Miss Julia Paints the Town

by Ann B. Ross

  Sam put his hand on my cheek. “Sweetheart, where did all this come from? Don’t you know you can trust me? I’m married to the only woman I care about. Why would I risk losing you?”

  “I don’t know, but you’ve certainly run that risk today.”

  Sam smiled and kissed my hair. “Yeah, I guess I have, but you don’t have to worry about me. I am as true to you as the day is long, because I love you. It’s as simple as that.”

  “Well,” I said, picking at the sheet as my anger began to melt away, “well, why didn’t you tell me what you were doing? All I could think of was that you were keeping it from me because you had something to hide.”

  “I should’ve told you, even though Helen didn’t want anybody to think she needed a lawyer. She thought it might damage Richard, if he’s ever located. Of course, I’m not bound by the rules of confidentiality now that I’m not practicing, but I was trying to respect her wishes.”

  “You didn’t count on LuAnne Conover, did you?”

  “Is that who told you?” Sam laughed again and pulled me close. “I’m surprised she was the only one. See, honey, that ought to prove I wasn’t trying to hide anything—parking my car in plain view of anybody who came by. Now listen, my advice to Helen was to get a good lawyer, maybe in Asheville where no one knows her.” Sam rubbed his hand along my arm, making me feel warm and comforted. “You still mad at me?”

  I turned my face into his chest. “I’m not really mad at you,” I mumbled, then resorted to the most guilt-inducing justification I could think of. “I’m just hurt.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, leaning his face on my head. “I’m really sorry to put you through all this, but I just didn’t think it was all that important. I get asked for legal advice all the time—on the street, over the telephone, at parties and you name it. I don’t tell you about them because they’re mostly petty or sordid little problems that take care of themselves. And if they don’t, I give them the same advice I gave Helen: Go see a lawyer.

  “So I want you to forget all this and trust me. I’m not doing anything I shouldn’t be doing, and I’m certainly not tomcatting around.”

  “Well, I can’t help it if I thought you were. Anybody would. Ever since LuAnne told me about seeing your car over there, I have been torn apart. Then when you didn’t say a word about it, I thought it was Wesley Lloyd all over again.”

  “Let me tell you something,” Sam said, pulling me up to look in my face. “I am not Wesley Lloyd, never have been and never will be. Do you believe that?”

  I leaned against him with infinite relief. “Yes, and I thank the Lord for it.”

  Then he began whispering a few sweet words that, after a while, warmed and comforted my sore heart.

  So I slept the sleep of the pacified, at least for a few hours. The next morning, though, it was a different story for the seeds of doubt had been sown. Oh, I was nine-tenths convinced that Sam was as faithful as any man can be, which is probably not saying much for any of them. It was that leftover one-tenth that continued to niggle away at me. Because, tell me this: Did it take all afternoon to advise Helen to go see a practicing attorney?

  Chapter 14

  “Miss Julia? This is Tonya.”

  “Oh, Tonya, any news?” I quickly prepared myself to hear the worst. Why else would she be calling at seven-thirty in the morning while we were getting ready for Sunday school and church?

  “Not one word,” Tonya said, sighing. “We don’t know what to think, although I’ve told Mother that as long as his body’s not found, we have reason to hope.”

  “How is Mildred?” I asked. “I can come over after church if you need me.”

  “Oh, do come over any time you can. Visitors are a distraction for her. They keep her from dwelling on all the terrible possibilities. Actually, that’s why I’m calling. I am just torn in two, because weeks ago I promised a friend to help him set up a shop he’s opening in Charleston. He wants me to arrange the displays and the windows and so on, since I’ve had some experience doing that. In fact, I was in New York on a buying trip for him and had planned to fly from there to Charleston to help him. Of course, I had to cut it short, and now Kevin’s pulling his hair out, just frantic because he’s already advertised the opening date which is the day after tomorrow. But Mother needs me here, and I hate to leave without knowing what’s happened to Daddy. I’m just in agony over what to do.”

  “That is a problem,” I said, thinking that Kevin could just go on pulling his hair out if I’d had to make the decision. “But Charleston’s not all that far. You could be back in a few hours if there’s any news. And Ida Lee will be there with your mother.”

  “Well, that’s just it. We had to take Ida Lee to the hospital about four o’clock this morning.”

  “My word, what happened?”

  “She was sitting with Mother last night, but when she got up to get her something, she fainted dead away. We called the doctor and he put her right in the hospital. They’ll be doing some tests today. So if I leave, Mother will be all by herself, and to tell the truth, I’m worried about her state of mind. So I wanted to ask you…”

  Oh my, I thought, knowing what was coming.

  “Would you mind coming over and spending the night with her? There’s so much to do here today that I can’t leave until late this afternoon. But I’ll be back tomorrow night.”

  “Well, my goodness,” I said, not particularly wanting to, but unable to think of a good excuse for refusing. I couldn’t possibly admit that I didn’t want to leave Sam on his own. “Well, I guess I could since it’s just one night.”

  “Oh, thank you. That is such a relief. I know I should stay here with her. She’s really upset with me, but Kevin is losing his mind and begging me to come. And I ought to be at the hospital for Ida Lee, too. I feel pulled in a dozen different directions, but when it rains, it pours, doesn’t it?”

  “That’s true. Now, when do you want me, Tonya?”

  “Why don’t you plan to come for dinner? There’s plenty of food, so don’t worry about that. And I’ll leave then so we can get an early start at the shop in the morning. I told Kevin I’d give him eight hours, no more, then I had to get back here.” Tonya stopped, then said, “Of course, if there’s word from Daddy today—good or bad, I guess—I won’t go at all. Kevin will have to manage on his own.”

  At church, Pastor Ledbetter led the congregation in prayer for Horace and Mildred, even though neither was there to hear it. He didn’t mention Helen or Richard except in a roundabout way, asking the Lord’s attention to the weak, the fallen and the heavy-laden, but we knew who he was talking about.

  Even so, there was no word from or about Horace, or about Richard for that matter, all that day. After lunch, Hazel Marie and I visited with Mildred in the early afternoon, but we didn’t stay long. Since I’d be spending the night, I saw no need to hang around all day, too. There were still people in and out of Mildred’s house, but with no news coming in, the number of visitors had slacked off considerably. Abbotsvillians were very good about offering immediate help, but when the need began to drag on for days, why, they had other matters to tend to.

  “Hazel Marie,” I said as we walked home, “if it keeps on the way it’s going, Mildred will soon be agonizing over Horace’s fate all by herself.”

  “I know, and don’t think she hasn’t noticed, either. She’s keeping a list of who’s visiting today. I saw it when you went out to the kitchen with Tonya.”

  “Well, if that’s the case, I’m glad we went over, even though I’d think my staying all night would count for several daytime visits. Mildred has to realize that people have short attention spans, especially when nothing’s happening. When they find Horace, in whatever condition he’s in, they’ll come swarming back.”

  “Speaking of spending the night,” Hazel Marie said as we turned into our yard, “why don’t I go with you? I’m not sure I want you and Mildred in that big house by yourselves.”

  “Well, speaking of
that, I’ve already made arrangements, or had them made for me. Lillian hit the roof when she heard I’d be spending the night, and she put her foot down. She says she’s going with me, especially since Ida Lee won’t be there. And it’s probably a good idea with all that food that’s going to waste. Lillian will know what to throw out and what will last a few more days.”

  “What about Latisha? She’s not going, is she?”

  I stopped as we reached the back door and smiled. “Lord, no. Can’t you just imagine Mildred and Latisha together? But, as a matter of fact, I sort of volunteered you and Sam to look after her. So she’ll be spending the night here, if that’s all right with you.”

  “Of course it is.”

  “I know I should’ve asked you first, but nothing was going to deter Lillian so I had to work something out in a hurry. Now, listen, Hazel Marie, I want you to have something to do after dinner tonight so that Sam will have to help Latisha with her numbers. That’s what she’s studying now, and he’ll be good help.”

  Hazel Marie grinned. “Are you saying he’d be better than me?”

  “No, no, Latisha’s only learning her ’teens, according to Lillian, so you’d be fine with that. It’s just that Sam needs something to occupy his mind.” And his time, I might’ve added but didn’t.

  Late that afternoon, Lillian and I headed out for Mildred’s house, carrying our overnight bags. Or rather, I was carrying mine, while Lillian had her things in a paper sack from the grocery store.

  “I hope Miss Hazel Marie don’t burn nothin’,” Lillian said, as we walked along the sidewalk. “She get to talkin’ an’ forget about what’s on the stove. I wish we coulda waited till I had supper ready for Mr. Sam an’ Lloyd.”

  “You did have it ready, which you didn’t have to do on a Sunday. All Hazel Marie has to do is heat it up.”

  “Yessum, that’s what worryin’ me.”

  I stopped as we came to Mildred’s long driveway. “Would you look at that.”

  “What? I don’t see nothin’.”

  “That’s just it. Nobody’s here. There’s Tonya’s car and nobody else’s. I thought there’d be a few people still around to help us through the evening.”

  “I ’spect they got they own fam’lies to tend to.”

  We began the long walk up the driveway, as I began to dread the interminable night ahead of us. There would be several hours of entertaining Mildred—providing distraction, as Tonya had called it—then the night in a strange bed, if not in a chair at Mildred’s bedside.

  “I just thought of something,” I said, coming to a stop as we reached the corner of the house. “Tonya didn’t mention this, but I guess we’re in for all day tomorrow as well as tonight.”

  “Why you say that? She jus’ say spend the night.”

  “Yes, but she won’t be back till late tomorrow, so unless I can find us some substitutes, I think we’re here for the duration.”

  Mildred answered the door, for what was probably the first time in her life. For a woman who, even temporarily, had lost her husband, she looked remarkably composed and put together.

  “Oh, Julia,” she said, pulling me inside, “I’m so glad you’ve come. And you, too, Lillian. You’re both so sweet to keep me company tonight. You know I’ve never spent a night alone in my life, and I just couldn’t face this one by myself.” Tears gathered in her eyes as her composure melted away. “I can’t understand why Tonya would want to leave me at this terrible time.”

  Before I could answer, Tonya, herself, came hurrying down the stairs. She was wearing a spring green pantsuit with a loosely woven turtleneck sweater underneath. Her high heels clattered on the parquet floor of the foyer. Once Tony had remade himself into a woman, he never missed a chance to dress the part, and I mean dress in the most fashionable way possible. Of course as a young man, he’d come quite close to crossing the line from the fashionable to the overly dramatic. I recalled his white linen suits in the summertime and the velvet cape he wore with such flair in the winter. Of course, his way of dressing only confirmed our suspicions that the boy had tendencies. But we never spoke of them, nor did we ever expect him to act on them. Considering all the possible outcomes, surgical intervention had probably been a good thing.

  “I can’t thank you enough, Miss Julia,” Tonya said. “And you, too, Lillian. I know Mother will be in good hands.” She leaned over and kissed Mildred’s cheek. “Call me if you hear anything from Daddy. But I’ll be back before you turn around.”

  And off she went without giving her mother a chance to delay her. But for the rest of the evening, Mildred had plenty to say about children who didn’t put their parents above all other considerations. She even went so far as to mention the sharpness of a serpent’s tooth. Mildred had a way of feeling put upon if anybody’s wishes came before hers, so I spent a good deal of time defending Tonya, even though I didn’t especially feel that she deserved it.

  But as the evening wore on, I began to think that Tonya had made the right decision. Mildred would’ve taken over every minute of her life if she’d been allowed to. That’s what had happened to Horace, and look what had come of it. And, it occurred to me as we ate the dinner that Lillian put together from the condolence dishes, Mildred might easily try the same thing with me. She was not a woman who enjoyed her own company.

  Well, I assured myself, that was not going to happen. One night and possibly part of the next day would be my contribution to friendship, then that was it. I had problems of my own to see to, and there was no way I was going to be at Mildred’s beck and call, leaving Sam to go and come as he pleased. Or as Helen pleased.

  Chapter 15

  After several hours of listening to the myriad reasons that Mildred had for complaint, I was more than ready for bed. Lillian had kept herself busy in the kitchen, which Mildred entirely approved of and I envied.

  “We need to get to bed,” I finally said, interrupting the tenth telling of all that had gone wrong in Mildred’s life. “Where do you want us to sleep?”

  “I’m putting you in Horace’s room,” Mildred said with a tired wave toward upstairs. “Ida Lee had already freshened it, since we were expecting him back any minute.” She had to stop to dab her eyes. “And, since Tonya was in such a hurry to leave, she didn’t get around to preparing the guest rooms. She said just to put Lillian in her room. I told her that Lillian would be more comfortable in Ida Lee’s room over the garage, and that it would be more appropriate, too, but she insisted that both of you be in the house.”

  I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t say anything, but with no thought whatsoever she had offended me and insulted Lillian, who was there out of the goodness of her heart.

  “How is Ida Lee anyway?” I asked, a little more sharply than I usually spoke.

  “Ida Lee,” Mildred said with a great sigh. “She’s never been sick a day in her life, and wouldn’t you know she’d fall ill when I need her most. It is so inconvenient to have her in the hospital at a time like this.”

  “But how is she, Mildred?”

  “She’ll be all right, I’m sure. Tonya visited her this afternoon and checked with the doctor, and he says he thinks she’s run down and working too hard. Can you believe that?”

  Well, yes, I could, but I said, “I think you should go see her tomorrow. I’ll drive you to the hospital.”

  “Oh, I just couldn’t, not tomorrow anyway. I need to be here in case there’s any news from Horace. And, Julia, you know I’m not well. My doctor says I have to preserve my strength.” Mildred sighed again. “I’ll call her tomorrow. I think there’s a phone in her room.”

  I didn’t respond, just got up and went toward the kitchen, my insides roiling around and my mind disturbed.

  “Lillian,” I said, pushing through the door, “I know I don’t tell you often enough, but I want you to know how much I appreciate you.”

  “Well, I ’preciate you, too, but what brought that on?”

  “Oh, you know, just…well, to tell the truth, Mildred’s
about to drive me crazy, and I’m ready to get this night over with. And I’ve made up my mind, we’re both going home in the morning. She can just fend for herself tomorrow.”

  Just then we heard Mildred’s voice calling my name from the distant living room, and on top of that, a buzzer sounded on a panel in the kitchen.

  “Is that the do’bell?” Lillian asked, as she began to rise from a kitchen chair.

  I studied the panel as the buzzer sounded again. “Sit still, Lillian. That’s not the doorbell. It’s Mildred buzzing us from the living room.” I propped my hands on my hips. “If that’s not the most demeaning thing I’ve ever heard of. The idea, buzzing us like we’re the hired help.”

  “I go see what she want,” Lillian said, starting around the counter.

  “No, you won’t. Whatever she wants, she can get it herself. We’re not here to wait on her, hand and foot. Just ignore that racket,” I said, as the buzzer went off again. “If you’ll check the doors back here and turn off the lights, we’ll go on upstairs.”

  I lingered in the kitchen much longer than I’d intended, simply because I refused to be summoned like a handmaiden. Finally, though, we could delay no longer and Lillian and I walked through the back hall and into the foyer where we met Mildred.

  “Oh, Julia,” she said, “I thought you had left me. Didn’t you hear my page?”

  “Who couldn’t? Now, Mildred, we have to get one thing straight: Don’t be buzzing me with that thing again. Or Lillian, either.”

  “Well, I got lonely,” she said, looking forlorn. “You were gone too long.”

  “I’m going to be gone longer than that if I hear that thing again. Now, we’ve checked the doors, so let’s go on up. Lillian, do you mind getting the lights in the living room? Come on, Mildred, you need to be in bed, and I certainly do.”