“You’re stronger than you think. We need to be there for them. And for the others, too.”
Clara and Millie had asked that Parker and Amy be present when Mabel was told of Clara’s illness. They were closest to Clara and Mabel. Millie hadn’t wanted to offend Steph and Rosa by not bringing them in, but too many people might make Mabel feel like the whole world was against her. Susan and Tess were going to be there. Susan would be able to answer any medical questions Mabel had.
“I feel weird bringing cookies and pretending we’re having a fancy tea party when we’re about to rip Mabel’s world apart,” Amy said. She walked over to the kitchen table and stared morosely down at the cookies.
Parker picked up the plate of sugar cookies. They were Mabel’s favorite. Such a simple cookie for a tiny firecracker of a woman. Parker pictured Mabel—her polyester suits, her short salt and pepper hair that was in a gray limbo. And those oddly-colored violet eyes that seemed to snap when angry or laugh when happy. She was the antithesis of her lover. Clara looked like Bea Arthur. Tall, regal, and handsome. She was the only person Parker had ever seen that could keep Mabel in check. Good God, what would happen to Mabel once Clara was gone?
“Parker?” Amy said. “Are you all right?
“Of course, why do you ask?”
“Because you’re just standing there and staring at the cookies.”
“I guess I was lost in thought,” Parker said.
Rascal bounded through the doggie door. He dove for his water bowl. He lapped and slurped loudly, getting more water on the floor than in his mouth.
“I can’t decide if we should take him,” Amy said. “I know he’s trained as a therapy dog, but what if he’s more of a distraction than a help?”
“We’ll put him in their backyard if he gets in the way.”
Clara and Mabel had bought Amy’s mother’s house next door to Millie’s. They’d been forced to sell their own house when the hospital needed more space for parking. Mabel wanted to hold out, but Clara refused to have a house sitting in the middle of a parking lot. Amy had put the house up for sale and Clara had persuaded Mabel to move. That meant Millie had friends close by, Amy sold her house, and Clara and Mabel had a newly restored home. It was a win-win situation.
Amy squatted, put her arms around Rascal’s neck, and looked into his chocolate brown eyes. “You’ll help if you can, right?” Rascal licked her face.
“I think that’s a yes,” Parker said. “We should go.” She put her hand out to help Amy up.
They walked hand in hand out to the carport. Amy looked up at the baby’s room. “It’s come so far so quickly.”
“We’re on a tight schedule,” Parker said. She lightly put her hand on Amy’s belly. It still seemed like a dream.
“You make me so happy,” Amy said.
“You’ll be even happier after the roofers come.”
“Then we can decorate.”
“Whoa, I still have to put in electricity and walls.”
“Shouldn’t be hard for you,” Amy said. Suddenly, her face fell.
“What is it?”
“We still don’t have a name for the baby. At this rate, we’ll have a nursery before we have a name.”
“Well, let’s see…” Parker mused. “We were on F.”
“Felix,” Amy said, chuckling.
“Fiona.”
Parker opened the door for Amy. It squeaked loudly.
Amy said, “Francis.”
Rascal barked and climbed into the jump seat of the Porsche. In the summer, Parker mostly left the convertible top down because she enjoyed the sweet smells of summer and the warm air blowing across her face. Rascal loved the car for the exact same reasons. He barked again, telling them in dogspeak that it was time to go.
Parker handed Amy the plate of cookies. “You better hold these so a certain furry one, not to be named, doesn’t eat all of them before we get there.”
“Good call,” Amy said.
Parker shut the squeaky door and climbed into the driver’s seat.
“I’m sad,” Amy said.
“Me, too.” Parker took Amy’s hand and brought it to her lips, kissing it sweetly.
Once they were on the road, Amy said, “Frank.”
“Fanny.”
“Faith.”
“Francesca.”
***
Bernie answered the door and Rascal raced past her. She pulled Amy into a bear hug and whispered into Amy’s ear, “Thank you for being here. Millie’s a mess right now.”
“Where is she?” Amy asked.
“In the kitchen trying to make tea and get the cookies and sweets ready.”
“Better go,” Parker said to Amy.
“You can help me set up the chairs,” Bernie said to Parker. They all knew it was an excuse to give Amy and Millie time alone together.
Amy took the plate of sugar cookies into the kitchen. Millie turned from the sink. She was washing porcelain china teacups. “I wanted to make this special. I thought I’d bring out my mother’s china.” Her face was tear stained. She washed the last cup, put it in the dish rack and dried her hands. “It probably won’t matter after...” she couldn’t finish her sentence. She closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I thought I was strong, but I’ve never been tested like this.”
“Oh, Millie,” Amy said. She put the cookies down and wrapped her arms around her friend.
“I just wasn’t prepared for this. I like to imagine the old die-in-your-sleep routine. I know it’s silly. We’ll each pass in our own way, but I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it.”
Millie looked her age today. She wasn’t wearing her usual active wear. Instead, she wore a pale yellow blouse and white linen trousers. She’d dressed for the seriousness of the occasion. Her usual joie de vivre and spunk had drained out of her. That was the problem with loving people, Amy thought. You were devastated when they left, especially in the permanence of death. Losing her father to a heart attack and her mother to Alzheimer’s had taught her that.
Bernie came in. Amy and Millie stepped away from each other. Millie smiled at Bernie. “All set out there?” she said too brightly.
Hitching up her polyester Wranglers and smoothing down her plaid western shirt, Bernie nodded. “Ready as we’ll ever be,” she said.
They were silent. Amy broke it. “I’ll dry the teacups.” This was the signal they needed to remind them that their own sadness had to be put aside long enough to get Mabel through the worst moment of her life.
“Right,” Millie said, she laid out the cookies on a big tray and handed it to Bernie.
Mabel barged in the front door. Despite much chastisement from Clara on the courtesy of knocking on doors and announcing oneself, Mabel still barged in. She marched straight for the kitchen. Her face lit up when she saw all the cookies and teacakes.
“Well, don’t you all look spiffy. Even the pregnant one,” Mabel said, pointing at Amy like they didn’t all know who was the pregnant one.
“Bette ordered some stylish maternity clothes for me,” Amy said. She wore a long, loosely fitting blue cotton shirt and dark blue leggings. She’d never worn leggings in her life, but her burgeoning belly needed an elastic waistband. She wore tan Crocs because her ankles were swollen, and regular shoes were torture. Parker had purchased several pairs for her so she’d have shoes to match her new maternity outfits.
“Had I known this was such a highbrow event, I’d have whipped out something dressier,” Mabel said. She was wearing all green. Green polyester pants, green shirt, and even green shoes. She looked like an aging Peter Pan.
Clara entered the kitchen and smiled at them. Amy noticed she was paler than usual and she put her hand to the edge of the counter to steady herself. “Well, this sure looks nice.”
“I’ll say,” Mabel said, reaching for a sugar cookie. She stuffed half of it in her mouth, looking at Clara defiantly. When she swallowed enough to talk, she said, “You told me I got to splurge on
sugar today because it was a special occasion. I had a blood test and my blood sugar was high. She’s got me,” she jabbed a finger at Clara, “on a sugar-free diet. At my age, I don’t see why it matters so much. Why shouldn’t I leave this world with sugar on my breath?”
Millie pressed her lips flat. Tears fell despite the effort to keep her emotions in check. “Excuse me,” she said. She raced out of the kitchen.
“What’s wrong with her?” Mabel asked. She reached for another cookie, but caught Clara’s disapproving look and put it back on the tray.
“It’s probably just her hormones,” Bernie said quickly.
“My hormones make me cranky,” Mabel said.
“We know all about your cranky moods,” Bernie said, trying to lighten the mood.
“Mabel, I’m going to sit on the patio. I didn’t sleep well last night and I’m feeling a bit tired,” Clara said. Clara slowly made her way out of the room.
“I’ll say. She tossed and turned and moaned half the night. She puts up with my snoring, so I don’t have a lot of room to talk,” Mabel said.
Edna appeared in the kitchen entryway. No one had heard her come in. She’d obviously just had her hair done at the beauty parlor. It resembled a gray-haired football helmet. She wore a pastel pink pantsuit with white shoes. Her makeup was perfect, but Amy noticed the extra concealer under her eyes.
Mabel looked Edna up and down and whistled. “Dang, don’t you clean up good.”
“Well, it is a fancy tea party,” Edna said, turning pinker than her outfit.
“What’s wrong with your eyes? They look all puffy,” Mabel asked.
Edna looked stricken. Amy stepped in. “Probably allergies. I know mine have been acting up. It’s all the pollen floating around.”
“Where’s Clara?” Edna asked. She handed Amy the plate of chocolate chip cookies she’d brought.
“She’s taking a load off. She’s out back with Parker and Rascal,” Bernie said.
“I better go check on her,” Mabel said. She turned and left the room, swiping another cookie on the way out.
“I’m glad you brought Rascal,” Edna said.
“I was worried he might be a distraction, but I’m glad we did, too. We might need a distraction,” Amy said.
“I can’t believe Mabel hasn’t figured out that Clara is sick,” Edna said, patting at her heavily sprayed bouffant.
“She could be in denial,” Bernie said.
Millie returned from the bathroom. Her nose was red. “My heart is breaking for Mabel.”
Bernie took Millie’s hand. “Mabel is stronger than we give her credit for.”
“I certainly hope so,” Millie replied.
“Hey, are we having a tea party or what?” Mabel called out from the patio.
“We’ll be right out,” Bernie called back.
They all grabbed plates of treats. Amy helped Millie get the china cups and teapot on a silver tray. Amy studied the silver tea tray. “This is beautiful.” She ran her finger over the scroll work on the edges of the tray.
“My great-grandmother’s,” Millie said. “Things were made to last in those days.” They went to the back deck where everyone else was already gathered around the table.
“About time,” Mabel groused as Bernie set a plate of cookies in front of Mabel.
“You be nice,” Clara scolded. “Millie and the girls spent a lot of time putting this party together.”
“My apologies,” Mabel said sarcastically. She put three petits fours on her plate.
Millie poured everyone tea. “Cream and sugar,” she said, setting the little china pitcher and bowl in the middle of the table.
Trying to seem normal was proving more difficult than Amy had thought it would be. She looked around at everyone else who were dutifully putting cookies on their plates but not eating any. Amy did the same, taking a petit four. She sipped her tea. Everyone else did the same. Mabel didn’t seem to notice the silence at first.
“How come I’m the only one eating?” Mabel dipped her sugar cookie in her tea.
“Millie, do you have a cushion I could use? My back is hurting,” Clara said. She winced, but quickly tried to hide the pain that sitting in a chair caused her.
“I’ll get one,” Parker said, standing.
“I have plenty in the guest room closet,” Millie said.
“I keep telling her that she needs to go to the chiropractor. Dr. Wong did wonders on my sciatic nerve. And I never knew that one of my legs was shorter than the other until he straightened me out. I’ve felt better ever since. Who’d have thought I was crooked?” Mabel said.
“You thought I was crooked once,” Edna said, jokingly. “That’s all I ever heard out of you.”
“I know you didn’t cheat at Bingo. I’m sorry I ever accused you,” Mabel said. She smiled across the table at Edna. “But it’s boring now that I don’t have an archenemy anymore. I’d rather have you as a friend though.”
Edna blushed again.
“I think aliens have abducted my wife and given me a nice one instead of the old curmudgeon I had before,” Clara said.
Parker returned with the pillow and helped arrange it for Clara. “Is that better?” she asked.
“Much. Thank you, Parker.”
Parker returned to her seat next to Amy. She picked up a chocolate chip cookie and took a bite.
Amy followed Parker’s example and nibbled at a petit four. She could barely swallow her mouth was so dry. She reached for her teacup, her hand shook, and tea sloshed out on Millie’s white lace table cloth.
Mabel said, “What’s wrong? You getting nervous about popping out the baby?”
“Mabel,” Clara reprimanded.
“Just being realistic,” Mabel said. Her smile lacked penitence.
“She’s got a ways to go,” Parker said.
“Time flies. Wait until you get old like us. The days just whiz by. It’s a damn wonder we’re still here,” Mabel said.
There was absolute silence. Parker broke the spell. “Very astute, Mabel.”
“And philosophical,” Bernie added.
“How come you’re not having any cookies?” she asked Bernie. “A big gal like you needs to keep up her strength.”
Bernie chose several cookies from the tray, put them on her plate, but sipped her tea instead of eating. Amy looked around. Everyone else seemed to have the same problem getting anything down. It became evident by the silence that something was wrong. Even Rascal wasn’t his usual self. He lay on the grass, his big head resting his head on his paws. Usually, he was off chasing smells. He seemed to be waiting for his upcoming job of comfort dog.
Mabel set her teacup down hard on the table. “I want to know what the hell’s going on. You’re all acting like somebody died.”
Absolute silence reigned again. Everyone except Clara stared down at their plates and teacups.
“Actually… I am dying,” Clara said.
“Ha! You wish. You’re stuck with me, pain in the ass that I am,” Mabel said. “For a long time to come.”
Clara took Mabel’s hand, saying, “It’s true, Mabel. I am dying.”
Rascal got up off the grass and sat next to Clara. He put his paw on her leg, his chocolate eyes staring up at her.
Looking up from their plates, everyone stared intently at Mabel, who studied Clara. “We’re all dying a little more each day. That’s so true, you know. I’ve said that myself dozens of times.”
Clara said, “You’re the love of my life, Mabel Louise. And as much as I like to deny it, I did fall in love at first sight.”
“I knew it!” Mabel slapped the table. “And then it only took you twenty-five years to admit it.” She looked around the table. “I didn’t fall in love as quickly. I held out because I wanted to make sure Clara was the right one.” She let go of Clara’s hand and put her arm around her shoulders, planting a sweet kiss on Clara’s cheek.
“That’s right. I had to do some convincing,” Clara said. She smiled warmly at Ma
bel, her eyes shiny. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
“I’m going to miss you more,” Mabel replied, then stopped. “Wait, where are you going? Are you leaving me for another woman?” Her eyes narrowed.
Edna giggled nervously. “She’d never do that. Clara is true blue.”
Mabel turned on her. “Then where’s she going?” She glared at everyone at the table.
Amy met Parker’s gaze. Parker took a deep breath. “Clara, do you want me to do it?”
“Yes.” Clara ran her tongue over her lips. “I seem to be botching it.”
“What the hell is going on here? I demand an answer.” Mabel stood up and banged her fist on the table. The teacups jumped from the impact.
Parker cleared her throat. “Mabel, perhaps you should sit down.”
“I’m not doing anything until I get a proper answer.”
Parker closed her eyes for a moment, then met Mabel’s angry gaze. “Clara has terminal cancer and there’s nothing to be done. She’s got some time, but not much. She is dying.”
Mabel tore her gaze away from Parker and looked at Clara, who nodded. Mabel slumped down in her chair. Bernie reached out to touch Mabel’s shoulder. She pulled away. Reaching for the cookie tray, Mabel began stuffing cookies into her mouth. Clara reached for her hand to stop her from inhaling the entire tray. Mabel slapped her hand away.
“Mabel, stop it this instant,” Clara commanded.
“No!” Mabel said, through her mouthful of cookies.
“Too much sugar makes you edgy,” Clara said.
“What do you care? You’re leaving me all alone. You swore you’d stay forever.” She snatched more cookies and stuffed them in her mouth.
Clara pulled the cookie tray away.
“You can’t do this,” Mabel screeched. Suddenly, she wheezed. Her face turned a deep red.
“She’s choking,” Clara said, trying to get to her feet.
Bernie leapt up, grabbed Mabel in her strong arms and performed the Heimlich maneuver. The lodged cookie ejected, flew over the table, and splatted on the deck. Color instantly returned to Mabel’s face as she gasped for breath.
“You’re always upstaging me,” Clara said. She got up stiffly and wrapped her arms around Mabel.
Cross Your Heart (True Heart Series Book 4) Page 12