by Lesley Crewe
“I’m planning my first dinner party on New Year’s Eve.”
“Ambitious. What are you serving?”
“That’s why I’m calling you. I don’t have any idea.”
“I’m not going to make the menu for you. I’m busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Lynne and I are going to an art show, then out for lunch.”
“Oh. Well, just give me some quick suggestions.”
Peggy sighed. “Most people like roast beef. That’s easy.”
“What kind of roast beef?”
“What kind? A prime rib is usually what you’d serve company.”
“How much do I get?”
“How many people are coming?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then I can’t help you.”
“If I have potatoes, should I buy the little ones? The three-pound bag?”
“Unless your guests are mice, that’s a tad stingy.”
“Oh, this is hopeless. Why did I think this was a good idea?”
“You’re giving up already? Sheena, my love, it will come. You’re not going to learn these things overnight.”
“But you make it all look so easy.”
“Ah yes…the underappreciated housewife who goes unnoticed until her family realizes she was a genius all along. Unfortunately, they never catch on until they’ve moved out.”
“I always knew you were a genius.”
“I’m still not planning your menu. Love you. Bye!”
This was annoying. Her mother used to hang on her every word when she first moved away. Now Sheena was lucky to catch her at home.
There was only one thing to do: Christmas retail therapy. She stood up and was immediately dizzy; so dizzy that she fell down. Sheena was astonished that she was on the floor. She stayed where she was because she realized she wasn’t feeling well. A small stab of fear tickled the back of her neck. But it was probably nothing. She was overreacting.
When she tried to get up, she knew she was going to be sick. She crawled to the bathroom off the kitchen and vomited in the toilet. Three times. As she lay against the cool porcelain it hit her. She started to count back in her head and then got confused and started over. How long had it been?
She just might be. It had never occurred to her because it wasn’t in her long-term plan just yet. They were supposed to be married for three years at least and take a few trips before babies came on the scene. They were good at making sure it didn’t happen.
And then she remembered the night they’d polished off that third bottle of wine.
In the movies, girls in this position would look horrified but then their faces would soften and they’d make doe-eyes in the bathroom mirror. Sheena just burst into tears. This was scary. She couldn’t have a baby here all by herself. How would she look after it alone? Drew would be working. All her friends worked. She wouldn’t be able to drink. What if she killed it? She was alone in the universe with this parasite clinging to her looking for attention. She was just a kid! How could she have a kid?
After a half an hour, she was freezing on the tile floor and moved gingerly upstairs to take a shower. She gathered herself under the hot steaming water. Maybe she was being premature. The first thing to do was take a pregnancy test. Stop panicking until she knew for sure.
Driving to the drugstore, she was on autopilot. Coming home with three boxes and not remembering how she got back made her wince. Hopefully she hadn’t run anyone over. She held her breath as she peed on the stick, left it on the side of the tub, and zoomed into the bedroom to crawl under the covers.
After a few minutes she peeked out to look at the clock radio. It was time. She hid under the sheets anyway.
“Get a grip, Sheena!” she yelled in the empty house.
She tossed the sheets aside and marched into the bathroom and picked up the stick.
Yes.
She peed on another stick.
Yes.
She opened the third box.
Yes.
A few hours later, Drew found her wrapped in her favourite chenille throw on the couch, wads of used tissues surrounding her body and a bucket in her lap.
“My God, what’s wrong?”
“I’m having a baby!”
“What?”
“I know! Can you believe it? I’m mortified. I wanted to wait until I was like, thirty-two. I’m too young to be a mom! I don’t even like kids. I never babysat kids because they were too gross. And now I have one growing under my shirt and I’ll get big and fat and then the kid won’t like me because it’ll know I didn’t want it and how do you talk to it then? What would I say? ‘Sorry, kid?’ It’s impossible! This is the worst day of my life!”
She waited for Drew to say something.
He smiled. “It’s the best day of mine.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It was Peggy’s turn to visit her mom, but Lynne had invited her to play bridge with her friends.
“I don’t know how to play bridge.”
This didn’t bother Lynne. “We’re only just starting ourselves. One of the group had to drop out. Her son is in rehab and she’s not dealing with it very well.”
“But isn’t rehab a good thing?”
“Not when you’ve pretended your whole life that your son never drank or did drugs.”
Peggy tsked. “Poor woman.”
She called Carole because she knew her sister was rescheduling her appointments and now had Wednesdays off.
“I hate to do this to you, but would you mind popping in to see Mom? I’ve been invited out to play bridge and I’d like to go.”
“There’s no such thing as popping in to see her. The experience puts you in a coma of despair for the rest of the day.”
“I know. Sorry. I’ll take two days in a row.”
“That’s okay. Honestly, Peggy, I wish the poor woman would die. She’d be so much happier.”
“It’s almost like she’s waiting for something, isn’t it?” mused Peggy. “The doctors still can’t figure out how she’s still here.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but maybe I’ll buy a bunch of scratch tickets. That’ll cheer her up. I gotta go; Jerry’s here with Ruth.”
Ruth galloped through the door and had a great reunion with her pals as if she hadn’t just seen them the day before.
“If you don’t mind,” Carole said to Jerry, “I have to head over to Glace Bay. I’ll walk the dogs when I get home.”
“I actually came to say that I have an easy schedule today. Want me to come with you?”
Carole had to think fast. Did she want Jerry to meet her mother? If he did, would he pick up Ruth and never come back? Would she care if he never came back? What if….
“Carole?”
“Sorry. Look, I have to visit my mother in a nursing home. It’s very depressing and I’m sure that’s not how you want to spend your afternoon.”
“If it would make the day easier for you, I’d like to come.”
Was this guy for real? Had he actually said that?
“Okay. Thanks.”
They decided to walk the dogs before they left, in case they were delayed. Jerry took Billy and Ruth, and Carole pushed Will and Liam in a cheap baby stroller she’d found in someone’s trash. They were often worn out trying to keep up with Billy on their jaunts, so this was a great solution. Weechee sometimes joined them. Carole would tie his leash to the buggy handle and he’d trot along, but one day she looked down and he’d jumped into the netting at the bottom and enjoyed a free ride. Looking at their faces brought Carole such joy. How had she never noticed dogs her whole life? She must have been sleepwalking through the years.
Jerry insisted on stopping at the grocery store so he could buy Ethel a bouquet of flowers. Carole picked up the scratch tickets. He
asked whether Ethel liked chocolates, and Carole suggested pink peppermints instead.
She was incredibly nervous when they walked into the manor together. Would people think they were together? Wait, they were together. Who was she? Carole didn’t recognize herself anymore.
When they got to her room, Ethel was sitting up in bed having her lunch. She picked up her food with her fingers, but a lot of it rolled across the sheets. Her hair was flat and godawful.
“Hi, Ma.”
“You never visit me.”
“I do so! I was here two days ago.”
Ethel grunted. “Who’s he?”
“Ma, this is my friend Jerry Hawco.”
Jerry stepped forward and held out the flowers. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Ryan.”
Ethel took the flowers, slightly mollified. “Nice to meet you.” She looked around. “I don’t know where to put these.”
“I’ll get a vase with some water. I’ll be right back.” Carole left and Ethel stared at Jerry. He kept smiling.
“So sit your ass down and tell me about yourself.”
Jerry pulled up a chair and folded his hands across his flannel shirt. “Not much to tell. I was born in the Pier—”
“The Pier, dear.”
Jerry laughed. “That’s right. No better place in the world.”
“Who’s your father?”
“Wilfred Hawco. He worked at the steel plant, until he died of cancer.”
“Wilfred? The name rings a bell. I probably knew him.”
“I’m divorced—”
“Did you cheat on her?”
“No, ma’am. One of those cases of marrying right out of high school. We’re still good friends. We love our kids. I have two boys. They’re working out west, like a lot of youngsters these days.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m a carpenter.”
“Like Jesus.”
Jerry chuckled. “I can guarantee I’m not like Jesus.”
“Do ya drink?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Too bad. Do ya smoke?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Gamble?”
“Nope.”
“What do you do?”
“I love my dog. We go hiking together. She’s good company.”
“I’m not a dog person. They shit too much.”
“Don’t we all,” Jerry quipped.
Ethel chuckled. “I like you.”
Carole came back into the room and was shocked to see her mother smiling. She put the vase on the table beside her bed. “Well, now. Looks like you two have become friends.”
“Don’t get carried away.” Ethel put her head back on the pillow. “I have to do a background check. Make sure he doesn’t forge signatures or steal cutlery.”
They chatted easily for a couple of hours and then Ethel’s eyes started to close. Carole and Jerry got up to leave.
“Goodbye, Mrs. Ryan. I hope you don’t mind if I come to visit you again.”
“You can come anytime. Leave that one at home.”
Carole leaned over her mother and kissed her forehead. “See ya, Ma.”
Her mother grabbed her hand and whispered, “Don’t frig this up.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“You deserve him.”
As Carole walked down the hall with Jerry, she realized her mother had just given her blessing.
When they got back to Jerry’s truck, Carole leaned over and kissed Jerry on the mouth. He was surprised, but not as much as she was. It felt comfortable and nice.
“Thank you. You are the only person my mother has been nice to in years. What on earth did you say to her?”
“Nothing. But she reminded me of my mom, all bluster and show. I find people like that are very insecure. Always waiting for the other shoe to drop, so they can never relax. It’s a hard way to live.”
Yes, it was a hard way to live.
“You’re a miracle worker, and for that I’ll make you supper.”
“How about we pick up supper and take it back to my place? It might be nice to have a few hours away from the kids.”
Carole grinned and put her hand in his. He drove out of the parking lot with one hand on the wheel.
Peggy arrived at Lynne’s house looking forward to a fun afternoon. She was a little nervous to meet Lynne’s friends and hoped she’d like them. What if she didn’t? How did one back out of a bridge foursome?
Lynne’s house was almost an exact replica of Peggy’s, every room decorated within an inch of its life.
Lynne was pleased to see her. She ushered her into the living room where a bridge table had been set up in the middle of the rug.
“Everyone, this is my new friend Peggy. Peggy, this is Linda, Vera, and Maxine.”
Linda and Vera turned their heads and smiled hello. Maxine turned around in her chair. Good gravy. Maxine Corbett, the mother-in-law.
Maxine gave Peggy a pretend smile. “Actually, we know each other. My Drew is married to Peggy’s daughter.”
Everyone gasped with delight. Lynne clapped her hands. “What a small world! Oh, this is perfect. We’ll get along famously.”
Peggy wanted to crawl into a hole.
She decided that Maxine was not going to ruin a perfectly good day and after a while, learning the rules of bridge made her forget about Maxine. Her concentration was fixed on her cards. Too bad she hadn’t listened harder in math class.
At one point Lynne and the others went into the kitchen to prepare snacks. Maxine shuffled the deck.
“I suppose Sheena told you that Chuck and I are getting a divorce.”
Peggy lied. “No, she didn’t, actually. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be. It should’ve happened years ago. I think the boys are relieved, although they’re annoyed at us for selling their childhood home. The two older ones aren’t coming home for Christmas. I’m glad Drew can stay with you and Ted. It’ll be nice to see him over the holidays.”
“They can hardly expect you and Chuck to keep the house.”
Maxine shrugged. “Your kids think everything has to stay the same. They get to go away and make a new life, but God forbid their parents aren’t in exactly the same spot when they want to drop in.”
Peggy nodded. “I’m just learning how difficult it is to reinvent yourself once you stop being Mom. We only had Sheena, and when she left I couldn’t believe how sad I was. You’d think I was never going to see her again, but in those first few days, that’s how it felt.”
Maxine looked thoughtful. “Maybe it’s different having a daughter. My boys were involved in sports and their father handled all that. I don’t think I was ever as hands-on as you are.”
“I realize now I just about ruined that child trying to give her everything. It’s only after they’re gone that you have enough room to breathe and look at it sensibly.”
“None of us is perfect.”
They nodded at each other. The other women came back laden with trays and they enjoyed some refreshment before having another game. By the time the afternoon was over, Maxine and Peggy smiled at each other and said they’d see each other next week at Vera’s house.
Lynne held Peggy back. “I’m so glad you and Maxine already knew each other. I was a little worried about what you’d think of her. She has a reputation for being standoffish, but once you get to know her she’s fine. We go way back.”
“She’s family now. So I guess I have to like her.”
“Not necessarily,” Lynne said.
Two weeks before Christmas, Mary was in a terrible rush. She’d slept in, which was not like her at all. Daniel had already left for school. He’d left a Post-It note on the dresser mirror: “I need cereal. And you. XO.”
She hopped in the shower, and got dre
ssed while eating a banana. Weechee followed her around until she gave him the last piece. Roscoe was still snoring under the quilt. She grabbed her cell and called her mom.
“I’m late for work. Could you come and take Weechee out after I leave?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks.”
She put on her boots and coat, grabbed her purse, and gave Weechee a kiss on the snout. “Your grandmother will be up in a bit. See ya.”
He cocked his head. Mary always took him out before she left.
“God! Don’t make me feel so guilty!”
She rushed down the stairs and shut the door.
Janet saw her run in through the Sobeys sliding doors and tapped her wrist.
“I know, I know!”
Once on cash, Mary was completely out of sorts. The entire morning felt wrong somehow. She didn’t even try to be pleasant, just kept her head down and did her job.
It was nearly lunchtime when she looked up and saw her mother and Jerry come in together. She knew instantly something was wrong. Mary left her cash and ran over to them.
“Is it Gran?”
Her mother was crying and couldn’t talk. Jerry took her by the arm. “It’s Weechee. He was hit by a car.” He paused. “He’s dead.”
Mary burst into tears and covered her face. “Oh no! Oh no! How am I going to tell Daniel?”
“I’m so sorry, Mary,” Jerry said.
She looked at her mom. “Did you take him off his leash? You know how crazy he gets. You should’ve watched him better!”
Her mother wiped her eyes and looked at her sadly. “I went up to get him and the door was already open. He was gone.”
Mary almost fainted. “I didn’t close it properly. Is that what you’re saying?”
“We went looking for him for hours. We scoured the neighbourhood. And then we found him by the side of the road. The bastard who did it didn’t even stop.”
Mary doubled over. “It’s all my fault. Daniel will hate me.”
Janet came over to see what was the matter. She told Carole and Jerry to take Mary home.