by Kay Shostak
Her chin becomes as solid as stone and her lips, lipstick-less lips I should add, press together, forming more unmovable flesh. Her crossed arms pull in even tighter, and her eyes bore into the folks gathering around the microphone. Shaw comes up behind her, and his smile at me is half-grimace, half-nothing. He lays a hand on his wife’s shoulder, but she shrugs it off.
“Welcome to the opening of Chancey Waterfront Park,” Mr. Reynolds booms. He talks about how well the town and his company have worked together. He welcomes numerous folks in the crowd and each of the people standing up front with him. Except Susan and Griffin. Although they are standing closer to him than anyone else, he doesn’t mention them. Until the very end.
“All this,” he spreads his hands towards us, “is due to the hard work of Mrs. Susan Lyles, and I have the honor of announcing this is only the first of many events Susan will be planning, as she has agreed to accept the position of Park Events Director. A position funded by Mountain Power, I might add.” When the crowd begins to applaud, he holds up his hand. “Not yet, wait just a minute. That’s not all the news about this wonderful family. Along with opening this magnificent park, and introducing the Park Events Director, I also have the delightful duty today of announcing the newest addition to our company, Mountain Power, Executive Vice-President Griffin Lyles.” He holds out his arm to Griffin, and directs him to the microphone.
I don’t believe I was the only one in the crowd who gasped in surprise, but I know for a fact, Laney was the only person there that burst into tears, turned, and ran towards the parking lot.
“No, I didn’t get to talk to her,” I answer Jackson’s questioning look. “Shaw chased after her and stopped me. He said she wasn’t ready to talk to anyone. And she was wearing flats again, so she was faster than usual. Let’s go congratulate Susan and Griffin.”
Walking through the crowd, we hear the rumble of surprise. Tipping my head close to my husband’s, I ask, “Is this something Griffin is qualified for? I don’t know that I even know what he does.”
He dips his head down and runs two finger around his lips, pulling his chin down. “I’m not sure I know either. He always made it sound boring and, well, boring. Think I assumed he was an accountant somewhere. I knew he worked in Dalton, but not long hours, right? Didn’t he always seem to be around? And all the committees he’s been on with the city take a lot of time.”
“Well, maybe that has something to do with it. He does know the city and the area.”
“Congratulations, Griffin!” We laugh and greet him with hugs. “Susan, you, too. Two new jobs.” I look in Susan’s eyes and try to hold her gaze. “I had no idea. Why didn’t you say something?”
She shrugs and darts a look at Griffin. “It’s really been up in the air. They offered this to him a few weeks ago, but it just came together in the last few days.” She turns a bit away from Griffin and Jackson. “It seemed almost too good to be true, honestly. Griffin really doesn’t talk about work much. He has his MBA, but we never wanted to move from Chancey, so jobs like this seemed out of reach. Then when they also asked me to be event director, it seemed like the perfect time for a change all around.”
I can’t resist hugging her. They both look so happy, so polished. So out of place and out of the ordinary. In just a flash, they don’t look like the perfect small town couple, they look like they belong back in Marietta or Atlanta.
As we pull apart, she seeks my gaze. “You have to know, you gave us so much courage. We saw the way you and Jackson changed your lives, and it made us both antsy.” She crushes me to her again. “Thanks.”
Jackson’s hand at my back says we need to move on as a congratulatory line has formed behind us. Then Susan pulls on my arm.
“Did you see Laney? I know Shaw was here.”
“Uh, I think she was here. But I think she had to leave or something.”
Susan frowns. “Maybe she’s still not feeling well. She had some kind of virus earlier this week, which really wiped her out. She won’t talk to me, but now that this shindig is done, I’ll have more time to concentrate on her. Go get something to eat. The grits are amazing.”
People are seated at temporary tables and the permanent picnic tables. The sun on the water gives a glow to everything, and Jackson and I head straight to the food line. We chat with those around us as we wait and fill our plates. Seated with some folks we know from church, I marvel at how this has all happened so fast. Last year this time, this park didn’t exist. Matter of fact, along with the nests of snakes removed from the riverbanks, a nest of drug dealers were sent packing off to jail to make way for the park.
Last year this time, we didn’t know any of these people, including our now daughter-in-law. This time next year, we’ll be grandparents. The baby will be, let’s see, six months old. It’ll be a real part of our lives. Savannah will have graduated, and Bryan will be a quarter of the way through high school. It’s been a good change being here, but I’m still not sure I can say I would do it all again.
I hope Susan and Griffin know what they are doing. Changes can be rough. But really, how much of a change are new jobs? It’s not like a new town or school or friends. Maybe she’s just excited and exaggerating the big moves, but she does know what she’s talking about when it comes to these grits. They are amazing.
“Carolina, I have you down for deviled eggs,” Missus informs me of this as she walks behind my seat at the picnic table. Of course, she says this when my mouth is full of grits, so I turn over my shoulder while swallowing and raise my eyebrows and shoulders in question. But all I see is her back as she walks away.
Standing, I wipe my mouth, and say, “Excuse me,” but she doesn’t turn. Missus has on a salmon-colored, stiff cotton dress with short, cuffed sleeves. I follow her up to the pavilion and catch her just inside the shade of the high wooden-beamed roof.
“Missus, what was that about deviled eggs?”
She turns to me and gives me that look up and down she feels serves as a greeting. I picture her getting along swimmingly with Mrs. Sentora. “What is it, Carolina? You don’t want to make deviled eggs? I tried to give you something you could not possibly have questions about.”
“Of course, I don’t have questions about deviled eggs, per se. Just why you’ve assigned them to me?”
“Who should I assign them to?” She looks to her right where Jordan is just leaving the bathroom. “Should I assign the deviled eggs to Jordan?”
Jordan stops. “Devil what?”
“Missus wants to know if you’ll make some deviled eggs?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Carolina, she’s not even in our family. Ignore her, Jordan. You are free to go.”
Jordan strikes a pose, like a model at the end of the runway. Hands on hips, head tilted up, and just a tad to the side. “What in the world are deviled eggs? Oh, wait, are you talking about those nasty things my grandmother used to make?” Jordan’s cheeks never look so sculpted as when she’s looking down her nose. “She actually had a plate specifically made to hold them. Please leave me out of any conversation, or event, which involves those nasty things.” Her long strides, in her tight black pants, take her away from us before either of us can express our dismay that her grandmother only had one deviled egg plate.
Missus smirks. “She resembles a granddaddy longleg the way she stalks about on those heels in those tight pants. I do not believe I would fit in in New York.” Her attention comes back to me. “Now, what is it you are yammering on about?”
I draw in a deep breath to consider the correct question. “Where should I take the deviled eggs for which I have been made responsible?”
“Oh, yes, I see. You are quite right in that it will be too hot to have them at the cemetery all morning, and with my house being repainted, you obviously know to not bring them there. So, either have them in a cooler on ice or bring them to Peter’s before church. I’ll make sure he leaves his front door unlocked.” She has so graciously explained all this while all I can think abo
ut is putting a stick underneath that thick coil of pearls around her neck and then twisting it so they tighten, and tighten, and… “Wait, the cemetery?”
“Yes, with everything going on for the wedding I wanted to get the food assignments for the Decoration lunch next Sunday out early. It’s such a shame my entire downstairs has to be repainted since the painters incredibly used the wrong color. But Peter’s house will just have to do.” She perks up. “Unless you are offering your home? It would be nice for all the relatives to see your side of the family’s house. Actually, that is an excellent idea.” She turns away and starts walking, her voice carrying in the wide open pavilion. “I’ll leave it to you to work things out with Peter. After all, I am doing everything for the wedding.”
“What are you doing?” Jackson asks as he comes up behind me.
“Hosting the Decoration lunch for Missus’ entire family, apparently. And making deviled eggs. I love Will and Anna, but I’m not sure I love them enough to be a part of Missus’ family.”
He puts his hands on my shoulders and sighs.
“Oh, and get this, Jordan thinks deviled eggs are nasty. No wonder she’s so skinny and unhappy.”
Chapter 35
“So, how did it go? Telling your parents and everyone about the baby?”
Jackson and I are sitting on the front porch when Brad and Deena arrive back to Crossings. We came out to enjoy the sun setting behind the mountains, but the sun has long been gone and our wine glasses have long been empty.
Deena beams. “Just like we imagined. They were all so happy and surprised to see us, but nothing like when we pulled that tiny Georgia jersey out of the bag.”
Jackson gets up and motions her to take his chair. Then pulls over the other two rocking chairs as she sits down. “Can I get you anything?”
Deena shakes her head. “No, I am exhausted. Cannot wait to get in bed, but I did want to apologize for yesterday morning. I didn’t realize Anna was your daughter-in-law. Or that she’s expecting. I always know how to stick my foot in my mouth.”
I reach out and pat her arm. “Oh, no, you were fine. It’s all so new to us, and I think it’s just now hitting her how hard it is going to be. But they have a great support system here.”
Jackson rocks forward and leans his elbows on his knees. “We didn’t know they were dating. Or when they ran away and got married. We’re having a commemorative ceremony here in a couple weeks. Lots of changes for all of us. So, don’t worry. You’re not the first, or last, to not know what to say.”
She gives a little smile. “We had a really fun time with them last night. They both seem to love Chancey. I can’t believe they’ve neither one ever lived here until this year.”
“Probably why they still love it,” I say.
Brad laughs. “We love our families, but knew we needed a little distance. All the questions and worries. That’s even why we stayed here this weekend. Unless we do things by surprise, someone finds out first and feelings get hurt. Being a couple hours away works great. But, hey, since they’ve never gotten to live around family, maybe it’ll be different for them.”
Jackson and I lock eyes and he mouths, “Missus,” just before he rolls his eyes.
Deena stands up. “I need to go to bed before I fall asleep out here and you have to carry me in,” she says to Brad as she reaches out for him to take her hand. “We’re going to pack up and head out in the morning to go to church with our families, then we’ll head home from there. So we’ll be out of the way early.”
I stand up and give her a hug. “Where do y’all go to church?” I cannot believe that jumped out of my mouth, but you can tell they are from a small town in the South because they don’t bat an eye.
“Collinswood First Baptist,” Brad says. “We started dating in the youth group.”
“Oh, I was there this week. Not at the church, but Collinswood. A friend of mine is running a B&B over there. Right downtown, The Charming House?”
“Oh, yeah, the Charmings lived there for years. Cute name, isn’t it, for a B&B? I heard the house finally sold. How’s it going?” Deena asks.
I pull a face. “Hard to tell. Lot of work to do, and my friend is being pretty secretive about it all.”
Jackson pulls open the front door and motions for us to walk in. He says, “Carolina thinks the owners might’ve bitten off more than they can chew. Was it always rundown? Did you know the previous owners?”
The couple looks at each other. Brad answers, “When we were all kids, but they moved away, like a lot of folks did. Not much of a reason to stay in Collinswood. After Miss Johnson passed away, all the drive to fix the town kind of died with her. She pretty much ruled the roost there.”
“Probably like our Missus,” I say, then explain, “she’s Anna’s grandmother.”
Deena stops and turns to me. “You know, Anna and Will mentioned her. If she’s like our Miss Johnson, that explains a lot. Things go her way or no way, I bet.”
Jackson and I both nod.
Brad clears his throat and tries for a light-hearted laugh. “Guess that explains the problems with the wedding. Hope they can, well, work it all out without killing the old woman.”
“Oh, it probably won’t come to that,” I laugh.
Deena slaps at her husband. “He shouldn’t have said that. It’s just, well, that’s how Miss Johnson died. Two of her grandkids killed her.”
Brad interjects, “Allegedly.”
Jackson and I stare at them. Jackson asks, “Allegedly? Are they in jail?”
Denna shakes her head. “Nope. Not enough evidence. She fell down a flight of stairs, and the only other people in the house were her two grandkids. Their parents were out of town, and she took it upon herself to stay with them even though they were in high school. She always, always knew best. Drove everyone crazy, but especially her family.”
“Are they still in the area? What are their names? Johnson, I guess?” I ask as I shiver and step closer to Jackson.
Brad licks his lips. “No, um, it was Mrs. Johnson’s daughter and son-in-law’s house.” He stares at us, and Deena suddenly says, “Well, goodnight. It’s been great staying here.”
They walk on toward the B&B hall, but they’ve only gone a couple steps when I say, “Wait. I know the last name, don’t I?”
Jackson looks down at me, “You do? Who?”
“Charming.”
Deena smiles and shrugs. “Yeah, sorry.”
Just as they turn back towards their room, the door behind us is thrown open. I scream and Jackson yells, which causes the Reynolds to both yell.
Behind them, Bryan and Savannah push inside. “What’s going on?” they ask.
I take a deep breath. “Nothing. Y’all just scared us. So, everyone’s home all at one time it looks like.”
The Reynolds had taken Susan and Griffin out tonight. Savannah and Bryan spent the day at the park, where we also went back and hung out in the afternoon. It had been a long day for everyone, and we all look it.
Bryan heads upstairs after saying the waterfront park is the “coolest place on earth.”
Savannah jingles her keys, and says she’s going back out, but she’ll be home before midnight.
Teresa and Frank turn down Jackson’s offer of a glass of wine or anything else and trudge off to their room.
As doors shut around the house and settling-in sounds fade, Jackson and I sit side by side on the couch.
“Today’s been a good day, I think,” he says.
“Gertie and Patty will be back tomorrow. I have to sit down and get Anna to talk. I have to help her handle Missus with this wedding.”
“How crazy was that story Brad and Deena told us about that Miss Johnson?” Jackson says. “To be accused of killing your own grandmother?”
I nod. “When we were driving out of Collinswood, I remember thinking that they needed a Missus to get them together. Town seemed so much sadder than Chancey. Didn’t seem at all like a place Laney would choose to work.”
On the front porch, there’s no light except from the bit of a moon over the river. I step out into the grass to see the stars. Lots of changes for everyone around us. I turn Jackson’s words over in my mind. Susan said our moving here made them feel “antsy.” I don’t know that I like making people feel antsy or unsettled. I know I don’t like everything changing. If we hadn’t moved here, would Will be getting ready for law school, instead of getting ready for a baby? Would Susan and Laney still be happy with their normal lives? Would Missus not be on this kick to fix up Chancey if there wasn’t a B&B for visitors to stay in? Would Patty not be living in Chancey and not know Andy and not be getting ready to marry a virtual stranger?
How interesting the way things interweave. But, it’s too late to wonder about any of that. I walk back up the porch steps and pick up the wine glasses. Then I realize something—everything I’m doing today will impact lots of people’s futures. Just like our decisions last year to move here, all the decisions on the bookstore, the weddings. It’s enough to make you too scared to do anything.
You never know when you might make someone want to push you down a flight of stairs.
Chapter 36
“Well, I think it’s the girls getting ready to leave for college,” I say to Susan as we walk out of church. Rosebushes line the sidewalk with light pink blooms. They fill the space with a rich scent.
“Maybe. You know I don’t get hurt easily, but to have her leave without saying anything to Griffin about his new job? I’m sorry, that’s just rude.” Susan shakes her head. “What are y’all doing for lunch?” She holds her hand up to shade her eyes as she looks back up towards the church building.
“I think we’re going to the Chinese buffet. It makes everybody happy, and it’s quick. You?”