by J B Hawker
“Will we still be able to go to college next year, even after you are on a pension?” Astilbe asked.
“Your father has a very nice retirement account, girls, so we aren’t going to be penniless. I plan to build up my recycling hobby into a real business, too,” Judy said, making Ken’s eyebrows climb.
“When did you decide that?” he asked. “Do you think you’ll have time after the babies come?”
“Babies?!” the twins cried in unison.
“What babies?” Paisley asked.
“Oh, that’s right. Your father and I planned to wait a bit to share our good news, but I suppose you have a right to know. We learned this week that I’m pregnant. If all goes well, in about six months you will be big sisters.”
“You said babies,” Astilbe reminded her.
“Yep, I’m expecting twins, again. Isn’t that the coolest?” Judy said.
Paisley and Astilbe looked at each other, communicating without speaking.
“Aren’t you going to congratulate your mother?” Ken prompted.
“Sure,” Paisley said. “I’m real happy for you, Mom.”
“Congrats,” Astilbe added. “But, are you sure you want to do this, Mom? You’re pretty old to be having another baby and twins are at least twice as hard.”
“I am absolutely sure I want these babies, just as much as I wanted you and your sister. I’m healthy and strong and I will have lots of help this time around. I’ll have you girls until you go away to school and your dad will be here to help me, now that he’s retiring. It’s going to be a breeze,” Judy assured her daughters.
“Babies are expensive, though. I don’t see how you will still be able to pay for our college expenses. Maybe Tilly and I should plan to go to the community college in Tillamook, at least the first couple of years,” Paisley said.
“You could do that, if you want, and we appreciate your concern, but we set up a college fund for each of you when you were born. We’ve been contributing to it all these years, so there is enough for you to go to the universities of your choice,” Ken said. “That’s assuming you are accepted, of course.”
“Oh, Dad! Of course, we’ll be accepted. In fact, I’m expecting to start receiving acceptance letters any day, now,” Astilbe said.
“We’re sorry to spring all this news on you, but it needn’t change your plans,” Ken said.
“Speaking of plans,” Judy said. “I’ve finished the alterations on your prom dresses. They are in my workroom upstairs. Please try them on when we finish eating and let me see if I need to make any adjustments.”
“When is this big gala evening?” Ken asked.
“Next Saturday, and I can’t wait,” Astilbe said, eagerly beginning to clear her plate.
“You’re quiet, Paisley. Aren’t you looking forward to it, too?” Ken asked.
“I suppose so. Only, I’ve decided to break it off with Warren after the dance. I’m sort of dreading that part,” she said.
“Why go with the boy, if you aren’t that fond of him?” Ken asked. “Couldn’t you go with someone else?”
“I don’t want to hurt his feelings, Daddy, and I already told him I’d go. It will be fine. I’ll just tell him on the way home, after the dance.”
“Maybe Ryan and I should go with you two, Patsy, then you won’t have to be alone with Warren when you tell him,” Astilbe offered.
“We’ll see, but it’s no big deal. Come on, let’s go try on those dresses,” Paisley said as she carried dishes into the kitchen.
Upstairs, the sisters slipped out of their church clothes before walking into Judy’s workroom in their underclothes to try on the re-fashioned dresses.
Paisley stepped into her sister’s old dress, now minus the ruffles, and pulled it up.
“Did you have any idea Mom was pregnant?” she asked her sister.
Astilbe held up the vintage taffeta gown, admiring her mother’s handiwork.
“Not a clue. I thought she was too old for stuff like that,” she said from inside the mint green folds as she pulled the dress over her head.
“I guess it’s a good thing we’re going to be away at school before the babies are born,” Paisley said. “I don’t think we could get much studying done with a pair of crying infants around.”
“Oh, I adore babies! I was thinking I might go to the community college and commute, just so I can be here to help with them, even though Mom and Dad said we can still go to University,” Astilbe said.
“Dad will be around all the time to help, too,” Paisley said. “I was totally surprised that he’s retiring.”
“Me, too,” Astilbe said. “I guess I thought he’d keep preaching forever. Mom!” she called down the stairs. “We’ve got our dresses on! You can come and check them, now!”
*
Ken slid the last plate into the dishwasher.
“Where do we keep the dishwasher soap?” he asked.
“Here you go,” Judy said, opening the cabinet under the sink and handing him the bag of detergent pods. “Thanks for helping.”
“I’m practicing for my retirement. I’ll need to know the lay of the land if I’m going to take on the role of Mary Poppins,” he said. “Were you serious about building up your design business? We never talked about that before.”
“It’s something I’ve toyed with for a long time, but I was afraid to try it. For some reason, this pregnancy has made me more confident. I’m ready ‘to boldly go where I’ve never gone before’,” Judy misquoted.
“What would we need in order to transition your hobby into a money-making proposition?” Ken asked.
“There wouldn’t be much of an investment, not at first. I can still work at home for the time being, but eventually I want to be able to have a workroom with an attached shop.”
“We’ll need to take that into account when looking for a new place to live, then,” Ken said.
“Good grief!” Judy exclaimed. “I hadn’t thought of that. The new minister will be living in the manse. I was picturing the sweetest nursery upstairs, but we can’t stay here. Maybe I won’t be able to expand my business with a household move to deal with, too.”
“If we start looking, now, we should be able to find something suitable to rent before too long. It will be an upheaval, but once we’re settled, you can go ahead as planned,” Ken said.
“Maybe it will still work. There won’t be much initial expense for design materials, since the base of my creations is other people’s discards and I have plenty of supplies on hand.”
“You’ve given this enterprise a lot of thought, haven’t you?” Ken said. “What will you call this business of yours? You’ll need a catchy name.”
“I just thought I’d call it ‘Judy’s Designs’, but that isn’t very catchy, is it? What do you suggest? You are the word smith, after all, preacher man.”
“Right,” he laughed. “Let me ponder on it. I think this is a good idea and I am willing to support you in any way I can.”
Judy hugged Ken and kissed him on the cheek.
“Thank you, Darling,” she said and switched off the kitchen light. “Let’s turn in early. This has been a very eventful day and we must start house-hunting tomorrow.”
“Right,” Ken replied, throwing his arm around her. “You are sleeping for three now.”
Chapter 19
When Melissa walked into the basement social hall of the Bannoch Community Fellowship for the First Ladies Club meeting, earlier arrivals looked up, but failed to make eye-contact and the hum of whispers, like the sound of a distant wasps’ nest, rose and fell. Determined to make a fresh start, she ignored the undercurrents and forced a smile.
“Hi! Isn’t it a gorgeous day for our meeting?” she gushed.
“Hello, Melissa,” Elizabeth walked over and sat beside her. “I take it you are a fan of rain. I suppose, for a Seattle native, this downpour is like a little bit of home.”
Melissa blushed, chagrined at her foolish greeting.
“Of cou
rse!” she burbled, attempting to smooth over her error. “I’m learning to love the frequent marine layer of Bannoch, though.”
Elizabeth gave the younger woman an appraising glance and was about to respond when Judy walked in.
Heads turned in her direction then swiveled immediately to where Melissa was sitting. No one spoke.
Judy looked around and saw Melissa. She mentally girded her loins, strode across the room and sat down beside her.
“Hi, Melissa, Elizabeth,” she greeted the two women while shaking out her vintage seaman’s rain hat. “Isn’t this weather miserable? I got soaked just coming in from the parking lot.”
“Melissa was just saying how much she likes this rain,” Gwennie said from her seat across the table from Elizabeth.
“Well, I guess I do, too, most days,” Judy offered. “But the wind today seems a little excessive. Did you get much wind in Seattle, Melissa?”
Melissa snatched at this olive branch with a grateful smile, saying, “Not like we do here in Bannoch. I’m trying to find the blessing even in nasty weather, these days, though. It’s part of a much-needed spiritual self-improvement program I’m working on.”
Judy smiled broadly and gave Melissa’s hand a quick squeeze, just as Eskaletha took her place at the head of the long folding table and called the meeting to order.
There was an almost palpable wave of relief around the table as the other women observed their two friends coming to an understanding.
Following the meeting, the First Ladies enjoyed snacks provided for them by the women’s group of the Community Fellowship. The conversation was animated, mostly centered around preparations for the high school prom, rumors of a new business opening in the seaside mall and speculation about what actually happened to Dr. Haleby’s cousin.
Melissa put a couple of chocolate-coated strawberries onto her plate and returned to her place next to Judy.
“Thank you,” she said.
“I’m so sorry!” Judy said at the same time.
“You don’t need to apologize,” Melissa said. “I was just being touchy because I was angry about something else. I am sorry for taking my mean spirits out on you.”
“I shouldn’t have said something so personal, though,” Judy said. “I’m beginning a spiritual self-help program, too, trying to think before I speak. Are you starting to adjust to your new life here in Bannoch? You looked so happy when I saw you dancing on the beach the other day.”
“You saw me? How?” Melissa asked.
“I was delivering a design order to Ariadne. The driveway overlooks that stretch of beach. You seemed to be having so much fun I would have joined you, if I were a few years younger.”
“Younger? Why do you say that? You can’t be more than five or ten years older than I am.”
“How old are you?” Judy said. “If you don’t mind my asking, that is,” she hurried to add.
“I don’t mind. I’m twenty-five,” Melissa replied.
“I didn’t mind telling my age when I was twenty-five, either,” Judy laughed. “It’s not so easy once you pass forty, though.”
Melissa assured Judy she didn’t look a day over thirty-five, cementing their new friendship.
“Are your girls all set for the prom, Judy?” Gwennie asked, joining the conversation.
“Yes, finally. I did the last alterations on their dresses last night,” Judy replied.
“You do tailoring, too?” Melissa asked. “So, you remodel furniture, grow organic vegetables, raise twin daughters and what else?”
“Don’t forget discovering the occasional corpse,” Gwennie quipped.
“Oh, don’t remind me,” Judy pleaded. “That poor girl. It makes me sad to think about it.”
“Yes, let’s talk about something happier. Tell me about your daughters’ dresses,” Melissa said.
*
“Mom! Can I wear your amber necklace?” Astilbe called, leaning over the banister, her wild curls making a rosy halo around her flushed face.
Her cheeks were even pinker than usual as she dashed from her room to the bathroom and back wearing only her new strapless bra and a long half-slip.
“It’s in the painted flowerpot on my dresser!” Judy responded, coming to the foot of the stairs. “Do you need my help with anything?”
Paisley stepped onto the landing wearing the blue gown her mother had redesigned for her. Its sleek, simple lines complemented her figure perfectly. With her hair in a neat chignon at the nape of her neck and her mother’s pearl pendant nestling in a hint of cleavage at the gown’s scooped neckline, she was the picture of serene beauty.
“Tilly needs help, all right. Can you do anything to calm her down before she self-combusts up here?” Paisley said.
Judy gazed up at her daughter, seeing her for the first time as a woman. Her heart swelling with pride, she swallowed a lump in her throat and smiled.
“I’ll come up and see what I can do. You look lovely, by the way,” she said as she climbed the stairs.
“I’m going downstairs to wait for Warren and get out of the tornado zone,” Paisley said, sweeping past her mother.
Judy turned to watch her, seeing both the graceful woman walking across the foyer below and the sticky-faced toddler of years past. She patted her stomach, thankful to have another helping of the joys of parenthood just when she’d thought she was about to experience the pangs of an empty nest.
“Mom!” Astilbe wailed when Judy stepped into her daughter’s room. “Ryan will be here any minute and my hair’s a mess! Look at my face! I’m as red as a beet. Can I use some of your makeup? Oh gosh, I forgot to put on deodorant! Unzip me, please!”
“Calm down, sweetheart,” Judy soothed as she lowered the zipper. “Ryan won’t arrive for at least thirty minutes. You are going to look beautiful.”
Astilbe dashed into the bathroom with the bodice of her dress hanging around her waist. She returned to her mother slightly less frazzled and with the dress back in place.
“Zip me, please,” she said, turning her back to Judy.
“Did you find my necklace?” Judy asked.
Astilbe rummaged on her dresser and handed the piece to her mother.
“Thanks for letting me wear this, Mom. I think the amber color looks really good with this green dress.”
Judy locked the clasp at the back of her daughter’s neck while Astilbe lifted her hair out of the way.
“How were you planning to wear your hair tonight?” Judy asked, taking Astilbe by the shoulders and turning her around. “Did you want to wear it up? It might be cooler if it’s swept off your face.”
“Cooler is better, that’s for sure. But, just the top and sides, okay? I want the back to hang down in loose, romantic waves.”
“Romantic, huh? Just what sort of plans do you have for this night? I always thought you girls think of Ryan as a good friend, sort of like a big brother,” Judy said.
“Sure, Mom,” Astilbe replied. “We’re good friends, but we’re growing up, now, you know. Ryan’s really cute and all. Who knows?”
“Well, just don’t get too carried away by romantic dreams. He may not share your feelings. I don’t want you to be disappointed if tonight doesn’t meet your expectations.”
“Oh, Mom,” Astilbe said, giving her mother a quick hug. “Don’t worry. I’m not as silly as you guys sometimes think I am, you know. I mean, tonight’s going to be super, but it’s just a dance. My expectation is to have fun, that’s all.”
Hearing her daughter express her own feelings about other people’s impressions brought home to Judy that she had been underestimating her daughter.
“You are so like me at your age,” she said.
“Thanks, Mom,” Astilbe replied. “I’ll be happy if I can have it all together like you do when I’m your age. Will you fix my hair? Ryan will be here any minute! I don’t want to leave him alone with Daddy.”
Judy chuckled and picked up the hairbrush to attempt to transform her daughter’s curls into the
romantic waves of her dreams.
*
At one o’clock the parking lot began to empty as the prom wound down and many of the youthful revelers headed to after-prom parties. Astilbe stood outside the once sparkling ballroom, while inside the cleanup crew removed the tinsel and glamor which had transformed the school’s gymnasium. She was waiting for Ryan. He’d gone inside to look for Paisley and Warren. The two couples planned to have a late snack at the all-night fast-food place out on the highway before going home.
“Well, are they coming?” Astilbe asked when Ryan approached.
“They aren’t inside. Maybe they decided to wait in the car. Warren was parked not far from us. I saw his car when we got here,” Ryan said.
“Let’s go check,” Astilbe said, taking his hand and heading to the far side of the lot.
When they had arrived, the parking lot was already full and they had been forced to park in an over-flow area adjacent to the sports field.
“I had a super time tonight, Ryan. Thanks for agreeing to take me,” Astilbe said.
“I’m glad you asked me. It’s been fun,” Ryan replied, squeezing her hand. “You look really pretty, by the way.”
Astilbe blushed, grateful Ryan wouldn’t notice in the dark parking lot.
“You were the handsomest guy there, you know,” she said and felt her face flush hotter.
Ryan stopped walking and turned toward Astilbe.
“This has been really nice. We’re both going off to different school’s next fall, but maybe we can get together during the breaks, or something,” he said.
“I’d like that,” Astilbe choked out.
Ryan lifted her chin and bent down slowly, until their lips met in a sweet kiss.
Astilbe started to put her arms around his neck when a woman cried out.
“What was that?” Ryan asked.
“Paisley!” Astilbe breathed, hiking up her taffeta skirt and running toward the sound.
Ryan followed and soon passed Astilbe as he ran to the spot where he’d seen Warren’s car. As soon as he got there, he pulled the door open and beheld Paisley struggling with Warren. She was pushed up against the far door, her hair was hanging loose, and the sleeve of her dress was torn. There was a bruise beginning to bloom on her jaw.