“Ain’t going to be no procession. Not for me,” Attalee said in a barely audible voice. “No wedding neither.”
“Attalee,” Birdie tutted. “What’s this nonsense? I thought you were over your jitters. We’ll get some coffee into you, and you’ll feel like a new woman.”
Attalee violently shook her head. “This ain’t about jitters. And I’m not hung over. I’m not getting married today, because...” A strangled sound escaped her mouth. “Dooley’s dead. And it’s all my fault.”
“What?” Mrs. Tobias led a shaking Attalee to a folding chair in the corner of the room as the others looked on in shock. “Tell us what happened.”
It took several moments before Attalee could gather her composure to speak, and when she did, her words were continually stalled by sobs.
“I took your words to heart, Mrs. Tobias,” Attalee said in a pained whisper. “Last night when I got home, I had a powerful yen to see Dooley. I realized how much he meant to me, and I just wanted to hold him close. My roommate Myrtle had moved out of the apartment, so we could finally have our privacy.”
She wiped her eyes with a corner of her blouse and continued. “He came over in two shakes, and I greeted him wearing one of my brand-new nighties. We’d waited so long to be alone. One thing led to another and... I guess it was just too much for his heart. When I woke up this morning and leaned over to give him a good-morning kiss, his lips were cold as stone. I called an ambulance, and the paramedics screeched over. But it was too late. He’d been dead for hours.”
A hush fell over the room. One by one, the women gathered at Attalee’s side.
“You didn’t kill him, you know,” Mrs. Tobias said, stroking back Attalee’s disheveled hair. “It was just his time.”
“He was my man,” Attalee said, covering her face with her hands. “And I loved him.”
“What a terrible shame!” Rusty’s eyes welled up with tears. “Dooley was a real good egg.” He paused, as if trying to gain control of his emotions. “I’ll speak with the minister, and tell her there won’t be a wedding today.”
“Yes,” Birdie said with a nod. “I’ll stand outside and inform the guests as they arrive.”
Attalee lifted her head and cried. “All my beautiful plans. A wedding was meant to take place today.” As Mrs. Tobias handed her some fresh tissues, some of the misery drained from Attalee’s expression; her face grew curiously thoughtful.
“Wait a minute,” she said choking back a sob. “My plans don’t have to go to waste.” She grasped Mrs. Tobias’s wrist. “You and Rusty are engaged. You could get married today. Everything’s been arranged.”
“Dearie, you’re just distraught,” Mrs. Tobias crooned. “You’re not thinking clearly.”
“Yes, I am,” Attalee insisted. “That way there’d still be a wedding. Please, Mrs. Tobias. It would mean the world to me, and I know it’s what Dooley would want.”
“Sweetie,” Mrs. Tobias said, “you’re talking out of your head. Rusty and I can’t get married today.”
“Why not?” Attalee looked at her through smudged eyeglasses.
“We can’t get married without a license,” Mrs. Tobias said with nervous, darting eyes. “We’d have to apply first, and that takes a couple of days.”
“I’m friends with Fred over at the courthouse,” Birdie offered. “He’ll pull some strings for me. I could be back with a marriage license in a blink.”
“Yes, but—” Mrs. Tobias tugged at the pearls around her throat. “I don’t think—”
“All the people you love are here.” Mavis put a hand on Mrs. Tobias’s shoulder. “It could be so romantic.”
Rusty stepped forward. “I’m willing if you are, Gracie.”
Mrs. Tobias paused. “I don’t know. I think—”
“I’ll call your daughter. She’ll want to be here,” Elizabeth offered.
“You claim to love this fellow, don’t you?” Attalee said. “Or are those just words?”
“Not at all. I just—” Mrs. Tobias stammered, and then she looked over at Rusty, whose whole body was tensed as he waited for her reply. Everyone in the room looked as if they were holding their breath.
“Yes,” she finally said, looking into his Rusty’s dark, hopeful eyes. His shoulders relaxed and his face broke into a heartbreaking grin. “I do, Rusty. I really do.”
Mrs. Tobias decided she could say those words one more time that day.
“Jump,” said Attalee in a ragged whisper after Mrs. Tobias agreed to be a bride, “and the trampoline will appear.”
Mrs. Tobias stood in front of the mirror adjusting her veil. The only person left in the choir room was Mavis. Elizabeth and Birdie had gone home with Attalee to help her freshen up for the wedding.
Mrs. Tobias frowned at her reflection. “I look ridiculous in Attalee’s dress, don’t I? I’ve never see a gown so garishly white. I feel like a big, fluffy snowflake.”
Mavis circled Mrs. Tobias, appraising the dress. “It is a bright white. But I guess with Attalee you’re lucky it isn’t purple or hot pink. It’s a perfect fit though. You and Attalee must be the same size.”
Mrs. Tobias whirled to face Mavis. “I don’t know if I can do this, Mavis. I feel ridiculous. This is the last dress I would choose for my wedding. I love Attalee, and it’s one thing to take over her wedding day, but to also wear her dress?” Mrs. Tobias looked down at her gown in dismay. “A wedding day is a very serious, dignified occasion after all, and this frock is—”
The door opened and Birdie strode in. “Attalee’s coming this way with Elizabeth. Y’all be sure and make a big fuss over how she looks.”
Elizabeth entered the choir room first, urging Attalee inside. Attalee shuffled into the room, powdered and lipsticked, her hair braided and piled up on top of her head.
“Attalee, you’re a picture of loveliness,” Mavis said, clasping her hands together.
Her comment didn’t elicit even a micrometer of response from Attalee. Her eyes remained empty-looking and her expression haggard—that is, until Mrs. Tobias turned around to face her.
“Oh my Lord,” Attalee said, looking at Mrs. Tobias with wide, unbelieving eyes. “Oh my God in heaven.”
“See?” Mrs. Tobias said, tugging on her veil and turning to Mavis. “I’ve just upset her further. I’m sorry, Attalee. I found I just can’t do this dress justice. I’ll take it off and—”
“You look just like Glinda the Good Witch of the North,” Attalee interrupted, blinking back tears and beaming at Mrs. Tobias.
She slowly walked to the center of the room where Mrs. Tobias was standing and reached out to make a small adjustment to the veil. She then bent down to smooth the train. When she stood, she planted a light kiss on Mrs. Tobias’s cheek.
“I can’t tell you how much this means to me,” she said in a whisper. “You’re a beautiful bride.”
Mrs. Tobias touched her cheek and turned to face the mirror. No longer did she see the yards of blinding white satin, or the puffed-up sleeves. She just saw the reflection of a woman who was willing to do what it took to help Attalee through her sorrowful time.
“I do look beautiful,” Mrs. Tobias said. “And I’m ready to walk down the aisle to my groom.”
Later, as Mrs. Tobias stood outside the sanctuary waiting for her signal to go in, the front door to the church opened, and Daisy Hollingsworth stepped inside.
“Mother?” Daisy said as she spotted Mrs. Tobias standing outside the door. In her tailored, dark sheath and matching pumps, Mrs. Tobias’s daughter was the picture of elegance.
Mrs. Tobias parted her veil and glided over to her daughter.
“Mother?” Daisy repeated, a bewildered look on her face. “Is that you under all that satin and lace?”
“I’m afraid so.” Mrs. Tobias adjusted her train. “Thank you for coming. I’m sorry it’s so last-minute. I
didn’t expect to get married today.”
“I didn’t even know you were engaged. What’s the rush?”
“It’s a long, involved story,” Mrs. Tobias said. “You see, Attalee was supposed to get married today, but—”
The pianist in the sanctuary started playing the first few bars of “The Gambler.”
“Sorry, dear. I must go,” Mrs. Tobias said. “That’s my cue.”
“You’re walking down the aisle to a Kenny Rogers song?” Daisy asked.
“Yes,” Mrs. Tobias pulled the veil over her face. “It was Dooley’s favorite. Wish me luck, darling.”
“Who’s Dooley?” Daisy said, but Mrs. Tobias didn’t have time to answer; she was on her way to the altar.
Mrs. Tobias took measured steps as she walked down the aisle toward a beaming Rusty. Her friends, including Attalee, were all crying into their bouquets.
Matilda Long, the Methodist pastor, recited a short prayer, and then smiled at Mrs. Tobias and Rusty, saying, “I understand the couple has written their own vows for the wedding ceremony. You may begin.”
Mrs. Tobias startled. She hadn’t written any vows, and neither had Rusty. Attalee and Dooley had, but the minister had forgotten to make the adjustment in the service.
An awkward pause followed and the minister, who by this time had realized her mistake, whispered, “Shall we skip the vows and get right to the ceremony?”
“No.” Mrs. Tobias surprised herself by speaking aloud. “There’s something I would like to say to my betrothed.”
The minister nodded. “Please proceed.”
She swallowed hard and locked eyes with Rusty. Her words came slowly at first, then tumbled out as if she’d been holding them back for far too long.
“Sometimes you meet a person, and no matter how hard you try to resist him, you find yourself spiraling into love. Almost as if there were other forces at work, much bigger than yourself, guiding you along.” Mrs. Tobias’s voice caught in her throat and she had to pause before she could continue. “It’s what happened to me when I met you. I couldn’t help but fall in love with you, Rusty Williams.”
The church was so still, you could have heard the exhale of a moth.
“Gracie,” Rusty said, putting a steadying hand around her waist to still her shaking. “My dearest. I love you so.”
They clasped hands and faced the minister. “I think we’re ready to become man and wife,” Rusty said. As the minister began the wedding ceremony, a wave of muffled sniffs and joyful murmurings spread throughout the congregation.
The reception dinner, which was held in the church’s small fellowship hall, was jolly, despite the sadness over Dooley’s untimely death.
“I’ll be spilling my tears over Dooley later,” Attalee said, raising her glass of sparkling cider from her spot at the head of the table. “But today belongs to Rusty and Mrs. Tobias.”
“She’s not Mrs. Tobias anymore,” Mavis pointed out as she passed a platter of fried mozzarella sticks to Elizabeth. “She’s Mrs. Williams.”
“I’m Mrs. Williams, now, that’s true,” Mrs. Tobias said. “But isn’t it about time all of you just called me Gracie?”
Everyone at the table was momentarily at a loss for a response. Then Attalee clapped her hands together and all of the guests joined in on her applause as the new couple exchanged a chaste kiss. The deejay started the music for the evening with the selection “May I Have This Dance for the Rest of My Life?”
“Mrs. Williams, can I have the honor?” Rusty whispered into her ear.
“Absolutely,” Mrs. Tobias said, giving him her hand.
The two took to the floor, swaying to the music and beaming at one another. After a few measures, Timothy and Elizabeth joined them. Attalee watched them for a moment and then, as if in a trance, rose from her seat and began a slow, dreamy dance with an invisible partner. Her eyes were closed and her lips were parted as she swayed to the music.
As the melody sighed from the stereo, and her feet shuffled from side to side, she could swear she felt Dooley’s wiry arm wrapped around her waist and his warm breath in her ear as he whispered, “I love you, dumpling.”
Thirty-Nine
“The Last Word in Lonesome Is Me “
~ Selection H-4 in the jukebox of the Chat ‘N’ Chew
It had been several days since Dooley’s funeral and a pall hung over the Bottom Dollar Emporium. Mavis never saw Attalee cry, but each morning her friend came to work pink-eyed and subdued. During the day, she would stand behind the soda fountain with a dishtowel, drying the same petal-lipped glass over and over. Mavis had to call her name more than once before she’d snap out of her daydream.
Mavis was also feeling morose lately, but for a different reason. She checked the inbox in her computer several times each day, but there was never a return email from Hank. Her cheeks burned with shame every time she thought of the brazen email she’d sent him the night of Attalee’s bachelorette party. How could she have been so free with her emotions? Either Hank didn’t return her ardor or she’d scared him off for good.
Mavis’s evenings were as lonely as ever. A grief-stricken Attalee always went home immediately after work, and Birdie had been stepping out most nights with Morty Ames. Then, to make matters worse, Mavis had run into Courtney Cooper, the real-estate agent, who’d given her some disturbing news about Brewster.
“He eloped with that woman, Prissy Stevens, right after the reunion, and they’re living together in New York City,” Courtney had said. “Brewster’s hired me to handle everything with the sale of his aunt’s house, because he’s not coming back to Cayboo Creek. When I went to inspect the property, I found some obituary notices he’d left behind in his bedroom about Prissy’s husband, who died a year ago. Guess he’s had his sights set on Prissy for a while.”
Mavis had always suspected that Brew had used her to plan the reunion so he could hook up with Prissy, but it didn’t help her sour mood any to have it confirmed.
One evening, just as Mavis was turning out all the lights in preparation to close the store, Mrs. Tobias came in.
“Hey, Mrs. Tobias. I mean Mrs. Williams. I mean Gracie,” Mavis said, tapping her temple as if to jar loose the correct information. “How was your honeymoon?”
“Delightful. I got back late yesterday afternoon.” Mrs. Tobias glanced around the store. “Where’s Attalee? I want to tell her all about South of the Border. We took rolls and rolls of photographs.”
“It was real decent of you and Rusty to go there. I know you did it for Attalee,” Mavis said in a low voice. “I’m sure South of the Border wouldn’t have been your choice as a honeymoon spot.”
“It was more fun than I’d expected. Rusty and I kept imagining it through Attalee’s eyes,” Mrs. Tobias said. “And it would have been a pity to waste all those arrangements.” She looked in the direction of the soda fountain. “Where is Attalee? Are the two of you ready to go?”
“She’s in the back hanging up her uniform.” Mavis frowned. “And where are we supposed to be going?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten Glenda’s first birthday party?” Mrs. Tobias said.
Mavis pressed her hand against her cheek in distress. “Heavens to Betsy. I surely did. It’s just been so crazy around here, what with the funeral and—thank heavens I bought a present for Glenda ages ago. I’ve got it in the back.”
She strode to the stockroom and called out to her friend. “Attalee! We almost forgot. Glenda is having her first birthday party tonight.”
Attalee stepped out of the back room, her thin shoulders sagging as she hobbled toward them. For the first time ever, she carried herself like the octogenarian she was.
“Y’all go on without me.” Her fingers fumbled to fasten the top button of her thin cotton coat.
“Elizabeth will be so disappointed,” Mavis said.
“
She’ll understand,” Attalee said, refusing to meet her eyes.
“Oh dear,” Mrs. Tobias said, dramatically wringing her hands. “I guess those presents Rusty and I brought back for you will just have to wait.”
“Presents?” Attalee said, a flicker of interest registering in her eye.
“Yes. Lots of them!” Mrs. Tobias said. “A whole bag full. Rusty and I got you a souvenir everywhere we stopped, and we took so many pictures. We wanted you to feel like you’d been right there with us the entire trip.”
“Did you get a shot of the Great White fiberglass shark?” Attalee asked softly. “The biggest one in the world? They mentioned it in the brochure.”
“Of course!” Mrs. Tobias said. “And a panoramic shot of the sun setting on the sombrero tower.”
“I bet that was just breathtaking.” Attalee fidgeted with the sleeve of her coat, and she cleared her throat. “Well, maybe I could go for a little while. I’d hate to seem ungrateful.”
“Lovely!” Mrs. Tobias said. “Let’s all pile into my Caddie. Rusty will be meeting us there.”
Mavis retrieved her present from the stockroom and locked the front door. Then the three women climbed into the car, and Mrs. Tobias took a right turn out of the parking lot of the Bottom Dollar Emporium.
“Where are you going, Gracie? Elizabeth’s house is to the left,” Mavis said as she adjusted her seat belt.
“We’re not going to Elizabeth’s house, remember?” Mrs. Tobias said. “The invitation instructed us to go to her grandmother’s old house in Dogwood Village.”
“That’s right,” Mavis said. “I guess this all has to do with Elizabeth’s big surprise.”
After a few minutes, they arrived at their destination. Several cars were already parked in the yard, and a large, colorful sign was erected near the door.
“A Place for Us,” Mrs. Tobias said, reading it aloud. There was a painting of a mother and a small child walking hand-in-hand. “That Elizabeth. I wonder what she’s up to now.”
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