Stardust: A Novel

by Carla Stewart

  My eyes misted as my heart released O’Dell to his beloved bayou.

  I turned and took a small dark hand in mine. “Thank you, Catfish. You’re a brave boy. I’m lucky to know you.”

  Tears tracked like raindrops down his cheeks. He didn’t answer but gave my hand a squeeze. His free hand swiped across his eyes.

  Night had settled in the woods, a hint of campfire in the air. I gave Catfish a hug and swatted his bottom. “Run on home now. Your momma’s probably got supper ready. See you tomorrow.” I didn’t have to tell him twice.

  When we reached the open meadow, Peter stopped and put his arm around me. “I’ve no idea what that was all about, but I have to say, I felt something back there. It was either a swamp ghost or the presence of the Almighty.”

  “I felt it, too. Before you think I’m prone to insanity, I should explain. Today I realized my obsession with O’Dell and all the wrongs he did to me would last forever if I didn’t release them. I have two girls I would die for and a mother-in-law who’s part of the family whether her son is alive or not. Without O’Dell, none of that would have been possible. I had to go to the bayou tonight and let go of my bitterness.”

  Peter squeezed my shoulder. “I know it’s tough. I’m honored you chose me to go with you.”

  “I was afraid if we came upon a water moccasin or something I’d need you to protect me.”

  “Ah, so now I know the real reason.”

  “I needed you to myself for another reason. It may take me awhile to get it all out. Please be patient.” I reached in the other pocket of my dress and pulled out a wad of tissues. “I’ll probably need these and don’t want to cry all over your shirt.”

  We took a different route home, following the cypress line along the bayou. I told Peter what I’d discovered in the wardrobe and about my visit with Aunt Cora. That Van Sweeney was my father. And she was my birth mother.

  My mother. A flood of tears came, and I had to stop and blow my nose. A crescent moon had risen above the bayou, its points tilted upward. I sniffed and pointed to it. “My lucky day. The moon’s smiling.”

  Peter drew me in and kissed me long and hard. “Every day with you’s my lucky day.” He held me close for a long time, then relaxed his hold and kissed my forehead. “I believe you were in the middle of telling me something.”

  “The intermission was nice. Now, where was I? I remember. The tough part. When I left Aunt Cora’s, I honestly didn’t know if I could ever forgive her.”

  “It’s a lot to take in, I admit. How do you forgive something like that?”

  “I wrestled with it, but in the end it wasn’t as hard as I thought. God has a way of bringing us to our knees, doesn’t he? Aunt Cora has devoted her life to fighting polio and gave up a lot to raise me. Granted, we didn’t see eye to eye most of the time, and I know there are repercussions to our actions, but she was loving and devoted and generous. She made an immature choice once, but she did what she honestly thought was the best for me. And whether it was or not doesn’t matter.”

  “So you’ve talked to her?”

  “I went back to her house after storming off. This is new territory for both of us, so there were a few tears. Van Sweeney doesn’t know what drama he’s been swept into. I just hope he stays through the benefit on Friday night.”

  “I bet you won’t have to worry there. Besides, it seems to me he’s the center of the drama, as you call it.”

  “We hope to talk to him together… if he’s willing.”

  We came through the sycamore grove behind the Stardust and rounded the corner of the end cottage. Peter stopped. “Here’s your chance. Look who just drove up.”

  My heart went into overdrive. “I think I’m going to faint.”

  “Faint? You said you wanted to talk to them.”

  “I do. That’s not why I’m light-headed. Aunt Cora once told me the governor would dance at her wedding before she stepped foot in the Stardust. Do you think it’s a sign?”

  “More like a sign that you’re a goose. Come on, you have company.”

  Since Mary Frances and Malcolm were back from getting ice cream with the girls, Peter offered to go in and let me talk with Aunt Cora and Mr. Sweeney alone. A gentle glow from the Stardust sign lit our way as we strolled through the flower garden the Magnolias had brought to life. Aunt Cora stopped by a rosebush and plucked a newly opened bloom.

  “Van insisted we come here instead of you coming to my place.”

  I chuckled. “I didn’t know you hated the Stardust because it held so many bad memories.”

  “They weren’t bad. As a matter of fact, I loved this place once like you did, sweetie. But it also held my secrets. It’s lovely what you’ve done with it.” She held the rose to her face and inhaled.

  “I had a lot of help, and I’m glad you came.” My underarms grew damp with the thought of talking to my dad—such a strange thought still.

  Mr. Sweeney started us off, though, by clearing his throat. “I know I’m the newcomer here, and it’s been a heckuva week. Before I came, I dreamed that Cora would remember me, but I knew my chances were slim. Imagine my delight to find her involved in the one thing that’s been my passion. Not to mention renewing our… uh… friendship.” He took her hand and raised it to his lips, grazing the back of it.

  He turned to me. “And I’ve found someone I didn’t even know was missing. Georgia, I know what a shock this is to you, but from the minute I saw you, I knew you were my daughter. Dragging the truth out of Cora was harder than you can imagine.”

  “I can imagine, all right. You had more success in ten days than I had in almost twenty years. But you’re right, it has been a shock.” My legs trembled, and I crossed my arms, rubbing the goose bumps on my bare flesh.

  Aunt Cora pulled me into her arms. “I know I can never make this up to you. I’ve robbed you of a mother—”

  “—and cheated me out of a daughter.” Mr. Sweeney’s voice interrupted, but his tone was light.

  Aunt Cora put her hands on her hips and looked up at him. “I didn’t even know where you were. If you’d have come back, I might’ve—”

  “No more of what might have been, Cora.” Mr. Sweeney pulled her into the crook of one arm and held out the other for me.

  I leaned into him, his body warm with a sweet pine scent. Fatherly. Strong. He kissed the top of my head. “I do want to inform you, it’s going to be much harder to get rid of me this time. I plan to stick around Mayhaw and see if your mother can stand me.”

  Your mother. “She deserves someone nice, and I’m glad it’s you.”

  Aunt Cora—my mother—said, “If it’s all right with you, Georgia, I’d like to be the one to tell the girls they now have two grandmothers.”

  My throat clogged, and I bit my lower lip. “Are you sure?”

  “I have a lot to make up for, and I’d like to start by telling them the truth.”

  “The truth is good. And yes, we’ll tell them… together.”

  The three of us linked arms to face our new beginning.

  [ CHAPTER 44 ]

  The next few days were a whirlwind. Rosey latched on to the news that Aunt Cora was her grandmother and used it to her advantage, starting with Aunt Cora’s offering to take us all shopping for new outfits for the Mayhaw Festival. Avril was oblivious, and I hoped that, like me, she wouldn’t remember her early years and would grow up thinking our new order of things was normal. Where Aunt Cora and Van Sweeney were headed was anyone’s guess, but I predicted wedding bells in their future.

  Ludi shook her head and did a hallelujah dance until her feet gave out. I made her let me make a pattern of her foot and take her measurements. While Aunt Cora shopped with the girls, I picked out new shoes for Ludi—extrawide—and two new dresses. Ludi nearly cried when I presented them to her, but clutched them to her chest like they were purest linen.

  Hugh Salazar called and said Aunt Cora had been to see him. “The woman looks ten years younger.”

  “Maybe if
you’d told me the truth, you’d look ten years younger, too.”

  “You always were a handful, Georgia. Now get your pretty little self down here so we can discuss this deal Sweeney’s cooked up.”

  The night of the concert, spirits ran high, both at the Stardust and in town. Polio had taken its toll on too many people. Aunt Cora left the master of ceremony’s duties to Bobby Carl, who looked like a penguin in his tuxedo, but I had to admit, he had a certain verve in front of an audience. Especially when he introduced Aunt Cora as the First Lady of the war against polio.

  Van Sweeney was a natural on the stage as his baritone voice belted out “Hard-Hearted Hannah, the Vamp of Savannah” and “Play a Simple Melody” where one of his band members did the countermelody. He glided from ragtime to minstrel music into jazz as easy as a catfish slipped between the cypress knees on a lazy bayou. The audience sang along, clapped, and gave him a standing ovation that led to two encores. He ended with “God Bless America” and thanked everyone for being generous and giving to the March of Dimes.

  “Together we can stamp out polio.” The flag above the town square stood as proud as our hearts that night.

  Aunt Cora closed the show by asking Mr. Sweeney and me to join her on the stage for the announcement of the Stardust retreat center.

  After a brief summary of what we had planned, she thanked everyone for doing their part. “Polio is a battle we will fight until we find the cure. I pray that tomorrow might be that day.”

  A loud cheer went up. She waved and shouted above the roar, “Don’t forget that tomorrow is the talent show. God bless you.”

  Peter and I didn’t win the talent show. Rosey did. She surprised us all by asking the Pearl sisters to play “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Her version had all the heart and soul of Ludi’s rendition, but with actions. Rosey strutted and swooned and tapped her foot, never missing a lick.

  Later, as Rosey lapped up being the center of attention and showing off her trophy, my friend Sally Cotton came up to me. “There’s no doubt, she gets her talent from you.”

  “I don’t know about that, but I do know she comes by it naturally.” My eyes drifted to the circle around Rosey where Van—who insisted I stop calling him Mr. Sweeney—had his arm around Aunt Cora and looked up to make eye contact with me. He smiled and winked.

  Sally noticed. “What’s going on? Is there something I’m missing?”

  “You’ve missed a lot, but if you’re free next week, let’s have coffee and catch up.”

  “Sounds divine. By the way, where’s that honey of yours?”

  “If you mean Peter, he’s supposed to be fetching us some lemonade.”

  One of the Magnolias waved at Sally so she bustled off, and as I stood there taking it all in, my heart swelled with warmth. Friends. Family. A brighter future. Tears wet my eyes, and I felt a hand go around my waist. Aunt Cora.

  “Georgia, sweetie, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I was just thinking how lucky I am to have you and the girls. And Peter and Van, too.”

  “I know.”

  “There is one thing. I saw Hugh Salazar awhile ago, and it reminded me. All those men who came in the back door of Mara Lee when I was a kid. What were they doing? Or maybe I should say, what were you doing?”

  “I must admit, I had no idea what you were talking about when you brought it up. Then I realized who you saw was Hugh, Mr. Wilkins from the bank, a few men from out of town who were investors. My sister wasn’t happy with only half of the Tickle fortune. She bled me for every penny she could. It took all those men to juggle the oil royalties and property investments I had so we could keep our head above water during the Depression. Even then, you know how run-down Mara Lee got.”

  “But if you’d told the truth, Justine wouldn’t have had a hold over you.”

  “I don’t know. Because of her, I was able to keep you. It was a small price to pay. Besides, she was family, and nothing was ever easy for Justine.”

  I almost asked if she knew where Justine was now, but I was afraid it would spoil a perfect evening. Instead, I kissed Aunt Cora’s cheek. “By the way, what do you want me to call you?”

  “I think plain old Cora would be nice.”

  “You got it, but there’s nothing plain or old about you.” I linked my arm in hers. “Come on, let’s find Peter and see what’s taking so long with that lemonade.”

  We met him halfway to the lemonade stand. He had a sheepish look as he handed over the chilled cup. “Sorry, I got distracted.”

  “I hope she was pretty.” I wrinkled my nose at him. Cora waved at Hazel Morton from church and excused herself.

  Peter cocked his head. “Funny, I never thought of Bobby Carl Applegate as pretty.”

  “So what’s up with our favorite promoter?”

  “He liked my number in the talent show, the solo I sang. He thinks I’ve got a shot at the big time in Nashville.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Took me twenty minutes to convince him that the Georgia I was singing about was you and not the state.” He lifted his glass. “To you, ma’am. And many more happy memories at the Stardust.”

  “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me ma’am?”

  “Guess that depends on how long you let me stick around.”

  “How about forever?”

  “That sounds like a proposal to me.”

  I sipped my lemonade and looked into his clear blue eyes. What I saw there was a lifetime of picnics and kids squealing as they ran through the grass. I saw hot summer days and cypress knees connecting God’s creation. I saw straw hats and long, slender fingers strumming an old sweet song. And I saw two people growing old under the neon glow of the Stardust.

  A small hand tugged my dress. I stooped to look into Avril’s face.

  “Yes, sugar, what is it?”

  “Can I have a Popsicle?”

  [ READING GROUP GUIDE ]

  The Stardust Tourist Cottages held Georgia’s earliest memories of her parents. What is your earliest memory? Can you picture where it took place? Have you ever revisited it or the home where you lived as a child?

  Georgia always longed to know why her parents left her. Was it right for Aunt Cora to withhold the truth from her? What part did society’s pressures play in Cora Tickle’s actions? Is it the same or different today in regard to having children out of wedlock? In what ways?

  O’Dell had a wandering eye even before Georgia married him, but her aunt insisted she go through with the wedding. Was this good advice? How much of it came from Cora’s past experience? Have you ever felt forced to make a decision in order to please someone else? What were the results?

  Georgia clung to her dream to keep the Stardust open even when adversity came. Why do you think she was so determined? Have you ever clung to a dream even when it seemed illogical? Did your persistence pay off?

  Polio (infantile paralysis) played a major role in Stardust. Were you familiar with the fear and hysteria it caused in the first half of the twentieth century? Have you known anyone who had polio? Can you think of any illnesses or threats to society today that people fear? Has public hysteria or media attention caused you to fear things you normally wouldn’t?

  The Stardust symbolized open arms for those who needed a haven. How was this an extension of Georgia’s hospitality toward others? If you have the gift of hospitality, how do you exemplify it in your own life?

  Georgia felt responsible for her mother-in-law, Mary Frances. Her obedience in doing the right thing led to a positive change in Mary Frances. Can you think of a time when you did something out of obedience and saw good come from it? If nothing happened, would you still say you’d done the right thing?

  Peter Reese came to the Stardust in need of work and a place to stay. What qualities did Georgia see in him to make her trust him? How do first impressions affect your decisions? What if Georgia had been wrong about Peter’s honesty and work ethic? How might this book have turned out differently?


  Did the setting add to your interest in the story? What settings intrigue you? Small town or city? Southern, international, or seaside?

  The cypress knees symbolize being connected in mysterious ways. Sometimes God brings people into our lives for reasons we don’t understand. Can you think of a time when someone came into your life unexpectedly? Did the person you connected with come for a short season of your life or become a lifelong friend?

  Segregation, poverty, and illiteracy marked the community of Zion. Do you think prejudice and poverty still exist in America today? Has anyone ever shown prejudice against you because of your race or your circumstances?

  In spite of her circumstances, Ludi Harper had strong faith. How did she show this in her everyday life? What effect did this have on the people around her? When you are faced with difficulties, does your faith stand firm or waver?

  Malcolm Overstreet secretly provided medical services to the people of Zion. Do you think he kept it private out of modesty or fear of repercussion from the white community? What are some ways you use your talents to give back to your community?

  When Ludi brought Fiona to the Stardust, no one knew who she was or how disruptive her presence would be to their lives. How might Georgia have reacted if she’d known this was the woman O’Dell left her for? How did Fiona and her children help Georgia embrace O’Dell’s infidelity?

  When faced with bitter truths, Georgia seemed to have a forgiving heart. How did this mesh with the rest of her personality? Why is it harder for some people to forgive than others? Have you ever had to forgive someone for a great injustice? How does faith play a role in seeking and bestowing forgiveness?

  Cora had a passion for the March of Dimes since her mother died of polio. Georgia took in Fiona’s children because she knew the feeling of abandonment. Do your passions in life spring from personal experience? What passions would you sacrifice or die for?