Fading Thunder

by Sheila Hollinghead

  “Give Velma a chance. She might surprise you.”

  I stared into his eyes for a moment. “You think Velma would be a better friend than Marla?”

  He grinned. “Of course she would be a better friend. She’d be real.”

  “But we have nothing in common,” I grumbled.

  “Are you sure? This might be an opportunity to find out.”

  I crossed my arms, leaning against the dusty counter. “She’s going shopping for a wedding dress. I didn’t even know she was dating anyone.”

  “Who’s she marrying?”

  “She won’t say.”

  “That sounds strange.”

  “So strange that I’d better not go?” I asked hopefully.

  “I’m not making you go, Jay. That’s up to you.”

  I sighed. “I’ll go. Maybe it would do me good to get out, get my mind off of things.”

  He went back to filling his bag.

  “But Michael ...”

  “What?” His eyes were distracted, and it took a moment for him to refocus on me.

  “You’ll be at home alone with Momma and James Colton, maybe all day on Saturday.”

  He grinned. “On second thought, maybe you’d better not go.”

  “Too late. I made up my mind now. You should have already thought this through.” I laughed.

  He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him, leaning his head down for a kiss. A knock sounded on the door, and it swung open.

  Velma tilted her head and smiled. “I didn’t know you were in here smooching.”

  Michael moved away. “I was just leaving.” After grabbing his bag, he gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Not sure what time I’ll be home.” He brushed past Velma and was gone.

  She raised a plucked eyebrow at me before she spoke. “Mr. Johnson is here with his dog, Sam.”

  “All right. I’ll be right there.” I sighed. I’d give Velma a chance, but only one. This shopping trip was going to be sheer torture.

  Velma came by early Saturday morning to pick me up. I had not thought to ask her where she planned to go until we were on the road heading north. Her car, older than mine, was not equipped with air conditioning, and I rolled down a window. I had eaten breakfast and had my drink and felt better than I had in weeks. My purse was filled with peppermint candy in case I started to feel sick.

  “Where we heading?” I asked.

  “To Montgomery.”

  “Oh.” I hadn’t realized we’d be going so far from home. “I should have told Michael.”

  “I spoke to him yesterday. He wanted to know all about our trip.”

  I frowned. That didn’t sound like Michael, but perhaps he was just concerned about me and wanted to be sure I wouldn’t overdo things.

  Her next words confirmed it. “He asked me to keep an eye on you. He told me you fainted the other day.”

  I waved a hand in dismissal. “That’s been a couple of weeks ago. I feel fine, except for a little morning sickness.”

  “Are you hoping for a boy or girl?”

  “As long as the baby is healthy, it doesn’t matter.”

  “Oh?” she said, as if not believing me.

  I hadn’t really thought about it. I turned the question over in my mind. “To tell you the truth, I’d like a girl. The doctor doesn’t want me to have more children after this one, so it would be nice to have a girl. But like I said, as long as he or she is healthy.”

  “He doesn’t want you to have more because it will be a Caesarean?”

  “Right.”

  “I was so scared when I found out you were in the hospital, when you had James Colton. Walter and I rushed over there right away.”

  I had probably never thanked her for that. “Aunt Jenny told me you came. They didn’t allow many visitors to begin with, but I’m glad you were there.”

  “It must have been such a terrible time for you!” She threw me a glance, her forehead furrowed.

  I smiled. “Yes, but I got a wonderful child in the process.”

  “I told Walter it made me frightened to even think about having children. Of course, that’s when I planned on marrying him.”

  “I’m sorry things didn’t work out.” And it was true. I was glad he and Laurie were happily married, but I was sorry it had broken Velma’s heart.

  “That’s all water under the bridge. I should have realized at the time that Walter was not the one for me. I’m glad I found the right man.” She let out a sigh of pleasure.

  It made me curious. “So when will the wedding be?”

  “We haven’t set a date.”

  “But you’re buying a dress?”

  “Well, you never know — plans change.”

  I was glad I had pulled my hair into one long braid that morning. The wind would be whipping it around my face otherwise. I stared out the window, letting the air blow away the beads of sweat before I turned back to her. “So who’s your mystery guy?”

  She laughed, reminding me of Marla when she had picked me up from the bus station in her Cadillac. Velma’s hair was strawberry blonde instead of golden and her eyes darker than Marla’s blue. But she, like Marla, had perfected the art of makeup, and she looked as young and carefree as Marla had that day.

  Her eyes twinkled. “Wish I could tell you more, but I’m sworn to secrecy.”

  I wondered for a moment if she was doing it on purpose, piquing my curiosity so I’d drag the answer from her. Well, if that’s what she was doing, I decided not to play her game.

  Chapter 36—Wedding Dress

  I pressed my lips together, watching the landscape zip by. Good thing I’d brought along a book. I retrieved it from my lap. “Hope you don’t mind if I read?”

  “Not at all. What are you reading?” She glanced in my direction.

  “The Odyssey.”

  “Oh, I love that book.”

  I frowned at her. I had never seen her read anything but the latest women’s magazine. “You’ve read it?”

  “Yes. Uncle Wilbur has a large shelf of books at his house. He told me to read any book I wanted.”

  “How is Wilbur doing?” He had not been in since I’d gotten back from Plainsville.

  Distress showed in Velma’s eyes. “Not very well. He gets out of breath even walking to the mailbox and back.”

  “Poor Wilbur.” I would have to make some time to see him, fit him into my busy schedule. I opened my book and began to read.

  Fifteen minutes passed before Velma spoke again. “Jay, do you want to stop and get a Coke? We’re coming up on a gas station.”

  “That sounds swell.”

  “Good.” She pulled into the side parking area, and we got out.

  The wood boarding was weathered and gray. Velma pushed open the screen door, emblazoned with a bright orange metal door-push, advertising a type of oil. A middle-aged man, in a chair that stood on two legs, leaned against the wall. He greeted us and uncrossed his arms. The chair slammed down. I went straight to the red chest-type cooler with “Ice Cold” printed in white at the bottom. And the words were correct. I used the built-in opener to pry the metal cap from my Coke and turned the bottle up, enjoying the slivers of ice cooling my throat. The man was eyeing me, frowning.

  “I’m sorry,” I said to him. I was used to buying a Coke at the gas station near my house, where Michael and I were known. This man didn’t know me from Adam’s housecat. I hurriedly grabbed a pack of peanuts and set my purchases next to the register. He got slowly to his feet and went around the counter. I pulled out my pocketbook, intending to pay.

  Velma stopped my hand. “You’re my guest today. My treat.”

  “Thanks, Velma.” I moved back, and she put her Coke and a Mounds candy bar on the counter.

  After she paid, I got my Coke and peanuts, and we headed back to the car. That had been sweet of Velma, to pay for my purchases. I let my book lie on the floorboard when I climbed in the car and turned to Velma.

  “So, what kind of wedding dress were you thinkin
g of buying?”

  She flashed a smile, and I leaned back to enjoy my Coke and peanuts.

  “Really, I’m open to anything. I don’t want to set my mind on something and be disappointed. I want to browse and see what they have.”

  “That sounds sensible.”

  She gave me a sideways glance. “What did your wedding dress look like?”

  “Aunt Liza made my dress. It was white with ruffles down the front.”

  “Full length?”

  “Knee length. We actually married outside, standing next to Michael’s old truck. I wore a navy blue coat and hat.”

  “Why were you outside?”

  “We barely caught the preacher before he left. We were late getting to the church.”

  “My goodness! Why?”

  “Sylvia and William married on the same day. They arrived late to Aunt Liza’s, and everyone was congratulating them. Anyway, the important thing is that I married Michael, not the circumstances under which we married.” I had vowed not to let Sylvia ruin that day. Or at least Michael had convinced me.

  “I’ve heard a lot about Sylvia, but I didn’t know that. That woman had some nerve!”

  I laughed. “She still does. But she’s out of my life now, thanks to Uncle Aaron.”

  Velma threw me a sideways glance. “He did a wonderful thing for you.”

  I frowned. I didn’t remember talking to Velma about what had happened. People gossiped, and maybe she’d heard it through the grapevine. Although as far as I knew, only my family was aware of the full story. Maybe that meant her mystery man was William, and he had told her all about Sylvia.

  I sighed. Laurie would be heartbroken. Velma shot me a glance as if awaiting my response.

  I nodded. “Yes, he did. He’s one of the kindest men I know.”

  Velma changed the subject, explaining different styles of wedding dresses. I attempted to follow but was soon lost. I could only nod and murmur an assent until we arrived in Montgomery.

  The store we entered had air conditioning and thick carpet that silenced our footsteps. A young woman, her hair smoothed into a bun at the nape of her neck, met us.

  “May I help you?”

  “I’m shopping for a wedding dress,” Velma said, giving me a sideways glance with a grin.

  “Right this way.” The woman wore a white polka dot, navy blue, fitted skirt with a red blouse. A wide patent leather belt encircled her waist.

  I had brought The Odyssey in with me, planning to read while Velma browsed the dresses. No such luck. She called me over and had me give my opinions on each one.

  “I’m sure you don’t have the same tastes as I do,” I said quietly.

  “That’s true. But I do need a second opinion for something as important as this. Don’t try to figure out what I like. Tell me what you think looks good.”

  A beige dress with a sheer lace fabric overlay caught my eye. The back of the dress had looped, cloth-covered buttons extending to the waist. The full length lace sleeves ended in points. I surveyed Velma and was about to move away when she stopped me.

  “You like this one?”

  “I don’t think it would suit you.” There was a white silk with a low neckline that looked more her style. “This one might, though.”

  Velma smiled. “Totally different, aren’t they?” She studied me critically. “We’re the same size, I believe?”

  When she shifted her gaze to the saleslady, the woman nodded her head.

  Velma had a thoughtful look in her eyes. “Why don’t you try on these, and I can get a full view of them?”

  My eyes widened. “Me? Try them on?”

  “It’s okay if you don’t want to, but it would be a big help to me.” Velma flashed a smile.

  “I guess I can.”

  The saleslady carried the two dresses to a dressing room nearby, and I followed. I donned the white silk first, hoping Velma would be smitten enough that she wouldn’t ask me to try on more.

  I came out, feeling self-conscious in the dress that fit tightly down to my thighs.

  Just as I hoped, Velma sucked in her breath. “Oooh. That is beautiful. It looks gorgeous on you.”

  “It certainly does,” the saleslady said, beaming.

  There was a three-way mirror, and I studied myself, wondering what Michael would say if he could see me.

  Velma was making hurrying motions in my direction. “Quit daydreaming. Go try on the other one.”

  I frowned at her. “Don’t you like this dress?”

  “It’s great, but I would like to see the other.”

  To tell the truth, I wanted to see it myself. I hurried into the dressing room and slid out of the cool silk. There was no way I could button up the back of the second dress, so I came out for the saleslady to help. Her expert fingers flew over the buttons, and she also showed me there were loops on the end of the sleeves that went over my middle fingers.

  When I walked into Velma’s view this time, she had a different reaction. She didn’t speak, only stared at me with her mouth gaping open.

  I snapped my fingers at her, or tried to. The loop kept getting in the way. “Well? Do you like it?”

  “I love it.” Her voice was soft.

  Again, I looked at myself. Somehow, this dress did make me appear like a different person.

  The saleslady was at my side, moving the dress slightly. “It fits you like a glove. No alterations would need to be made.”

  Heat rose to my cheeks. Had she not been listening? “I’m not the one getting married. My friend is.”

  The saleslady’s cheeks pinkened. “Oh, I had forgotten.”

  Velma laughed. “She’s already married with a three-year-old and another on the way.”

  I laughed too. “Right. I’m an old married woman.” That was misleading, though. Michael and I had spent very little of our married life together.

  “While you were trying those dresses on, I found a couple more I like,” Velma said.

  “More you want me to try on?”

  “If you don’t mind.”

  I didn’t answer, just turned to let the saleslady unbutton the long row of buttons. Then I returned to the dressing room.

  As it turned out, Velma didn’t like the other dresses she had chosen, so it came down to the first two. I had to wait for her to try them on, but that was okay. I buried my nose in my book and only looked up to ooh and ahh when she came out. Like I thought, the white dress suited her better. However, Velma could not make up her mind, and told the saleslady she would need a few days to think it over.

  When we left Montgomery, I was exhausted, feeling as if I had spent all day in the cotton fields. Velma was quiet on the way home, and I was able to let the wind from the open window blow away my exhaustion.

  Chapter 37—Shelling

  The next weekend, Michael got up early to pick butterbeans while I did the laundry. I was at the clothesline, hanging up the last load of wash, when he returned. The back of his truck was loaded.

  A sweaty strand of hair had escaped my braid, and I tucked it behind my ear. “Michael! It will take us the rest of the day to shell all of these.”

  “Laurie is coming over to help.”

  I looked at him for a second, hoping this meant he had forgiven her. “All right. That would be a big help. Watch James Colton for a second.” I went into the house to get some pans.

  Momma wasn’t in the sitting room, so I knocked on her door. “Momma?” She didn’t answer, so I looked in. She was sound asleep, snoring loudly. I sighed. She must have taken extra medicine again. I doled out her pills every morning and then hid the bottle. The house was small, and she usually found where they were hidden unless I kept a close eye on her. I had been out of the house all morning and should have taken the pills with me. I could have put them in my apron pocket but had simply forgotten.

  Although she snored, her breathing was steady. Given time, she’d probably sleep off the effects. I looked around her room until I found the medicine bottle. It didn
’t appear to have many pills missing. I didn’t have time to count them, but I made sure I took them with me.

  When I went back outside, Michael had set a couple of washtubs out for us to throw the hulls in. He grabbed a pan and filled it for me before filling up a pan for himself. I took my pan into the shade of the pecan tree where we had put a few chairs and started shelling. I called James Colton out of the sun, and he settled in the shade to play in the sand. Coby had dug a cool place near me.

  Argos lay at Michael’s feet. When Laurie arrived, Argos raised his head but lowered it again when Michael gave a quiet command.

  Michael and Laurie didn’t have much to say to each other. I had not had much time to visit with Laurie since shopping with Velma, so I took the opportunity to tell her about the wedding dresses we had looked at.

  William might be Velma’s mystery man, but he had not visited Velma at the office, at least not while I was there. True that they had known each other a short time, but many people after the war had taken as their motto “Seize the day.” After seeing so many die young, most of the returning soldiers had decided not to waste time with long courtships. And William had shown he didn’t think things through. He had barely known Sylvia when he had married her. I tried not to think of the way that had turned out.

  Velma was no spring chicken, as Momma would say. Most women her age were married and already had children. If William had proposed marriage, she’d probably jumped at the chance. I didn’t tell Laurie of my suspicions. If they were true, William should be the one to tell his family.

  After I described in detail the wedding dresses we had seen, I fell silent. Laurie spoke. “How are you doing? Still having morning sickness?”

  “I don’t know why they call it that. It’s all-day sickness for me. And yes, I still have it, but as long as I do as Dr. Burch told me, I don’t feel too bad.”

  “I still ain’t been sick, but it feels like time has come to a standstill. I’m ready for the baby to get here.”

  I laughed. “We’ve got seven more months to go.”

  “I know. Momma told me not to tell anyone I was expecting, not for another month or two, but I was so excited, I had to tell it or burst like a maypop.”