Her Mother's Daughter

by Lesley Crewe

  “Say it.”

  Tansy smiled. “Say what?”

  “That you think I’m the greatest guy you’ve ever been with.”

  “Why would I say that? My last guy was a multimillionaire, not a grease monkey.”

  “You told me grease could be fun.”

  “I did?”

  “You did,” Dermot laughed. “Two minutes after we met.”

  “That was a mistake. I’ll be more circumspect in the future.”

  Dermot grinned and sat at the edge of the bed, holding out his hand to pull her up. “Look who’s showing off with her fancy language.”

  Tansy gathered up her clothes and held them in front of her. “I’m proceeding to the lavatory to expunge your pungent odour from my epidermis.”

  “What you really need is a shower.”

  Tansy threw her camisole at him.

  When she arrived at home she tiptoed upstairs, closed her bedroom door, and waited until seven o’clock to call Gertie.

  “Sorry, Gertie, I can’t make it for our walk this morning.”

  “Can’t say I’m sorry.”

  “I want you to go for a walk without me.”

  “What? That’s no fun. Are you sick?”

  “No, had a late night.”

  “And I bet it wasn’t in front of a television set.”

  “You know me so well. Now remember, twenty minutes at least.”

  “Goodbye, Commandant.”

  Tansy put down the phone and went to sleep.

  Bay poked her head into Tansy’s bedroom before she left for work. She wanted to make sure her sister was home. Despite the fact that she’d been awake for a long time after she went to bed, she hadn’t heard Tansy come in. Bay had spent the time thinking up a game plan, because Tansy was right. It was ridiculous that she never made an effort. A dried-up old prune is exactly what she’d be if she didn’t soon change her ways.

  She was about to go downstairs when she heard a noise in the bathroom. She went over to the door and knocked softly. “Is that you, Ashley?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I feel kind of crummy.”

  “Really? Let me feel your forehead.”

  “Mom, I’m not a baby. I have an upset stomach. Probably nerves about the prom tomorrow.”

  “You’ve never changed. You always had a delicate stomach.”

  “I’ll be fine. You’re going to be late.”

  “Okay, sweetheart. Feel better.”

  “Thanks.”

  Bay ran down the stairs and grabbed her granola bar. “Come on, Merlin. You need to go for a pee.”

  Merlin got up instantly and ran to the door. When Bay got outside, she smelled the salty ocean air. It was a beautiful day, a day full of possibilities. She ate her breakfast while she waited for Merlin to stop sniffing every bush in the backyard. It had rained during the night, and the small tufts of garden greenery looked fresh and clean nestled in the dark loamy soil. Flo came outside with a container filled with potato peelings and turnip tops from last night’s supper to throw in the compost bin. She waved.

  “Morning.”

  “Hi, Flo.”

  Flo came across the yard. “Do you know what time your sister crawled home last night, or should I say this morning?”

  Bay ate the last part of her bar. “I really don’t care.”

  “You don’t? God knows what she’s up to. People will start to talk.”

  Bay laughed. “Flo, people talk whether or not there’s anything to talk about. You’ve lived here long enough to know that.”

  “True. I just don’t want her running roughshod over you.”

  “I’m not the weakling you think I am.”

  Flo started to smile. “There’s my girl.”

  “And guess what? I’m going to invite Dermot over for supper and then let him take me to a movie.”

  “Well, it’s high time.”

  “Better dash. Come on, Merlin.”

  The morning crawled by for Bay as she rehearsed what she would say to Dermot. She wasn’t going to take no for an answer. There were cabbage rolls in the freezer and it was only a matter of picking up French bread on the way home. He loved apple pie, so she’d make that too.

  Lunchtime arrived and Bay closed up shop for an hour. She got in her car and headed for Dermot’s garage, where she parked at the side of the building and went around to the front. The garage doors were open and he was servicing a car that was up on the lift.

  “Hi, Dermot.”

  He looked startled. “Hi.”

  “How are you?”

  “Good.”

  She watched his face. He was clearly uncomfortable and it was her fault.

  “Dermot, I’ve apologized before, but I don’t think you believed me so I’ll say it again. I had no right to brush you off like that. You’re someone I’ve cared about for a long time, and I don’t want you to be afraid to come near me. I was thoughtless and I want to make amends. Please come for supper tonight and then maybe we can go to the movies. I’d really like that.”

  He didn’t say anything. He looked down at his feet, so she couldn’t read his face. Finally he lifted his head.

  “Look, Bay, I don’t think…”

  She walked up to him and put her hand on his arm. “Please, Dermot. I want to be with you.”

  He looked like he wanted to cry. Not knowing what to do, she reached up and kissed him, but he didn’t respond. She pulled her head away. “Please kiss me.”

  He dropped the rag and put his arms around her, then lowered his head and kissed her hard. It felt incredible. She wanted to take him into the office and be with him right there and then. He had the same idea, because he lifted her off her feet and walked into the back of the garage, keeping his mouth on her the whole time. He kicked the office door shut and sat her on his desk before he lifted his head and held her face.

  “Do you know how long I’ve waited for you to say that?”

  “I know,” she said breathlessly. “I’ve been—”

  Dermot shut her up with another kiss and reached for her blouse to undo the buttons. She helped him. He pulled it away from her shoulders and leaned her over the desk, kissing under her chin, and then her throat, and then the soft space where her necklace rested. She pulled at his overalls, wanting to feel his skin under her fingers. She forgot where she was. Nothing mattered but this man and his body and how he made her feel.

  A voice from out front shouted, “Is anybody here?”

  Bay lifted her head. “Oh, God…”

  Dermot clamped his hand over her mouth. “Shh. Be quiet, they’ll go away.” They held their breath while they looked into each other’s eyes.

  “Hello? Hello? Do you want me to pay for this gas, or what?”

  Dermot gritted his teeth. “Shit.” He lifted himself off her. Bay sat up on the desk and fumbled to close her blouse. He reached out and held her chin in his hand. “Let’s finish what we started tonight, okay?”

  She couldn’t speak, only nodded her head. Dermot disappeared out the door and she sat there not believing what had happened. She never did things like this.

  It was a good day.

  No one was home when she got there, so she went straight upstairs and had a hot shower, and then hurried about the kitchen in her bathrobe while she made the apple pie. The phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Mom. Maribeth’s mother asked me if I wanted to stay for supper. Is that okay?”

  “Fine, honey. Do you know where your aunt is?”

  “She went into town to buy some new clothes.”

  “Like she doesn’t have enough. All right, thanks for calling.”

  “Bye, Mom.”

  Bay fairly hopped around the kitchen. No one was home. The minute Dermot walked through that door, she planned to pounce on him. She hoped Tansy would stay away long enough for them to be together.

  She took her time getting ready and wore her blue sweater set and grey skirt,
putting her hair up with a rhinestone clip. The table was set, the food ready. The kitchen looked cozy and welcoming. All she needed was for him to come through the back door. She paced back and forth to the living room window, peeking out the curtains every time she heard a vehicle out front. Finally his truck pulled into the driveway. He got out carrying a bouquet of flowers. She bit her lip and ran into the kitchen so she could greet him.

  When he came through the door, he gave her a smile and didn’t say a word, simply handed her the flowers and gathered her in his arms. He kissed her for a long time before he let her go.

  “You look beautiful tonight.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.”

  “I’m sorry about this afternoon. I wanted to kill that idiot.”

  She laughed and slipped out of his arms to put her flowers in a vase of water. She placed it on the table. “Sometimes, when you have to wait for something…”

  “Get over here.”

  She complied. He kissed her again before he whispered, “Is anyone home?”

  “No.”

  “Let’s go to your room.”

  She nodded. He took her by the hand and they started up the stairs. That’s when another car pulled into the driveway.

  Bay craned her neck to look out the window. “Oh, damn. It’s my sister.”

  “Your sister?” Dermot groaned. “For God’s sake, this gets better and better.”

  “We’ll have dinner and then I’ll ask her to leave. She won’t mind. She’s always telling me I have to get out more.”

  “Okay, but then that’s it. I’m not waiting a minute longer.”

  They went back into the kitchen and that’s when Tansy pushed the back door open.

  “Hi, hi. I’m home. You’re not going to believe…” She stopped dead the minute she saw Dermot, the colour draining from her cheeks.

  “Tansy, this is my friend Dermot.” Bay looked back and was startled by the expression on Dermot’s face. “What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”

  He didn’t answer her.

  “Dermot?”

  Tansy recovered first. She put down her parcels. “Oh dear, he’s surprised to see me again, that’s all.”

  Bay was confused. “Again?”

  “We met the other day when I went for gas. I was a little mouthy. You know patience isn’t my strong suit. I apologize for being rude, Dermot. You have every right to be annoyed with me.”

  “No worries,” he croaked.

  Bay was relieved. “Oh, well. Let’s put it behind us and start over. Tansy, would you like something to eat? We were about to sit down for supper.”

  “I don’t want to intrude.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’d like the two of you to get to know each other. Why don’t we sit and I’ll serve dinner?”

  “Okay, but I have a few parcels in the car. Would you mind helping me bring them in, Dermot?”

  “Sure.”

  The two of them went out the back door and around the side of the house. Tansy spun around to face him. “Are you joking? This is the girl you love, the one who doesn’t love you back?”

  “How the hell was I supposed to know who you were?”

  “This isn’t good, Dermot. It’s not good at all.”

  “No shit. For God’s sake, don’t tell her. She’d be devastated.”

  “Oh, I see. So we’re only worried about what Bay thinks? I’ll be thrown out like yesterday’s trash? The first time was a one-off, Dermot. I could’ve handled that. But last night was something else entirely. That was beyond sex and you know it.”

  “No.”

  “Don’t lie to me. What you and I did was—”

  “Wrong. It was wrong. I was going to stop it anyway. And now, after today…”

  “What about today?”

  “Bay told me she wants me, and I want her. You said you gave your heart away a long time ago. I told you from the beginning that I was in love with her, so don’t mess this up for me.”

  “I didn’t know you meant my sister!” Tansy held her head in her hands. “I can’t believe this is happening. Not again.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Shut up.” She got right in his face. “You’re a liar, Dermot. We connected last night. You know we did. Am I really that forgettable?”

  She marched to her car, got in, and started it up with a roar, peeling out of the driveway.

  Dermot wiped the sweat off his face and loosened his collar. He heard Bay call from the porch. “You guys are taking your time.”

  He walked around to the back of the house. “Sorry. Tansy realized she’d left a parcel at the store. She’s gone back to get it and said to go ahead and eat without her.”

  Bay smiled. “She said that so we could be alone. She’s thoughtful when she wants to be.”

  Dermot walked back into the kitchen. Bay put her arms around his neck. “Where were we?”

  He didn’t say anything. She waited, but he didn’t move. Her arms dropped. “Have I done something wrong?”

  “No, of course not. Sorry, Bay. I’m not feeling well.”

  “Oh dear, can I get you anything?”

  He wiped his brow. “I better get home.”

  She felt his head. “You’re burning up. Maybe there’s a bug going around.”

  “I’m sorry. I wanted this evening to be perfect.”

  “There will be other evenings.”

  He kissed her cheek. “Thanks for understanding. I’ll call you soon.” He turned and walked out of the kitchen. Bay stood alone and looked at her nice table setting and her dinner on the counter waiting to be eaten.

  What had happened?

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Tansy came home around ten. Bay was at the kitchen table doing a crossword puzzle, waiting for Ashley to get back. She looked up when Tansy walked through the door.

  “Are you coming down with something too? You’re awfully pale.”

  Tansy put down her parcels. “It’s been a long day.” She sat opposite her sister. “So, how did it go with Dermot?”

  “It didn’t.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Bay shrugged. “He wasn’t feeling well and had to go home, so it looks like your nice gesture was for nothing.”

  “Nice gesture?”

  “Making up that story about going back for a parcel so we could have some time alone. I appreciate it anyway.”

  “Right. Oh well.” Tansy got up from the chair, went over to the cupboard, and took out a glass, holding it under the cold-water tap. “That was fast. Last night you didn’t want to be with anyone and tonight you looked like you wanted to eat him up.”

  Bay laughed. “You were right; I’m not getting any younger. Dermot’s always been nice to me and he’s wanted to go out with me for a long time. I decided to meet him halfway.”

  “I see.” Tansy drained the water.

  “Can I tell you a secret?”

  “Sure.” Tansy put the glass on the counter.

  “We had this moment this afternoon. I didn’t recognize myself. I was this crazy, wanton woman.”

  “You were with him?”

  “In his office.”

  Tansy turned around and folded her arms. “Oh yeah?”

  “We were interrupted, unfortunately, and that’s why I was looking forward to being with him tonight.”

  “A guy who thinks his office is a place to romance women doesn’t sound like much of a gentleman.”

  “He doesn’t think that.”

  “Are you sure? Because you’re worth more than a quick fuck in a back room.”

  Bay stood up. “Don’t be crude. It wasn’t like that.”

  “It doesn’t sound very romantic to me. You have to remember, Bay, you haven’t been with a man in a long time. Maybe you forget you’re supposed to be wooed.”

  Bay dropped into her chair and stared at nothing. Tansy walked over and sat beside her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be that blunt.”

  “I thought it was sort of romanti
c.”

  Tansy put her hand on Bay’s arm. “It was a little rushed. When someone likes you, even if it’s been for a long time, it doesn’t mean you give him what he wants right away. Make him work for it.”

  Bay chewed her bottom lip. “You’re right. What should I do?”

  “Well, I’m no expert…”

  “Yes, you are.”

  “Take it slow. Don’t let him paw at you right away. Men like it when women make them wait.”

  Bay sat back in her chair and let out a big sigh. “Thanks, Tansy. I’m glad you’re here. As crazy as it sounds, I’m almost relieved. I don’t have anyone I can talk to about these things. I couldn’t talk to Mom, and Gertie’s not exactly experienced when it comes to men.”

  Tansy reached over and took her hand. “You can come to me anytime.”

  Ashley arrived home and the conversation ended. When Dermot tried to call Bay the next day, she didn’t pick up the phone right away. She dithered so long the ringing stopped. Her best bet was to come up with a great excuse not to see him for a while. Trouble was, she couldn’t think of one.

  The day of the prom, Ashley got out of bed and promptly threw up. Bay worried about her, but Tansy said it was most likely nerves and Ashley agreed. Bay took the day off work so she could accompany Ashley to the hairdresser’s. Tansy tagged along and they had a great time discussing what would look best. In the end, Ashley went with something simple instead of a whole head of curls or an elaborate up-do. The front of her hair was pulled back, but the rest fell over her shoulders. Both sisters got quite teary when she got out of the hairdresser’s chair.

  “What are we going to be like when we see her in the dress?” Bay wondered.

  Gertie had finally arrived when that happened, so of course the three women became emotional. Ashley waved her hands in front of her eyes. “Stop or my mascara will run.”

  They pulled themselves together and took a lot of pictures. At one point, Ashley said, “I wish Nana was here.”

  Her mother hugged her. “She is, honey. You know why?”

  Ashley shook her head.

  “Because you and I and Tansy are together, and when we’re together we bring her back. I can feel her in this room, can’t you?”

  “Yes, I think so.”

  Tansy turned her head away.