The waitress set down the bill. She stopped for a moment, looking at Drusie. “Hey, wait a minute. I think I’ve seen you somewhere before.”
Drusie blushed.
“Have you just moved here?”
“Uh, no.”
The pink-clad woman shifted her weight to one leg and eyed Drusie. “I know I’ve seen you somewhere before.”
Gladdie couldn’t resist prodding. “Are you a music fan?”
Stars seemed to sparkle in the redhead’s eyes. “I sure am.” She gasped. “Are you a singer?”
“Well, just for a little band—the NC Mountain Girls.”
The waitress gasped even louder. “The NC Mountain Girls! Why, I saw you just a couple of days ago, up at the high school.”
“That’s right. That was us.”
The plump woman squinted her eyes and put her head closer to Drusie’s face. “Why, you’re Drusie, aren’t you? Your sister’s name is Clara.”
“I see you were payin’ attention.”
“Well, how about that!” She hollered toward the kitchen. “Lookie here, Jake! We’ve got ourselves a bona fide celebrity right here in the diner.”
“You don’t say?” A slim man wearing a stained white-bibbed apron came out to stare at Drusie. “Which one of you is the celebrity?”
The redhead whapped him with her towel. “It’s Drusie. Drusie of the NC Mountain Girls. Remember? We saw them the other night at the high school.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
She turned so fast that Drusie thought red hair would go flying. “Don’t mind him. That night was one of the few we took off work. Usually we try to keep the diner open every day except Sunday. As soon as your show was over, we ran back here to reopen so we could serve the after-show crowd.”
“Now Miss Fields is a big singer, Cindy Lou,” he said. “She don’t care nothing about how we run our business.”
“Oh,” Drusie countered, “but I find it fascinatin’.”
“Well, aren’t you sweet?” Cindy Lou smiled. “Sweet as pie. Speaking of pie, hows about I see if I can find a nice big slice for you? You look like you could put on a few pounds, and it wouldn’t hurt you none. You like apple?”
“Sure, apple’s fine.”
Gladdie resisted the urge to search his pocket to be sure he had extra change for pie.
Cindy Lou disappeared into the kitchen, with Jake following behind.
“Ain’t they nice?” Drusie whispered.
“Uh, yeah. They sure seem to be impressed with you. They didn’t even say nothin’ about me playin’ the harmonica in the background.”
“Oh, I should have said somethin’. Where is my mind? I reckon I was too flustered to think.”
Gladdie dismissed the notion with a quick wave of his hand. “I don’t care nothin’ about that. Everybody knows I’m helpin’ out Archie. My face ain’t even on the placards. But that waitress recognizin’ you and goin’ all into a tizzy just shows how big a celebrity you’re gettin’ to be. Archie can make you such a big star that nobody will even have to ask who you are. They’ll know you by your picture in them celebrity magazines.”
“Pshaw. I don’t wanna be in no celebrity magazine. I think I’d rather be just plain old me.”
Cindy Lou interrupted. “Here you go, sugar. And a slice for you, too, mister.” She set a piece of pie in front of Gladdie.
“Uh, I don’t need—”
“Now are you turning down my home-cooked pie? I hope not, because I sure would be insulted if I thought that.”
“Hows about me?” Mr. Davidson called. “Don’t I get a piece of pie?”
“I can’t give away the store, Frank.” Cindy Lou shook her head. “He comes in here all the time. Hardly ever leaves a tip.”
“I heard that. I won’t leave no tip tonight, either, then.”
“Fine. It’s not like I’d notice, cheap as you are.” Cindy Lou’s teasing tone belied her criticism. Gladdie had the feeling if he himself lived close by, he’d come to this diner every chance he could.
Thirteen
Mr. Davidson couldn’t offer assistance since he planned to travel in the opposite direction. Even with Gladdie at her side, Drusie didn’t like the idea of hitching a ride back from the diner, then trying to find the tour so late at night. Yet without an automobile of their own and with no bus station in sight, the couple didn’t feel as though they had another choice.
“It’s gonna be a long night,” Drusie mused aloud. “If it warn’t for Pa givin’ his word that we’d sing for two years, I’d hightail it right back home and never look back.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll pray together before we set off.”
Drusie nodded.
Gladdie bowed his head. “Lord, keep us safe throughout this journey we’re about to take, and help us be kind to others since we ain’t in a good position right now. Mend discord, Father, wherever we may find it. And help Drusie and me remember we are a brother and sister in Christ so we can show the world Your heart. In the name of Jesus, amen.”
“Amen,” Drusie agreed.
Gladdie summoned Cindy Lou with a polite wave of his hand. “If you’d be so kind, we’d like our check, please.”
“Check? No sir, it’s on the house.”
“That’s mighty kind of you,” Gladdie said, “but we cain’t accept such generosity.”
“Don’t you worry. Tomorrow’s customers will be glad I had to make some fresh pie.” Cindy Lou winked.
“I thank you kindly,” Gladdie said.
“Me, too,” Drusie added. “That was some of the best apple pie I ever ate. Reminds me of my ma’s.”
“Either you really like your ma’s pie, or you’re terrible homesick.”
Drusie smiled. “Both.”
She and Gladdie rose from their seats.
Wind whistled against the building. “It’s awful cold. Are y’all walkin’?”
“Hitchin’ a ride,” Gladdie said.
“How far are you going tonight?” Cindy Lou asked.
“Oh, about twenty miles or so. Ever heard of a motel called Sleepy Time?”
“Sure have. But I can’t let you hitch a ride in this cold and in the middle of the night like this!” Cindy Lou looked toward the kitchen and shouted, “Jake!”
“Yep!”
“Our singers need a ride to the Sleepy Time Motor Inn.”
Jake emerged, wiping his hands on an apron soiled with stains from the day’s goodies. “All that way?”
“Now that’s nothing,” Cindy Lou said.
“Don’t put your cook out on account of us,” Gladdie protested.
“He’s more than just a cook. He’s my husband. And so if I want to get him to do something, it’s my right, isn’t it?”
“That don’t mean I gotta do it,” Jake pointed out, although his tone sounded good-natured.
Cindy Lou crossed her arms and shook her head, grinning. “I think you should take ’em where they need to go.”
Jake shook his head back at her.
Cindy Lou stopped grinning. “They’re good Christian people. I know because I saw them praying just now. Not to mention Drusie can sing a gospel song sweeter than anything I ever heard. They need our help, and it’s up to us to do our part.”
“Well, all right.” He took off his apron to reveal a blue shirt.
“Oh, now you’re being too generous. I mean it,” said Gladdie.
“Now you let us be the judge of that. Besides, we don’t have enough room in our house to put you two up for the night, and there ain’t no places to stay nearby. So we sort of have to take you.” Cindy Lou winked again.
“Well, if you insist. But we’ll go only if you’ll let us give you a little gas money.”
“You can work that out with Jake. He handles all our money. Now I’ll go pack you a little something to snack on for the trip.”
Drusie shook her head. “Kindness like that can only be part of God’s help.”
“We’ll just have to be sure we do
good turns for folks in the future when we get a chance. I’ll start now.” Gladdie made sure to leave enough money on the table to cover Jake’s gas and to thank Cindy Lou for her kindness. Though she had made the offer with no strings attached, he thought her kindness should be rewarded.
❧
Later, as they drove along the winding road in the dark, neither Jake nor Cindy Lou had much to say. That suited Gladdie. He was tired. He noticed that Drusie looked more than a little sluggish herself. Truly the day had been a trying one.
Jake pulled into the parking lot of the motel. “Here we are.”
“I don’t see none of the cars that belong to us,” Drusie said.
“They must have gone ahead to the next place,” Gladdie surmised. “Figures. Archie’s always tryin’ to make time on the road.”
Gladdie snapped his fingers. “Wait! I think I heard Archie say somethin’ about the next gig being in Southern Pines.”
“We can get you there,” Cindy Lou said.
Gladdie sent her a regretful smile and shook his head. “We cain’t ask you to drive us that far tonight. We can just stay at this here place. We can get two rooms for the night and figure out how to catch up with the band tomorrow.”
A rectangular structure with only a few rooms, the establishment was nothing but a roadside stop, convenient for tourists passing through the state or for singers looking for a place to lay their heads until they had to move on to the next stop. Still, automobiles filled almost every spot of the dirt parking lot.
“Hope they’ve got some rooms left. I won’t leave you kids stranded until I know you’ve got a place to sleep.”
“Thank you, Jake.”
Gladdie hopped out of the sedan and made his way to the motel office. The place was dark, with no sign of life. He noticed a dirt road and realized it led to a plain house nearby. “I wonder if that’s where the manager lives.” He waved to Jake, Cindy Lou, and Drusie, then hurried to the front door of the white frame house and knocked.
After a few moments, a man wearing a nightshirt and hat answered. “We’re closed.”
“I know, sir, but I’d be mighty grateful if you could spare me and my girl two rooms for the night. We’ll be stranded if you cain’t.”
“Stranded, huh?” He tugged on his graying beard and peered into the darkness. “Hey, I think I recognize you. Were y’all with those musicians traveling through here?”
“Sure are. I play harmonica, but my girl’s the star. She sings.”
“Well, in that case, I suppose I might be able to see my way clear to helping you out. There aren’t many other places in these parts for you to stay at, so it’s a good thing I answered the door. Don’t always.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And by the way, you two are lucky I’ve got two rooms left. I wouldn’t rent an unmarried couple just one.”
“I don’t call that luck, sir. I call it God’s provision. And I wouldn’t accept just one room for the two of us, either.”
The older man’s expression softened. “In that case, I don’t mind so much having to get up in the middle of the night. Hold on a minute and let me get on some clothes.”
Gladdie waited in the cold only a short time before the proprietor emerged and led him to the office. Gladdie detoured to the automobile and summoned Drusie. “We’ve got two rooms for the night. You can leave us in good conscience, Jake. We’re mighty obliged to ya.”
“My pleasure.”
❧
Even though she’d been dog tired when her head hit the pillow, Drusie didn’t sleep well. The metallic smell of steam heat mixed with stale perfume, cigarette smoke, dirt, mold, and body odor, as though previous occupants over the past thirty years had left their initials just as sure as they’d been carved on a sycamore tree. The sheets seemed clean, but they looked dingy. At home, her mother kept their sheets white and smelling of bleach, even if they were so thin a body could be seen right through them. Plaster walls, which she could discern thanks to the motel’s lit sign, were once white but had yellowed from smoke and neglect.
The motel room was no worse than the band’s usual digs. But it wasn’t the sagging mattress that was keeping her awake; her thoughts were. It was the first night since they formed the band that Drusie had been away from Clara. She worried that her younger sister was all alone with no other woman she could call a friend or confidant. June hadn’t pulled any fiery pranks since the dress incident, but then again, the jealous woman sensed that Drusie had caught on to her game. Without Drusie nearby, would June harass Clara? Drusie worried in spite of her earlier resolve. She realized that in her selfish pursuit of Gladdie, she had broken her promise to Pa that she would take care of her little sister.
Lord, forgive me. Please take care of Clara. And me and Gladdie, too.
❧
The next morning Gladdie didn’t waste time before he knocked on the door to Drusie’s room to awaken her. He wanted to catch up to Archie as soon as he could, and without a reliable mode of transportation available, he didn’t think he could wait long lest they not catch the band before they moved on to the next town, wherever that might be.
“Comin’!” Her voice sounded chipper for first thing in the morning.
Gladdie smiled to himself. He looked forward to hearing that happy voice every morning for the rest of his life.
The door opened. Drusie stood before him, looking prettier than ever without her dark hair all dolled up and without a trace of face paint on her smooth skin. A crisp white collar peeked from underneath the top of her stylish green wool coat. He wanted to kiss her, but she barely threw him a glance. Clearly she was too preoccupied to think of anything beyond their journey.
“I’m ready, except I’d like a little breakfast. Do ya think there’s anywhere to eat around these parts?”
“I saw a diner a few blocks from here when we passed by last night. But I don’t know that we’d have time to get there and back before we have to check out. It’s already past nine.”
Drusie nodded. “We’ll figure out somethin’.”
A few moments later, Drusie and Gladdie soon stood before the office manager so they could check out.
“Where you young folks going after this? I don’t see an automobile outside.”
“We don’t have an automobile, sir,” Gladdie told him.
“You don’t?” He scratched his head. “How did you get here?”
“We hitched a ride.”
“Oh, I see.” He handed Gladdie a few dollars in change. “Taking a bus somewhere?”
“I hope we can get to a bus station without too much trouble,” Gladdie admitted. “We’re tryin’ to get to Southern Pines well before sundown.”
“Southern Pines? Why, that shouldn’t be any trouble at all. At least not for you. My wife is planning to go visit her sister in Fayetteville today. That’s on the way.”
“You—you are offerin’ to let us ride with her?” Gladdie’s voice sounded as bright as he felt. “That would be mighty kind of you, if you would. I’d be glad to give her some money for your gas.”
The manager hesitated just a second. “That’s all right. I remember what it was like to be young. Money’s usually pretty tight. Fact, I know it’s tight for you, hitching rides and staying here instead of some fancy place.”
Gladdie and Drusie laughed.
“But ‘Ain’t We Got Fun?’ ” she asked, borrowing a song title.
“Living on love is a little easier when you’re young than it is by the time you get to be my age,” the manager mused. “Oh, by the way, I’m Oliver Dunbar. My wife’s name is Bertie.”
Gladdie introduced Drusie and himself in turn.
Mr. Dunbar tipped his head toward the closed door in the back of the office and shouted, “Bertie!”
From behind the door, Gladdie heard what sounded like the legs of a chair scraping against linoleum. He pictured the woman rising from behind a desk. Soon the door opened, and a wiry, gray-haired woman wearing rimless spectacles emer
ged. She was dressed in a pink outfit that looked better than the one his mother had for Sunday best. “You called?”
“This is Drusie and Gladdie. They stayed in our last two rooms last night. They were with that band before.”
“Which one?”
“Oh, you know, the tour that just came through here. Several bands touring together, I believe it was.” Mr. Dunbar didn’t bother to conceal his irritation.
“Drusie and I are part of the NC Mountain Girls,” Gladdie offered.
Mrs. Dunbar looked down her nose at him. “Humph. You don’t look much like a girl to me.”
Gladdie forced a laugh. “Drusie here’s the main singer. And her sister Clara sings, too. I just play harmonica.”
“He plays harmonica real good,” Drusie said.
“I’m sure he does.” She shrugged. “We have a lot of bands that stay here. Sorry I didn’t recognize you.” She eyed them. “So you’re the ones who woke us up?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Gladdie apologized. “We’re sorry.”
“Happens all the time.”
Mr. Dunbar nodded to Drusie and Gladdie as he kept his gaze on his wife. “They need a ride to Southern Pines.”
Gladdie interrupted. “We can just get a ride to a bus stop if that suits you better, Mrs. Dunbar. Drusie and I don’t want to trouble you no more than we have to.”
“Now don’t you worry,” Mr. Dunbar said. “It’s not out of her way.” He looked at his wife. “You can take them along, can’t you?”
Mrs. Dunbar assessed them as though they were tomatoes she considered purchasing at a farmers’ market. Finally, she nodded. “You two don’t look like criminals. And if my husband says you’re all right, then you’re fine by me.”
Gladdie reckoned it took her long enough to decide that, but he opted not to make such a comment. After all, a free ride to the next stop was at stake. “I thank you mightily for your kindness, Mrs. Dunbar.”
“I want to thank you, too,” Drusie added.
She brushed off their gratitude. “Have you two had breakfast?”
“Now how do you think they’ve had breakfast if they don’t have an automobile?” Mr. Dunbar snapped.
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