2 Maid in the Shade

by Bridget Allison

  They were preparing coffee cake, eggs, country ham, hash browns, biscuits and gravy; an absurd amount of food. Every time I tried to help I got my hand slapped. I sat on a stool feeling useless.

  “You can entertain us,” Lucy suggested, “tell us what went on here last night.”

  “You tell me what you heard first.”

  Everyone had a different version, all a little wrong, but the greater part of the scandal seemed to be that I wasn’t taking golden boy Jared seriously. I had offended the town.

  “So I’m crazy not for shoving an intruder in the tub but for resisting Jared’s charms?”

  “He is beloved,” Jackson shrugged, “and he has never gone to this much effort in his life.”

  Lucy snorted, “He never had to go to ANY effort before, and now he’s pulling out all the stops. Bridle Springs is all abuzz, if your story line had Neilson ratings you’d beat out every reality show.”

  I was feeling a little uncomfortable with my romantic life being so heavily scrutinized and scrambled for a fast subject change. Just then “Rumor Has It” came drifting out over the speakers.

  “I’ll entertain you,” I said, and picked up dancing to the music in a choreographed routine I had picked up from watching “Smash” in one of the few times I had bothered to turn on the set. I had enjoyed it, so I recorded it when it ran again and had used it often when I felt low or lethargic. If you’re not a gym rat you’ve got to be creative keeping fit.

  Jackson pointed a ladle at me and said “Alright now, alright, that was wicked good, we’re going to learn that little number and do it at Bunburry’s on Karaoke night. I’ll sing it. Right now it’s time to eat!”

  Somehow we seemed to vanquish the ridiculous amount of food, and they sat around the kitchen groaning while I cleaned up. I checked my messages on the phone and the answering machine and shrugged. “No work today.”

  “Great,” Jackson said, “Now show me that dance bit real quick and we’ll teach it to the gals.”

  “This seems sort of crazy,” I said doubtfully.

  “Are flash mobs crazy? Yep, crazy as all get out, batshit crazy, but people enjoy them right?”

  I shrugged.

  “Think of us a mini flash mob, ‘cept we are practicing together and showing up at the appropriate venue.”

  “So think about a flash mob, but made up of only four people doing the appropriate thing at the appropriate place?”

  “Yeah, yeah alright, so then you just made the point that it isn’t crazy at all.”

  “You sure you don’t want to stay in law school?” I grinned.

  We had to play the song about eleven times until we had it down.

  “We have to wait a week to do it,” Lucy grumbled.

  “Unless we go tonight!” Jackson said. “C’mon now, let’s try it with me singing! Oh wait, we shouldn’t go out with Gretchen while the cops are keeping an eye on her.”

  I considered that carefully, “You know, as long as everyone is talking about me let’s change the conversation. Hanging out here is not getting my mind off the situation. Hit it Jackson.”

  “HELL YEAH!” Mona hollered, and we burst out laughing.

  Jackson had a beautiful voice, a high tenor that seemed to add a nuance to the song which had escaped me before. I glanced over at Lucy, astounded.

  She shrugged, “I’ve heard him in Church, everyone knows he has a good voice, no one knows he has a great one. He tends to keep it toned down when he sings gospel and he never does solos.”

  “Well those days are done. Lucy, call the bar and leave a message, you KNOW they’ll agree,” Jackson commanded.

  “I’ll go out on the porch” she laughed, “y’all are too damn loud.”

  She came back in smiling.

  “You’re smiling like a mule eating briars,” Jackson said. “What you cookin’ up now?”

  “You’re my best friends,” she said defensively, “where is the trust?”

  We were all eyeing her expectantly.

  “So maybe I called a few extra people,” she said. “No backing out now.”

  “Wait a second.” I said, “Are y’all trying to keep me busy on purpose?”

  They were quiet for a moment and Lucy said; “We’re trying to keep you happy on purpose.”

  In a spot on imitation of Jackson I said, “Alright then, alright.”

  After breakfast everyone scattered back to their lives with an agreement to meet at Lucy’s house for makeup. As far as clothes went Jackson said “You know Lucy’s gonna wear her damn black jeans and a black top.” He waved his hands in a fit of exasperation. “Just everybody wear black. I’ll fix you up.”

  I spent some time reading, calling my brothers and Anita “just to check in,” anything to keep me from focusing on the unfathomable situation with Ben or the more immediate patrol car circling around the house and parking occasionally at Leslie’s. Just as I was reading the same page for the third time Elizabeth called.

  She launched into the conversation immediately. “Gretchen, your father and I are wondering if we should come to you. What in the world is going on? We had a call that Ben’s flat in Charlotte was robbed and people came to see us here about it which seems very odd.”

  “That’s the reason you called? Nothing else?” I asked, relieved that news of Charlotte’s rapist hadn’t reached them. “And Dad is with you?”

  “Yes,” she paused and I smiled.

  “Is Ben working for a British Company?”

  “Darling, I asked him about his work once and he said that revealing his client list would render his business worthless.”

  “What else have you heard?”

  “Well, it started with that call from that abominable woman, then the news about the flat being robbed, then these people visiting me here, in my home, to ask me about Ben’s work and when he had been here last and so forth and if he had left anything in my safekeeping. Has something else happened?”

  “No additional news on Ben,” I said quickly, “I had the same visit and questions; I don’t think I know more than you do about what’s going on with him. I don’t think it would serve any purpose for you to come until he gets home. I can take care of his condo before he’s scheduled to return. That’s about a week from now right? He did give us fair warning he would have difficulty getting in touch. Otherwise I guess we would be frantic.”

  “That’s lovely darling thank you.”

  “What?” I asked in confusion.

  “I’m sorry dear; I was talking to your father. He brought me a cup of tea.”

  “Oh,” I said blankly.

  She was silent for a moment. “Your father and I, well, the relationship defies definition. Do promise not to let it affect you and Ben.”

  “After that call from his girlfriend I think our relationship defies definition as well. He led me to believe before he left… well, let’s just leave it at that for now.”

  “We should come,” Elizabeth said, evidently catching the break in my voice.

  “Elizabeth, I would just be working and you would just be waiting. Everything is fine here, I’m going out with some friends shortly, I’m just keeping busy until he returns and then you could come. You’re always welcome, but you may as well see us at the same time. I’ll come to you if Ben goes to England first.”

  “You promise.”

  “I swear it.”

  “And you’re well? Your father and I worry about you too, you know. Although your father is baffled by your career choices and I know it’s none of my concern, he says you seem happy enough.”

  “Oh yes,” I said reassuringly, “tell Dad to stop worrying. Wait. Tell him I said I’ll tell him when to worry.”

  She laughed lightly, “Do try to have the same attitude toward Ben, despite recent circumstances, he’s never given you reason to doubt him before has he?”

  “You’re absolutely right,” I said, and we said our goodbyes soon after that.

  I took Mosey out and leaned against a tree th
inking about Ben. I never knew enough about the fine details of Ben’s life before to doubt him; I only knew what he showed me, believed what he told me. It was very naïve and maybe a little egotistical to never consider that he might have a romantic and sexual life. For that matter, he only knew what I wanted him to know about me. It was unfair for me to have such lofty standards for him that one call from a woman he was involved with had sent me into a spiral and into to Jared’s bed.

  I had behaved badly toward both of them. I was not, I reflected, a very nice person at all.

  I took a deep breath and thought about tonight. Starting tonight I would work on being a better person. Starting with Jackson.

  Within twenty minutes I was ready in black jeans, a black top and heels. The heels put me right over the 6 foot mark on height, but they looked nice. I decided as far as my face and hair went that I would leave a blank canvas to make it as easy as possible for Jackson. I resolved to watch him do my hair and makeup tonight though and maybe pick up a trick or two that I could manage on my own. I took Mosey out and walked him over to where the car from the sheriff’s department was parked. I told the officer where I was going so he wouldn’t get into trouble and made my way to Lucy’s house.

  Jackson was already there, roughhousing with the twins and finished with Lucy. He started on me immediately with a satchel full of products that would make a MAC consultant dizzy with envy. Mona arrived and we were all pleased to see her wearing something not only black but contemporary. “I went shopping in Charlotte!” she announced as though it had been some great sojourn.

  “Whoa,” Jackson exclaimed, “Is that St. John?”

  “Sure enough is and I just let those gals take care of everything. Told them dress me in black and I’d buy it.”

  Black wasn’t her color, until Jackson finished with her. After we had our makeup done we went into Lucy’s home gym with its mirrored walls to practice a few more times under Jackson’s direction. Mona’s presence in the lineup helped take the edge off, as though we weren’t taking ourselves seriously, but Lucy was adamant that Jackson sing the entire song while we did the chorus. Not that there was any argument, we could all carry a tune but Jackson could sing.

  Fortunately we all had rhythm and the routine was fairly simple, Mona’s generation had grown up learning particular dances like the “mashed potato” so learning choreographed steps was not uncharted waters for her. From Lucy’s ninety pound frame to my towering one we certainly didn’t look like we were chosen to complement each other, but Jackson waved that off saying, “just think of the Mamas and the Pappas, back before everyone was all packaged up. As long as we look like we’re having fun with it people will enjoy it.”

  “You swear you’re going to really belt it out right, Jackson?”

  “Sure, no point doing it if we don’t do it right.”

  “You heard him Lucy,” Mona said, “You’re going to do it no holes barred right Jackson?”

  “Holds,” we all corrected her simultaneously.

  She yanked her head around irritably. “Bein’ with y’all is like hanging out in a Tourette’s support group, y’all just bark out words randomly, if that’s a new thing I’m not on board with it. But Jackson’s got a point, what’s making you so skittery Lucy?”

  “Yeah,” Jackson said, “I’m getting a little wary myself, seems like its real important how I do tonight.”

  “Nothing is up,” Lucy said flatly, “I just think this town should see what it’s been missing.”

  “You want this town to see what it’s been missing?” Jackson repeated, “Alright, alright yeah now, everybody has to do a Karaoke number tonight then. What can you sing? You all can carry a tune, just pick something in your range. Mos’ likely a song you like to sing would be that.”

  “Mona and I will do “Redneck Woman” Lucy replied promptly.

  “Noooo, you will not. Every time they do Karaoke about ten girls do that song like it’s the Southern Anthem, pick another.”

  “I know the words to it and so does Mona. Right Mona? I’ll just ask the manager not to allow any repeats.”

  “So you’re leaving me out in the cold?” I laughed, “Suits me, I am not doing a song by myself.”

  “How come Lucy gets to pick the song?” Mona demanded, “I got favorites too you know, I keep up.”

  Jackson peered at her doubtfully, “What you got in mind?”

  Mona said “There is a song I been hearing lately I really like. Lemme think,” her forehead furrowed, “I can’t remember who it’s by or how it goes.”

  I tried to be helpful. “Is it rock, pop, country? What's it about?”

  Mona considered carefully, "Um, Dying?”

  Jackson pulled out his Iphone and clicked on a video, "Is it this?”

  “If I Die Young" by The Band Perry began.

  “You are really good at this music stuff,” Mona said, “Why don’t we do that?”

  Lucy snickered and Mona gave them a hard stare.

  “Well,” Jackson said uneasily, “The whole point of it is about being young and dying. You’re old-” he stopped short as she gave him a baleful glare. “We are older,” Jackson said more firmly, “I think it has to be sung by someone who looks like a teenager; that’s what makes it so poignant.”

  “Okay,” Mona said, “Now my 2nd favorite, not sure if it’s a girl or a boy singing, may be country, or rock."

  “If you don’t know that much you won’t be able to learn the song,” Jackson said. “I can’t be standing ‘round here guessing songs all day. Discussing music with you is like being on a Japanese game show where there are no prizes. Tonight you sing “Redneck Woman.” You do good and next time you pick alright?”

  Mona gave a short nod and glanced over at me. “What about Gretchen? Does she get to pick for herself?”

  “I’m not,” I began, as Jackson turned and considered me carefully. “How about “Run” and you sing it to me? That way you have to put yourself out there same as anybody but,” he sang softly “I’ll be right beside you deeaaar.”

  I snorted “Okay fine; it’s not as though I’m going to be living here forever like the rest of you.”

  We watched Mona and Lucy do “Redneck Woman,” then I started to grab our things.

  “Hang on,” Jackson said, “we haven’t heard you do yours yet.”

  “Your idea,” I smiled, “if you don’t like it, am I off the hook?”

  “No, you can sing. Not like me of course, but you have a decent voice.”

  “The world is full of decent voices,” I laughed. “But,” I gave him a little bow, “high praise coming from you. Let’s get going.”

  The parking lot was already filling up when we got to Bunburry’s.

  “Wow,” I said, “And in the rest of the country Karaoke Night has died a welcome and peaceful death.”

  “This does seem to be a bigger crowd than average,” Jackson confirmed.

  I scanned the lot quickly for Jared’s truck. He wasn’t there. The little knot inside me seemed to melt away along with a few inhibitions. “Show time!” I said enthusiastically, I really do love to sing.

  Jackson smiled at me “Well alright, now, alright, you want to go first?”

  “No,” I said as we walked in, “put me after the Redneck Women there if you can. It’s not like we’re going to be the only ones lining up to warble, its Karaoke Night!”

  Lucy went to say hello to the McCall boys while Mona and I grabbed a table and Jackson went to get a drink.

  Pretty soon the music started and people drifted onto the stage to sing with varying degrees of success, if they could carry a tune the crowd was happy, if they couldn’t, there were plenty of friendly souls ready to jump in and sing along from the audience. It was a kindness from the crowd I hadn’t expected and I relaxed more.

  I was just watching the stage, enjoying myself when the “Redneck Woman” song came on, startling me; I hadn’t even noticed my friends head for the stage. Too many people knew that song to al
low Mona and Lucy to get a chorus in edgewise and I was wishing we had picked one for me that was that so widely popular when I got up from the table and wended my way through the crowd towards Jackson. The place was packed. I had a moment of panic but relaxed when I realized not everyone was focusing on the music. There were plenty of people milling about, talking, flirting, and daring each other to get onstage. This was, after all just a bar, not the Met, I reassured myself.

  Still, I was not prepared to hear Jackson announce “Run” by Snow Patrol and that I was going to be singing next. I blushed wildly as the crowd grew silent and I stepped up on stage.

  Jackson seemed better prepared for my nerves than I realized. As the song started he took my hand and I looked at him as I began “I’ll sing it one last time for you…” then I turned toward the faceless crowd while I continued. The song resonated with me, the crowd melted away. I did my best, but thank God for Jackson, he knew where my pitch was weakest and chimed in which made it work beautifully, we got a standing ovation, and I am NOT standing ovation material. Then he announced we would be retiring from the stage for the night which was greeted with groans of disappointment. He grinned widely then sang “Well, in fact we have one more song for you, then we really have to go,” which was greeted by a round of laughter and some smart phones held high to snap photos. Jackson was compelling.

  When Mona and Lucy joined us up on stage we were too relaxed and confident to even miss a beat. We were in the moment. Mona and I were the bookends in the chorus with Lucy singing along with us beside Jackson. You could just feel the love for the three of them in that bar.

  I felt a little residual goodwill washing over me as well and I could look out over the faces with pleasure. The thing that made us stand out was we were all town eccentrics, and the South sure takes pride in our oddballs. We were characters ourselves, the four of us, an enjoyable source of anecdotes in this tiny town. Maybe it was the company I kept, but I realized my friends had accomplished their goal as I moved to the music and looked over the crowd. I was happy. I saw Jared, he grinned and raised his bottle to me as a salute and I almost missed a step before winking at him and continuing our routine.