The Perfect Dress

by Brown, Carolyn

  “Yes, I do.” Paula was so nervous that she didn’t recognize the woman until she was on the table and saw her name tag. “Hey, you did this last time, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I did,” Rachel said. “And he or she was not very cooperative.”

  Paula got onto the examination table and pulled her pants down below her belly and her shirt up to her breasts. Rachel tucked blue paper into the band of Paula’s pants and then squirted gel across her tummy. “Got a good strong heartbeat. Would you look at that?”

  Paula turned her head to the monitor to find her baby lying in a position that left no doubt about the gender. Tears flooded her eyes. Finally, she was getting what she’d prayed for and wanted so badly.

  “Well, there’s no doubt now, is there?” Rachel handed her a tissue. “Why are you crying? Are you disappointed? Looks like you’re going to have a healthy baby.”

  “They’re tears of pure joy,” Paula said.

  She was glad that Ellie Mae was gone from the waiting room when she left. As nosy as she was, Ellie Mae would have wanted to know the gender, and Paula wanted to hold that secret awhile longer. She craved a big waffle cone of soft ice cream, but butterflies were having a party in her stomach. Once she’d told her mother the news, she’d have something to eat.

  She drove from Greenville to Celeste slowly. She’d gotten finished earlier than she’d thought she would, so the girls wouldn’t have had time to drive to her mother’s place just yet. To keep her mind off the fit Gladys was going to throw, she thought about the dilemma that Jody was in. Paula had never had to go through that time of wondering if she was pregnant or not. She’d never had regular periods and had taken the pill to regulate her cycle. Even that didn’t work most of the time, and she’d gotten the news sprung on her when she went in for her yearly physical.

  Thinking that she should buy Jody a pregnancy test, she almost stopped at Walmart but decided against it. Maybe Jody wouldn’t even need it. After all, she and Lyle had had sex only once in the past month. That sorry bastard Lyle should be shot.

  Chapter Ten

  With trembling hands, Jody pulled the pregnancy test out of its box. She’d bought one of the most expensive—one that promised a true reading as early as two weeks after conception. Tomorrow was the actual day for her period and she was usually regular, but she’d been under a lot of stress. Following the directions to the letter, she did what it said and then laid the stick on the counter.

  Her chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. She watched the time tick away on her phone. She couldn’t look at the results. If she was pregnant, she’d rather let everyone believe that she really was having an affair like Lyle had said. The shame would be on her, and her baby wouldn’t have to grow up in the shadow of Kennedy’s.

  Finally, she inhaled and looked at the test. Exhaling loudly, she looked up at the ceiling. “Thank you, God.”

  When she returned to the sewing room, she found Mitzi putting the last touches on Ellie Mae’s hat. “I just took a pregnancy test,” Jody whispered. “It was negative.”

  Mitzi laid the hat aside. “Don’t you have to wait ten days after a missed period?”

  “I got one of those fast ones. It’s been close to a month since Lyle and I had sex, so I figured it would show, and it’s negative.”

  “How do you feel about that? Are you a little disappointed?”

  “Not one bit.” Jody shook her head. “The way Lyle’s gone all paternal, he would insist on visitation rights. Can you see little miss Kennedy having to care for two babies? Who do you think would get the better care? And as they got older, who would be shoved into the shadows?”

  “I think I understand Paula not wanting to share with Clinton a little better. Her baby would be the same as what you said,” Mitzi said.

  “Besides”—Jody shivered—“I’d hate to tell my mama. Gladys is going to throw one big hissy fit.”

  “That’s why we’re going with Paula. Growing up, I had no idea that y’all’s mamas treated you the way they did. I didn’t even think about the fact that we always spent time at my house and never at one of y’all’s.” Mitzi’s eyes rolled up toward the twelve-foot ceiling. “You ever wonder what kind of stories the walls of a house would tell if they could talk?”

  “My mama’s house would shock most people in town.” Jody picked up her needle and started basting a bodice together. “Everyone thinks she’s so godly, but . . .” She glanced over to find Mitzi staring off into space without blinking.

  “Are you sleeping with your eyes open?” Jody giggled.

  “What? I’m sorry. I was thinking about this house. Remember when we were kids and Miz Ellen entertained us in this room? What were you saying?” Mitzi asked.

  “I always loved coming here for that Sunday School Christmas party she hosted.” Jody remembered that sweet old lady’s floral perfume and the sugar cookies that she served them about once a month.

  “Ever wonder what really went on in this house before she died and we bought it?” Mitzi asked.

  “The hallway would probably recite Bible verses to us. And I’d be willing to bet that the pregnancy test in the bathroom trash can is the first one these old walls have ever seen,” Jody giggled. “Paula should be getting her ultrasound about right now. Want to make a bet on whether it’s a boy or girl?” Jody finished the basting job. She picked up a bead with a pair of tweezers, dipped it into a small cup of fabric glue, and laid it on a veil that she’d started working on.

  “Which would you want if you were pregnant?” Mitzi asked.

  “A girl,” Jody said without hesitation. “I wouldn’t want to be a boy’s mama if he treated a woman like Lyle has treated me. I’d think I’d failed at teaching him how to behave. If I had either one, no matter what the circumstances, I’d never make the child feel unwanted.”

  “We’ll all make sure Paula’s baby doesn’t feel like that,” Mitzi said.

  “What was that about a baby?” Fanny Lou breezed into the sewing room and sat down in Paula’s chair. She removed a straw hat with a wide brim and laid it on the table. That day she wore a T-shirt with Minnie Mouse on the front, faded jean shorts that barely reached her bony knees, and cowboy boots. “Thank God for air-conditioning. Lord, it’s hot out there. If it feels like this in June, it’ll only be three degrees cooler than hell when July and August get here.”

  “We’re tellin’ Gladys and Selena tonight, so you can’t tell anyone until after that, but Paula is pregnant. She’s getting an ultrasound today and hopefully we’ll know if it’s a boy or girl,” Mitzi said.

  “Who’s the father and when’s the wedding?” her granny asked.

  “The relationship was over before she found out she was pregnant. So there’s not going to be a wedding,” Jody answered. “Smart girl if you ask me. Want a glass of iced tea?”

  “Gladys is going to have a pure old southern hissy fit, and Selena won’t be far behind her. Thank you for the offer, but I’d rather have an icy cold beer.” Fanny Lou picked up her hat and fanned herself with it.

  Jody pushed back her chair and headed for the kitchen. “Don’t say anything until I get back.”

  Full silence tracked Jody to and from the kitchen until she returned with a long-neck bottle of Fanny Lou’s favorite brand and handed it to her.

  “Thank you, darlin’. Maybe this will keep me from dyin’ of a heatstroke. Old women like me shouldn’t get out when it’s pushin’ a hundred degrees, but I get bored. Besides, I just love to come visit with y’all. It makes up for all the time when y’all weren’t here in town.” Fanny Lou laid her hat back down and took a long draw from the bottle. “Now back to Gladys. She’s always been a hypochondriac. It got worse when she got pregnant with Paula. Selena was about four years old, and Gladys didn’t want another child.”

  “So we were both unwanted?” Jody asked.

  “Wish I could tell you different, but I can’t,” Fanny Lou answered.

  “I’m shocked that you aren’t even s
urprised about Paula being pregnant,” Mitzi said.

  “Nothing surprises me anymore.” Fanny Lou turned up the bottle again. “So what else is new around here?”

  “We’re having a little dessert party tomorrow night that can also be a gender-reveal party if Paula finds out the sex of the baby. You’ll come, won’t you?” Mitzi said.

  “I’ll have the bakery make a cake. Maybe pink on one side and blue on the other,” Fanny Lou said.

  “If I told you I was pregnant, too, would it knock your socks off?” Mitzi joked.

  “Nope, but I would tell you not to name the baby Francine and call her Fanny. I never have liked my name,” she answered. “Are you expecting? And if you are, who’s the father?”

  “No, I’m not.” Mitzi grinned. “But I am jealous of Paula because I’ve always wanted a house full of children.”

  “Well, I can tell you right now, I’m not a bit jealous of Paula. I wouldn’t mind having kids, but at this point, I damn sure don’t want Lyle to be the father,” Jody said with conviction. She felt like she’d dodged a bullet when that test turned up negative.

  “I agree with you,” Fanny Lou said. “If you want kids, Mitzi, you might be thinking about a serious relationship. You’ll be thirty-two in less than a month, so you’re getting a late start.”

  “Not in today’s world,” Mitzi said. “Thirty is the new twenty.”

  “Bull crap,” Fanny Lou said. “Society changes, but women’s bodies don’t. After thirty that little nest of eggs you got inside you begins to shrivel up. So if you want a lot of kids, you’d better marry a man who’s already got a few to give you a head start, and then have one every two years until there ain’t no more eggs.”

  Jody could practically hear her biological clock ticking. “Lots of women don’t have babies until they’re in their thirties, nowadays.”

  “Ah, Granny, us big girls provide more warmth for that little nest of eggs than skinny girls,” Mitzi laughed.

  “Hey, now,” Jody scolded.

  “Honey, you’re a plus-sized girl trapped in a skinny girl’s body. You’ll break free of that cage in a year or so,” Mitzi told her.

  Jody giggled. “I hope so. I liked me better when I was a little bigger.”

  “I should be going,” Fanny Lou said. “I’m meeting my book club at the café at five. I’ll see y’all when it’s over.” Fanny Lou’s knees popped when she stood up. “Gettin’ old ain’t for sissies, girls. Only the strong get to do it.”

  “We’re not planning to start until seven, so that works great, and you are not old.” Mitzi gave her grandmother a hug. “You’ll still be drivin’ that old truck out there and helping run this town when you’re a hundred.”

  “I hope so, darlin’.” Fanny Lou picked up her hat and shoved it down on her head.

  When they heard the back door shut, Jody whispered, “Is she really going to her book club dressed like that? Where does she shop anyway?”

  “Garage sales. Goodwill. Thrift stores. Last time she was in a real dress shop was at my dad’s cousin’s wedding. She fussed about the price of the outfit for a full year. But then she redid her will to say that she would be buried in it,” Mitzi laughed.

  “Good Lord!” Jody gasped as she got up and moved toward the foyer. “She’s a hoot. You’re so lucky to have her in your life, Mitzi.”

  “I know it,” Mitzi said. “When my mother died, I couldn’t have gotten through it without her. It was tough on her, losing her only child, and at the time I thought I was helping her. She stepped into the mother role without me even realizing that she was the one doing the heavy lifting when it came to grief.”

  “That’s the way it should be.” Jody nodded. “I’ve decided that I can choose not to be like my mother. Someday I do want a baby, just not right now. I was so glad to see that negative sign I almost squealed. Does that make a lick of sense?”

  “It does to me,” Mitzi said.

  Jody followed Mitzi’s eyes to the clock. “It’s quittin’ time. I’m getting nervous about dealing with Gladys and Selena, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah, but Paula needs us,” Mitzi answered.

  Before Jody could agree, the twins popped into the room. “Guess what, we got our room all fixed and the table is ready for our sewing machines. Do you think maybe we could get them tomorrow? We can’t wait to get started.”

  Dixie went straight to the veil Jody had been working on. “That’s gorgeous. Whoever is wearing it should keep it for their daughters and granddaughters. When I get married, I’m going to wear my Granny Harrison’s veil. Grandpa said I could before he died last year.”

  Tabby laid a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Grandpa was our hero. I can’t remember when he wasn’t there for us. That house where he lived—this might sound crazy, but sometimes we can still feel him when we go there. He was the one who told us if anyone bullied us, we should take a step forward and knock the hell out of them. I’m glad I did because it brought us here.”

  “We’re glad you’re here, too,” Jody said.

  “Hey, I’ve got an idea about the bridal fair. We could bring Granny’s veil. Y’all didn’t make it, but it could be a prop,” Dixie said.

  “If your dad doesn’t mind, you could sure let us look at it,” Mitzi said. “It might give us an idea for a veil if someone asked for a vintage wedding dress. And I wanted to ask you—”

  “Hey, do I have some pretty girls hidin’ in this place?” Graham’s deep drawl floated down the foyer.

  Mitzi and Jody both followed the girls to the foyer. Jody stood back just a little and watched the expressions on all of them.

  “Mitzi’s got something to ask us.” Dixie beamed as if the idea of Mitzi having something special up her sleeve truly tickled her.

  “Oh?” Graham winked slyly at Mitzi, but it didn’t escape Jody’s watchful eyes.

  “I hope it’s not that the bridal fair has been canceled.” Tabby’s eyes filled with tears. “I really want to wear that pretty dress and walk on the runway.”

  “Nothing like that. And thank you for letting the girls join us and letting Tabby model for us.” Mitzi fidgeted with her hands, like she did when she was nervous.

  “Couldn’t say no to an opportunity like that. What’s the news you’ve got for us?” Graham asked.

  “We’re having cake and ice cream tomorrow evening. Would you and the girls like to come?” Mitzi tucked her hands in the pockets of her capri pants.

  “Love to. Can we bring anything?” Graham asked.

  His eyes went all soft and dreamy when he looked at Mitzi. Her cheeks probably looked like she had too much blush. Could it be possible that there really was chemistry on both sides? Had this gone beyond a one-sided crush?

  “Not a thing,” Jody answered for Mitzi. “We’ve got it all covered.”

  “Well, then, let’s go home, ladies. You can tell me all about your day while we have supper,” Graham said. “Thanks for the invitation and we’ll look forward to being here.”

  They’d barely made it out the door when Jody elbowed Mitzi. “You still like him, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do, but a lot of good it’ll do me. If he ever does get into a relationship, it’ll be with a cute little thing like Rita,” Mitzi said.

  “Never say never,” Jody warned. “Let’s lock up and go over to Gladys’s house. It might be the last time we ever see it standing, because after today, it might explode into flames.”

  “You got that right.” Mitzi nodded.

  When Paula turned the corner, Mitzi’s van was already parked next to the curb, and there was Selena’s little VW bug right behind it. Paula pulled in, ate a couple of antacids to calm her nervous stomach, and got out of the car. Maybe she should put this off until tomorrow or the next day, or after she’d had the baby.

  Mitzi and Jody met her at the sidewalk leading up to the small-frame house with red roses climbing up the porch posts. Paula usually loved the sweet scent of the flowers, but on this day they almost gagge
d her.

  Jody looped her arm in Paula’s. “I’m not pregnant. I took a test today and it’s negative.”

  “I almost stopped and bought a test for you. Glad I didn’t.” Paula dreaded going into the house. The outside always looked like something out of a gardening magazine, and there wouldn’t be a spot of dust on the inside. But if it was true that the heart of a home was the mother, then the core of that place was rotten.

  “You okay?” Mitzi asked.

  “No, but I will be in a little while.” Paula sat down on the porch swing. “I need just a minute. I used to sit here for five minutes when I came home from school to get settled before I went in the house, and I still do every time I come over here. That’s Selena’s new car out there. Y’all know that she’s always driven a small car, liked tiny jewelry rather than the big clunky stuff like I wear, and now she’s all taken up with little dogs. She has a Chihuahua that she carries in her purse, so get ready for it.”

  “Maybe it makes her feel smaller than she is,” Mitzi said.

  “Probably,” Paula agreed.

  “Can’t they hear us?” Jody whispered.

  “No, they’re watching television.” Paula pulled a tissue from her purse and wiped sweat from her brow. She’d dreaded this moment for months, but it would all be over in the next few minutes. No doubt, she’d take a mental beatdown, but at least it would be done and finished.

  “Do we know if the baby is a boy or girl?” Mitzi asked.

  Paula nodded. “Not saying yet. Okay, I’m ready. Let’s get it over with. Dammit! I turned thirty-two two months ago. Why do I feel like I’m a teenager coming in five minutes later than curfew?”

  “Because you and I would give anything for our mothers to love us unconditionally. But, honey, it ain’t goin’ to happen.” Jody opened the old screen door and knocked.

  Paula pushed past her, turned the knob, and went right inside without waiting for her mother to yell at them to come in. “She doesn’t get out of her chair except for meals and to go to the bathroom. It’s us, Mama,” she called out as all three of them made their way to the den at the back of the house.