by Lesley Crewe
Carole’s salon was like something out of an old movie set. The pictures of hair styles she’d put up in the early nineties when she first opened were still there in all their curly, overdone glory, the corners peeling upward. The fashion magazines littering the table were just as outdated. The ancient hair dryer’s leather seat had cracked open years before, but Carole had simply put a cushion on it and no one was the wiser. Her workspace was a cluttered mess, and even in here there were overflowing ashtrays. Peggy couldn’t understand why Carole’s clients didn’t complain, but then most of them probably smoked as well. The worst thing was Carole’s mirror: its frame was crowded with ticket stubs, yellowing Polaroids, thank-you notes, and receipts. With every passing year, the window of reflective glass became smaller and smaller.
Peggy was pleasantly surprised that Carole was free when she arrived. She was in the salon doing their mother’s hair. Ethel always insisted on using her old, grey, metal curlers with pink plastic pins. She didn’t believe in curling irons, said they were the work of the devil.
Peggy plunked herself down on the small loveseat in the corner of the salon. She always forgot what side the broken spring was on and inevitably sat on that side first. She quickly shifted to the other side and let out a huge sigh.
Carole glanced at her, a cigarette stuck in the side of her mouth. “I know that sound. What’s wrong now?”
“Ted’s leaving me.”
Carole’s mouth dropped open, causing the cigarette to fall on the floor. She stepped on it and ground it into the hardwood. “Fuck off!”
“Watch your mouth, Carole,” Ethel sputtered before turning around to face Peggy. “What the fuck is wrong with him? Has he got another woman? They all do, according to Dotty.”
“That didn’t come out right. Ted isn’t leaving me, leaving me; he’s leaving me for a year to go and work in a medical clinic overseas.”
“Oh, is that all?” Ethel turned to face the mirror once more.
Carole picked up another curler. “So let me get this straight. You still have the house, the cottage in Ben Eoin, the luxury car, his income, his pension, his credit cards, and his bank accounts? Plus no husband to look after for a year?”
“It’s not that simple, you know. I’m not used to being on my own, and I don’t want to tell anyone because they’ll think this is the beginning of the end of our marriage. Not that I blame them. I don’t know of any other husband packing his bags and leaving his family behind. Maybe this is just a convenient way to get rid of me and Sheena.“
“Maybe he’s gay,” Ethel offered. “Dotty says everyone’s gay now.”
“Who is this Dotty you keep yammering about?” asked Peggy. “Is she some sort of fortune teller?”
“She owns Dotty’s Dairy next door.”
“The woman who never gets off her stool? Well, she must have a unique perspective on life, seeing as how she’s travelled the globe and back.”
Ethel shook her finger at Peggy. “Don’t be fooled. That woman can tell you a lot. She sees it all and she hears it all. A know-it-all from way back.”
“I don’t care about Dotty. I’m concerned about my husband. What if he doesn’t love me anymore? What if there’s someone else?”
Carole pinned the last curler in her mother’s wispy hair. “Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“Of course you are,” Ethel agreed. “Who’d want to be with Ted? He’s a snooze.”
Peggy’s shoulders slumped. “Why do I come here?”
Carole lit up a smoke and sat under the hair dryer, since her mother was still in the chair. “I think it’s great news. You and Sheena can plan the biggest wedding in history. Your husband isn’t here telling you not to. What wife ever gets that lucky?”
“That’s a good point.”
“You should be grateful for what you’ve got, instead of snivelling about what you don’t,” Ethel said. “Carole has wanted to be you for years.”
“Shut up, Ma!”
“Well, it’s true, ain’t it? Ya moan all day about her.”
“I do not.”
Peggy held up her hand. “Stop, Mom. Carole isn’t like that.”
“Wanna bet?”
Desperate to change the subject, Peggy pressed on. “I have to tell you something else.”
Both Carole and Ethel waited.
“Sheena’s asked her best friend, Riley, to be her maid of honour, but wants Mary to be a bridesmaid. I hope that’s okay?”
Carole nodded slowly. “Well, I thought family would come first, but whatever.”
“And another thing.” It spilled out in a rush. “It’s my own fault, I didn’t check with Sheena first. She’s having Kerrie from Halo Salon and Spa do her hair. And the whole bridal party’s. I’m really sorry.”
Carole nodded again and took a long drag from her cigarette. “Not good enough for her, is that it?”
“Sheena would be more comfortable with someone she’s familiar with on her wedding day.”
“I used to change her diapers.”
Peggy wrung her hands. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“It sure as hell is,” Ethel piped up. “You’ve spoiled that girl since the day she was born. You need your head read.”
“Speaking of the wedding,” Carole said, “how do you want me to do your hair? In an up-do?”
“Oh, I’ve made an appointment with Sheila at Vallie’s in Glace Bay. She’s amazing. We’ll decide the style once I have my dress.”
Carole stared at Peggy. “Get out of my house, you snivelling snot.”
Peggy packed Ted’s trousers between tissue paper to keep them from wrinkling.
“As if I’m going to have tissue paper floating out of my suitcase when I unpack.” He said, unceremoniously pulling the offending material out.
“I can’t believe you did that!”
“I’m not worried about wrinkled pants. Will you please let me pack my own luggage?”
Peggy threw his shaving kit on the bed and sat in her reading chair. “Fine. Don’t blame me if you forget dental floss. And by the way, you can save space if you roll your socks up and stuff them in your shoes.”
Ted looked like he was about to object but then stopped. “That’s actually a good idea.”
“I do have some from time to time.”
Ted walked over and pulled Peggy out of the chair, taking her in his arms. “Thank you for agreeing to this.”
“Technically I had no choice.” She began to whine. “This is all very scary for me.”
“You’ll be fine. You’re not adrift in the Atlantic. And I’ll Skype often.”
Peggy reached for the ever-present tissue up her sleeve. “Are you going to miss me?”
“Of course I’ll miss you. Especially on your birthday, my birthday, and our anniversary.”
She pushed him away. “Don’t give me that. You have sex more than three times a year.”
“I do?”
“It helps if you stay awake, Ted.”
There were genuine tears at the airport between all three of them when it came time for Ted to go through security.
“I’ll miss you, Daddy! Make sure you come back to walk me down the aisle! I don’t want Mom. That would look stupid.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Peggy and Sheena waited until they saw him walk onto the plane from the airport window. He turned around and blew them a final kiss. They waved and waved.
And then he was gone. They looked at each other.
“What now?” Peggy said.
“Let’s go to East Side Mario’s. Daddy never wants to eat there.”
“Okay.”
At dinner, they realized they could go out to eat every night if they wanted to. That cheered them up immensely.
“Where should we eat tomorrow?” Peggy passed Sheena a mint as she paid the bill.
“Drew and I have plans for tomorrow.”
“Okay…how about the next night?”
“We’re busy.”
Peggy pulled on her gloves as they exited the restaurant. “So in actual fact, we won’t be having dinner out every night.”
“I might be. Just not with you.”
“And so it begins,” Peggy sighed. “The next year spent all by my lonesome.”
Sheena grabbed her mother’s arm as they trudged through the snow-covered parking lot. “Don’t say that. We’ll have lots of fun.”
The fun started five minutes later when they couldn’t seem to get the car to move properly. They jerked their way towards the exit.
“There is definitely something wrong with the car,” Peggy said. “Why is it thrashing about like this?”
“How do I know? It’s brand new, isn’t it?”
“Get out and look.”
“Why me?”
“Because you’re younger than I am. Now move!”
Sheena got out of the car, walked around it, and shrugged. Peggy lowered her window and a cold rush of air didn’t improve her mood.
“Well?”
“Everything looks fine to me.”
Peggy realized that meant nothing. She put the window up and got out of the car herself. She walked around the vehicle and peered at her tires. “How can you tell if your tire is low?”
Sheena stamped her feet and rubbed her mitts together. “Don’t ask me.”
“Trust your father to leave town just when we need him. What should we do?”
“Call CAA.”
“Good idea.” Peggy went to open the car door, but it was locked. “Shit. I locked the keys in the car! I can’t get my phone! Where’s yours?”
“In my purse in the car! I can’t believe this. It’s freaking cold.”
“What now?”
“I’ll run into the mall and get Riley to call CAA for us.”
“Good idea. Hurry up!”
While Peggy waited for help, she grew more resentful of Ted leaving her during a Canadian winter. It was downright inconsiderate, stranding them in the Mayflower Mall parking lot like this. She rehearsed what she’d say to him when he called.
Sheena came running back holding two Tim Hortons coffees. “I had change in my pocket. They’re going to be here in a few minutes.”
“You darling girl!”
When the tow truck arrived, they opened the locked door and then informed the women that they had a flat tire.
“Thanks a lot, Ted!” Peggy wailed.
“It’s not his fault,” Sheena said.
“It is so! Everything is his fault from now on.”
Sheena went to Drew’s house the next day to mope about her dad being gone. Maxine opened the door and looked annoyed to see her.
“Hello, Sheena. Drew isn’t here.”
“He’s supposed to be here. He asked me to come over.”
“I sent him to the store.”
They stood like that for a few seconds. Finally, Sheena said, “Well, can I wait for him?”
“I suppose so.”
Maxine didn’t move, so Sheena had to slink by her to gain access to the house. If the situation were reversed, Drew would already be sitting on the recliner at Sheena’s house with a bag of chips and a pop in his hand.
“You can wait in there.” Maxine pointed to the living room. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m rather busy.”
“Oh, sure.” But his mom didn’t hear her. She was already gone.
Sheena looked around the room. It was completely different from her house. Sleek. She decided she didn’t like it very much and hoped Drew wouldn’t want their place to look like this; there was no warmth or comfort here.
Eventually, Drew came home and they headed for the ultra-modern kitchen, where he made them both a plate of tacos. They sat at the island and Sheena told him about seeing her dad off at the airport.
“This whole trip is kind of weird, isn’t it?” he asked.
“He’s helping people. What’s weird is your mom not even sitting with me until you came home.”
“Don’t start. My mom is the way she is.”
“She doesn’t like me.”
“She doesn’t like anyone.”
In between bites Sheena moved her hand under the light shining from above to make her ring glitter.
“I love my ring.”
“No kidding.”
“Don’t be mean. You should be flattered I’m so in love with it.”
Drew wiped his hands on a napkin. “I’m glad you like it, but you talk about it constantly.”
“What a grumpy bear. What should we talk about then?”
“Anything but the wedding.”
Sheena leaned back. “I don’t understand why you have such an aversion to talking about our wedding. It’s like you’re not even interested. It makes no sense to me.”
Drew took a swig of Coke. “Look, Sheena, most guys are just happy to let their girls plan things, and I’m one of those guys. Just tell me when and where, and I’ll be there. I’m not interested in making decisions about colours and table settings and cake flavours. I know whatever you decide will be great. I trust you.”
Fingering her ring, Sheena frowned. “I just wanted you to be more involved.”
“Okay, okay. What do you want me to decide?”
“Should we have an indoor wedding or an outdoor wedding?”
“Indoor.”
“Are you sure? It would be so nice to be by the water on a summer day, and the pictures would be awesome.”
“Fine. Outdoor.”
“How many people should we invite?”
“I want a small wedding. Fifty, maybe.”
“Fifty! I have fifty girlfriends alone. I was thinking about two hundred and fifty.”
“Whatever you want.” Drew threw his pop can in the kitchen sink.
“Should we have a cocktail party beforehand and then the sit-down dinner and dance?”
“I thought you said we’d be outside.”
“Not for the whole night!”
“We don’t need a cocktail party.”
“I’m thinking a cocktail party would be good because we’d be off getting our pictures done and the guests can mill around with drinks and canapés while they wait.”
Drew crossed his arms. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“What do you want for party favours?”
“What’s that?”
“A small gift left at the place settings. Something the guests can take home.”
“My brother had matches done with their names on it. Is that what you mean?”
“Oh God. Nothing that tacky. I thought we could have small ornate picture frames. And speaking of cake flavours, what’s your favourite?”
“Chocolate.”
“I thought a carrot cake with cream cheese icing, or maybe even a coconut flavour. Should it be a three- or five-tier cake?”
“Three.”
“Five it is.”
Unbeknownst to Drew and Sheena, Maxine was now standing in the doorway listening to this exchange. “Just as I thought. This marriage is going to last.”
They both turned their heads at the sound of her voice.
“Mom,” Drew said with a warning tone. “Leave it.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sheena said.
Maxine walked over to the stove. “It means I don’t think you two have thought this marriage through. Why the hurry? Marriage is the shits at the best of times….”
“Mom!”
“I’m sorry you’re so unhappy Mrs. Corbett, but that’s not how we’re going to feel abou
t it.”
“We’ll see.”
“I have to go,” said Sheena. “Are you coming, Drew?”
“Drew is helping me clean the attic.”
“I am?”
His mother gave him a look.
“I better stay here.”
Sheena felt tears coming on. “Okay. Have fun.” She rushed out of the kitchen, grabbed her coat, and flew out the door.
CHAPTER THREE
Mary had a long day. Government cheques were out and that meant the grocery stores were beyond busy. To amuse herself, Mary took note of what people were eating. It always matched up to what they were wearing and how they carried themselves. The puffy white people always ate puffy white things like bread, chips, and starchy potatoes. The tight, tall people had a garden of veggies at the register and sometimes looked anxious, as if they had forgotten the bok choy or juicing greens on their lists. The people who ate their total grocery order in the car always looked guilty and made jokes about how they were sent on an ice cream run or were stocking up for a birthday party.
Uh-huh.
But Mary loved them. All these people doing what they had to, to get through the day. Everyone worrying about something, distracted and tired, sad or cheerful. Most of them blending in with each other, until you talked to them. Amazing what happened when you smiled at someone.
Mary always took the time to verbalize her thoughts: “I love your coat.” “What a sweet baby.” “Your hair looks lovely.” Old ladies really loved when she said things like that. They all called her “dear” and “honey.” It made the day better for everyone. On days like this, Mary missed Mrs. Aucoin.
Today, her favourite customer came through. She was just a bit younger than Mary’s mom and was always happy, always horsing around with her teenagers when they were with her. What you noticed about her first was her smile, and then her bright lipstick and crazy, outlandish shoes. Mary wanted to be this woman when she grew up. They had pleasant exchanges, and the woman even commented on Mary’s freckles, telling her they came from fairy dust.
“You’ll be glad of them when you’re older,” she grinned one day. “Women with freckles don’t seem to get as wrinkly.”