The trio emerged from the car, arms loaded with presents for Glenda. A smiling Chiffon met them at the door and snapped their pictures as they walked inside.
“I’m the official photographer for this event,” Chiffon said. “Wait until you see what Elizabeth’s done in such a short time.”
They entered the front room, painted in bright primary colors. A long table was set up for a birthday party, and helium balloons in all colors of the rainbow were tied to each cane-backed chair. Laid out on the table was a pink-and-white frosted sheet cake with icing script that said “Happy Birthday, Glenda!” Elizabeth stood in the middle of the room surrounded by a group of well-wishers. When she spotted her friends, she bounded toward them.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Put your packages down. I can’t wait to show you around.”
The women stacked their gifts on a chair and glanced about the room with wonder.
“How charming!” Mrs. Tobias noticed a watercolor mural on one wall depicting a group of youngsters playing in a park. “What’s this all about, Elizabeth?”
“It’s a place for children and their parents,” Elizabeth explained. “This is the birthday room. Parents can rent it out for parties, and I’ll help them with all the decorations and games. It’s an alternative to those overpriced, noisy parties at pizza restaurants and arcades.”
“I’ve already reserved this room for Gabby’s birthday party in two months,” Chiffon said as she snapped pictures of the group. “No more Mozzarella Monkey for me.”
“I’m going to offer packages with themes like dress-up tea parties for girls or space blast-off parties for boys. It will be an old-fashioned kind of fun,” Elizabeth explained.
“Did you tell them about the meeting room?” Chiffon asked.
“I’m getting to that. Follow me.” Elizabeth led them through the hall and stood by an open bedroom door.
“Meemaw’s old bedroom will be used for Mommy Time meetings or informal gatherings of mothers so they won’t feel so isolated during the day,” Elizabeth explained. “For a small membership fee, moms can drop in for coffee and cookies or a little chat and bring their children along.”
The room had been painted a restful light blue, and sunlight poured in through the large window looking out to a backyard with a tire swing. There was a mishmash of comfortable seating places: two big-bottomed wicker chairs with daisy-patterned cushions, a low-slung Victorian love seat, and several overstuffed armchairs. A stack of magazines and a squat, red vase filled with fresh white tulips graced a long, wooden coffee table.
“If a mother is really feeling stir-crazy she can drop off her child for up to three hours for a few dollars extra,” Elizabeth said.
She led them to a bedroom across the hall that had been set up for children. Framed nursery-rhyme characters of Little Bo Peep and Jack and Jill hung from the walls and an assortment of clear bins stored toys and books. Several sleeping mats were stacked in a corner, and a small portable crib was set up by the window.
“In the kitchen I’ve got coffee, of course, and snacks, but Meemaw’s old table can be used for crafts like scrapbooking,” Elizabeth explained. “Later, I might hire some people to give art lessons or teach baby massage classes. There’s so many possibilities.”
Timothy had joined the group of women by this time and was holding Glenda, who was decked out in a pink taffeta party dress. “Isn’t this a great idea? My wife’s a genius,” Timothy said.
“I don’t know about that.” Elizabeth took Glenda from his arms. “But it’s been the perfect compromise career-wise. I’m able to take my daughter to work with me to a place I’ll know she’ll enjoy. And I’ve found a job that excites me. I’m just bursting over with ideas.”
“You can take the girl out of the business, but you can’t take the business out of the girl.” Mavis hugged Elizabeth. “You’ve done it again.”
“Yes, indeed, you have,” Mrs. Tobias said, joining her in the embrace.
“Good going, gal.” Attalee eyed the presents on the chair. “You think we can get this party on the road?”
Taffy and Dwayne came in carrying a giant stuffed panda, and Daisy Hollingsworth arrived with a small wrapped box from Tiffany’s. Birdie scooted in late—the city council meeting she’d been covering ran over—but she’d brought Glenda a wooden rocking horse with a yarn mane.
After everyone at the party had arrived, including Rusty, and they’d been given a personal tour of “A Place for Us,” cake and soda were served in the birthday room.
Glenda was treated to a miniature cake of her own, which she promptly dived into headfirst, much to the delight of her parents, as well as Chiffon, who was capturing every sticky moment with her camera.
Attalee, who was finally allowed to open her gifts, couldn’t get over the loot she’d received from South of the Border. Among her presents were three different kinds of back scratchers, a snow globe, a shot glass filled with seashells, and a t-shirt that said “My friends went to South of the Border, and all I got was this stupid t-shirt.”
Additionally, Mrs. Tobias had prepared a photo album for Attalee of all the attractions she and Rusty had visited. In every photo, either Rusty or Mrs. Tobias held up a hand-lettered sign saying “Wish you were here, Attalee.”
“I ain’t never in my life seen nothing as nice as this.” Attalee hugged the album to her chest. “I’m much obliged.”
The party broke up shortly afterward, since the guest of honor was getting cranky and needed a diaper change. Mrs. Tobias dropped Mavis and Attalee off at the Bottom Dollar Emporium.
“Where have you decided to live?” Mavis asked Mrs. Tobias as she helped Attalee gather up her gifts from the backseat of the car.
“I’m living like a gypsy,” Mrs. Tobias said. “Currently we’re staying at Rusty’s house. I’m putting my house in Augusta up for sale, and hopefully we’ll find a suitable lot here in Cayboo Creek to build our new home.”
“It’ll be such a treat to have you so close by,” Mavis said as she climbed out of the car.
Mrs. Tobias’s smile was visible in the weak green light of the dash. “My life is here in Cayboo Creek now.”
Mavis and Attalee waved good-bye as Mrs. Tobias put her Caddie into reverse, and then Mavis helped Attalee to her car.
“Endings are hard, and they don’t get any easier no matter how old you are,” Attalee said as she loaded her trunk with her gifts. “I felt like my world ended when Dooley died. It does my heart good to see all the beginnings going on in other folks’ lives.”
“Like Elizabeth and her business. Or Rusty and Mrs. Tobias,” Mavis said.
“And that little young’un turning one year old,” Attalee said. “She’s got a heap of beginnings to look forward to.”
Mavis kissed Attalee’s cheek. “So do you, dearie. You just wait and see.”
She waited until her friend had gotten safely into her car. As Mavis headed for her own vehicle, she noticed a light left on over the soda fountain.
I thought I’d turned them all off, she thought as she unlocked the front door of the Bottom Dollar Emporium. Striding to the back, she passed her office door and her eye caught the blue glow of her computer monitor.
It’s been over a week since the reunion, she chided herself. There’s not going to be any mail from Hank. Not today, not tomorrow, maybe not ever.
Still, she couldn’t stop herself from checking. She wondered when she’d finally give up on him. Mavis signed on to the computer and heard the familiar AOL voice say, “You’ve got mail.”
Right, Mavis thought. Probably just some of that silly spam she occasionally received. She’d likely open her inbox and find an email from a mortgage refinancing company or a firm peddling Viagra. It couldn’t be Hank. Not after all this time.
Mavis held her breath as she clicked on the box
, preparing to feel disappointment. Instead, her heart jumped when she saw an email from HardwareMan38.
Hi Mavis. When I got home from Cayboo Creek my computer had crashed, and I just retrieved your email today. I, too, had a fine time at the reunion.
Best,
Hank
P.S. I can’t stop thinking about you either. What do you think we should do about it?
Mavis read the email several times just for the sheer pleasure of it. He can’t stop thinking about me, she thought over and over. His ending sentence, “What do you think we should do about it?” was the most exciting one of all. His words held the promise of some sort of future between the two of them. Maybe he was thinking of moving back to Cayboo Creek, or maybe he was willing to pursue a long-distance relationship for a while.
Mavis sat at her desk and eagerly typed a reply:
Dear Hank,
So good to hear from you again. I don’t know what we should do, but whatever it is, I hope I will see you again very soon.
Fondly, Mavis
She hit the send button and sighed, knowing for certain that this time, her response would be warmly welcomed. She didn’t know what was going to happen between her and Hank, but through the courtesy of their computers, they were planting the seeds for their future.
How wonderful, Mavis thought, as she printed out Hank’s email so she could continue to marvel over it when she got home. It looked like she was getting her own beginning.
About the Author
Karin Gillespie is national bestselling author of five novels and a humor columnist for Augusta Magazine. Her nonfiction writing had been in the New York Times, The Writer Magazine and Romantic Times. She maintains a website and blog at Karingillespie.net. Sign up for her newsletter on her website, follow her on Twitter or connect with her on Facebook.
In Case You Missed the 1st Book in the Series
BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR
Karin Gillespie
The Bottom Dollar Series (#1)
(From the Henery Press Chick Lit Collection)
Welcome to the Bottom Dollar Emporium in Cayboo Creek, South Carolina, where everything from coconut mallow cookies to Clabber Girl Baking Powder costs a dollar but the coffee and gossip are free. For the Bottom Dollar gals, work time is sisterhood time.
When news gets out that a corporate dollar store is coming to town, the women are thrown into a tizzy, hoping to save their beloved store as well their friendships. Meanwhile the manager is canoodling with the town’s wealthiest bachelor and their romance unearths some startling family secrets.
The first in a series, Bet Your Bottom Dollar serves up a heaping portion of small town Southern life and introduces readers to a cast of eccentric characters. Pull up a wicker chair, set out a tall glass of Cheer Wine, and immerse yourself in the adventures of a group of women whom the Atlanta Journal Constitution calls, “… the kind of steel magnolias who would make Scarlett O’Hara envious.”
Read all about it at www.henerypress.com
In Case You Missed the 2nd Book in the Series
A DOLLAR SHORT
Karin Gillespie
A Bottom Dollar Novel (#2)
It isn’t every day a movie star steals your husband. When that day comes for Chiffon Butrell of Cayboo Creek South Carolina, she looks to the Bottom Dollar Girls to help her out of one fine mess.
Husband Lonnie has run out to Hollywood and holes up with famous star Janie-Lynn Lauren. He’s left behind Chiffon, her three children and a very tiny bank account. Chiffon breaks her ankle and has to rely on her estranged sister Chenille to lend a hand.
When the tabloid media gets wind of her husband’s torrid romance, sleepy Cayboo Creek lands on the star map. Under the glare of camera lights, the two sisters must put aside longtime grievances to forge a newfound relationship. Meanwhile the rest of the gang is cooking up a questionable scheme to raise money for the senior center.
The Bottom Dollar Girls are back and in fine form in this hilarious sequel to Bet Your Bottom Dollar.
Read all about it at www.henerypress.com
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Armed with moxie and her Mini Coop, Elliott uncovers a trail of blackmail schemes, gambling debts, illicit affairs, and investment scams. But the deeper she digs to clear Jane’s name, the guiltier Jane looks. The closer she gets to the truth, the more treacherous her investigation becomes. With victims piling up faster than shells at a clambake, Elliott realizes she’s next on the killer’s list.
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THE DEEP END
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A Country Club Murders Mystery
Swimming into the lifeless body of her husband’s mistress tends to ruin a woman’s day, but becoming a murder suspect can ruin her whole life.
It’s 1974 and Ellison Russell’s life revolves around her daughter and her art. She’s long since stopped caring about her cheating husband, Henry, and the women with whom he entertains himself. That is, until she becomes a suspect in Madeline Harper’s death. The murder forces Ellison to confront her husband’s proclivities and his crimes—kinky sex, petty cruelties and blackmail.
As the body count approaches par on the seventh hole, Ellison knows she has to catch a killer. But with an interfering mother, an adoring father, a teenage daughter, and a cadre of well-meaning friends demanding her attention, can Ellison find the killer before he finds her?
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Gillespie, Karin, Dollar Daze
Dollar Daze Page 25