Biloxi Brides (Sugar and Grits)

by Martha Rogers

  At first, Sue Ellen had acted kind of cool at his change of behavior, and that had made him rethink his policy of keeping his distance. Then she seemed to get used to his polite nod and his pretending to study something on the other side of the room whenever she came into the Catfish House. Pretty soon, she ignored him and his sorry disposition altogether.

  Bud, however, found it harder and harder to carry on his act. Lately, despite his better judgment and an application pending at the FBI Academy in Virginia, he’d begun to entertain the prospect of taking up their friendship where it had left off.

  The thought sounded better than Dottie Jean’s pecan pie and scared him worse than that same delicacy’s cholesterol count. Running the other way seemed to be the only sane solution, at least until the boys at the gas station got involved.

  So what if there had been more engagements in Calista in the past six months than he could count? So what if her best friends Dottie Jean, Leota, and even cranky old Sassy Hatchett had settled down? That didn’t mean Sue Ellen was looking for a man.

  The guys at the diner saw it differently, however, and they’d given Bud the idea that Sue Ellen had set her cap for him. Gus hadn’t exactly confirmed it, but he hadn’t exactly denied it, either. Being her grandfather, he ought to know.

  The thought scared Bud to death and got his hopes up all at the same time. He felt the same way now, sitting all hunkered down in the front seat of his squad car as if he were working a stakeout.

  Out of the blue, an idea struck. The time had long since passed for him to make a friendly visit to the Rhonda-Vous. Word was out that she’d done up the whole inside in some sort of wild animal print with brand-new shampoo chairs in the same color pink as the sign out front. At least that’s what Tilly told him last week when he ventured into her establishment to try out her latest coffee concoction.

  He ought to get out and mosey across the street. Just to be neighborly, of course.

  Bud continued to watch Sue Ellen struggle with the ribbon as he worked on a plan.

  Checking his watch, he noted the better part of the morning was behind him and he hadn’t accomplished a single thing beyond pulling a cat out of the tree behind Patty’s Posies and stopping a speeder for doing thirty-five in a school zone on Carp Court. It was Tuesday, after all, and a slow day in Calista.

  But then, every day was a slow day in Calista.

  “Might as well take the rest of the day off,” he muttered as he unlatched his seat belt and opened the door to step out. “Maybe I’ll invite her to go fishing for old time’s sake.”

  “Fishing! For crying out loud, Bud. Is that how you intend to charm Sue Ellen Caldwell? Do go on.”

  Bud whirled around to see Sassy Hatchett standing on the other side of the patrol car with a frown and a bag of groceries balanced on one hip. Obviously her engagement to the town postman hadn’t softened her as much as he’d heard.

  “Mornin’, Miz Hatchett,” he said as he failed miserably in his attempt to muster a smile. “It’s a fine day, isn’t it?”

  “Don’t you ‘Mornin’, Miz Hatchett’ me, Bud Briggs.” She shifted her groceries to the other hip and pointed a finger at him. “I know exactly what you’re up to. You don’t fool me for a minute.”

  Chapter Two

  Bud Briggs didn’t fool her for a minute. Sue Ellen had felt him staring ever since he pulled up in front of the police station across the street. What she didn’t know was why, at least not for certain.

  After all, Bud hadn’t exactly been sociable to her in quite a while. In fact, she figured he’d just about decided she didn’t exist.

  On some days that didn’t bother her a bit. Other days, it got to her worse than a burr under a saddle to think he could so easily end a friendship that had been going on, with a few minor interruptions, since they were babies in the church nursery.

  Today, however, it felt nice to know he’d at least realized she still rode the same planet around the sun that he did. While Sassy Hatchett kept him busy, Sue Ellen took the opportunity to discreetly study the town’s deputy sheriff.

  For all his faults, chief among them being the total lack of a sense of humor and his penchant for popping vitamins like most folks popped peppermints, Bud Briggs was undeniably easy on the eye. Unlike a good number of men in their graduating class, Bud had kept all his teeth, all his sun-streaked blond hair, and most of his male charm.

  Just once she’d like to get her hands on that hair of his. Although the good Lord had given him several natural streaks of pale blond, she’d like to add just a few more around the temples. And while the barber in Hattiesburg did a nice job of keeping his hair off the collar of his uniform, she knew she could do an even better job, given the ability to add a few layers and some gel to keep it in place.

  Then she’d work on that sense of humor.

  There wasn’t a joke ever spoken or written that could make Bud Briggs laugh since he left junior high school. Somewhere between learning to drive and graduating, her friend Bud had become someone she barely knew.

  It seemed like everything she did failed to make Bud smile, and the Lord knew she tried. She’d even taken to singing Elvis to chase the fish away just so they didn’t have to go home so soon, but the poor man never figured it out. Nor did he think her off-tune renditions were funny.

  Somewhere along the way, she started singing on key. She also found she really liked those Elvis songs.

  Then there was the realization that she really liked Bud Briggs, too.

  Humming her favorite, a toe-tapper about being someone’s teddy bear, she gave Bud another glance, then went back to work. While the improvements to his outside would certainly add to his good looks, Bud would never allow them. Nor, did it seem, would he ever regain the ability to enjoy life that he had before adulthood changed him.

  Sue Ellen shifted positions and her train of thought.

  In all the time they’d spent together growing up, why hadn’t he ever asked her out on a date or at least indicated a little bit of interest in her outside of catching catfish? He’d been a good friend and an even better fisherman back in the old days, but she’d been the one to come up with the most worms.

  “Just like my love life,” she muttered as she tossed the last of the red ribbon over the sign advertising her January special. “If there was a prize for picking the most worms, I’d win for sure. Guess the good Lord knew what He was doing when He called a halt to my social life.”

  For the most part, it had been easy to accept the knowledge that the Lord meant her to stay single, although she did have the occasional twinge of loneliness when she thought of her three best friends all paired up and in love. Most days, she handled the brief down moments with a prayer and a chocolate kiss or two. That and a few stanzas of “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” usually did the trick.

  Looking at Bud gave her yet another twinge, one of regret.

  “Don’t be silly. You can’t lose something you never had.” She cast one last glance over her shoulder at Deputy Briggs, then turned to take a careful step down Grandpa Gus’s ladder. “Or wanted,” she added.

  She lifted her gaze to stare into the deep blue of the winter sky. Lord, I realize You know what’s best for me and want me to stop waiting for Mr. Right to come along, but I just wish there was some way—

  “Sue Ellen, yoo-hoo.” Sassy punctuated the words with a piercing whistle, the same one she used to cheer on the Calista Cougar football team most Friday nights in the fall.

  “What is it, hon?” Sue Ellen swiveled to stare at Sassy. Part of the wooden step swiveled with her, and she kicked it back into place. Someone’s going to get hurt using this old thing. Come tax time she’d have to use her return money to buy her grandfather a new ladder.

  “Come on over here and talk to this man before he makes a spectacle of himself,” Sassy shouted, attracting the attention of anyone within hearing distance.

  And there were plenty within hearing distance.

  Sue Ellen felt the heat r
ising in her cheeks. Whatever Sassy had up her sleeve, it wasn’t funny. She’d be sure to let her know this evening when they met for weekly Bible study.

  They were supposed to discuss ideas for a new Bible study. Maybe she’d bring some suggestions for one on taming the tongue.

  “I’m busy, Sassy,” she answered as she took another shaky step down the ladder. “Leave me be.”

  “Well, I’d just love to leave you be, but if I don’t help the deputy sheriff, he’s gonna be sitting here all day. You know the sheriff’s older than Cooter Brown and half deaf, and the good folks of Calista will be left to fend for themselves in the event of a crime wave if Bud’s too busy staring at you.”

  Sue Ellen ducked her head and took another step toward the pavement. Oh yes, she would definitely let her so-called friend know just how little she appreciated the ribbing—tonight.

  “Just ignore her, Bud,” she said over her shoulder, tossing her ponytail to show him how little Sassy’s teasing had affected her. “She hasn’t made a lick of sense since she and Wendell Meeks hooked up.”

  “Hooked up,” Sassy said with a screeching giggle as she slapped the side of her grocery bag with her hand. “Oh, that’s a good one, Sue Ellen. I get it. Bait shop, hooks, hooked up. Real funny. Now get yourself over here and have a proper conversation about spending New Year’s Eve with Deputy Briggs before the whole town knows your business.”

  Too late for that, Sassy.

  Sue Ellen offered a weak wave to Patty, who’d come out of the flower shop to see what the commotion was about.

  At least Sue Ellen now knew what all the fuss was about. Dottie Jean had told her she suspected Wendell and the boys were cooking up a scheme that involved poor Bud and the New Year’s Eve party they were giving. Last Tuesday at Bible study, the four of them speculated as to just what the big joke would be, but none of them guessed it involved Bud’s asking her to the party.

  Or at least none of them had admitted to knowing about it.

  Sue Ellen narrowed her eyes and gave Sassy an I’ll-talk-to-you-about-this-later look. No way was she getting in the middle of this. Somehow she’d have to make a graceful exit before she was forced to tell the poor, adorable, boring deputy she had plans for midnight on the thirty-first.

  Plans to celebrate in her favorite pink poodle pajamas watching the ball drop in Times Square from the comfort of her cushy sofa while eating her fill of chocolate kisses. All of this after taking a steamy two-hour soak in the tub with a good book, of course.

  “Like I said, ignore her, Bud.” She grabbed the side of the ladder and positioned her foot to take another step, thinking of the new Mango Peach Parfait bubble bath she’d purchased just that morning. “Everyone else does.”

  “Actually, Sue Ellen,” Bud called, “I did want to talk to you about New Year’s Eve.”

  Her heart sank. So Grandpa and the boys had been teasing Bud again. That could be the only explanation for the antisocial deputy to mention any gathering that wasn’t related to church or deer hunting.

  The last time Grandpa and the boys had started up on the poor man, he’d nearly been convinced that there had been a rash of late-night attempts at robbing the station. The prospect of catching the thief kept him up three nights in a row on a stakeout of the property.

  Finally, Wendell Meeks took pity on the sleep-deprived deputy and confessed they’d been playing a joke on him. Bud had been so angry that he’d had them all rounded up and thrown in jail for making false reports.

  The incarceration had only lasted until the sheriff returned from lunch and set them all free, but the bruises to Bud’s ego had obviously endured.

  “See, I told you,” Sassy said. “Now, are you going with him to Dottie Jean’s shindig, or what?”

  Sue Ellen cast another glance over her shoulder to see Bud heading across the street toward her. For a moment she allowed herself the luxury of imagining herself decked to the nines, sequins and all, with a gussied-up Bud Briggs at her side all evening.

  She might even put a rinse in her hair for the occasion, something shimmery that would wash out in a couple of shampoos. They’d laugh and have fun, visiting with the gals and their dates, talking and laughing about old times until the clock chimed midnight.

  Midnight.

  Sue Ellen imagined what would come next all too clearly. Then, watching the deputy sheriff dodge traffic to cross the street, she imagined it all over again. The clock would chime once, twice, three times, and then—

  And then what? She bit her lip and sent a hasty apology heavenward.

  And then nothing, that’s what.

  You told me I’m to wait for You to bring someone into my life. Spending time with a man who’s not even remotely attracted to me is not what I need to do while I wait.

  Maybe after Bible study, she and Leota would go get a cup of coffee at Tilly’s and talk it out. Sue Ellen sighed. No, of course Leota would need to hurry home to Matt.

  Another friend lost to love.

  Sue Ellen paused to watch Bud wave at Patty, who now stood in the window of the flower store. Why did the deputy have to look so handsome today of all days?

  Resolutely, she cast her gaze heavenward, then glanced back at Bud as she continued her trek down the ladder. Maybe just one evening with him wouldn’t hurt, Lord. It wouldn’t be like we were anything more than friends.

  The answer thundered in her ears as she held tight to the rickety ladder and watched the sun glint off the silver star on his broad chest. She’d always had a particular affinity for men in uniform.

  Well, that man, anyway.

  Don’t even think about it, Sue Ellen. You’re waiting on God, and you’re not going to help Grandpa and his cronies with their little joke.

  Her mind made up, Sue Ellen resolved to be strong and let Bud down easy. Maybe she’d even let him in on the joke, not that he’d get it.

  An evening with him was out of the question, and that’s all there was to it. Still, she couldn’t help taking one last long look at Bud as he stepped up on the curb and put his hand on the ladder.

  That’s when she fell.

  Chapter Three

  I appreciate your concern, but I told you I am fine.” Sue Ellen gathered her pride and the remainder of the red ribbon and hurried inside the shop. Unfortunately, Sassy and the deputy followed her.

  “I don’t know, Sue Ellen,” Bud said. “You might ought to get yourself checked out. You may have broken something.”

  “Humph.” Sassy settled herself into the new zebra-covered shampoo chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “She landed on her rear end, Bud. What in the world do you think she might have broken?”

  To his credit, Bud actually blushed before he turned his back on Sassy. “You sure you don’t want me to run you over to the emergency room in Hattiesburg? It’s no trouble at all.”

  “ ’Course it’s not,” Sassy said. “You weren’t doing anything but sitting in your car trying to get up the courage to ask her to Dottie Jean’s party.”

  Sue Ellen dropped the ribbon into the drawer and slammed it shut. Thankfully no one was in the waiting room. Sassy’s retorts rarely bothered her. Today, however, she’d had her fill. She was about to say so when the older woman jumped to her feet and beat a path to the door.

  “You two behave,” she said as she slipped outside. “I got things to do that don’t involve a pair of blind lovebirds.”

  The screen door slammed, and Sue Ellen jumped. A check of the pink neon clock, and she knew they’d only be alone a few more minutes. Fanny was due for a cut and color, and she always arrived on time, if not a few minutes early.

  Poor Bud looked as if he’d been glued to the floor. His gaze wandered from the shampoo bowls to the two dryers, then finally to the baskets of curlers the older clients preferred.

  “You’ve never been in here, have you?”

  His nose wrinkled. “It smells funny.”

  “It smells like a beauty shop.” She reached for the scissors. “As long a
s you’re here, why don’t I shape up that shaggy hair of yours?”

  Bud took three steps toward the door. “You know that’ll never happen. Long as there’s a barbershop in Hattiesburg, you’ll never get your hands on this hair.”

  She shook her head and set the scissors down. “You act like I want to shave you bald. Honestly,” she said as she reached for the extra-large cape and draped it over the back of the chair, “I could care less that you’d look much better with a little weight off the back and all that gray covered up.”

  He almost fell for it. Almost, but not quite.

  It might have been the fact that she could barely hide her smile that tipped him off. Whatever the reason, he began to laugh, and she couldn’t do anything but join him.

  “Hey, seriously,” Bud finally said, “I think you ought to at least let the doc take a look at you to be sure you didn’t hurt something when you fell.”

  “Bud, I promise the only thing I hurt was my pride.”

  Sue Ellen caught sight of Fanny crossing the street. “Well, like I said, I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine. You might want to head on out of here unless you want Fanny, and thus the whole town, to know you’ve been in here considering a haircut.”

  He glanced over his shoulder, then back at Sue Ellen. “Thanks for the warning. If you’re sure you’re all right, I’m going to head back to the office now. And for the record, I never considered a haircut. Not in here, anyway.”

  “I’m fine,” she said to his retreating back.

  “Well, of course you are, hon.” Fanny yanked the screen door open just in time for Bud to press past her. “Where’s he going in such a hurry?”

  “Running from the truth,” Sue Ellen said with a chuckle. “I told him he needed a haircut and a dye job.”

  Fanny wedged herself into the chair, then dipped her chin to let Sue Ellen snap the cape behind her neck. “Honey, you didn’t really tell him that, did you? Not when I’m sure he just came over here to ask you to the New Year’s Eve party at Dottie Jean’s.”