Sam returned with the hot pizza and a forced smile. Although the last thing on his mind was eating and trying to be a good host, he couldn’t very well back out now. He would see that Josh enjoyed himself no matter what. “Let’s eat,” he said. “Then we’ll decorate this tree the way it ought to be.”
“I’m with you,” Josh said, but he wasn’t smiling.
“OKAY, HERE’S THE PLAN,” NELL said once the girls had gathered in the living room. “I have a gift pack of nuts, a giant assortment. Cashews, pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts, you name it. This is the prize for the best tree.”
“How are we going to decide who has the better tree?” Clara asked. “We need a judge. Someone who can be impartial.”
“I can be impartial,” Winnie told them, “because I’m not decorating any tree.”
Nell looked hurt. “Are you not feeling well, dear?”
“I think she’s come down with something,” Marilee said. “She overexerted herself yesterday, what with all the cleaning she did. I tried to stop her, but Winnie has a mind of her own.”
Nell felt her forehead. “Well, you don’t have a fever.”
“I’m not surprised she’s tired,” Ruby said. “The baby’s already dropped. I noticed it the minute I walked into the house tonight.”
“What do you mean the baby has dropped?” Winnie asked. “She’s not going to fall out, is she?”
“It means your time is getting closer,” Ruby said. “She’s positioning herself.”
“We should have taken that second childbirth class,” Marilee said.
“You just stay put, Winnie,” Clara ordered, a stern look on her face. “If you need anything we’ll get it for you.”
Winnie did as she was told, then gave an enormous sigh of disgust. “Would y’all please get on with decorating this tree? I can’t sit here all night.”
Ruby looked at the others. “Yes, I think she can be impartial.”
“Oh, Marilee, what beautiful white doves,” Nell said once Marilee had opened one of the boxes marked Christmas Decorations.
Marilee smiled proudly. “These were given to me by my mother years ago.”
“Marilee always has a beautiful tree,” Clara said, opening another box. “Look at these ribbons and bows. They’ll add a Victorian flair.”
The women made a fuss over each box they opened. “Ah, here are the lights,” Ruby said. “All white. Frankly, I prefer white to those tacky colored lights.”
Winnie shifted in her chair. “Y’all have been here for an hour and haven’t put up the first decoration. Why not just throw some tinsel on it and be done with the whole thing.”
Marilee and Ruby began stringing the lights. When they plugged them in, the tree lit up like something out of a fairytale. “I’m surprised they all work,” Ruby said. “I usually spend the first couple of hours replacing bulbs.”
Marilee nodded her satisfaction. “I do all that when I take down the tree so that when it’s time to decorate everything’s ready.”
“Good thinking,” Nell said. “I wonder how Sam and Josh are coming along.”
“OKAY,” SAM SAID ONCE HE and Josh had strung the tree with red lights. “What we want to do here is hang these fishing lures every six or eight inches. Be careful not to stick yourself with the hooks. Then we’ll hang these cigars and poker chips from the fishing twine.”
“I can’t believe you actually drilled holes into each chip. That must have taken forever.”
“The hard part was drilling holes in these fake fish.”
“They look real.” Josh grinned for the first time. “Man, this is going to be the best tree ever.” He went back to decorating. “Oh, I almost forgot. I brought over empty Vienna sausage and pork-and-beans cans.”
Sam gave him a thumbs-up. “Perfect.”
After a few minutes, he turned to Sam. “Are you in love with my mom?”
Sam didn’t know how to respond. He finally decided to be honest. “Yes, I am.”
“Then why don’t you fight for her? I’d fight for the woman I loved.”
Sam was surprised. “You don’t fight for someone’s love, Josh. When you care about another person, you just want them to be happy.”
“She was happier before my dad came back into our lives.”
“IT’S LOVELY,” NELL SAID. “The prettiest tree I’ve ever seen.”
“Beautiful,” Clara added.
Marilee beamed. “You really think so?”
“Marilee always does a fine job when it comes to decorating a tree,” a male voice said. The women looked up to find Grady standing in the doorway.
Marilee was surprised to find him dressed. “What are you doing out of bed?”
“I heard all the laughter down here and decided to investigate. Hello, Clara. Ruby.” He looked at Nell. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Grady Abernathy.” He didn’t bother to speak to Winnie.
Nell offered him a polite smile. “Nell Brewer,” she said. “I believe you attended Chickpea High with my son, Sam.”
Grady looked taken aback. “Sam Brewer?” He regarded Marilee. “Not the infamous Sam Brewer?” he teased, but his look reprimanded her.
Marilee had to bite her tongue to keep from saying something that would embarrass the group further. A long silence followed.
“We’re having a little contest,” Nell finally said, as though trying to make everyone comfortable. “My son and Josh are decorating our tree next door and—”
“Josh told me about the contest,” Grady interrupted. “Would you like me to be the judge?”
Winnie spoke up. “I’ve already been selected as judge, thank you very much.” She looked at the others. “But I can’t very well make a decision without seeing the other tree.”
“I’m sure Sam and Josh have finished by now,” Nell said. “Why don’t we go over and take a look?”
“That sounds like a great idea,” Grady said. The women looked at him. “It’s okay if I go, isn’t it? I’d like to say hello to Sam.”
Marilee felt a flush of heat creeping up her neck. How like Grady to put her in an awkward position in front of her friends. She was not looking forward to seeing Sam after the way they’d left things, and she was certain Sam had no desire to see her ex-husband. She would have preferred staying home, but she knew Josh would be disappointed. “I don’t know, Grady.”
“Of course he can come,” Nell said, although she didn’t seem pleased about it.
Winnie struggled to get out of the chair. “This’ll be great,” she muttered. “Just great.”
The group didn’t bother with their jackets as they hurried out the door. Clara, Ruby and Nell kept tossing Marilee anxious looks, but Winnie remained silent. It was obvious the girl was angry. They reached the front porch and Nell peeped in. “It’s us, Sam. We’re here to see the tree. Are you ready?”
“Come on in,” he called out.
They stepped inside, and the women burst into hearty laughter at the sight of the guys’ tree. An Atlanta Braves baseball cap was perched at the top where the angel would normally appear. Winnie laughed so hard tears filled her eyes. She held her stomach. “I’m sorry, girls, but I have to give it to these guys, this is pretty original.”
Clara sniffed as though she was highly insulted. “You like this tree better than ours?”
Sam had not seen Grady come into the room, but the minute his eyes caught sight of him, his smile faded into a grimace.
Josh looked at his father, and his face seemed to drain of color. “What are you doing out of bed?”
“I thought I’d join the merriment,” he replied. He stepped forward and held his hand out to Sam. “Been a long time, Sam. I haven’t seen you since you dropped out of high school.” When Sam didn’t bother to shake hands with him, Grady gave an embarrassed cough and let his own fall to his side. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your befriending our son,” he said. “I know I speak for Marilee as well. You’ve done more than your share to make this time easier for hi
m.”
Sam just looked at him, his eyes dark and filled with loathing. Once again, an uncomfortable silence ensued.
“Dad, you need to go home and lie down,” Josh said.
“I feel fine, son. This is a special occasion indeed. Not only are we celebrating the birth of our Lord, your mother and I are celebrating the rebirth of our life together.”
Marilee snapped her head around and stared at him in horror. It was as though all the oxygen had been sucked out of her. She could feel the stares, but given how angry she was, she knew it would be best to handle the matter at home. “I think it’s time we left, Grady.”
“And miss the party?” he asked.
Marilee met Sam’s gaze, and the hurt and disappointment she saw in his eyes was unbearable. She turned to Grady, but before she could say anything, Josh cut in.
“Dad, you don’t look so well. You need to lie down.”
Grady put his arm around Marilee’s shoulder and pulled her against him. She automatically stiffened and tried to pull away. He looked surprised. “I’m sorry if I let the cat out of the bag before you were ready,” he said, “but I would think this is something you’d want to share with our friends. After all, they’ve been there for you through this grievous time. Even Sam here,” he added. “Surely a single man like Sam has better things to do with his time than baby-sit our child.”
“I am not believing what I’m hearing,” Winnie muttered.
Marilee’s face flamed. Somehow Grady had gotten the impression that she was going back to him. “Grady, we need to talk,” she said between gritted teeth.
Josh stepped forward. “Dad, you’re embarrassing Mom.”
“Let me handle this, Josh,” Sam said. He stepped up to Grady until they were nose to nose. “You’re way out of line, Abernathy. I don’t baby-sit, and you don’t come into my house and embarrass my friends.”
Grady looked taken aback. “I apologize if I’ve offended you, Sam. I had no right to assume you had ulterior motives for spending so much time with Josh.” He gave Sam a good-old-boy nudge. “I’m just remembering our high-school days. You were quite the ladies’ man even then. Nevertheless, I’m sure you’ll be the first to congratulate Marilee and me now that we’ve patched things up.”
Sam looked from Marilee to Josh. Their faces were white; they looked stricken. The blood roared in his ears. Grady had just hurt and embarrassed the woman Sam loved more than life itself, as well as Josh, who was the closest thing he’d ever had to a son. “Yeah, I’ll congratulate you,” he said. He reared one fist back and punched the man in the face. Grady fell to the floor with a loud thump.
The women screamed and jumped back. Josh leaned over his dad and shook him. He looked at Sam. “He’s out cold.”
Winnie burst into hearty laughter that earned her a dark look from Marilee. “Hey, I’m sorry, but he had it coming. If Sam hadn’t done it I would have.”
Sam covered his fist with his other hand. He saw the horror and disbelief in Marilee’s eyes as she gazed in his direction. “I’m sorry, Marilee,” he said. “I just couldn’t stand there and let him go on like that.”
“So you knocked him out?” she cried. She knelt beside Grady and shook him. “Grady, are you okay? Open your eyes, speak to me.”
Winnie was still laughing hysterically. “You come with me,” Ruby said, pulling her toward the front door. “You’re out of control.”
Clara plucked at her hair nervously. “Should I call an ambulance?”
Nell shook her head. “No, dear, I rather like looking at Mr. Abernathy from this angle.”
Outside, Ruby shook Winnie. “Get a grip on yourself, young lady!”
“I can’t help it,” the girl said, holding her sides. “You don’t know what it has been like having that man under the same roof.” She tried to swallow her laughter. She’d almost succeeded, when Ruby let a chuckle slip. Before long, they were both doubled over on the porch laughing. They looked up and saw Clara standing at the door.
“This is not funny,” Clara said. “A man is unconscious in there. Your behavior is—well, it’s downright vulgar.”
Ruby and Winnie paused, trying to affect a sober expression. “What did you do to your hair, Clara?” Winnie asked.
“Looks like you stuck your finger in a light socket,” Ruby said. “You’ve got to stop doing that or your new beau will think you have head lice.” She slapped her hand over her mouth the minute the words came out.
Winnie looked surprised. “Clara has a boyfriend?”
“Thank you very much for putting my business on the street, Ruby Ledbetter,” Clara said. “I will never tell you another secret as long as I live.” She stalked inside.
“Clara has a boyfriend?” Winnie insisted.
Ruby removed her hand. “I wasn’t supposed to tell.”
Winnie shook her head. “Oh, girl, you know what this means? You’ll never be able to check out a book from the library again.”
They burst into fresh laughter. “That’s not funny,” Ruby said. “I’ve betrayed a friend’s trust. Lord, she’ll pull all her hair out over this.”
Winnie guffawed, sending Ruby into another fit of laughter. They turned away, determined not to look at one another as they tried to get their laughter under control. Finally, they settled down, but the moment they looked at each other, all was lost and they began again. Winnie gasped. “Oh!” she cried and grabbed her abdomen.
“What?” Ruby managed to ask.
“Oh, Jesus!” Winnie cried. “Oh, Lord!”
“What’s wrong with you?” Ruby demanded.
“I think my water just broke.”
Both women looked down at the small puddle forming around Winnie’s feet.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“SOMEBODY HELP US!” Ruby cried, peering inside the door.
Marilee, in the process of helping a dazed Grady to his feet, looked up to find Ruby standing in the front doorway. “What now?”
All at once, Winnie yowled with pain.
“We have to get Winnie to the hospital,” Ruby said. “She’s in labor!”
Marilee’s eyes widened in disbelief. “But she’s not due for two weeks.”
Hands on hips, Ruby looked from Marilee to Winnie and back to Marilee. “Okay, I’ll tell her to stop it this instant. Dammit, Winnie, stop it this instant!”
Nell and Clara hurried to the door and gaped at Winnie, who was clutching her stomach. “Oh my goodness, let me get some towels,” Nell said.
“We can take my truck,” Sam said, grabbing his jacket.
Marilee touched Winnie gently. “Okay, try to remain calm. Are you having a contraction?” The girl nodded. “Just relax,” Marilee repeated as Nell handed her several towels. She and Sam ushered her to his truck. They managed to get the girl inside, despite her distress.
“We’ll follow you in my car,” Clara said.
“I’m going, too,” Josh told them.
“Do you have room for me?” Nell asked.
Ruby nodded. “Of course we do. Come on, honey.”
The entire house emptied in a matter of seconds. Nobody gave a second thought to Grady, who was standing near the Christmas tree rubbing his jaw.
“SHE’S ALREADY DILATED THREE CENTIMETERS,” a sweet-looking nurse named Peggy said once they had Winnie situated in a bed in labor and delivery. “She’s moving right along.”
“My mother had all her babies quickly,” Winnie replied. “Said she didn’t have time to lie around in bed all day ‘cause the laundry and ironing would pile up.” She winced as another contraction hit.
“Okay, start breathing from your mouth,” Marilee said.
The girl grunted. “Where else am I going to breathe from, my ears?”
“You know what I mean. Like this.” Marilee began breathing the way they’d been taught in class, and Winnie followed. She watched the monitor. “The contraction is almost over, honey, just hang in there.”
“You’re doing very well,” Peggy said.
“I’ve already spoken to Dr. Johnson,” Peggy said, “and he instructed me to give you something to help you relax. That’s what I just put in your IV. It’s a little too early to give you something stronger.”
“What do I have to do to get it,” Winnie asked, “foam from the mouth?”
Peggy patted her on the hand. “Just keep up with your breathing, hon. You’re doing fine. Just fine. Your doctor will be here shortly.”
“He’s probably on the golf course,” Winnie muttered after the woman had left the room.
An hour passed. Marilee could see Winnie’s contractions were getting stronger and lasting longer. The girl moaned aloud and gripped the handle on the bed. “My back is killing me. Somebody better give me some drugs or I’m going to throw that monitor through the window.”
Marilee tried to comfort her. “You’re in the active phase, Winnie. Remember what Mrs. Moore taught us? We need to go to shallow breathing.”
“I don’t want to breathe, I want you to shoot me.”
“OH, MY WORD!” NELL said once they’d seated themselves in the waiting area, except for Sam, who’d chosen not to come in. “I forgot to lock the door before we left the house.”
“Honey, that ain’t all,” Ruby said. “We left Grady standing in your living room.”
Josh looked up. “He probably locked up before he left.”
Nell took his hand. “Honey, I’m sorry Sam hit your father. Sam’s not a violent man, but I guess he reached his limit.”
“I don’t blame him,” Josh said. “I respect him for taking up for my mom. I felt pretty awful for her.” He looked around. “I need to talk to him.”
Sam was sitting in his truck in the parking lot when Josh found him. The boy wrenched the passenger door open and climbed in beside him. They both sat in silence for a moment.
A New Attitude Page 36