by Lesley Crewe
Tansy turned her head to look at her accuser.
“Don’t look so surprised. I told you I would.”
She glared him. “You’ve waited for this, haven’t you? Why do you hate me so much? What have I ever done to you? It’s not like I’m in line to inherit his money. I’m not a threat.”
Philip lit a cigarette. “Oh yes, you are.”
“How? I’m his lover, not his wife.”
“A lover who can get pregnant any time it suits her. And we can’t have that.”
“Your father beds every woman he sees. If it’s not me, it’ll be someone else. Your inheritance isn’t safe.”
Charles glowered at her. “What I do with my free time is my business. As you say, you’re not my wife. But we’ve been together now for two years, the longest I’ve been with anyone other than his mother. And I expected loyalty.”
“Loyalty? Is it loyalty when your son asks me to go to bed with him?”
“I did no such thing. She’s lying to save her own skin.”
Charles stood and came around the desk, then grabbed her arm and made her look at him. “You live a life most people can only dream of, and this is how you repay me? By screwing a waiter on my kitchen floor?”
“That’s not true.”
He slapped her face. “Fifty bucks and a bottle of scotch loosened your waiter’s tongue, so don’t lie to me.”
She put her hand up to her stinging cheek. “I’m sorry.”
He turned away and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, where the bright lights of New York shone in the dark. There he stood for quite a while before he said, “Leave us, Philip.”
“But Dad—”
“Go.”
Philip got up reluctantly and gave Tansy a disgusted look before he walked out the door.
Charles turned his head from the window. “Why, Tansy?”
She looked at her hands. “I was drunk and stupid and jealous of that young girl…”
“You hurt me.”
“I know that.”
His face softened. “Come here.”
Tansy got out of the chair and walked over to him. He took her hand.
“I love you, Tansy. You’re the one I want by my side.”
“And I will be.”
Charles reached out and held her tight. “Let’s go to your room.”
They left the study to walk to the bedroom. He kissed her once more before she opened the door and then quietly closed it behind them.
She dreamt she was running through the farmer’s field behind their house, Bay in front of her laughing. She was happy and the sun shone brightly on her face. It was so bright it became uncomfortable.
Tansy woke with a start. Early morning light filled every corner of the room. She gave a great stretch and then relaxed with her arms over her head. She hadn’t expected to see Charles this morning. He told her he had an early meeting but to get herself dolled up for dinner tonight. He was taking her somewhere special for her birthday.
Tansy turned over on her belly. She smoothed the satin sheets with her hand, but her limbs felt heavy, like they did after a session in the gym. There was a good reason for that. Last night Charles had surprised her. She’d never known him to be so imaginative or so demanding. Her cheeks grew hot when she thought of it.
She’d done it. She’d escaped by the skin of her teeth. The fright of last night made her realize that she had to work extra hard, but it would be worth it. Before they’d fallen asleep he’d mentioned a world cruise.
At the thought of it, she jumped out of bed and hummed as she went into the bathroom. She was pinning up her hair when she noticed it.
There was a hundred-dollar bill sticking out from under a can of hairspray.
And a note.
Get out of my house.
CHAPTER THREE
Bay watched Wendell Bonaparte stagger up the street towards the post office. As she sorted the mail, she kept her eye on him through the front window. Every morning Wendell lurched his way down Main Street and every morning Bay was sure he’d be hit by a car. But drunks and fools must have someone looking after them, because he always managed to make it.
She prepared herself. The door flew open and Wendell came flying in with it. The only reason he stayed on his feet was Verna Bradford’s enormous bosom. He careened into her and steadied himself against her soft bulges.
“Morning, Verna. Grand day, wha’?”
Verna hit him with her newspaper. “Get off me, you great oaf.”
Wendell took several steps back and removed his ball cap to reveal his greasy comb-over. He waved his hat about with a flourish and bowed. “So sorry, me lady. No offence meant.”
Verna didn’t look impressed. “Get yourself into detox, Wendell, for your poor ma’s sake. I can’t for the life of me figure out why she doesn’t boot your arse all the way from here to Halifax.”
Wendell blinked several times as he swayed in front of his opponent. “Well, my dear, that may be because my arse isn’t nearly as large a target as yours.”
Verna gave an indignant shout and tore off out the door.
Bay bit her lip to keep from laughing. Wendell weaved his way over to her. He leaned on the counter and winked.
“That wasn’t very nice, Wendell.”
He put his ball cap back on. “No, sadly, it wasn’t.”
“No cheque for you today, I’m afraid.”
He winced. “Goddamn government.”
“They don’t come in until Thursday.”
Wendell’s head went back. “Isn’t today Thursday?”
“Nope.”
He sighed and the smell of alcohol almost made her eyes water.
“You better go home, Wendell. Your ma will be looking for you.”
He saluted her and did the two-step over to the post office door. He shouted over his shoulder, “When are you going to marry me, Bay?”
“When pigs fly.”
“Righto.” And out he went.
Bay shook her head and kept sorting. She was about to grab another bundle when she heard the school bus approach. Most days Ashley sat on the right side of the bus and would wave at her as they rumbled by. For the past week she was nowhere to be seen. There were only eight days left before both she and Matt graduated from high school, so this endearing ritual was quickly coming to a close. It hurt not to see her grinning face in the window.
Once more Bay steadied herself for Ashley’s rejection, but there she was. She gave a small wave and a half-hearted smile, but they meant everything to Bay.
When her best friend, Gertie, came up the walk, Bay was smiling from ear to ear.
“Hey ho,” Gertie cried. Gertie was single and very pretty, but because she was a large gal, that’s all people saw. Her uncontrollable frizzy hair didn’t help matters. She was always on a diet, yet managed to gain more and more weight as the years went by. She told people she still had her baby weight on, but didn’t tell them her baby was a cat named Jeffrey.
“Hi, Gertie. What’s up with you?”
Gertie leaned her plump elbows on the counter. “Same old, same old. Ashley talking to ya yet?”
Bay nodded. “Well, sort of. She waved at me this morning.”
Gertie rolled her eyes, but Bay was used to it. Gertie didn’t know how hard it was to be a mother and that you had to take your small victories when you could get them.
“What she needs to do is crawl on her hands and knees and beg your forgiveness for being so damn rude.”
“I did slap her.”
“Too right you did, and she deserved it.”
“Okay, let’s drop it, shall we?”
Gertie always took the hint. She straightened up. “Any mail for me?”
Bay walked to the back of the postal boxes and took out a couple of grocery store flyers. “This is it.”
Gertie was the only one she knew who was happy to get them. Gertie grabbed them out of her hand and flipped through the pages.
“Oh, goodie. Ice
cream’s on sale this week.”
“So’s celery.”
“Your point?”
“Don’t have one.”
“Good…oh mercy, look who’s coming.”
Bay looked up and saw Dermot approaching with his postal key already in his hand.
“Oh great, just what I need. He never leaves me alone.”
“He’s allowed to pick up his mail, isn’t he?”
“No, he’s not.” Bay pretended to be busy, and Gertie pretended she was reading the flyer.
Dermot pretended he didn’t see them at all. He walked up to the mailbox, opened it, took his mail, and left.
The two women looked at each other.
“Oh, shit.”
“Bay, what is wrong with you? That’s one good-looking man when he’s not in his grimy overalls. He cleans up real good, if you ask me.”
“I didn’t ask you.”
“Well, since you’re a stupid bitch, I guess you don’t mind me taking my chances with him.”
Bay’s head shot up and when it did Gertie pointed a finger in her face. “The thought of that scared ya, didn’t it?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Look, Gertie, I have work to do, so you better vamoose.”
“Okay then.” Gertie headed for the door. “I think I’ll doll myself up and run over a box of nails with my car. Might have to get my tires fixed at the garage.”
“Get goin’. And remember, supper’s at six.”
“I’ll be there.” Gertie gave her a wave and was gone.
Bay and Gertie met in sixth grade. Gertie’s family moved into their grandmother’s house after the old lady died and because her parents were older, they’d shoo her out of the house at every opportunity. Gertie was left to fend for herself, which was deadly, since she was the new, fat kid in town.
The first week of school was hell. The school bully was overjoyed to have a new target to practise on. Bay would watch from the sidelines, too afraid to intervene as Bradley taunted Gertie about her fat ass and jelly belly. Once Gertie looked at Bay with tears in her eyes, as if to ask, why don’t you help me? The only reason she didn’t was that Bradley had just started to leave her alone after ribbing her for weeks about her knobby knees and stick legs. No way did she want that to start over.
And so she was ashamed when her little sister, Tansy, came out of the school one day and happened to witness Bradley point at Gertie and laugh at her, calling her names while a group of kids stood around and watched the show.
Even though Tansy was in fifth grade, she marched up to Bradley and kicked him in the shin. When he bellowed and started after her, she held her ground and said for all to hear, “You dare hit me, Bradley, I’ll tell your da I saw you cryin’ in the principal’s office.”
That stopped him dead.
Tansy went up to Gertie. “You okay?”
Gertie nodded.
“Good.” Tansy walked away and so did everyone else once the fun stopped.
Bay stayed behind and smiled at Gertie. “Want to come to my house? My mom makes good cookies.”
Gertie sniffed and nodded as she shuffled along beside Bay. “Wasn’t that your little sister?”
“Yeah.”
“I like her. She’s pretty, and really brave.”
“I know.”
Tansy didn’t become Gertie’s friend. Tansy wouldn’t be caught dead with a loser. Gertie thought she came to her rescue because she didn’t like to see injustice, but Bay knew it was because Tansy loved being the centre of attention. No matter. Gertie became Bay’s best friend and if it weren’t for Tansy it might not have happened.
Whenever Bay thought of her sister, it was as if she were remembering a character in one of the fairy tales their mother would read to them at night, more illusion than flesh and blood. She didn’t talk to anyone about her sister and hadn’t seen her in years. People in town were scandalized when Tansy didn’t show up for her mother’s funeral. They never said as much to Bay, but she knew by the hints that were dropped while they licked envelopes and stuck stamps on parcels.
“Must be hard to be on your own, dear, with only your daughter to comfort you,” they’d say in a variety of ways. Bay would nod and change the subject. Only grouchy old Mrs. Skinner had the nerve to say it to her face.
“I think it’s dreadful that Tansy wasn’t there to say goodbye to your ma. A finer woman I’ve never met, but I’m afraid I can’t say the same about your sister. Stuck-up little trollop she was, always parading around and chasing anything in pants. You mark my words, no good will come to her. No good at all.”
Despite incidents like that, Bay loved her job. She had her finger on the pulse of the whole town. People would sometimes open a letter in the foyer, and then turn around with happy faces or looks of dismay. She knew everyone’s secrets because people knew Bay never gossiped. They themselves talked about everyone else in town while they waited in line or leaned against the counter before heading off for work or household chores. Just by being quiet, Bay learned more than she often wanted to know about her fellow citizens.
Finally it was five o’clock. Bay was anxious to get home and talk to Ashley before Gertie arrived for supper. She wanted to give Ashley a hug and tell her how wonderful she was, despite their differences. Bay was tired of being on the outs with her daughter. Life was too short for that kind of nonsense.
She closed up the post office and hurried down the street before remembering she didn’t have any milk, and tea without milk was a sad thing. She opened the door of one of the local shops and headed right for the cooler. With two cartons of 1 percent milk in her arms, she waited impatiently for Dolena Bagnell to hurry up and find the correct coins in her change purse. She knew she was in for a long wait. Dolena was as blind as a bat.
“I can’t seem to find another nickel,” Dolena told the bored teenager behind the counter.
Bay searched her pockets and found one. “Here, Dolena, take this.”
Dolena waved her off. “No, dear, I’m fine. I won’t be but a moment.”
The teenager and Bay looked at each other in misery. There was nothing for it. Dolena would not be moved until she found her nickel. As she fumbled around pushing aside change she spoke up.
“Did any of you see that movie star drive down the street this afternoon?”
The bored teenager perked up. “Movie star?”
It sometimes happened that the odd famous person was seen walking or driving around; Louisbourg was a tourist town, famous for its historic fortress.
“Oh yes, I’m sure of it. Beautiful, she was.”
“Who was it?” Bay asked, since she had nothing else to do.
“Oh, I’m sure it was that one who was in that movie…oh, what’s the name of it…you know the one I mean.”
“Ah, no. I can’t say I do.”
“She’s blonde…”
The teenager shouted, “Reese Witherspoon?”
Dolena looked puzzled. “Who?”
“Kirsten Dunst?”
“Dunst?”
“Never mind, Dolena,” Bay almost shouted. She looked at the clerk. “Can you put this on my bill instead?”
“Sure.”
Bay headed for the door. That’s when Dolena remembered. “Grace Kelly.”
Bay turned around. “Grace Kelly is dead.”
“Well, it looked like her, back in the days before she married that foreigner. Driving down the street in her fancy car, she was.”
“You don’t say.” Bay hurried outside and kept going. As she neared her street she passed Eldon, an old widower who liked to carve rough little animals out of wood, paint them bright colours, and sell them to unsuspecting tourists as real folk art.
“Hi, Eldon.”
“What’s goin’ on, girl?”
“Not much.” She didn’t want to stay and chat. “Sorry El, gotta run. I’m having company for supper.”
“They’ve already arrived, I’m afraid.”
She stopped. “What do you mean?”
/>
“I mean there’s a big fancy car in your driveway.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“I better go see.” She left Eldon behind. She couldn’t for the life of her figure out who it might be. Gertie drove a Dodge Shadow. As Bay got closer she saw the beautiful sleek silver car and despite her curiosity her steps slowed down the closer she got to it. She wasn’t sure why. It was a feeling. Her heart started to pound and her mind went blank.
It couldn’t be.
She started up the back steps and that’s when Flo poked her head out of her kitchen window. “As I live and breathe, you’ll never guess who’s back.”
No.
Bay looked through the screen door. Ashley sat at one end of the table looking happy and almost in awe. A beautiful woman sat opposite her. They were laughing together and both turned when they heard the door open. Bay stood there and held the heavy plastic bag down by her side.
Ashley couldn’t contain her excitement. “Mom, look who’s here.”
Tansy stood and faced Bay. “Hi, Sis.”
Bay couldn’t find her voice.
“Aren’t you glad to see me?”
Bay dropped her bag onto the counter. “Of course, how are you?”
The sisters gave each other a brief hug and stood awkwardly for a moment. Ashley broke the silence.
“I can’t believe you two are sisters.”
They looked at her.
Ashley pointed at Tansy. “I mean, you’re so glamorous…”
“And I’m a bag lady,” Bay frowned. “Thanks, kiddo.” She sat at the table. It was either that or run out the door. Tansy sat too.
“You know I didn’t mean it like that,” Ashley said.
“I always thought your mother was the prettier sister,” Tansy smiled.
Bay glanced at her. “You always did, didn’t you?”
“So why are you here?” Ashley asked. “Where do you live? Are you a model? Why didn’t you come home for so long?”
Bay put up her hand. “Enough.”
“That’s okay,” Tansy laughed. “I don’t mind.”
Bay turned to her. “Oh. Then why the heck are you here?”
“Mom.”
Tansy held up her hands. “Now girls, don’t fight.”