Cakewalk

by Rita Mae Brown

  “Hard worker.” Dick folded the paper, handing it back to Betty. “My dad says he’d rather hire a hard worker than a smart guy who’s lazy.”

  They nattered, teased one another, and then filed out for home, Flavius calling good-bye to each student. They said good night in return.

  Juts had forgotten the new whisk broom she’d picked up at Smitman’s Hardware. She ran back, and as she opened the door, there was Flavius, whisk broom in hand.

  “Oh, thanks. Momma would have been one step ahead of a running fit.”

  “Give your mother my regards.” He handed her the hand-tied little broom.

  “Whew.” Juts exhaled as she came out of the store.

  Ev felt the tiny snowflakes on her face. “Feels good even if they are cold.”

  “The best part about snow is it covers the yard,” Juts said. “Then when it melts I see everything I have to pick up. General Pershing is always stealing stuff which he drops outside.”

  “Dad says you should go bird hunting with him.”

  “Nah. I don’t want to hunt anything and besides, I don’t have a gun,” Juts replied, then looked around. “We’re in the clear.”

  “In the clear for what?”

  “Louise is engaged.”

  Ev stopped for a moment. “You waited until now to tell me!”

  “I was afraid you’d leak it out at Cadwalder’s.”

  “People will find out sooner or later but I would have kept my mouth shut.”

  “I’m surprised I did.” Juts laughed at herself. “She’s silly. It’s all she talks about.”

  “Girls get like that, but it did just happen, right?”

  Juts nodded. “They want to wait until he can see his mother and father and then they’ll announce it in the newspaper. Ev, can you imagine getting married?”

  Ev slowed a bit. “What else is there?”

  “What do you mean?” Juts noticed some of the ladies belonging to the St. Anne Circle going into Christ Lutheran Church.

  Christ Lutheran Church had many groups divided by age, interest, men or women’s, as did all the rest of the churches. If you belonged to a church in Runnymede, you were never lonely.

  “You get married, have kids, that’s it. Everyone does it.”

  “Celeste didn’t.”

  “My mother says Celeste was always a rebel. Gave her mother fits. Carlotta did everything right and Celeste did not, and Mom also said they spent a fortune sending her to England. Can’t go by Celeste.”

  “Okay, but really Ev, can you imagine cleaning house, raising kids, ironing your husband’s shirts, making food for potluck suppers at church? There’s got to be more than that.”

  Ev thought out loud. “Mrs. Wilcox works. Your mother works. Mrs. Negroponti works. A lot of the ladies work in their husbands’ businesses. They aren’t just ironing shirts.”

  “No, they’re doing all that work, and then ironing shirts.” Juts sounded miserable. “I don’t want to do it.”

  “Marry a rich man. He’ll hire servants. You can travel when he takes off in the summers. Most of those rich guys in Baltimore take off August. That’s what Dad says and Mom, too. They go to the Chesapeake or the Adirondacks. It can’t be that bad, Juts, everyone does it.”

  Mournfully, Juts mumbled, “And now Wheezie. I’ll be all alone.”

  “Oh, you will not. I’m here. Your pals are here and she’ll be around besides; she isn’t leaving Bumblebee Hill for a while. And what do you care if Wheezie gets married? You fight all the time.”

  “Since the popcorn fight at the Capitol Theater, we’ve hardly fought at all. Louise is changing.”

  Ev smiled. “Maybe you are, too.”

  “Ah, Evie, changing to what? Mr. Thigpen threw me out of school. Momma’s quiet about it but she’s upset and she’s really upset that I let Dimps Jr. get under my skin. Louise says it’s hard to find a job when you’re only fifteen and she says that business is getting better than last year but it’s still hard to find a job. And what can I do? I’m not as musical as Louise but I could play the piano at parties. You get paid for that. I’ll work hard. I’m not afraid of work but someone has to teach me what they want.”

  “That’s why you stay away from Dimps Jr., the big cootie.” Ev used a word the boys who’d come back from the war used. “Just steer clear. Come back next year. But you need to keep up. I’ll help. I have to study anyway, Juts, so I might as well do it with you. You didn’t turn your books back in, did you?”

  “No.”

  “Then meet me after school at my house and we’ll go over things. I can bring you tests home or, I bet if you ask Mr. Thigpen, he’d let you come after school to take the tests. That way no one can accuse you of cheating.”

  A deep, ragged sigh escaped Juts. “Ev, you’re my best friend.”

  “You’re mine. All for one and one for all.” She wrapped her arm around Juts’s waist.

  “I see Wheezie with Pearlie and they laugh all the time, they talk all the time. She’s so happy. I guess he is too, and I guess that’s why people get married, but how many stay happy?”

  Ev had no answer to that. “Maybe people just get tired. Mom and Dad seem pretty happy. They don’t fight. Well, sometimes, but I look around and I see people who don’t speak to one another. I mean, look at Big Dimps and her husband. If you pick the wrong person, that’s it.”

  “How do you know you’ve picked the right one? I mean, everyone gets all cow-eyed and they paw all over one another. I’m not doing that. You should see the way Wheezie and Pearlie look at one another. Oh, it’s too awful.”

  “But they’re happy, and Mom said even though they’ve not been going out a long time, they’re made for each other.”

  “Your mother doesn’t know, does she?”

  “Of course not, but you can’t hide but so much. He walks her to Celeste’s after she gets off work. They go to the movies every Saturday. He takes her to dinner and Mom said she doesn’t spend his money. Louise is careful and she said that’s as good a sign as him being so careful with her. She told Dad they’re made for each other.”

  “I have no idea what that means,” Juts despondently muttered.

  “I kind of do and I kind of don’t. I do think it would be nice to be able to talk to someone, to just tell him everything and listen too. You know, the two of you against the world.”

  Juts pulled Ev closer. “That’s us.”

  “Yeah, but I think it’s different with a man, Juts. Something else. Has to be something else or people wouldn’t do the crazy things they do, and I don’t just mean the bedroom stuff. Like we aren’t supposed to know.” She giggled.

  “I used to wonder about that with Celeste and Ramelle. You know what I mean?” When Ev nodded, Juts added, “I love you, Ev. I do, but I don’t want to kiss you.”

  Ev roared, “Good, because I don’t want to kiss you either.”

  Juts looked ahead as they’d stopped in front of Ev’s lovely Federal home. “Fannie Jump’s car. She’s all the time at Celeste’s. I mean, more than usual.”

  “Mom says she needs Celeste, and Fairy, too. She says that Fannie Jump is in a dead marriage, she and Creighton just keep up appearances.”

  “See, that’s what scares me. How do you know? You’re standing up there in front of the altar, swearing all kinds of stuff. I don’t want to end up like Fannie, even if she is rich.” Juts liked Fannie but still thought it a sad way to live.

  “Me neither. Juts, I don’t know. I guess if you think it’s right, if you love him, you take a chance. What about the women who married and lost their husbands in the war? You take the chance and it’s real far away for us but I’ll be there when it happens to you and you’ll be there when it happens to me.”

  Brightening, Juts nodded. “Right.”

  “So, Monday, bring your books. Nothing’s really that hard and you’re a whiz at math. You can help me. I don’t get algebra. Why use letters?”

  Juts smiled. “I’ll bring my books.” She hugged her
friend, then started down the street.

  Once inside the house, she heard Fannie.

  “This kitten’s already bigger.”

  In the library, Celeste responded, “Good.”

  “Fairy said she’d stop by and I wanted to see you for a minute before she arrived. She said she’s bringing scones. Mrs. McAllister outdid herself in the scone department and she has clotted crème, regular butter, and a basketful of jams. She’s embarrassed at eating all your food.”

  “When did you receive all this information?”

  “Oh, we were at St. Paul’s. Vestry meeting. And you’re right. There are mice behind the tapestry just like Mrs. Creighton told you. I walked into the vestibule to listen.”

  “Ah.” Celeste allowed Glue on her shoulders as they sat together in the big chair.

  “Will you consider something?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “As you know, I love my trips to Baltimore.” She held up her hands. “I know, I know, I’ve worked my way through the baseball team in years past, but lately Tony and I have become quite close. I’d like to attend some of Olivia Goldoni’s concerts, the symphony as well as the ball games. Baltimore has a long way to go but there is some culture there. I was rather wondering how you felt about Baltimore.”

  “As I’ve always felt about Baltimore, I’m glad it’s there and I’m glad I don’t have to live there. Stirling does that for all of us. Well, Curtis is making his own money, I should be fair.”

  “I see.” Fannie clasped and unclasped her hands, leaned forward. “I pay off the help at the Belvedere Hotel. I don’t want stories to creep back here to Creighton. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. I do not inquire too closely into his doings, but knowing Creighton, his passion isn’t women, it’s business.”

  “I would agree. Fannie, you usually get to the point, so do it.”

  “Well…” A long, long pause followed. “I was rather hoping we could together buy a small house so that we could come and go as we wish. We won’t lose money and if one wants to buy the other out, fine.”

  Surprised, Celeste replied, “Give me some time. I’ve never considered anything like this.”

  Feeling hopeful, Fannie offered, “Tony says he could find a housekeeper. You and I can’t do that. I can barely keep up with what I have here.”

  “True.” Celeste’s ear, filled with a mighty purr, tingled.

  “When Ramelle returns, you might need some privacy, a day away now and then.”

  “I hadn’t thought about that,” Celeste honestly replied.

  “Celeste, I’ve never seen you so happy. I’m happy. How many chances do we have? And who is to say how long anything can last, but I feel alive. I’m not turning back.”

  “You aren’t going to get a divorce? Oh, Fannie, don’t do that.”

  “Of course not. I will never embarrass Creighton. I’ve tried to keep my little escapades from him, but when I’ve had too much to drink, I fear my indiscretion. This way, if I am indiscreet, I’m in Baltimore but then again, I will be in Tony’s company, so I have good reason to be discreet.”

  “As I said, let me think about it.”

  “Ben’s dazzling. But then so are you. Always have been. Celeste, the clock is ticking. Everything is changing. I want to be happy, young again, even if it’s fool’s gold.” Fannie didn’t mince words.

  “I understand. I do understand. Let me think about this and I won’t belabor it. I promise.”

  The front door opened and closed.

  Fairy popped into the library, a big hamper basket under her arm. “To the kitchen.”

  They repaired to the kitchen, Glue still asleep on Celeste’s shoulder. Fairy unpacked her scones, the crème, the butter, too many jams.

  Cora and Juts found them eating away.

  “Please, have some. Mrs. McAllister’s special.”

  Glue woke up. Celeste put her down to treats.

  “Well, girls, it is April ninth,” Fairy announced. “Appomattox.”

  “So it is. My father, all of twenty-four, began the walk home to Maryland.” Fannie reached for another scone.

  “And here we are.” Fairy, ready to quote Marx, thought the better of it. “And what have we learned?”

  Celeste laughed. “I’ve learned never show a southerner a lost cause.”

  Snow interspersed with sleet battered the station window looking out to the train track. At times, Celeste could see only gray and white. The weather prevented Patience Horney’s church-lady keepers from walking her to the station. Celeste missed the odd soul as she waited for the Baltimore train. Surely Patience’s intergalactic friends wouldn’t be inconvenienced by an early spring storm. Humans certainly were.

  Few people waited inside the station, but those who did perked up hearing the whistle blow. Through the snow, the big engine appeared. Celeste pushed open the door, umbrella unfurled, which in the wind turned inside out. Stepping down, Ben didn’t see her until very close. He reached for the pathetic umbrella, took her arm with his other hand, to propel her into the station.

  She raised her voice to be heard above the gusts. “You can’t carry the umbrella and your bag at the same time.”

  The door slapped behind them.

  “You’re right.” He took her umbrella, depositing it in a large disposal can. “You needn’t have stepped out. Makes your bones hurt.”

  “It is a storm of biblical intensity. Well, we have to brave a bit of it to get to the car.”

  Pushing open the door at the other end of the station, the two dashed for the car. Francis ran toward them and his umbrella also turned inside out.

  “Blast,” he cursed.

  “Mine did, too.” She ducked into the backseat as Francis held the door open, squinting, for the snow now blew sideways.

  Ben vaulted in after her, setting his Gladstone bag at his feet.

  “I can take that, sir.”

  “Francis, please get in the car. His bag can take a beating better than you can.”

  Touching his cap, Francis nodded, hurrying to slip into the driver’s seat. All three sighed with relief when the Packard started.

  Teeth chattering slightly, Celeste leaned into Ben, who put his arm around her. “I don’t know why I’m so cold. I was barely out in this.”

  “The wind cuts.” Ben rubbed her shoulder. “Sleeting when I left Baltimore but with each mile moving west the weather worsened. The newspaper predicts it will go on throughout the day and night.”

  “There’s coal in the furnace in the basement and the fireplaces will be roaring,” Celeste said. “Cora will never get home today. She thinks ahead, so she brought her cat and dog with her. They’re in the kitchen, aware of their good fortunes.”

  Once at home, they both repaired to her room to strip out of their wet clothing.

  “I bet I can get out of my clothes before you do.” He untied his shoes, peeling off his socks.

  “No fair. Any man can undress faster than any woman. My fingers aren’t working as they should.”

  “Here. I’ll do it.” He unbuttoned her silk blouse, while his shirt, sticking to his skin, remained half unbuttoned. Once finished, he wriggled out of his shirt, then his undershirt.

  She hurried to the bathroom, pulled on her robe, and brought him a heavy towel. He wrapped the towel around his waist as she picked up his shoes.

  “We need to stuff these with newspapers. They are soaked.” Looking around, she found nothing. “I’ll go downstairs. I think I left the paper on the breakfast table. Hang up your coat.”

  “It’s dripping.”

  “Give it to me, then. I’ll take it down and Cora can hang it in the kitchen. We look like two drowned ragamuffins.” She laughed, putting the coat over her arm, carrying the shoes.

  Once in the kitchen, she handed Cora the coat then snatched the paper from the breakfast room.

  Stuffing the shoes, Celeste noticed that Glue, curled up with General Pershing, was sound asleep. “I bet all that fur feels wonderful.�
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  “Felicity would have nothing to do with the kitten.” Cora smoothed out Ben’s coat. “Let me hang this in the coatroom. If it drips on the floor it won’t hurt anything. What did you two do? Walk around the square?”

  “No. Cora, all I did was go out to meet him. My umbrella blew inside out. Then we made a run for the car and Francis’s umbrella blew inside out. That was it.”

  The windows rattled ominously. Both women looked up.

  “I’ll put the shoes in the pantry. That’s close enough to the heat but not close enough to shrink them. Well”—she held up one of Ben’s shoes—“they might anyway.” She held them sideways and Celeste could see the holes under the toes.

  “We’ll hope for the best.”

  “Best foot forward.” Cora smiled.

  “What size are those?”

  “The size is worn off.” Cora checked the interiors of both shoes.

  “Maybe he can wear Spotts’s. My brother’s shirts fit him. Shoes would be a blessing. They’re expensive.”

  Cora disappeared into the pantry, then returned, agreeing, “Anything leather is expensive.”

  Celeste rifled through other newspaper sections. “Sports page. I’ll take this up. I’m sure our version of sports will be a counterpoint to the Sun’s. North Runnymede’s paper is even better for that. Everything is about the Philadelphia teams.”

  “Before the girls left today, Louise read me the article about Prohibition.”

  “The one about the government hiring more men to enforce it?” Celeste felt a bit of warmth returning to her body.

  “That’s it.”

  “Will you make a pot of tea? I’ll take it up. We are both chilled to the bone and he’s only wrapped in a towel. I can’t remember if Spotts’s robe is still here. I thought he took it with him. Funny, what you remember and you don’t.”

  “You go to your guest. I’ll check Spotts’s room and then Curtis’s. He always leaves things behind when he visits.”

  “Good idea.” Celeste looked down at the sleeping pets. “Before I forget—I can send Francis to pick up Louise.”