Queen of the Cookbooks

by Ashton Lee

  Councilman Sparks continued maintaining his composure. “I don’t intend to answer that question at all, Mr. Posey. I’ll let Miz McShay handle that when the time comes. Meanwhile, do you, your wife, or Elder Warren have anything else to add to your side of the matter? Please don’t leave out anything. We want you to have your day here in court, so to speak.”

  Elder Warren stirred in his seat and raised his eyebrows, as if coming to life after a long nap. “I’d like to say something. After all, I am Renette’s pastor.”

  “Go right ahead.”

  Elder Warren suddenly became even more animated, reverting to his preaching style. “Well, it seems to me that Miz McShay fancies herself some sort of gatekeeper of all knowledge in the world. Imagine the false pride in that, and we all know that ‘pride goeth before a fall.’ Seems she thinks she’s alone in this task and the rest of the community must abide by what she does. Mr. and Miz Posey have every right to be concerned about their daughter’s behavior, and they should know when it started to change.

  “At the Church of the Eternal Promise, we preach that no one is above Our Father’s plan and purpose. But Miz McShay seems to believe that she is indeed above that and can dictate what Chericoans can read, for starters. I don’t believe what happened to Miss Renette would ever’ve taken place without Miz McShay and her ideas, either. Miz Annie Scott, may she rest in peace, was what a librarian should be. She attended our church regularly, by the way. She never had opinions about politics or these trendy subjects or anything else. She kept quiet and in the background, and everybody loved her until the day she died. Miz McShay—she’s a rabble-rouser, and that’s not what we need here in Cherico. That’s not what anyone needs in this life.”

  Councilman Sparks waited for a few moments, unsure that Elder Warren had finished his sermon. Then he pointed to Lula Posey, who had struck an indignant-looking pose. “Did you have anything to add, ma’am?”

  “All I know is, my daughter honored her parents and the word of the church before she went to work at the library. After that, she seemed to worship the ground Miz McShay walked on. The woman could do no wrong. But thou shalt not worship false idols, we all know. And look what it almost led to. Who knows what might happen in the future if this woman continues on as our librarian? We need to think about this long and hard before we let her keep runnin’ things. We are just thinkin’ of the well-being of everybody in Cherico.”

  Councilman Sparks remained silent, surveying everyone in the room and then taking a deep breath. “I’m sure that is a laudable goal we can all agree with. So, is that it, Miz Posey?”

  “I could say more about all this, but I won’t.”

  “Thank you. Then that concludes the charges against Maura Beth McShay. Now we will entertain her rebuttal.”

  But Renette raised her hand and spoke up immediately. “If Miz McShay wouldn’t mind, I’d like to say something on my behalf first.”

  “Of course I don’t mind,” Maura Beth said with a smile. “I think it’s important that we hear from you, Renette. All you have to do is tell the truth, and I’m sure everything will be all right.”

  It took a few moments for Renette to gather herself, and she was careful to avoid eye contact with her parents and Elder Warren when she began speaking so that she wouldn’t fold. They were shooting daggers at her all the while.

  “I begged my parents not to pursue this, Councilman Sparks, but they were determined to make a fuss where none was really necessary. I thought they would actually be proud of the way I handled what happened after Waddell Mack’s concert. Guess I was foolish to think so and should’ve kept my mouth shut. Or told Miz Maura Beth about it to get it off my chest. That’s what I should’ve done. Anyway—yes, I got carried away sitting in the stands next to this fast-talking young man who swept me off my feet. But it had nothing to do with Miz McShay. It was just me being a naïve teenager is what it was. I had this wild crush on Waddell Mack and his music. How many teenagers have crushes on singers of all kinds these days? I think they always have. That’s nothing unusual, seems to me. But when I went back to this fellow’s van and he offered me a drink, I soon realized I was in the wrong place at the wrong time after I took the first sip. No one got even close to being drunk, and I left before anything happened. The young man I was with became a complete gentleman in the end, which I appreciated. I thought my parents would also appreciate hearing that. They’d always told me that I was naïve and didn’t know squat about the ways of the world. I even told them they were right about that when I went to them and confessed everything. Instead, their heads just exploded, and now they’re trying to take it all out on Miz McShay, and I just think that’s wrong. This whole thing is so wrong, and I feel better because I’ve stood up for myself... and Miz Maura Beth.”

  “Thank you, Renette,” Maura Beth said, blowing her a little kiss. “That was very eloquent.”

  “I didn’t expect my daughter to say different today, but what about all those books, Miz McShay?” Lula Posey put in. “All those stories you allow on the shelves that could lead people astray. Seems like you just make up your own rules. Other people have opinions, you know.”

  Maura Beth gave Councilman Sparks an inquisitive glance. “Is it time for me to speak now?”

  Councilman Sparks gave her the go-ahead with a nod of his head.

  “Thank you. I’ll start by saying that when I first came to Cherico, the old library, such as it was, had a collection that would have been outdated during World War II. Some of the pub dates I weeded out were downright embarrassing. For instance, I found a book on entertaining at home from 1946 that had an entire chapter on—and I quote—that newfangled notion the savory party dip. Can you imagine my horror? Talk about your volumes collecting dust. And that was just the tip of the iceberg. Even though I had almost no budget to work with—but thank goodness I do now—I made it my business to refresh and update the collection with topical subjects that the students were researching for their school assignments and others were asking for. We go out of our way to supplement the high school library, of course.

  “These books, which the Poseys have objected to, were not something I wished to impose upon the citizens of Cherico. Their content does not necessarily reflect my opinions either way. They reflected what my patrons were asking for all the time—what patrons all across the country are asking for. It seems to me that we ought to try to please and accommodate the taxpayers where we can—within reason, of course. When I put any book into the collection, I always try to balance what people are asking for with community standards. There are some subjects, whether works of fiction or nonfiction, that are best left to the private purchase of our patrons. We recognize that the library cannot buy everything under the sun, of course.” Maura Beth paused briefly to catch the proud expression on Jeremy’s face, and that was more than enough to refuel her.

  “So when Mr. Posey asks who appointed me the Queen of Cherico, I answer respectfully that rather than being the gatekeeper of all knowledge, as Elder Warren put it, I prefer to say that I am the gatekeeper of the taxpayers’ money that funds the library. I try to be the best steward of that money that I can be. From time to time, librarians get challenges to the materials they select for their patrons, and of course the patrons have every right to file complaints; but I would guess far fewer get challenged on their ability to hold down their jobs as a result. In my estimation I have done nothing wrong here, and no harm has come to my employee, Renette Posey. I’m truly sorry that she is having problems with her parents, and I hope she can work them out. I would never knowingly come between parents and their child. But I also hope Renette will continue to work for me as a front desk clerk and assistant, as she has always done an outstanding job. I have nothing more to add.”

  Jeremy leaned over and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek. “Well done, Maurie, well done.”

  “And I intend to continue working for you, Miz McShay,” Renette added, sitting straight up in her chair. “I also want to say
to you again that I would never have brought up what happened the evening of the concert to my parents if I’d known it would lead to this.”

  “I know that, sweetie. I certainly don’t blame any of this on you. Your parents had made it clear before that they didn’t approve of the job I was doing. This just brought it all to a head.”

  “Never mind all that back-patting between the two of you,” Hardy said, staring his daughter down. “We already know you’re thick as thieves. What is your decision on this, Councilman Sparks? You told us when we requested the hearing that you’d give us your answer right away. We’ve been considering this for a long time now. So, what’s it gonna be? Does Miz McShay go or stay?”

  Councilman Sparks did not hesitate, drawing himself up. “She stays, Mr. Posey. I agree with Miz McShay and Miss Renette, herself, that these problems you and your wife are having with your daughter have nothing at all to do with the library, and I trust Maura Beth implicitly to run the library that bears my name in a totally professional manner. It’s as simple as that.”

  “You two are obviously in this together. We shoudda known that from the start. So you’ve forced our hand,” Hardy said, gesturing toward Elder Warren. “Tell him what we intend to do now.”

  “We agreed that if you didn’t see things our way, Councilman,” Elder Warren began, rising from his chair somewhat histrionically while puffing himself up, “the Church of the Eternal Promise will picket the library, and that’s what we’re gonna do. We’ll have our entire congregation out here every day with our signs demanding that Miz McShay be fired and replaced with someone like Miz Annie Scott, who minded her own business when it came to the old library. Why, you never even knew she was there most of the time.”

  “Boy, does that say a mouthful,” Maura Beth pointed out. “The invisible librarian just collecting a paycheck. If I live to be a hundred, I don’t think that horrible old stereotype will ever die.”

  Elder Warren pointed a finger accusingly. “You can say whatever you want about yourself, missy, but there’s no need to insult the memory of a righteous woman like Miz Annie Scott.”

  “If I might, Elder Warren,” Councilman Sparks said, “there’s also no need to keep standing up before us like you are. This isn’t the Nuremburg Trials. Please have a seat, sir.”

  Elder Warren complied, but the resentment and reluctance clearly showed in his bony face.

  “I’d like to point out to you,” Councilman Sparks continued, “that times have changed, and what worked for Miz Annie Scott in her day will not work now. I’ve had that pointed out to me in the last year or so by Miz McShay. Frankly, I’ll freely admit that I was behind the times and out of step regarding our library. I didn’t think it mattered, and I resisted change as much as I could for as long as I could. I can’t honestly say that any longer. I’m right proud of that Charles Durden Sparks, Crumpton, and Duddney Public Library out there on the lake with its grand deck overlooking the water. It’s your right to picket it if you want to until the cows come home, but judging from the reaction of the citizens of Cherico on opening day, it won’t do you much good. I don’t think they’re gonna agree with you about letting Miz McShay go. My advice is to accept things as they are. Otherwise, I think you’d just be wasting your time and energy. It’s the worst time of the year to be picketing, by the way. Even football teams wait a few more weeks to start their practices. Meanwhile, you’ll need plenty of water and mosquito repellant.”

  “I guess we’ll see about that, won’t we?” Hardy Posey said. “Come on, Lula, let’s go back to the church with Elder Warren and plan our strategy. We need to get the congregation behind this all the way and then get busy making our picket signs. We’ve got lots to do.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t do this,” Renette said. “You’re not gonna change anything by it. I think something Councilman Sparks just said applies to the three of you. You’re all behind the times and out of step.”

  Lula rose from her chair, shaking her head. “I would never’ve thought I’d live to see the day when my daughter would talk to me that-a-way, so smart-aleck and all. But you’ve chosen your path apart from us, Renette. Now you’re stuck with it and all the consequences, too.”

  “There are no consequences that I’m aware of. I’ll be fine, Mama. Don’t you worry about me.”

  “You may be sorry you said that, Renette.”

  “I don’t think so, Mama.”

  Lula Posey’s tone became more and more stern as her face darkened even further. “Honor thy father and thy mother, Renette. Have you forgotten that particular commandment?”

  “No, I haven’t. I just don’t think the way you’ve both been acting lately is worth honoring.”

  “That does it. Let’s get outta here, Hardy.”

  After the Poseys and Elder Warren had left the room in a huff, it was Councilman Sparks who stood up and struck just the right note. “You know, Maura Beth, I think I can say for sure now that you and I are finally on the same page, same paragraph, same sentence, after all these years.”

  Unable to resist the opening he had given her, Maura Beth laughed warmly and said, “It’s about time.”

  * * *

  The dream Maura Beth had that night featured images both familiar to her and making their debut in her head. The first-time scenes were a partial replay of the City Hall hearing that had gone her way. Only, in this version, everyone in the room was pointing a finger at her and calling her a “rabble-rouser”—even her Jeremy and sweet, loyal Renette. She felt betrayed that they had joined this loud chorus of her adversaries. The dream world could be so cruel at times.

  “No, I’m not!” she shouted to them all. “I’m just doing my job. Don’t you know the difference?”

  “Rabble-rouser! Rabble-rouser! Rabble-rouser!” they all repeated together, the decibel level increasing all the while until Maura Beth had to cover her ears to keep from going over the edge.

  In a flash, Elder Warren’s grim face hogged her visuals in huge close-up, and she had to listen to him going on and on about how Miz Annie Scott was turning over in her grave at what was going on in Cherico now. “She doesn’t like what’s happened to her library one bit. She told me so the last time I talked to her, and I talk to her all the time, you know. Her and God.”

  “She did not say that!” Maura Beth shouted back. “I just put flowers on her grave the other day and she thanked me for them!”

  The cries of “Rabble-Rouser!” continued until Maura Beth was forced to flee the meeting room. She could stand it no longer. She found herself running down the hall, out of the building, and down the steps, but she had no idea where she was going. She only knew she had to escape everyone’s constant badgering before she went out of her mind.

  Then there was a dissolve to the familiar—that recurring dream during which she always wandered about in a fog or a mist, feeling lost and abandoned. Until that light-filled clearing showed up ahead. But this time, instead of waking up, Maura Beth pressed on. Something told her that this time her dream journey would reach its conclusion and perhaps stop tantalizing her with its frequent appearances during her sleep.

  Finally, she reached the clearing, and it was then that she heard the cry of a baby. Not the sort of crying a baby makes when it is hungry or thirsty or needs changing, but the sort that is more like expressing wonder at being alive after that first breath in the brave but dry new world is taken.

  It was then that Maura Beth woke up and understood. She looked over at her wonderful, incredibly understanding Jeremy, sound asleep and facing away from her as he always did. How many times had they made love to each other since taking their vows? Way too many times to count.

  So that was it. After all these months, that was what the dream was all about. What a wondrous thing the universe was! Wasn’t it all a hoot and a half?

  11

  Three

  Maura Beth had been sketchy with all The Cherry Cola Book Club members about the reason for calling an emergency meeting in the new
library’s mini-auditorium just two days after her hearing in City Hall Chambers.

  “But this is way too short notice for me to coordinate the menu,” Becca had pointed out over the phone. “If I don’t check with everybody in advance, we’ll have three desserts and no appetizers or something like that. Although I did want to run something past you. At my signing, Locke and Voncille Linwood suggested that we use only recipes from my cookbook next time we met. I said I’d ask you about it. So what do you think of the idea?’

  “I think we can hold that good thought for another time. But this is not going to be that kind of meeting. No food, no review, no inspirational stories. Just trust me,” she had told her, “we have some urgent business to tend to, so if there’s any way you and Justin can clear your calendar, please do. Bring little Markie if you want. It’s just way too complicated to go into right now.”

  As it happened, there was no one among her loyal core of followers who was unable to attend. All to the good, since she needed as much participation as possible to thwart what was coming at her fast and furious out of left field. If nothing else, Cherico was always full of surprises and then equally surprising solutions.

  “Starting tomorrow,” she began the afternoon of the meeting, standing onstage behind the podium and surveying the attentive faces of all the best friends she had in Cherico, “our magnificent new library with all the bells and whistles will be picketed by the entire congregation of the Church of the Eternal Promise.” She paused, knowing that the name alone would stir things up.