Women of Washington Avenue

by Linda Apple

  “Is...?” Stan flushed. “Is it still all right for us to marry on Saturday?”

  “I don’t see why not. But try and protect her from stress. Make sure she gets a lot of rest.”

  He hung his head, breathed out, then looked back at the doctor. “When can I see her?”

  “You can see her now.” The doctor stood. “But don’t stay too long. She needs to rest.”

  Stan nodded and motioned for Carli. They followed the doc out of the room. When they were out of sight, Jema, Lexi, and I stared at each other, took each other’s hands and laced our fingers together. Life was so unsure. No one is guaranteed another hour—another second. I resolved that from now on everyone I loved would know it.

  Chapter 22

  MOLLY KATE

  Understanding

  Carli came in with the nurse and rushed to my side. “Mom, how do you feel?”

  “I’m fine baby. Don’t worry.”

  She smiled through tears. “You’ll do anything for attention, won’t you?”

  “You know me well, dear.”

  The nurse uncapped a tube connected to my IV bag. Carli watched her. “What’s that?”

  “Something to help your mother rest. Don’t stay too long, all right?”

  “I won’t.” Carli leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Stan is in the hall, falling apart I might add. I’ll go get him before you drift off. I love you.”

  “Love you too, baby.”

  The monitors beeped and whooshed while I thought about my encounter with Stan’s son. I wondered how he’d react to his son’s behavior. Or if he’d react? What if he just blew it off? Could I live with that? On the other hand, what if he was livid? Ready to disown him? Could I live with that? And what about this son? There had to be more to his outrage than money. Something deep down in the boy troubled him, I felt it. If money were the reason for his outburst, which would amount to nothing more than unadulterated greed, then his son’s behavior was truly tragic. Especially for Stan. But there was pain in his eyes. Yes, there was more to this story. A lot more.

  The door cracked, and Stan peeped in. “Molly Kate? Honey? Are you awake?”

  “Hi, babe.” The poor man looked like he’d wrestled with an alligator and lost.

  He rushed in and leaned over the bed kissing me over and over. His red-rimmed eyes filling. “I thought I had lost you.” He picked up my hand and kissed it. “I’m so sorry about my son. He had no right…”

  “Stan. It’s okay. I’m okay.”

  “He will never—”

  “—No, Stan. Don’t make any decisions now. Not while you are upset.” I started feeling woozy. “We do need to talk about your Stanley, but later, okay? The nurse put something in my IV, and I’m getting so sleepy.”

  “Good. You need your rest.” He stood and began to fuss with my covers. “I’ll stay right here.”

  “No, hon. Go find your boy. Talk to him. I have an inkling there is more to this outburst than our marrying. Some kind of root is feeding his anger. What happened today is only the fruit.”

  “I don’t know if I can talk to him right now.”

  My eyelids grew heavy, but I managed to murmur, “You can. I know you can.” Sleep pulled me toward a deep, peaceful hole, and I gave in to it.

  ****

  Soft light filtered through my fluttering eyes. Where am I? This wasn’t my room. And what did I smell? Kinda antiseptic-like.

  Stan took my hand. “Hi, baby. How do you feel?”

  It all came back to me. I was in the hospital with a stunned heart. “Good, I think.” Shifting in the bed, I tried to sit up. “When can I go home? There’s so much to do.”

  “The doc says you have to stay a couple of days so they can watch you.”

  “A couple? But the wedding is in a three days. There’s no time. Besides, I don’t like it here. The beds are uncomfortable, and the food is awful.”

  “What’s wrong with it?”

  “There isn’t enough salt and fat in it.”

  “I can take care of that. I’ll see what I can sneak in.”

  “Good.” I grinned. “You don’t want me losing weight. My dress won’t fit as good.”

  “Don’t worry, babe. I plan to have you out of your dress as soon as decently possible.”

  “Can we get married right now then?”

  He smiled. “You are feeling better.”

  I sensed a change in him. He seemed at peace, and it made me wonder if he’d worked things out with his son. “Did you talk to Stanley?”

  His expression softened. Another good sign.

  “Yes. We spent the afternoon together. And you were right. There is a lot going wrong in his life, and our marriage was the proverbial straw. I’m just sorry he took it out on you.”

  He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I should have known something like this would happen. When I went home to meet with the developer and work a deal on the property, I decided to call Stanley and tell him all my news. Knowing him and his easy-going ways, I expected him to say, ‘that’s great, Dad.’ So I told him about selling the farm, about us getting married, and that we’d bought a house.” Stan stared out the window and shrugged. “All hell broke loose instead. You would have thought I had sacrificed his oldest child. He started yelling so loud and talking so fast I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.” He turned his attention back to me. “You know, Molly Kate, neither of my boys have hardly stepped foot on the farm since their mother died. Thanksgiving and Christmas were about it. Sometimes not even then. They were never interested in the changes I wanted to make or offered to help out in any way. So, I said to him, ‘If this outburst is about the money, you needn’t worry. I’ve already made provisions for a generous inheritance for both you and your brother.’ He wasn’t satisfied. Then he started in on you. He wanted to know about you, how old you were, if we were sleeping together, and if you were pregnant.”

  I burst out laughing. “Oh babe, I know it wasn’t funny at the time, but pregnant?” The very image made it hard to suppress my laughter.

  “Yep. Pregnant. He said I was acting like an old fool, and he would do everything in his power to stop me from making the biggest mistake of my life.”

  “Well, that explains it.”

  “What?”

  “His surprise when he saw a fat old woman named Molly Kate Fairchild. He was flabbergasted at first. But it didn’t take long for him recover and think of new threats.”

  “The way he was acting on the phone, I had a feeling something like this would happen, so I warned him to leave you out of this, and if he disrespected you in any way, there would be no inheritance.”

  “But you can’t do that.”

  “Oh, I could. But I won’t. Molly Kate, you were right. His behavior today was so unlike him. After we had a couple of beers, he told me his wife had left him for an older man, a wealthy older man, I might add. She even left the kids.”

  “Left her own children?”

  He nodded. “Then a few days later, I told him I was selling the farm and getting married. To his way of thinking, he was getting it from both ends, an older man stealing his wife, a younger woman stealing his father and inheritance.”

  I took Stan’s hand. “Poor guy. I can see why he reacted the way he did.”

  “And babe, he is so ashamed. His anger and hurt fueled his words, but when he saw the medics carrying you out of the house, he told me he thought of his mother and how he would have beat anyone to a pulp if they had talked to his mother the way he had talked to you.”

  “Well, then, there’s hope yet.”

  His brow creased and he pushed his smile up one cheek. “What are you hoping?”

  “That one day he will love me like a mother.”

  “Molly, I don’t know of anyone who couldn’t love you.” He placed his hands on either side of my face, “I sure do,” and then he kissed me.

  My soul did cartwheels. Saturday couldn’t come soon enough.

  Chapter 23

  TH
E WEDDING

  Ever After

  Molly

  For my wedding day, the good Lord blessed me with sunny blue skies, fifty-degree temperatures, and the promise of a starlit night for the evening reception. Poor Stan worried over me and treated me as if I were a delicate China doll. I loved it. However, I warned him he better get over this fear of my fragility by bedtime, because I expected action. Lots of action. In fact, I had him get some of those pills that, well, you know.

  The house looked exquisite. My newest best friend, Scott, had the Norton House B&B looking like a Christmas feature in Southern Living Magazine. Imagine that? Him being a Yankee and all. He had this Southern thing down. Even better? According to Avalee’s triumphant report, he had gained ten pounds since coming to Moonlight. A new Cladie Mae record.

  The grandfather clock chimed one. The girls would arrive soon to dress and help me get ready for my absolute last wedding. The ceremony was set to start at five, giving us plenty of time to primp and preen. I hurried to the kitchen and made mimosas. By the time they were ready, the girls arrived.

  “Hey y’all! I’m in the kitchen.” When they paraded in, I held out the tray of drinks. “Let the fun begin!”

  “Woohoo!” Lexi took one in each hand.

  We left the B&B and went to the pool house to begin our beauty treatments. While I was in the hospital, Scott and Avalee had decided the pool house would be the best place for the wedding party to dress. Later I found out why. As a surprise they had transformed our bedroom into a sexy boudoir for our first night before leaving on our honeymoon the next day.

  After our first mimosa, we gave each other mani/pedis. While our polish dried, we drank another. Then we put on our makeup and styled our hair. Jema fixed Avalee’s, Lexi’s, and my hair in a chignon and fastened tiny baby’s breath springs along the side. Since Jema’s was short, I curled hers into soft curlicues. Then I pulled one side up, fastening it with a comb and stuck in some baby’s breath.

  We stood together in front of the mirror admiring ourselves and each other. Avalee’s blond frosted hair, my black, Lexi’s red, and Jema’s honey-brown. We looked like those boxed dye models along the hair products aisle.

  “Girls, we are gorgeous. Now for the icing on the cake, let’s get dressed.”

  “Not yet, girlfriend.” Lexi picked up bronzing powder and a blush brush.

  I held my hand up. “Now Lex, I don’t want to look like a geisha gal. I think I have plenty of blush.”

  An impish smile crossed her lips. “Oh, this isn’t for your cheeks.”

  Ava frowned. “What then?”

  “Body makeup. Now y’all turn around.” We followed her orders and she proceeded to put makeup on our breasts.

  “What on earth, Lexi?” I started giggling. The mimosas had kicked in.

  “I saw this somewhere in Google land.” She brushed blush along our cleavage and used a pearlescent powder along the top of our bosoms. I have to admit, the effect was amazing. I couldn’t wait to see Stan’s expression.

  We got dressed and hurried back to the mirror to admire ourselves—again. Especially our cleavage.

  “I can’t believe this.” Jema sighed. “Too bad there isn’t anyone to appreciate your magic Lexi.”

  “Oh, there is bound to be some single men tonight who will admire your charms.” Lexi gave Jema a side hug. “I just feel it.”

  A tap sounded on the door then it opened a crack. “Hi ladies. It’s Scott. Everyone decent?”

  “Come in, sweetie,” we all said in unison.

  He sashayed in with the most beautiful bouquet I had ever seen. My eyes misted again.

  “Now, honey, you can’t cry.” He pulled a hanky from his vest. “You’ll mess up your makeup.” While he daubed the corners of my eyes, tears rolled down his cheeks. Taking my hand, he twirled me around. “My word. I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride.”

  “Even though I weigh over two hundred pounds?”

  “Lady, I’ve learned a valuable lesson here in the South. Beauty is in the soul. And if it comes with curves like yours, that’s a bonus.”

  I couldn’t resist. “So no more hounding Avalee?”

  He crossed his heart. “I promise.”

  Avalee blew me a kiss. “Thanks, MK.”

  Music from the stringed quartet floated from the house across the lawn. A signal the guests were being seated. Scott kissed me on the cheek, handed the girls their single calla lily, and left.

  I smiled at my friends—my sisters by choice—and tried to speak, but my voice came out in a whisper. “I love you all so very much.”

  The air thickened with emotion. Leave it to Lexi to shake it up. She lifted her arms and shook her hips.

  “Come on, sisters. It’s show time.”

  The seats for eighty guests had been arranged so there was an aisle down the middle. Scott stood at the back orchestrating our entrance. When the stringed quartet played Pachelbel’s Canon in D major, he signaled the girls one by one to begin their way to the front in the traditional step-pause march. It took forever. This bride wanted her groom.

  While I watched this impossibly slow processional, I noticed two men standing with Stan and squinted to see who it could possibly be. Stan hadn’t said anything about groomsmen.

  Stanly, Jr.! And I guessed the second man was his son as well. Happy tears filled my eyes, and I blinked them back. Scott kissed my cheek and waved a hanky reminding me about my makeup. I nodded and lifted the one he gave me.

  The music swelled. Finally, my turn. I drifted down the aisle never taking my gaze off my love. His expression drank me in, making me feel like the most beautiful woman on earth. From the moment I took his arm, all I could see, all I could feel, all I could hear, was Stan.

  ****

  Jema

  By the time Molly Kate had walked down the aisle and wrapped her arm around Stan’s, I was a wreck and cried like a baby. Thank goodness the rivulets running down my cheeks looked like happy tears. And for the most part they were, but not entirely. I also wept for Levi, for what I thought we had. I hadn’t heard a word from him. Fear tormented me. Either he’d left the country, or maybe he was in jail. I missed him. I missed what might have been. As soon as a socially respectable amount of time had passed, I planned on going home and crying into my pillow all night—again.

  After Molly Kate and Stan said their vows, we wandered to the dining room for hors d’oeuvres, champagne toasts, and cake. While Stanley, Jr. made his toast to the bride and groom, I happened to glance out the window. In the twilight dimness I noticed a black car pull onto the circular driveway.

  Wait. It wasn’t just a black car. It was that limousine.

  Oh no. Not that rude man. What is he doing here?

  My heart raced. There was no way I was going to let him interfere with the Molly Kate’s special day.

  I eased out the front door just in time to see the driver open the passenger door. A well-dressed man stepped out. It wasn’t the same man as before. It was hard to see in the duskiness, but I recognized this man’s gait even though I couldn’t make out his face.

  All the way to the first step, he watched me with his dark, soulful eyes.

  Oh, my…It’s—

  My hand involuntarily clasped against my mouth. Hot tears filled my eyes.

  “Levi?”

  He reached out and took me in his arms. “Jema.”

  I lifted my mouth to his and let all the relief from my pain, fear, and hope respond to his kiss.

  It was all surreal. He was here, holding me, kissing me. I surveyed him from head to toe. His hair fell in short salt and pepper curls, and he wore an expensive looking tux.

  “Levi, what happened?”

  “Is there someplace where we can talk?”

  I thought of the library behind the stairs. “Yes, follow me.”

  Thankfully, it was Avalee’s turn to toast the bride, and all eyes were on her. We snuck past the dining room unnoticed and eased into the library.

  The bl
aze in the fireplace and the tiny white lights on the Christmas tree cast a soft glow against the dark mahogany paneling.

  Levi led me to a leather chair. “Please. Sit.”

  I lowered onto the cushion, and he kneeled beside me. He studied my face without saying a word.

  Finally he said, “I am Matthew Levi Abrams.”

  Did I hear him right? “You are...? Mr. Abrams?”

  “I am.” He continued to watch me as if to discern my feelings.

  Confusion swarmed in my head like bees without a queen. “I don’t understand?”

  He took my hand. “Let me try to explain.” After taking a deep breath, he began. “My family is one of the wealthiest in Canada.” He let his words sink in for a moment. “Jema, I married young. It wasn’t a marriage, really. More like a business arrangement of sorts. Because of our passion—our lust—I believed myself in love with her and gave in to the wishes of her father and mine. Even though my wife was a kind woman, neither of us really loved the other. We had nothing in common, not even children. She lived her life, and I lived mine. When she died a few years ago, I wanted to marry again, but this time for love. However, being as wealthy as I am, I can never be sure anyone loves me for me.” He grimaced. “I can’t even be sure anyone really likes me apart from my wealth.”

  Poor dear. I’d always envied the rich. I had never thought about how lonely it could be for them. How shallow relationships could be. I reached for his hand and squeezed it.

  He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it before continuing. “So I came up with a scheme of masquerading myself as someone who had nothing. A dirty homeless man. I wrote the ransom note Mr. Wolfe referred to at Miss Cladie’s, to throw off my bodyguards. But I also wanted to tell the truth. So I said I had taken Mr. Abrams and would return him a better man.”

  The fire popped, and sparks shot onto the marble hearth. Levi, rather, Matthew, rose and stepped on them, then stared at the dancing flames, gathering his thoughts before continuing. “And, I believe, that is exactly what I did. While living in the camps among the homeless, I learned about the suffering of others. I experienced a compassion I never knew existed. At Miss Cladie’s, I learned how to work with my hands.” He turned and gazed at me. “But best of all, I found someone who loved me, even though I had nothing to give. Someone who loved me when I was a nobody. I found a priceless jewel, far beyond my wildest hopes. I found you.”