The Perfect Dress

by Brown, Carolyn

  “And you know me from church, Alice,” Fanny Lou said. “Thank y’all for inviting us to sit with you.”

  Even seated, there was no doubt that Alice was a tall woman. Dark hair framed a round face, and her eyes matched Graham’s shade of mossy green. “It’s great to see all y’all again.”

  Mitzi was seated between her father and Graham, with everyone else circling the table. Sitting that close to Graham caused that old crush to rise up and flush her face with heat. She should say something, but her tongue was tied—unusual for her. Everyone had a menu, so she picked hers up and hid behind it.

  “Dixie and Tabby said they had a great time at the store, and that you’ve designed a dress for them to wear to their mama’s friend’s wedding,” Alice said.

  “I think we’ve settled on a style that they can use more than one time,” Mitzi answered. “And they’re really good with bouquets. We might be able to hire them for a few hours every week once the news gets out that we can offer flowers as well as dresses.”

  “Daddy said that we can work, but we talked about it and we decided we don’t want money for our jobs. We want you to teach us to make our own clothes. Daddy says he’ll buy us a sewing machine if y’all don’t have an extra one for us to use,” Dixie said all in a rush. She sucked in more air. “I’ve already been designing some shirts I want to make.”

  “They’re real simple for our first-time project,” Tabby added.

  “That sounds like a great idea to me,” Harry said. “That’s like getting back to old-time bartering. They make flowers. You give them sewing pointers. Why don’t you take the sewing machines from the house? You and your mama sure made a lot of clothing on them when you were these kids’ age and they’re still set up in the sewin’ room. They could use one at the store and take the other one home with them.”

  Mitzi laid a hand on his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. “That would be great, Dad.”

  Graham leaned toward her and whispered, “I’d be glad to pay for the lessons.”

  “If you do, then I’ll have to put them on the payroll for the work they’ll do with flowers,” she answered.

  “Then I guess we’ll call it an even swap.” He stuck out his hand to shake on the deal.

  Mitzi shook with him and wasn’t a bit surprised at the warmth his touch created. “It’s a deal.”

  “So we can come work every day at three?” Dixie asked.

  “Why don’t you make it right after lunch? Say twelve thirty,” Mitzi said.

  The girls high-fived and then pulled a couple of pens from their purses and began to draw on their napkins.

  “This is great,” Alice said. “I was trying to figure out something for them to do this summer. I coach a summer-league softball team, but as you probably already know, they’re not into that at all.”

  “I’m glad to have the help.” Mitzi was excited to have the girls in the shop every afternoon, but that wasn’t what made her heart throw in extra beats that day. Every time she inhaled, she got a whiff of Graham’s shaving lotion; when he leaned over to whisper, the warmth of his breath caressed the soft spot under her ear.

  The waitress finally made her way to their table and removed an order pad from her pocket. “Okay, folks, y’all ready to order? The Sunday special is turkey and dressin’, hot rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, and green beans. Sweet tea comes with the meal and so does dessert—pecan pie, chocolate pie, peach cobbler or blackberry.”

  “That’s what I want,” Dixie said. “And I’ll have chocolate pie for dessert.”

  “Same here,” Tabby said, and the two of them handed their menus to the waitress.

  Harry’s order included the pecan pie and Fanny Lou’s the chocolate.

  “Peach cobbler,” Graham and Mitzi said at the same time.

  “I’ll have the special with blackberry cobbler.” Alice handed her menu across to the waitress and then focused on Graham and Mitzi. “Looks like you two are in sync when it comes to dessert.”

  Mitzi wouldn’t mind being in sync with him on where to eat that peach cobbler, like in the middle of a big king-size bed after a rousing bout of hot sex. At that thought, she could feel heat crawling from her neck to her cheeks. She picked up a paper napkin and fanned her face. “It’s sure warm in here, isn’t it?”

  “Kind of cool to me,” Paula said.

  “It’s probably hot flashes startin’ in on you,” Fanny Lou whispered.

  Mitzi wanted to crawl under the table. “I don’t think so.”

  “Can you believe these tall nieces of mine aren’t interested in softball or basketball?” Alice asked from across the big, round table.

  “We’re going to take fashion design in college and grow up to be like Mitzi,” Dixie said. “We’ll have our own shop for bigger teenage girls. Only we want to design things that girls wear all the time, not just for formal affairs.”

  Alice giggled. “Graham, who would have thought a Harrison would say something like that?”

  “I know. They must be a throwback to our ancestors from the Civil War,” he chuckled.

  “Yep, I know exactly what you’re talkin’ about,” Harry said. “All Mitzi ever wanted to do was sew. When Paula’s sister got married a couple of years ago, these three”—he nodded toward Jody, Paula, and Mitzi—“designed and made the dress. And that’s when they all really got the fever to put in their own shop.”

  “Some of us don’t like to sweat.” Mitzi winked at the girls.

  Unless it would be during a hot little makeout session with Graham. Paula’s voice rang in her head.

  Go away. You’re makin’ me blush, she argued.

  The waitress brought their sweet tea, and Paula flashed Mitzi a look and a nod of the head that Mitzi interpreted to say, You’re right beside him. You would have given up your sweet little Mustang in high school for an opportunity like this and you haven’t said a dozen words to him.

  “So where is Selena these days?” Alice asked.

  “She still lives down around Greenville,” Paula answered.

  Paula set her mouth in a firm line and gave Mitzi one of those looks. Mitzi took a deep breath, turned to face Graham, and changed the subject. “Daddy says that you sold him Mama’s last Caddy.”

  “That’s right,” Graham said. “Had to order it special because she wanted a baby-blue one. What was that, thirteen years ago? I’ll always remember the sale because it was my first one. I’d finally worked my way up to salesman.”

  “Yep,” Harry said. “It’s still parked in the garage. I take it for a spin every now and then and once a year get it tuned up. Delores loved that car. I just can’t get rid of it.”

  Mitzi wondered if Graham had trouble getting rid of Rita’s things. He must have really loved her to give up his future for her. He’d gotten an offer to play basketball for the Longhorns, and of course, his father owned the dealership, so money wasn’t an issue. She stole a sideways glance at him. Did he still have feelings for Rita?

  Graham sipped his tea and then set it down. “I understand about holding on to things. Mama’s car and Daddy’s truck are parked out at their place. I should go through the house and get rid of things, since we’re going to live here in Celeste. But I haven’t been able to do it yet.”

  Mitzi laid a hand on his arm. “Don’t rush or you’ll regret it. Mama’s been gone two years. Daddy and I’ll give away her things when he’s ready.”

  No one else seemed to notice, but Mitzi could feel sparks flitting around the room like fireflies on a summer night. If just touching Graham in sincere sympathy could cause that, what would happen if he kissed her?

  Stop it, she scolded herself.

  Harry shook his head slowly. “Time ain’t been right for me to get rid of anything. I knew your daddy very well. Never knew your mama. When did she pass?”

  “When I was sixteen,” Graham answered. “Alice was already out of college and teaching, but it was tough on both of us.”

  “Still is some d
ays,” Alice said. “And someday, when the time is right, like Mitzi says, we’ll go through the house and put it on the market. Neither of us wants to live there, and it’s not good for a place to set empty.”

  Mitzi glanced over at Graham and caught his gaze, but then he quickly blinked when Dixie shoved a napkin his way.

  “Look at what we’ve drawn for our first project,” Tabby said.

  Mitzi glanced down at the napkin. “This one would be a better starter project than the last one you showed me.”

  “Very nice,” Graham said. “Does this mean that we won’t need to go school-clothes shopping at the end of summer?”

  “Of course not,” Dixie answered. “We’ll still need jeans and shoes.”

  Mitzi could have sworn that someone was staring right at her, so she scanned the room, and sure enough Wanda was shooting evil looks her way. No doubt about it, Fanny Lou, Harry, and all the girls from the shop sitting with Graham and his family would fuel the rumor mill for the rest of the day.

  Chapter Six

  Mitzi parked the van and crossed the grassy lawn in her bare feet. She dropped her shoes on the porch step and sat down beside Jody, who looked like she’d been crying again. “Where’s Paula?”

  “Her mother called. She said she’d be back by suppertime. Mothers!” Jody threw up her hands.

  “Don’t let Wanda rattle you,” Mitzi said.

  “She called about fifteen minutes ago,” Jody said. “She gave me the third degree again and said that if I’d made Lyle marry me, this wouldn’t happen. She used the old ‘why buy the cow when you’re getting the milk for free’ adage three more times during the conversation.”

  “Ignore her. You did the right thing by going to church and standing up to her,” Mitzi said.

  “She also told me that you were definitely on a date today, because Graham picked up the bill, and evidently y’all have been seeing each other on the sly for a while, because you were introducing each other to family. And that she hopes y’all don’t sin in front of those girls.” Jody rolled the kinks out of her neck. “According to the sermon she gave me, I’ve wasted my life, but there might be hope for me if I admit she was right and repent of my sins. But I don’t feel like I need to repent for anything other than trusting Lyle.”

  “I’m so sorry. You just keep going with us to church. That’ll show the whole lot of them that Lyle isn’t putting you in a corner—that you are a strong woman who can take control of her own life,” Mitzi said.

  “You think in one week that will be true?” Jody asked.

  “Maybe not, but we can put up a brave front and make them believe it’s the truth,” Mitzi answered.

  “We’ll see how the week goes. I could use a cold beer. How about you?” Jody asked.

  “Let’s go inside where it’s cool. I’d like to change into something more comfortable than this dress,” Mitzi answered. “But what if you’re pregnant? Should you be drinking beer?”

  “I’m not jumping through hoops and giving up beer until I know for sure. Now, I need to know something—why have you been keeping Graham’s proposal a big secret, especially since I’ve told you everything?” Jody teased as she followed Mitzi into the house.

  “You’re in a better mood.” Mitzi stopped under the AC vent in the living room and enjoyed a moment of cold air flowing down on her.

  “It comes and goes. One minute I’m crying. The next is a whole ’nother story. I’ve been up and down so much today that I’m not sure who I am. Talk to me about Graham to take my mind off Lyle and his new child bride.” Jody went to the refrigerator and returned with two icy cold cans of beer. She opened one and took a long drink from it, then set the other one on an end table beside a recliner.

  Mitzi headed down the short hall to her bedroom, left the door open, and raised her voice as she changed into a pair of loose-fitting pajama pants and a T-shirt. “I think he’s just grateful that I told the girls they could come to the shop for half a day through the summer.”

  Paula was sitting in a rocking chair with a glass of iced sweet tea in her hands when Mitzi made it back to the living room. “My mama called, too, mainly to fuss at me because I didn’t sit with her in church. But I got the news about us having dinner with Graham, too. Wanda called her as soon as she could. What is it with old women and gossip? We’re not going to be like that, are we?”

  “Hell, no!” Jody sat down in the middle of the floor. “We should make a pact to never get old or trust a man.”

  “You’ve got a bed right there,” Mitzi asked. “Why are you sitting on the floor?”

  “I’m all sweaty and dirty. Don’t want to mess up the sheets.” Jody handed her the beer from the end table and patted the floor. “I’m glad we had dinner with Graham. It took the heat off me for a little while.”

  Mitzi sat down and leaned back against a recliner. She took a long drink from the can and then set it on an end table. “Lyle marries someone else. I’ve been seeing Graham on the sly. What kind of drama can you add to that, Paula?”

  Paula pushed her dark hair behind her ears. She’d wanted to tell them that she was pregnant for weeks, but the timing was never right. At first she didn’t want them to think she couldn’t hold up her part of the business, and then this past week, when she decided she absolutely had to say something, thinking about it had upset her stomach. Then Jody called with the news that Lyle had married his pregnant girlfriend, and she sure couldn’t say anything then. She and Mitzi needed to be there for Jody during that time, and that still wasn’t over. But was now the right time?

  “She’s taking a long time to answer. Makes me wonder if she’s dreaming up some fake news to make us laugh,” Jody said.

  “Like she’s going to try to convince us that she’s got a secret boyfriend, and she really isn’t going to book club once a month or taking off work an hour early to help her mother but she’s sneaking out to see him,” Mitzi giggled.

  Jody joined her in what started off as a giggle but turned into infectious laughter, and then she got the hiccups. “Paula can’t keep a secret. She’s always told us everything. If she had a boyfriend, she would be smiling all the time.”

  And now they were teasing her about not being able to keep secrets. She almost blurted it out just to show them, but when she opened her mouth, nothing came out. Then she figured that she’d get back at them, since they thought they were so funny.

  “That’s it. I’ve got a secret boyfriend. Graham and I’ve been seeing each other for a month. That’s why he moved here,” she finally said.

  Mitzi looked like she was about to cry.

  Jody stared at her like she had an extra eye right in the middle of her forehead.

  “Are you telling the truth?” Mitzi’s eyes swam in unshed tears.

  “I don’t believe you,” Jody whispered.

  “I’m so sorry. I was trying to be funny, but that was mean,” Paula hurriedly apologized. “But after that shock, what I do have to say won’t be near as dramatic. Here’s the truth.” Paula took a deep breath and laid her hand on her stomach, which she concentrated hard on settling with a few sips of sweet tea.

  “You’re turning a little green around the mouth,” Jody said. “Do you, are you . . . I can’t even say the words.”

  “Do you have something incurable?” Mitzi whispered.

  “No, it’ll be cured in about three months,” Paula whispered.

  Fresh tears flowed down Jody’s face. “I’ve been selfish thinking only about me and my heartache. How long have you had this?”

  “Six months, but I only found out about it three months ago. I’m not dying—I’m pregnant,” Paula spit it out.

  The whole house went silent. Not a single tree limb brushed against a window. The refrigerator motor wasn’t running, and the ceiling fan didn’t even squeak like normal. Paula wished she had a tigereye stone tucked away in her bra. Those brought courage.

  “You’re kiddin’ again, right?” Jody finally whispered. “We’d have known i
f . . .”

  “This is huge. When? Where? Who’s the father? Are you getting married and leaving us?” Questions poured from Mitzi.

  Paula shook her head. “Slow down and listen to me. At first I was in denial. You know I’ve never been regular. I didn’t even know until three months ago. Then the doctor said that there was a possibility I’d have a miscarriage, so . . .” Paula hesitated a minute before she continued. “But when I went for my checkup this week, I’d passed the second trimester and she says she thinks the baby is going to be fine now. I didn’t want to worry y’all.”

  “B-but you don’t look . . .” Jody stammered.

  “Us big girls don’t always get the popular baby bump.” Paula laid a hand on her stomach.

  “Or people think we’re pregnant when we aren’t,” Mitzi said. “Who, what, when?”

  “Long version or short?”

  “Every single word,” Jody said.

  “Okay, here goes. I was seeing a man in Tulia,” Paula said.

  “Clinton?” Jody said. “The sumbitch who went back to his wife, right?”

  Paula nodded.

  “You stayed in bed for a whole weekend after he left. We ate half a gallon of ice cream and used more than two boxes of tissues,” Mitzi said.

  Another nod.

  “And I drove out there to be with y’all,” Jody said. “That’s part of the reason we decided we should put the business here in Celeste to get you out of that area.”

  “I couldn’t have gotten through it without y’all. I really loved him.” Paula’s chin quivered.

  “Does he know about the baby?” Mitzi asked.

  Paula shook her head. “No, and he’s not going to, so that can’t leave this room.”

  “Why can’t he know?” Jody asked.

  Heat traveled from Paula’s neck to her cheeks. “His wife is pregnant. He’s a bastard, but I won’t ruin her life or the baby they’re going to have. She went through in vitro twice just to have a child. It’s complicated, but they were only separated, not legally divorced. Y’all know the story. It’s not her fault that I loved him, but he didn’t really love me.”