Bless Her Heart

by Debby Mayne

“No, of course I don’t, but he hurt my feelings.”

  Now I’m really confused. “He hurt your feelings because he kept looking at you while he was singing?”

  “It’s what he was singing when he was lookin’ at me that hurts.”

  “Sorry, Celeste, but I wasn’t listening to every song. Just tell me what he was singing that upset you so much.”

  “ ‘How to Get an Ugly Girl to Marry You.’ ” She sniffles again. “Before he started singin’ that song, he dedicated it to me and Jimmy.”

  I want to smack Pete Moss. In the three minutes it took him to sing that song, he undid all the work we’ve done to ramp up her self-image.

  “He’s right, ya know. There’s nothin’ I can do to make the ugly girl inside me go away.” She glances at herself in the mirror. “See? I can’t even cry pretty.”

  “No one is pretty when she cries.”

  “Some people are. Look at Demi Moore in Ghost. She made fellas swoon when she cried.”

  “That’s a movie, Celeste. She also had a team of makeup artists making sure her blush didn’t run, and I’m sure she practiced getting the tears to fall just right.”

  She shakes her head, her chin still quivering as tears continue streaming down her cheeks. “Face it, Priscilla, I’m still an ugly duckling, no matter how much work we do on my face and hair.”

  “You are not—”

  I’m interrupted by a loud banging sound on the restroom door. “Celeste, Priscilla, are y’all still in there? Is everything okay?”

  I touch Celeste’s arm, and to my surprise, she doesn’t pull away. “Jimmy’s really worried about you,” I whisper. “Why don’t you freshen up a bit, and I’ll go talk to him.”

  She nods. As I walk out of the restroom, I’m not sure what Celeste will do, but I do know she’s still in a bad state.

  Jimmy pounces on me the second I walk out of the restroom. “Is she okay? Do I need to go in there and see about her myself?”

  “No, she’ll be fine. Just give her a few minutes to . . . ” I turn to see what Jimmy’s looking at behind me and see Celeste walking out, her face still streaked with tears and her clothes damp from leaning against the sink.

  “She don’t look fine to me.” Jimmy doesn’t waste a second before rushing to Celeste’s side. Together they walk toward the exit and leave the party.

  Now I need to let Laura know two of the committee members are unavailable. She’ll be furious, particularly if she finds out her husband had something to do with it. I decide it’s best just to say Celeste isn’t feeling well and had to go home.

  Laura’s reaction is about what I expected. “Not feelin’ well? You think I’m feelin’ all that great? And she took Jimmy with her? It’s not fair that I’m stuck with all the work—”

  “Calm down, Laura.” I place my hand on her shoulder. “You still have Tim and me. What do you need us to do?”

  Laura glances around the room. “Maybe you can go talk to Didi. She said she’s not sure she and Maurice should go to the party tomorrow night, since you’re clearly not over him.”

  “What?” I can’t help the fact that my voice has suddenly turned squeaky. “Where did she get that crazy idea?”

  Laura shrugs. “Maybe something you said or did last time you talked to her?”

  “I didn’t say . . . ” I try to think of exactly what was said, but I can’t remember. “I’ll go talk to her, but I’m not sure what kind of reassurance I need to give her that I’m completely over Maurice.”

  “Based on how you’re actin’ now, I’m not so sure I believe you, but all righty then, go ahead and tell her whatever you think will get her to change her mind. After all this money we spent on food, I don’t want it to go to wa—”

  “Okay, I’ll go talk to her now.” I have to get away from Laura before I say something I’ll later regret. She has a way of angering me, even when she needs something from me.

  Didi is standing over by the edge of the stage, looking like the wallflower she always has been, only this time with a huge rock on her hand to keep her company. As I approach, she looks me in the eye and smiles.

  “Hey, Priscilla. Too bad it’s raining out. A bonfire sure would’ve been nice.”

  “I know.” I stop a couple feet from her, glance over my shoulder to make sure we don’t have an audience, and turn back toward her. “What’s this I hear about you not going to the big party tomorrow night?”

  She shrugs. “I don’t want to make things any more difficult for you than they already are.”

  “So tell me why you think it might be difficult for me.” I fold my arms and glare at her.

  “I don’t want you to have to see Maurice and me together and so . . . happy. It must be excruciating.”

  “No.” I can’t help laughing. “In fact, it gives me a warm feeling all over to see you and him together. It lets me know that all’s right with the world.”

  She gives me a dubious look. “Are you kidding me? I’ve seen how you look at us.”

  “I don’t know how you interpret my look, but you’re obviously missing something. Granted, it’s no secret I did have a huge crush on Maurice back in high school, but I’ve matured quite a bit since then, and my feelings have changed. I have different goals now. You understand that, don’t you, Didi? After all, I vaguely remember you once saying that getting married wasn’t in your future because you wanted to have a larger impact on the world than settling down with a man would allow.”

  “Um . . . ” She crinkles her forehead, obviously searching for something to say.

  I shrug, satisfied that I’ve rendered her speechless. “So looks like things have flip-flopped. You’re the one who wants to settle down, and I’m the one making a splash.”

  As soon as I say those words, a combination of satisfaction and regret washes over me. I’ve never been snarky, but I have to admit it sure feels good to put someone like Didi in her place.

  She glances down at the floor before raising her gaze back to mine. I hold my breath waiting for a reaction, then she slowly nods. And I don’t feel any better now than I did when I first approached her.

  31

  Laura

  Last night wasn’t bad, but I wouldn’t call it a success either. Pete managed to get through the party at the VFW without passing out, which for him is a big accomplishment when there’s a keg. But people started leaving early, so by the time we had to shut things down, all the folks we had left were me, Pete, Priscilla, and Tim. Hank and Trudy offered to stick around if we needed help cleaning up, but I could tell they wanted to get outta there. I would never have believed those two would get together if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes.

  Bubba was still up when we got home, but he wasn’t happy about having to sit at home to look after his brother and sisters. “I’m not doin’ it again,” he says as he stomps into the kitchen for breakfast. “Bonnie Sue and Renee went at it again. They’re both just stupid girls, and I wanna smack ’em.”

  “Don’t you dare,” I say. “If you have trouble you can’t deal with, you know you’re supposed to call your granny.”

  “I ain’t callin’ Granny. She’s meaner’n either of them.”

  Good point. “Would you rather we get a babysitter for tonight?”

  Bubba frowns. “Who for?”

  “You and the rest of my babies who can’t stand the thought of their mama and daddy having a couple of nights out every five years.”

  He makes a disgusting noise that sounds like a cross between a snort and cough. “It’s not fair.”

  I put down the bowl I’ve been holding, walk right up to my oldest child, bend over, and shake my finger in his face. “Look here, Bubba, you and the rest of the young’uns got it easy around here. I cook all your meals, wash your clothes, tote you around everywhere you need to go. Life hasn’t exactly been easy for me. Just this once try not to be so selfish and do somethin’ for me.”

  He starts out looking me in the eye, but as I talk, his gaze slowly falls to
the floor. When I’m done, I remain standing over him, glaring down at his face that’s starting to sprout a few whiskers. My heart twists as I realize my boy is turning into a man right before my eyes. I wish Pete was willing to take a bigger part in teaching him to be the kinda man he should be, but I’m afraid Pete doesn’t have a clue himself.

  “Got that?” I ask after a long moment of silence.

  Instead of answering me directly, Bubba looks back up. “Whatcha cookin’ for breakfast?”

  I smile. No argument means he’s in agreement . . . at least, that’s what I’m counting on. “Eggs and bacon and biscuits.”

  “Got any of that jelly with chunks in it?”

  I point to the cupboard. “I just bought a brand-new jar of strawberry preserves. Why don’t you get it out while I finish cookin’?”

  Once I started cooking the bacon, the smell draws the rest of the family into the kitchen. Bonnie Sue is already dressed.

  “Where do you think you’re goin’?” I ask.

  Bubba snickers. “What makes you think she’s goin’ anywhere?”

  “She’s wearin’ her good jeans.”

  Bonnie Sue sips her orange juice. “Mama, can you take me and some of the cheerleaders to the mall?”

  “I got a ton of stuff to do for the reunion party tonight. Can’t you get one of the other girls’ parents to take y’all?”

  “Tracy’s mama is on a retreat, Bailey’s daddy has to work on Saturdays, and Darla’s stepmother is gettin’ her nails done.”

  “I’ll take ’em,” Bubba says.

  “That’s stupid.” Bonnie Sue rolls her eyes. “You don’t even have your license yet.”

  “But I can still drive, and I’ll be real careful.”

  I glare at Pete. “Have you been teachin’ Bubba to drive?”

  He shrugs. “The boy’s gotta learn sooner or later. I figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give him some practice.”

  Sometimes my husband doesn’t have the sense God gave a billy goat. “He’s not supposed to be drivin’ ’til he gets his learner’s permit.”

  “That’s just a technicality.” Pete grins up at me. “I learnt to drive when I was eleven.”

  “That’s ’cause you learned on your granddaddy’s farm. It’s different these days.”

  “Stop it, both of you. I hate when y’all fight.”

  I look over at Renee. “We’re not fighting. We’re just discussin’.”

  “Sounds like fightin’ to me.” She plays with the bacon on her plate.

  “Want some more eggs?” I ask little Jack. He’s been mighty quiet since he sat down at the table.

  “Yeah.”

  I lift my eyebrows and give him one of my firm looks. “Yes, please?”

  “Cut the boy some slack,” Pete says, undermining my authority, which grates me to no end. “He’s bein’ good.”

  “I want my young’uns to have manners.”

  Renee stands up so quickly she knocks her chair over. “I’m sick of y’all fightin’ about everything all the time. I can’t take it anymore.” Before I have a chance to say a word, she storms out of the kitchen and stomps up the stairs.

  “Now look what you gone and done,” Pete says. “Are you happy now?”

  “What I did?” I jab my thumb to my chest. “All I want is to have happy, polite young’uns who respect others. If I left parentin’ up to you, they’d act like a bunch of animals.”

  “This is stupid.” Bonnie Sue gets up and leaves.

  “Mama, can I please have some more eggs?” Jack asks. “I’m real hungry.”

  “Uh . . . oh, sure.” On my way to the stove, I cut as dirty of a look as I can manage over to Pete who sits there looking like the cat who just finished eating the mouse.

  “What time you and Daddy leavin’ for your party?” Bubba asks as I scoop some eggs out of the skillet onto Jack’s plate.

  “We’re startin’ the party here, remember?” Pete says. “And we expect you young’uns to behave yourselves in front of all your mama’s friends.”

  Jack laughs. “How about your friends, Daddy? Do we have to behave with them?”

  “Nah, my friends are a buncha good-for-nothin . . . ” His voice trails off as he sees the daggers I’m shooting. “Y’all best stay up in your rooms ’til we go to the school.”

  The boys look back and forth between Pete and me in silence. Pete finishes his breakfast, belches, and shoves back from the table. “I reckon I best get the backyard cleaned up a bit so folks don’t think we’re slobs. You boys wanna help?”

  Both Bubba and Jack hop up to help Pete. If I had asked, they would’ve grumbled. I don’t get how Pete can be the way he is and still get such an instant response when he asks for something. It isn’t fair.

  I’m nearly done cleaning the kitchen when the phone rings. It’s Celeste.

  “I just wanted to let you know I’ll be a little late to the reunion tonight.”

  “But you’re on the committee. You have to be here early to help set up for the preparty.”

  “I can’t.” I hear someone talking in the background before she adds. “Neither can Jimmy.”

  “I’m sorry, Celeste, but we really need both you and Jimmy. You can’t bail out on us now.”

  Before I can say another word, Celeste hangs up on me. I try to call her back, but she doesn’t answer.

  A glance at the clock lets me know I barely have time to do all the work that’s gotta get done before folks start showing up for the preparty. I walk over to the backdoor, open it, and holler, “Pete, c’mere. I need to talk to you a minute.”

  “What?” Pete looks up from the bush he’s trimming. “I’m busy.”

  “I know, but I need to talk to you.”

  “Then you come out here and say whatever you gotta say. I wanna get this done, and if I keep hoppin’ every time you say hop, it’ll take me all day.”

  I suck in a breath, count to ten, and puff out my cheeks as I blow it out. Pete can really get on my last nerve.

  When I walk up beside him, he turns off the hedge trimmer. “Whatcha want?”

  “Celeste just called and said she and Jimmy are gonna be late for the party.”

  Pete grimaces. “Who’s gonna drink with me?”

  “Maybe this is a good time to quit.”

  He tilts his head back and lets out a belly laugh. “Good one, Laura. So why are they gonna be late?”

  “She wouldn’t say. Pete, I have a bad feelin’ about this. Something’s goin’ on with them.”

  “Probably just a little spat. Couples have ’em all the time.”

  I think about that and make a decision. “I’m gonna go over to Celeste’s apartment and see what’s goin’ on.”

  “You can’t,” he says as he lifts the hedge trimmer into position. “You have to stay here and get the house ready for the preparty.”

  “I’m comin’ back soon.” I close the door to stop the argument that is quickly going nowhere, grab my purse off the hook by the door, and run out to my car so I can leave before Pete comes inside.

  When I pull into the parking lot at Celeste’s apartment, I see that her car is in its usual spot. Good. She’s home. I need to get to the heart of what’s going on with her. After she got all weird last night, I’ve been worried, but I don’t know why ’cause she’s not the nicest person in Piney Point. I reckon it’s sort of like that worn-out shoe thing. You know it’s not good for your feet, but you’ve had it so long you don’t wanna get rid of it.

  I lift my hand and knock on the door. No answer, so I knock again, only this time a little louder. I wind up banging hard on the door and yelling, “Celeste, I know you’re in there, so you better open up.”

  The door to the apartment next to Celeste’s opens, and a man sticks his head out. “She ain’t home.”

  “Where is she?”

  “How would I know? She left with that feller she’s been seein’ real early this mornin’, and I ain’t seen ’em since.”

  “Thanks.�
� I go back to my car, take another look around the parking lot, and head back home. As annoyed as I get with Celeste, it’s not like her to abandon her responsibilities on the class reunion committee. Until now, I hadn’t realized how much I’ve come to depend on her.

  32

  Priscilla

  When I arrive at Laura and Pete’s house late, I discover that none of the guests have arrived yet, which is a good thing since they’re not ready. As I help them finish setting up, I can’t help noticing the tension between them. “Are you stressed about this party?” I ask.

  She levels me with one of her looks that has always made me cringe. “What do you think?”

  “What can I do to make it better?”

  She lets out a wicked-sounding laugh. “Are you kiddin’ me? Make this thing better? The only way that’ll happen is if no one shows up.”

  I put down the folding chair and turn her to face me. “Why did you do this to yourself, Laura? You didn’t need to have the preparty here. In fact, what’s the point of even having a pre-party? From what I can tell, it’s just an excuse for people to get drunk before they attend the reunion.”

  Laura points to Pete. “It was all his idea, and I figured it would be better here than at some other place where I couldn’t control things.”

  It’s always been about control with Laura. “Since everything is already in motion, let me take over so you don’t have so much on your shoulders. Where’s Celeste? Shouldn’t she be here to help?” I pick up a folding chair and start to open it.

  She shakes her head. “You’re not gonna believe this.”

  “What?”

  “She and Jimmy took off and won’t be back until after the party starts.”

  I let the chair slide to the floor. “What? She’s supposed to be here helping out.” I flash back to the night before. “I hope she’s okay.”

  “Oh, I’m sure she’s just fine. They just found somethin’ better to do, that’s all.” Sarcasm drips from her words.

  “But why today?” I think back to last night and how distraught Celeste was. “Never mind. I’m sure she has her reasons.”