yes.”
“Did you go to bed with this man?”
“I tried. It didn’t work.”
Tansy sat back in her chair. Bay looked at her. “I couldn’t…you know. I was nervous and on edge
. He was annoyed. It was humiliating.”
“He was a jerk. Not all men are jerks.”
“No. Not all of them.”
Tansy stood. “That’s my next mission. I’m getting you a date with someone nice. By the time I leave here, Gertie will weigh 150 pounds and you’ll be engaged.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Bay laughed.
Her sister headed for the back door. “Make a list of eligible bachelors in town and we’ll start first thing in the morning. Don’t wait up.”
The door shut behind her.
Bay picked up the paper and smiled. She’d make up a list, but there would only be one name on it.
This time Tansy and Dermot didn’t go anywhere. She parked around the back of his house and no one was the wiser. He opened the back door and let her in. She smiled and walked past him slowly, knowing his eyes were on her. Placing her bag on the kitchen table, she stood with her back to him, waiting.
Dermot came up behind her and put his hands on her hips. He lowered his head and kissed her right shoulder. She leaned to the left, giving him access to her neck. There was a quick intake of breath as his lips touched her, his tongue warm against her skin. He kissed her perfumed flesh. It was unhurried, endless. She wanted more. She tried to turn and face him, but he wouldn’t let her.
“Please,” she whispered.
“Wait.”
His right hand came up and covered her breastbone, while his left slid around and held her belly, pressing her against his body without releasing his grip, bringing her closer. She wanted to melt into him. Her head fell back against his shoulder. She was breathless.
“There are a lot of things I can teach you, city girl.”
“Do it.”
It was almost dawn when Tansy got out of his bed. He pulled her back for a moment. “What are we doing?”
She reached out and brushed his hair away from his forehead. “I thought that was obvious.”
“This is not what it was supposed to be.”
She touched his cheek with the back of her hand. “And what was that?”
“A one-night stand.”
She laughed. “Now don’t go ruining everything by falling for me, Dermot.”
“Hey!” He reached out and messed up her hair. “I think it’s the other way around.”
“Stop it, you!” She grabbed his hands, but he pushed her back down on the bed and leaned over her.
