Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits (Austen Takes the South)

by Mary Jane Hathaway

  There was a long pause on the other end. “You know you can tell me anything. I’ve done some plain stupid things in my time, don’t you think I haven’t. But it sounds like you were getting it figured out, the two of you.” Her words held a question.

  Shelby felt her head throb with the beat of her heart. “First, I corrected him in front of a lot of people, and not in a nice way.”

  “Ohhh,” Aunt Junetta said.

  Shelby grimaced, knowing that tone. “And then we went to a party together and his aunt said something that wasn’t right, so I corrected her.”

  “Ahhh.”

  Shelby dropped her head in one hand. “And then I got mad at him when he said I shouldn’t have corrected her and I said some mean things that weren’t true.”

  “Hmmm.”

  She snorted. “I know what you’re thinking.”

  “Really?” her aunt asked innocently.

  “You’re thinking I must have misplaced my brains somewhere.”

  “Actually, honey, I was wondering when I get to meet him.”

  Shelby’s jaw dropped. “What?”

  “I’ve never seen you care what anybody thought. Sure, you like to pick a fight” -Shelby made a sound not unlike an angry goose- “but this man must be different. Where’s he from again?”

  “Not that it matters in the slightest, because you’re wrong, but he’s from Natchez, originally, although he teaches up north.”

  “Oh, up in Jackson?”

  “No, I mean, north as in Connecticut. He was raised at Bellepointe. His parents sold it after they divorced.”

  “That gorgeous old place? I’ll never forget your cousin Isla’s wedding there a few years ago. You were stuck over on the West coast at that conference. The tin type ceiling sparkled like a new penny and the marble entry way seemed to go on for miles. Just lovely, every bit of it.”

  Shelby sighed, wondering how they ended up talking about Bellepointe, when they were supposed to be talking about her. Then something Ransom mentioned on the drive came back to her.

  “Did you see a greenhouse in the back? He said that his grandfather raised violets as a hobby.”

  “Can’t say I remember a greenhouse. But it’s a huge place, it could have been tucked away on the grounds somewhere. Maybe you could go visit and look around. Your friend might give you a tour, do you think?” her aunt asked.

  “I don’t think that will be happening. I’d be surprised if he speaks to me at all now.”

  “I bet you’re wrong,” her aunt proclaimed, a note of mischief in her voice.

  Another pulsing throb reminded Shelby she needed to get going or give up and go back to bed. “We’ll see. But I need to get to class.”

  “Shelby, I’m always praying for you. And let me know when to make some pecan pie for his visit.” She chuckled and the line went dead. Her aunt was from a whole other era, where men and women treated each other with respect. Not like the free for all she lived in. She knew her aunt abhorred bad manners, and Shelby seemed to be the queen of gauche lately.

  ****

  She had hardly sat down in her office chair when the phone trilled.

  “I just wanted to thank you again, for all your help.” Marissa’s shy voice carried through the wires.

  “It’s so great to hear from you!” Shelby trapped the phone between her chin and shoulder, setting her satchel under her desk. “Has your grandfather made any progress with the bank?”

  “Well, that’s the best part! Early this morning, my brother and I took the papers back to the bank. With your father as our lawyer, they seemed a lot more eager to look them over. We haven’t heard for sure what can be done, but they’re willing to talk to us.”

  “That’s great news, really.” Shelby sat down and closed her eyes in thankfulness. “I know they’re getting information gathered up in the state attorney general’s office, trying to charge him with fraud. It won’t make you feel any better, but you’re not the only ones.”

  “I know you won’t be needing anything from someone like me, but I wish there was something I could do to show you...“ Her voice trailed off.

  ”Marissa, I’m privileged to know you and I will certainly tell you if I ever need anything,” Shelby’s voice broke along with her heart. She wished she could raise this girl’s self esteem out of the pit that David had shoved it.

  “I’ll let you go. But thanks again. For everything.”

  Shelby sat for a moment with her hand on the receiver until a sharp knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

  “Hey, Shelby.” Katie Young stuck her head in and looked around. “I’m not ready to turn in my draft yet. Gonna need a few more weeks.” She gazed at some point over Shelby’s head.

  “Katie, please come in.” Shelby came around the desk and gently tried to usher Katie into a chair. The young woman’s brown hair looked lank and dull. “How are you feeling? Are you still sick?”

  “Sick? What are you- Oh, yeah. I’m feeling a lot better, thanks.” Her blue eyes looked unfocused and she tapped her fingers against jeans that carried several layers of grime. A bright green snake with ruby eyes wrapped itself around her wrist, the skin around it red and swollen, as if the tattoo was done recently. “I just need some time. You know?”

  Shelby folded her arms over her chest and leaned back against her desk.

  “Katie, you have to get that draft in this week. It’s already months overdue. Professor Finch recommended that you be dropped from the course but I promised him, like you promised me, that it would be in as soon as possible.”

  “What? He can’t! What an idiot. He never does anything and his classes are totally worthless,” she hissed.

  Shelby shook her head and said, “That’s not fair, Katie. You said once that you liked his Revolutionary War class, I remember it.”

  “Well, duh! I was just saying that because he’s the department head. I mean, come on, you don’t think he does anything around here either.” She sneered and waited for Shelby to agree.

  “This isn’t a domestic situation where one of us is doing all the chores. This is an academic department and administration does take a lot of time.”

  And a lot of golf and lunch dates. But that was an argument for another time.

  “Whatever. But I’m not going to let some old dude who wrote one book forty years ago decide my future.”

  Shelby sighed and rubbed her temples. “What’s happening here? You’re in your third year, I know everything seems harder. Do you need to take a break, maybe a semester off? Stress can be really difficult to deal with at times. I completely understand the pressure you’re under to produce a graduate thesis on a schedule.”

  Katie let out a laugh that got louder as the seconds passed. “A break? Why would I do that? I just need a few more weeks without anybody getting on my back about it.”

  She hated to do it, but she was left no choice. “You have until Friday to turn in a rough draft, which means a detailed outline and a list of at least twenty original sources.”

  There was a short silence. She seemed to be thinking, then said, “Uh, no. I said a few weeks. And there’s really nothing you can do about it.”

  Shelby crossed to the filing cabinet. She removed a sheet of paper and handed it to Katie. “I’m sorry you feel that way. Here’s a copy of the paper you signed two months ago when I notified you that your thesis work was behind. You agreed to this deadline.” She watched Katie glance at the paper and then start to laugh.

  Her pupils were dilated to dime size and her hand trembled slightly as she brushed her hair from her damp forehead. “Whatever. That doesn’t mean anything. I know the process to kick me out of this program takes six months. So why not give me a couple weeks and save us all the trouble?”

  “I’m sorry. I really am. I wish this could go differently. Of course, I will still accept the rough draft by Friday, if you change your mind.”

  The young woman eyes widened and then she blinked repeatedly. “You’ll be sorry. Re
ally, really sorry..” Her words were flat, the calmest she’d sounded since she had entered the room.

  “I think you should leave.” Shelby motioned toward the door and terrible sadness squeezed her as she realized the bright young girl she’d known was gone. A stranger stood in her place, her future uncertain and dim.

  Snatching the paper from her hand, Katie tore it in two.

  After the door slammed shut behind her, Shelby sank into her office chair. Her stomach was in knots, her shoulders ached with tension. She replayed the scene over and over in her mind. Maybe she hadn’t spent enough time talking with her, getting to know her as a person. She felt as if she had failed as an advisor, as Katie’s mentor. But all those times she had called, e-mailed, reminded her that outlines were due must count for something.

  She heaved a sigh. There was nothing to do but take the matter to Finch and recommend Katie be dropped from the program. But the mystery of the young girl’s downfall bothered her like a deep and painful sliver.

  “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.”

  -Charlotte

  Chapter Thirty Three

  “Donna, I’m headed down to The Grind. Would you like a muffin or some tea?” Shelby desperately needed some coffee. The meeting with Finch had not gone well. He had implied that Katie’s academic failure was somehow her fault, even though she had given Katie twice as much time and guidance as the other students.

  “Oh, I’d love a little tea, thanks so much.” Jolee paused in her typing for a moment and reached under her desk for her purse. “I dread Mondays. When I die, I’m going to ask God what he was thinking.”

  “I’ll buy. I really appreciated your help with that fax this morning. I must have tried it ten times and it wouldn’t go through.” Shelby prided herself on being tech savvy but that fax had gotten the best of her.

  “Anytime. It just takes the right touch, I guess. You’re sure you don’t want me to-“

  “Absolutely not. I’ll be back in five.”

  The morning had turned sunny and clear, with little wisps of cloud moving briskly across the pale sky. Shelby dodged a skateboarder and glanced across the street, wondering if she should cross. A young woman trudged along the opposite sidewalk, a sleeping baby in her arms and a large green bag dangling off one shoulder. Her bright red hair fell past her shoulders and she paused to wipe her forehead with one sleeve.

  “Langston?” Shelby called out tentatively.

  “Hi, cousin!” she called back, round face breaking into a huge smile, her voice pitched a bit lower, probably so she didn’t wake the dark haired baby.

  Shelby jogged across the street and gave her a squeeze. “Is this Nathaniel? He’s grown so much.”

  “Thirteen months old and weighs a ton. I’m sorry I haven’t called since the adoption party. I’ve just been so busy organizing the summer projects for the city youth. I just ran over to check out an activity site on my day off.” She talked quickly, and shifted the boy in her arms.

  “I parked across Ankeny Field. I didn’t take the stroller because it was just a block, but while I was checking out the area we would put in the activity tents, Nat fell asleep on my shoulder. Then when I tried to get back across the field, I found a raging ultimate frisbee game on. I almost lost my head, so I thought I better walk around.” Langston’s face shone with sweat.

  “Here, sit down on this bench for a second. You look exhausted.” Shelby waved her over to a wooden bench, temporarily occupied by a bright-eyed squirrel. He chittered at them, then scampered up the trunk of an oak nearby.

  Langston gratefully collapsed, stretching out one cramped arm, and then the next. The diaper bag dropped to the ground at her feet. Nattie’s head lolled to one side as she stretched, his silky black hair feathered over his ears.

  “Oh, man. I can’t feel my fingers.” She laughed a little and blew her bangs off her forehead.

  Shelby grinned, peeking at the little boy. “How have things been? Are you guys settling in okay?”

  “Tom is the best dad on the planet. They’ve went fishing together last Saturday. Barely walking and already holding a pole! Nat sleeps all night but wakes up a little cranky, he’s not a morning person, just like his mommy.” Her pride was obvious in every syllable.

  “I didn’t really get to talk to you at the party. How was the trip? I think you said the flight to China takes sixteen hours?”

  “Yup. It was exhausting. The first two days he screamed and screamed. They have people who are supposed to help us get used to each other but there’s not a whole lot they can do. He wasn’t a newborn. He knew...” Her voice trailed off and she stroked the creamy skin of his soft arm. “You know, there was this girl, a caretaker there at the orphanage. When we left, they all came out and waved us off, giving him hugs and kisses. But this girl, she was crying. Laughing and kissing him but she was crying. I think she loved him.” Her voice cracked at the end of the sentence.

  “I bet she did, ” Shelby said softly.

  “They’re not supposed to get attached because the whole idea is to care for them until they can find a family. But how do you do that? How do you raise a baby, just to give it to someone else? Someone you’ve never even seen before, someone who could be a total monster?” Her eyes were pleading, her voice full of disbelief.

  Shelby’s heart ached for her cousin. She reached out and touched her arm. “Langston, no one could look at you and think that you were anything other than a mother. Someone who was going to love him with all your heart.”

  “He won’t even remember her.” Her red hair fell forward, screening her face, but her voice remained clogged with tears.

  Shelby was silent a moment. “Probably not. But thank God for her. She loved him when there wasn’t anyone else. I think... I think love changes us.” The sidewalk bustled with students on their way to class, the sounds of conversation and laughter surrounded them. She watched them, unseeing. “It changes who we are. He won’t remember her but his life is different because she loved him. A thousand little gestures showed him he was valuable.”

  Langston laughed shakily and brushed her hair back. “How did you get so wise? You don’t even have kids and you- Oh, that’s not what I meant. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m not offended.” She patted her hand. “Mothers are some of the wisest beings on the planet.”

  “I don’t feel real wise. Like right now. I’m so new at this, I’m sure a seasoned mom would have thought about the stroller in the trunk before she walked halfway across campus,” she said ruefully.

  Shelby glanced around. “Listen, where are you parked?”

  “I’m right around the corner on Thirteenth, across from the bookstore. Not too far but it’s going to feel like miles.”

  She turned, thinking hard. “Do you think he’ll wake up if you hand him to me? I can sit here while you go get the car. Then you can honk at the corner and I’ll bring him over. That will save your arms.”

  “Would you really? Weren’t you on your way somewhere? I can manage, I’ll just take a quick rest.” She was sincere, but her face shone with the hope of some relief.

  “Just over to the Grind for coffee. Hand him over, I promise not to run away with your beautiful baby.” She laughed and held out her arms.

  Langston carefully transferred him over. His head lolled about and she giggled a little as he let out a deep sigh.

  “I can’t believe he can sleep with all this noise,” Shelby said.

  “I know, maybe I should record the cars, bikes and people to play at naptime. He certainly sleeps lightly enough then.” Langston brushed Nat’s hair from his forehead. She gave him a quick kiss. “You’re saving my back, you know that.”

  “That’s what cousins are for, right?” She made herself as comfortable as she could on the wooden bench. “We’ll be right here.”

  “Be back in a sec.” Langston jumped up and headed through the Business Building toward Thirteenth Street.

  The tree overhead
offered some shade from the mid morning sun. Shelby stretched out her legs and settled back. The baby’s hair was as fine as silk from Indian corn and an impossibly blue black. A light breeze made the tree leaves shake and a few strands of hair moved across his forehead. She brushed them back, pausing to run a finger down one round cheek. His skin was slightly flushed from the sun. Turning him gingerly to one side, she admired his ear. A perfect pink shell, a little wisp of his hair curled near the miniature lobe.

  Suddenly his dark eyes opened wide and Shelby’s entire body tensed. What would the baby do when he realized his mother was gone and a complete stranger was holding him? She tried to smile reassuringly and to her immense relief his eyes remained unfocused. Gradually the lids slipped to half-mast and then closed altogether. She let out a breath.

  “Hello there.” A deep, pleasant voice caught her by surprise. Before she raised her eyes, Shelby knew who the owner was.

  She squinted into the sun, her heart picking up its tempo against her will. So much for avoiding him at all cost. Ransom Fielding was standing on the sidewalk, a curious expression on his face.

  “Found a new part time job?”

  Shelby laughed, despite the deep awkwardness she felt. “No, no. A very temporary gig, I’m afraid.” She quickly explained about the cousin, the stroller, the ultimate frisbee game, and a car parked blocks away.

  To her surprise, he sat down on the bench beside them. She stole a glance. He looked like he hadn’t slept well. There were dark circles under his eyes and stubble covered his jaw. A clean, faintly woodsy smell drifted to her. The sun felt suddenly hot on the back of her neck.