Women of Washington Avenue

by Linda Apple

  Molly Kate bustled through a curtain hanging behind the counter holding a tray of scones. The door jingled when another customer entered. She looked up and immediately locked eyes with me.

  “Lord’a mercy, it’s Avalee.” She shoved the tray at one of the girls, scooted around the counter, and dashed toward me. “You’re home. I can’t believe it.”

  The crowded room fell silent, and all eyes watched as we grabbed each other in a bear hug. Molly waved her hand around the room, “Y’all can go back to talking now.” Then she stepped back. “When did you get home?”

  “Late yesterday.”

  “I had no idea you were home. Miss Cladie didn’t say a word about your coming.”

  “No, she wanted it to be just us for an evening.”

  Molly nodded her head. “And she didn’t want to appear rude by not inviting us over. I understand. Just like her.” She folded her arms and surveyed me up and down. “You are still as cute as a bug. Do folks not age in New York?”

  “Oh, we age, but we also have our secrets.”

  Molly Kate had always been the beautiful one in our little trio. Her jet-black hair, huge bosom, and green cat-like eyes gave many a young man whiplash. Time had been kind to her. Only hints of gray tinged her temples. Even though she’d gained weight, her ample figure was still curvy. And those eyes. Their intimidating gaze could still unnerve the most formidable deputy in the county.

  “How long are you home for?”

  “I’ve moved home. Permanently. I think.”

  “Really?” She clapped her hands and pulled me into another hug. “Find a place to sit. I’ll bring us some coffee and scones.”

  Before I could say I’d already had breakfast, she’d disappeared in the crowd. A couple sitting at a table by the door stood to leave, so I weaved my way over and claimed it. The bell jingling on the door didn’t stop. Customers beginning their day with coffee passed others leaving with coffee drinks and sacks of pastries. Molly’s passion for baking had truly paid off.

  “Here we are.” Molly set our coffee and scones on the table then sat across from me. “Well, what do you think of all the changes?”

  “I’m surprised to say the least. Momma told me about it last night.”

  “Girl, I tell you, it has saved this town. I thought I was going to have to close shop and move to Tupelo. But when Sid Campbell was elected mayor, he said he was going to reinvent Moonlight.” She ripped open three sugar packets and dumped them in her coffee. “Then he came home from vacation and announced that Moonlight would be the most romantic tourist spot in the country, what with the lake and all.” She buttered her scone and held it in front of her mouth. “And I have to say, they did a pretty good job.” She bit the corner off and closed her eyes. “I love these things.”

  “They look delicious.” There was no mistaking it. The universe plotted against my waistline. I put a yellow pack of sweetener in my coffee and took a sip. “What about all these boutiques and gift shops. Who in Moonlight had the capital or inclination to open businesses like these?”

  “The word is—” Molly broke off another piece of scone and dipped it in her coffee. “—that the town council purchased ads in newspapers on the east and west coasts. And they sent delegations to artsy-type cities and somehow put the word out about the new opportunities in Moonlight. Before I knew it, people were opening up businesses all over the square. That’s when I realized I’d better get my rear in gear and grab this shop before someone else snatched it up.” She popped the coffee-soaked scone in her mouth.

  “Who is in your old place?”

  “Southern Charm Antiques. A darling store. They sell furniture from antebellum estate sales. They have serving pieces and dishes. Jewelry, too. I love to prowl around in it. We have people opening businesses here from North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. We even have a couple of Yankees. I used to give them a free cookie when they said y’all. Now they say it all the time.”

  “Well, it is a catchy word.”

  With an impish smile she said, “Then you say it.”

  “What?”

  “Prove to me that New York hasn’t changed you. Say y’all.”

  Her words kinda stung. I hadn’t forgotten my roots. However, in all honesty, when I first moved to the city, I had made a conscious effort to avoid saying y’all or fixin to or phrases like cut the light off. I pinched off a piece of scone. “Y’all sure make good pastries.” And then crammed it in my mouth.

  Molly Kate put her hand on my arm. “Welcome home, sugar.”

  The scone tasted divine. It truly was a taste of heaven, even to my full stomach. The bell jingled—again. I glanced at the door over the rim of my coffee cup. The sight of the man who stepped in made every muscle in my body freeze. Marc? No. It couldn’t be. I was there at his funeral. I saw him in his casket.

  “Avalee? Honey? What’s wrong?” Molly Kate followed my stare. “Oh.” Her voice softened as she reached across the table and patted my arm. “He looks just like Marc, doesn’t he?”

  My eyes burned. “Who is he?”

  “That’s Marc’s brother Ty. Don’t you remember him?”

  “Yes. But. I mean. He’s so...” My thoughts were like a train wreck. “I babysat Ty when he was four. He was only ten at the funeral. That was the last time I saw him.” I blinked back tears. He looked exactly like Marc. The same brown puppy-dog eyes fringed with thick lashes. The same unruly brown hair. The same irrepressible smile.

  He waved and strode over. “Avalee? When did you get home?” He pulled me from my seat into a hug. His delicious cologne enveloped me. I didn’t recognize the brand, but it was fabulous. He stepped back. “Wow. You look great.”

  Dumbfounded didn’t even come close to my emotional condition. Where were my words? I managed to stammer out, “It’s good to see you, Ty. How are your parents?”

  “Still kicking.” He smiled and held his finger up. “Hey, I gotta go. Sorry, but I’m the coffee gofer today. When can we get together and catch up? Are you staying with your mom?”

  “Yes, for a while anyway.”

  “Great, may I come by?”

  My thoughts crashed together rendering me speechless again. When could he come by? Should he come by? Why does he want to come by? “Sure.”

  “What am I, Ty? A moldy scone?” Molly Kate arched her eyebrow.

  “Sorry, MK.” He bent over and kissed the top of her head. “You are much better than a moldy scone. Why, I’d put you right up there with fried catfish.”

  She slapped his incredibly cute rear. Cute rear? Did I actually just think that? What was wrong with me?

  He winked before turning and making his way to the counter. Molly’s mini-me’s blushed and fell all over each other trying to be the first to serve him.

  I needed to rein in my emotions. I swallowed hard and diverted my attention to small talk. “Molly, are those girls related to you?”

  “Yes, they are my granddarlings. Carli’s girls, Lacy and Cherrell.”

  “I can’t believe Carli is old enough to have teenagers. She was a little thing when I saw her last.”

  “I know. It doesn’t seem right to me either. But, then again, I still feel twenty-five. That is until I stoop to the floor to feed my cat, Gypsy, and try to stand up again.” She stirred her coffee and blew the steam before taking a sip. “They’re twins, sixteen. I let them help out when school is out.”

  “Looks like they do a good job.”

  “Yeah, they do until a cute guy comes in. And that fellow at the counter is definitely cute.”

  Ty got his order and turned to leave. When he passed us he raised his coffee tray. “See you gals later.”

  I waved. “He looks just like Marc.” My eyes stung and I tore my gaze from him and stared down in my cup. “It’s like I’ve seen a ghost.”

  Molly reached across the table and took my hand. “Honey, does it still hurt that bad? It’s been over thirty-five years.”

  How could I explain it to her? The old adage
was true. Guilt was the gift that kept giving. It grew like a tumor, and I desperately wanted to rid myself of that cancer, but I couldn’t. I didn’t have the courage. “It’s just a shock to see him looking so much like his brother.”

  “You’ll be fine, sugar. After a while, you’ll get used to seeing him.”

  Daubing my eyes with a tissue, I attempted a smile. “Yes, I’m sure I’ll be fine. It was just a shock, you know?”

  “I do, sweetie. Listen, I hate to leave you like this, but I best be getting back to baking bread for the lunch crowd. Mind if I come over tonight? I’m sure Lexi will want to come over too after Ty tells her you are home.”

  “Are they friends?”

  “They work together at the newspaper. She is a writer there. She even has her own column called ‘Moonlight Madness.’ It is for women over fifty and all the frustrations we deal with. It’s usually pretty funny, with a cynical bite.”

  “Sounds like her. What does Ty do there?”

  “He’s their photographer.” Molly Kate stood and stacked our dishes. “And his parents absolutely hate it. They wanted him to follow in Marc’s footsteps and go to medical school. The whole thing is sort of macabre. It’s as if they tried to continue Marc’s life through Ty.”

  “Maybe because they favor so much?”

  “Maybe. But Ty is a free spirit, and he followed his passion. I admire him for that.” Patting my arm she said, “We’ll talk more tonight. Tell Miss Cladie to set two more places for supper.”

  “I’m sure she already has.”

  “Tell her I’ll bring rolls. Love you, girl.”

  “Love you, too.”

  After a little wave, she turned and headed to the kitchen. When I stood, inertia glued my shoes to the floor. I couldn’t move or think. I wanted to—no—I needed to talk to Marc. If only symbolically. My feet found freedom, and I paced to the door, pushed it open, and hurried down Silver Light Drive to the cemetery.

  Chapter 4

  JEMA

  Mystery

  Cladie Mae’s screen door slammed. I looked up from the newspaper and glanced out the window at her house across the street. Old habit. Since her husband’s death, I kept a close eye on her. It was the very least thing I could do. After Ray died she was my salvation. Cladie was like my second mother.

  This time every morning, she busied herself with the daily ritual of sweeping the porch whether it needed it or not. More than likely, this was her way of nonchalantly checking on her neighbors since her porch wrapped around two sides of her house. The front part faced me. The side faced Pearly, and it also gave her a good view of Molly Kate’s down the road. Just can’t take the mother hen out of her. I’m thankful for that. I noticed she had her rag thrown across her shoulder to mop her face. No telling how early she went to work in her garden.

  Since Cladie was always up for a visit, I decided to walk over. After all, it would be a shame to sit alone on such a beautiful morning. Besides, I wanted to see how Ava was feeling. Secretly, I also hoped Cladie Mae had baked a treat. Like I needed it. Oh well, who was there to impress these days? In a word, nobody. I folded the paper and carried my cup to the sink.

  When my door banged, Cladie Mae looked up from her sweeping and waved. “Get yourself over here. I’ll make coffee.”

  “I hoped you’d offer.” I trotted across the street admiring her huge azaleas. She had pink, purple, and white bushes all grouped together around her porch. At the corner of her house were the biggest elephant ears I had ever seen.

  This little lady had an ever green thumb to be sure. But what said the most about my neighbor was her yard art. I could spend the day looking at her little concrete figurines, whimsical birdbaths, hummingbird feeders, and the ceramic squirrels hanging on her tree trunks. All revealed the fun spirit of this charming lady.

  “You just missed Avalee. She went to Molly Kate’s this morning.”

  “Oh poo. I was hoping to visit with her, too. How is she feeling?”

  Cladie wiped her face. “Feeling?”

  “She stopped by the store for some headache medicine yesterday.”

  “Oh, yes. She said something about that. I don’t know why she won’t take my powders.”

  “I don’t think she likes those powders, Cladie Mae.” I looped my arm around hers. “Do you have anything to go with the coffee?”

  “I sure do. I have a whole pan full of biscuits. I’ll butter them up and toast them. And I just opened a jar of fig preserves.”

  “Sounds yummy.” I led her to the door.

  “I’m glad you have an appetite. Avalee doesn’t eat enough to keep a bird alive.”

  “Well, she’s young. When she gets my age, she’ll give in to her calorie phobia. I know I have. I call it surrender eating.”

  Cladie cocked her head. “How old are you?”

  “Fifty-seven.” I held the door open.

  “Well, she isn’t that far behind you. She’s fifty-five.”

  I stopped in my tracks. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “No. Not kidding. She’s fifty-five. I was there you know. How well I remember.”

  “I could have sworn she was in her forties. What’s her secret?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. She’s always had a baby face. And I don’t doubt she uses some pretty expensive stuff to keep young.” She slapped my bottom. “Now hurry. There’s a biscuit in the kitchen with your name on it.”

  While Cladie Mae made the coffee, I ambled over to my favorite spot in her kitchen: a drop-leaf table with chairs on either side. Small plaster of Paris fruits and vegetables she had crafted during the winter months, when there wasn’t any gardening to do, hung on the wall. Little ceramic figurines of Siamese cats sat on her windowsill above her sink. One had tiny kittens following it, each linked by a gold chain. Her same fun spirit showed inside her home as well.

  “Here you are.” She set my coffee and the biscuits on the table. “I put one sugar, one yellow pack, and a splash of cream in your coffee. Did I get it right?”

  “Yes ma’am, you sure did.”

  She sat across from me and put three biscuits on my plate. “Now eat all you want. I have plenty.”

  I started to protest, but didn’t because I knew I’d eat every bite. She had two pots of something cooking on the stove and the fragrance of bay leaves radiated from the oven. “What’s for supper?”

  “Crowder peas, mashed potatoes, and a pork roast is in the oven. Want to come for supper tonight?”

  “Of course.” I grinned and spooned fig preserves on my bread.

  “You didn’t ask what was for dessert, and I know how you love sweets.”

  “Okay, what’s for dessert?”

  “Four-layer delight.” She leaned over and whispered, “Lexi calls it better than sex.”

  “Better than sex? Wow. It’s been a long time. I can’t wait. What does it have in it? Or do I want to know?”

  “Oh, honey. It’s gooood. It’ll make you want to stand up and sing in church. You start with a pecan shortbread crust and on that you layer a mixture of cream cheese and whipped cream, then add a layer of chocolate pudding, and top it off with more whipped cream.”

  “If I’m a good girl and eat all my supper, can I have two servings? Like I said, it’s been a long time.”

  Obviously pleased, she grinned and handed me another biscuit. “Yes, ma’am. You sure can.”

  To save calories, I decided against the preserves. “How long is Avalee going to be with us?”

  Cladie finished her coffee and set the cup down. “She’s moved home.”

  “For good?” I surrendered and reached for the preserves.

  “I believe so. I needed her to help me sort out this zoning mess and to keep me from having to close my business. She’s got such a good head on her shoulders. She’s a lot like her father when it comes to such things.”

  “Is she good friends with Molly Kate?”

  “Lord, yes. They were thick as thieves growing up. Them and Lexi.”
r />   “Did they all grow up on Washington Avenue?”

  “No, but close by. Back when they were little, we never worried about them walking alone several blocks to play.” Cladie Mae got a far-off look in her eye. “How I miss those days.” She shook her head. “Anyway, when the town started growing and new subdivisions were developed, people moved from old neighborhoods like this one. That’s when Molly and Lexi bought their homes here. I heard they got good deals.”

  “They are wonderful neighbors. All of you are. Only I really haven’t gotten to know them very well.”

  Cladie stood. “Well, now that Avalee is home, I have a feeling that will change.” She patted my hand. “I can’t believe it. I have all my girls together on the same street.” Cladie met my gaze. “And I mean all of my girls.” She took my cup. “More coffee?”

  “Please. And thank you for your encouragement. I kinda feel awkward insinuating myself in their friendship.”

  She slapped the air in front of her. “Pshaw. Let me tell you something. You girls will blend like soft butter and sugar. You were all meant to be friends.”

  “What were they like as children?”

  “Well...” She thought while filling my cup and then hers. She returned the carafe to the coffeemaker and took her seat. “Avalee was the most cautious. She watched the world through her huge blue eyes without saying much. Like a sponge, she absorbed other people’s pain. And she always felt like things were her fault, even though they weren’t. Lexi was the one who thought up the wildest ideas. Got those girls in worlds of trouble. She was constantly in motion. A hard one to pin down. And she still is, come to think of it. Now Molly Kate? She always needed attention. She had an older and a younger sister, which put her smack dab in the middle. This made her more competitive. She worked harder for recognition than anyone I have ever known. When she was in twelfth grade, that girl pulled a stunt that finally gave her all the attention she wanted, plus some.”

  “What did she do?”

  “She ran away with a boy she barely knew and got married.”

  “Shut up your mouth. Really?”

  “Yes, honey, it’s the Lord’s truth. They ran off. Then they went back home the same day and told their parents. Of course, everyone threw a hissy fit. She told them the marriage hadn’t been consummated and even though they knew it wasn’t legal, their parents marched those kids’ butts to the courthouse to have it annulled, just in case. The boy had somehow drawn up fake papers and such. I can’t really remember all the particulars.”