Carolyn didn’t back away from the pipe when she stood. Her head bumped directly into that pipe. Staggering, she reached for the sink. Water hit her in the face while she gripped the knobs. They were locked in place. Carolyn nearly fell as her arms reached for her toolbox. Hazel held Carolyn steady, and Carolyn prepared a wrench.
At first, Carolyn tried to adjust the faucet with the wrench. It had nothing to hold onto, which didn’t matter. Carolyn’s eyes were assaulted by the flow. Finally, Carolyn whacked the faucet a few times with the wrench. The water slowed until it came to a halt. Carolyn breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at Hazel. Immediately, they began to laugh.
“I think I’ll stick with cars,” Carolyn sighed.
Carolyn’s fingers held the side of her head. She could feel a bump forming, and it was a rather large one. Hazel rushed to her side. “What is it, Carolyn?”
“I hit the sink when I was getting up. It’s nothing.”
“You’re obviously in pain. Come on. Let’s get you fixed up.”
Despite her arguments, Hazel led her to the sofa. She sat Carolyn down, and then she raided the kitchen for the proper items. With no doctor in town, she knew that taking care of Carolyn was up to her. Items in hand, Hazel went into the living room where Carolyn was waiting. She sat on the coffee table across from Carolyn. She pressed a bag of frozen vegetables to Carolyn’s head. Although Carolyn could have held it there herself, Hazel wouldn’t allow it.
“I’m sorry that my sink attacked you,” Hazel murmured.
“I was the one that attacked it. I can hold this,” Carolyn said as she placed her hand over Hazel’s knuckles. It lingered until Hazel slid her fingers from the bag.
Hazel brought a kitchen towel with her as well. Gingerly, she patted the water away from Carolyn’s face. When she reached Carolyn’s neck, she saw the faintest sign of a bruise beneath Carolyn’s collar. Carolyn caught her wrist before she could get a closer look. Hazel jolted from Carolyn’s strong hold. She relaxed when Carolyn let her go in order to take the towel.
It was Carolyn’s turn to blot the water from Hazel’s cheeks. Hazel’s skin tingled when Carolyn ran the towel over her neck. Her eyes shut, and her jaw twitched. Carolyn noticed. She noticed how Hazel’s teeth clenched as she dragged the towel down Hazel’s throat. In that moment, she knew that maybe, just maybe, she could affect Hazel in the same way that Hazel affected her.
Carolyn took the towel away. “There. I think I got all that water.”
“Yeah. I think that you did,” Hazel mumbled. Her skin was still sizzling, and her heart was still racing.
Uneasily, Carolyn searched for something, anything, to forget what had happened. In her search, she noticed Hazel’s bookshelf. That was perfect. She went with it. “I wanted to tell you. I read some of that book you gave me.”
“Yeah? What did you think?” Hazel brightly asked.
“It’s written real pretty. I didn’t get all of it, like I said I wouldn’t. But, I liked it. I have it in my toolbox. Would you maybe look it over? Write down what the words I circled mean?”
“I can do that. It’s a marvelous story, isn’t it? I’m a fool for romance novels.”
“Why do you like them so much?” Carolyn wondered.
“I don’t know,” Hazel replied. “I guess that I’ve always liked the idea of falling in love with someone. True love, that is.”
Carolyn’s voice was barely audible. “What do you think true love is?”
“I think that you can’t put true love into words. It’s in actions. Fighting for each other no matter the consequences or circumstances. Staring at the clock the second that somebody leaves and counting the seconds until you can see them again. Being there when somebody cries and telling them that they don’t have to face the pain alone. Getting so angry at somebody and screaming at them over silly things, but still knowing that you love each other despite the stupid fights. Just living a real life, one that’s so imperfect, and knowing that they’ll be at your side. Knowing that they’ll let you be you even if you’re not everything they want you to be.”
Carolyn moved closer to Hazel. Hazel held onto Carolyn’s hand.
“What do you think true love is, Carolyn?” Hazel had to ask.
“I think that you know when you feel it.”
“Have you ever felt it?”
“Have you?”
Hazel gazed directly into Carolyn’s eyes. “Not with Eugene, no.”
“Then why are you marrying him?” Carolyn challenged.
“Because I have to. Do you love your husband?”
“No,” Carolyn admitted.
“Then why did you marry him?” Hazel challenged.
“Because I had to,” Carolyn uttered. She pulled away from Hazel. “I think that my head is feeling better now. I should go home. I’ve got some things left to do on the farm.”
Hazel sadly nodded. “All right. I owe you lunch. I guess that I’ll see you on Thursday?”
“Until then,” Carolyn confirmed.
“Until then. Thank you for trying to fix my sink. I’m sorry that you got hurt.”
“It’s no worry. Can I leave the book on the table here?”
“Sure. I’ll bring it with me on Thursday.”
“All right. Have a good day, Hazel.”
“You too, Carolyn.”
Once she left the book, Carolyn exited the house and stepped into her truck. She left for her farm, and Hazel stood at the kitchen counter. Hazel finished making lunch for herself, but she was rather lonely afterwards. She realized that she hadn’t written Sally back, so she grabbed her stationary.
With a pen in hand, she began to write. She wrote about how much she missed her family, she asked more about her father’s condition, and then she paused. There were still two issues that needed to be addressed.
Sally,
Lie to the Millers for me. Tell them something about how I “miss” Eugene and “love” him too. I don’t know. You’re good at lying. You’ll be fine. I just can’t bear to write anything myself.
I am aware that adultery is a sin, not just a bad idea, and I am aware that I’m engaged. I have to stare at the ring every second of my life. All I can say is that the someone I mentioned is the only reason that I haven’t lost my mind here. I won’t mention it again. Just know that this someone makes me very, very happy.
Miss you all.
Love,
Hazel
She tucked the letter into an envelope with a deep breath. Before taking it to Elmer’s store, Hazel had some reading to do. Carolyn was counting on her. She held onto her pen and opened the cover. Fondly, she wrote various definitions in the margins. She couldn’t wait to give Carolyn the book again.
Adultery is a sin, not just a bad idea, she’d wrote to Sally. Hazel rarely listened to herself.
Twenty
Thursday had returned. Hazel sat on Carolyn’s field beside one of the calves. It ate directly from her hands, and she giggled from the contact. “Carolyn, this little guy is tickling me.”
“He’s a friendly fella,” Carolyn smiled.
She mended a hole in the fence while Hazel bonded with the various cows. Carolyn liked that Hazel had a calming effect on them. Like Carolyn, the animals could sense when the weather was going to change. They didn’t care for rain or thunder. In fact, half of them escaped during the last big storm. Carolyn was hoping that, when the weather did arrive, it wouldn’t be so bad.
“Do you need any help over there? I can stop playing around,” Hazel offered.
“I’m almost done. I should be worrying on the holes in the roofs, given the weather.”
“What about it?” Hazel asked as her eyes pointed skyward.
“Storm’s coming. Not sure how soon, but soon. I hope it comes on Sunday.”
“So you can skip church?” Hazel joked.
“So I can skip the party.”
Hazel sat upright. “What party?”
“Elmer didn’t tell you?” Carolyn was amazed.<
br />
“I haven’t seen him today. What should he have told me?”
“There’s a big party every Fourth of July. Richard Richardson throws it in an old barn on his property. Everybody goes. Even me.”
“You don’t sound enthusiastic,” Hazel noticed.
Carolyn sighed. “I never am. I’m not a social one. If you couldn’t tell. But, people get real mad if I don’t go. I’ve had Rodger give me an earful.”
“My, you’re a celebrity.”
“No, my pies are. I bring a whole ton with me to the party. They miss my pies when I’m gone. Not me.”
“If they’re half as delicious as the one you gave me, I can understand why they’d miss them. I’m sure that they miss you too, though,” Hazel assured her.
Carolyn shook her head at the notion. “Thank you for trying to make me feel better, darlin.”
“Elmer and Rodger miss you, I’m sure. I’d miss you too, so you better go.”
“I will. I get real tired is all. Takes all day to get those pies ready.”
“Need a hand? I take directions well.”
“I’d ask, but you can’t come over on Sunday.”
Hazel’s face fell. “Why can’t I?”
“Thompson will be home,” Carolyn spoke with disgust. “My husband.”
“He’s never home, though.”
“It’s a big holiday. Factories are closed.”
“Oh. He’ll be at the party, then?” Hazel frowned.
“I doubt it. He’ll probably be with his brother in the city most of the night.”
Hazel relaxed. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about seeing Thompson in the flesh. She didn’t want to. She liked to pretend that he didn’t exist, and she wanted it to stay that way.
“All right. What exactly happens at this party?” Hazel wondered.
“Lots of music. Dancing. Food. Ends with fireworks. Nothing special,” Carolyn answered.
“Sounds like a big deal for a town like this.”
“It is. Probably sounds like a normal night for a town like Boston.”
“Oh, yes. Every night,” Hazel smirked. She softened at the scowl on Carolyn’s face. “You really don’t like being social at all, do you?”
“I don’t.”
“May I ask why?”
“Many things. I’m a real private person is all.”
Hazel nodded in agreement. “That’s why I walked out on the sewing circle.”
“You did?”
“I did. They got too nosey, so I left. I’m not going back.”
“You’re one gutsy woman, Hazel.”
“Yeah, that’s what my family says. I know it’s a bad thing, but I can’t help myself sometimes.”
“You’re kidding. That’s a great thing to be,” Carolyn grinned.
Hazel blushed in response. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Carolyn said. “We should get to the blackberries. I need to pick some.”
“Getting ready for those pies?” Hazel asked.
“A pie. One for tonight.”
Hazel paused as the pieces fell into place. “He wants one tonight, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. I need to get it made before he comes home.”
“What’s the hurry? I mean, we still have to talk about the book.”
“It’ll have to be next week. I’m sorry.”
“Can’t he wait?”
“He doesn’t wait.”
Carolyn began to walk towards the garden. Hazel started to trail her, recognizing the darkness in her voice. It was tinted with fear.
*-*-*-*
There was always a sense of terror when the evening came. Carolyn had to go through a list in her mind. Did she have a complete dinner? Did she have his drink ready? Did she have a pie waiting for him? Did she have the house cleaned, farm handled, and wedding picture on the wall? Even if all those answers were yes, she was still afraid.
She straightened their wedding picture with the careful nudge of her knuckle. When she looked at the young woman she used to be, tears stung her eyes. She tried so hard to love him. She tried so hard to justify their marriage and what he did to her. However, she had to admit that she was faltering, especially since she met somebody who could make her smile.
The door opened and shut. Carolyn vigilantly adjusted the fork and knife beside his full plate. She’d felt them both before. His lips felt just as damaging when they landed on hers.
“Looks like you’ve done good. All the food is here. We’ll see how it is,” he sighed.
“Yes, Thompson. Do you need anything else?”
“Yeah. I need you to sit down. I don’t want to eat on my own.”
Carolyn warily sat across from him. She clenched her hands beneath the table, waiting until he tasted everything. If it passed inspection, she could breathe again. Mercifully, he said nothing after sampling everything. That was her cue to begin her dinner.
“I’ve thought about going to church with you tomorrow,” Thompson said.
Her grip on her fork slipped. “You want to go to church?”
“Well, I don’t know. I haven’t let myself get some extra sleep since last Fourth of July. I won’t do much of anything tomorrow. I’d bring you to my brother’s barbeque, but you know the rules. You’ve got to make us look good. I don’t want nobody to know that we’ve got debts to pay and you’ve got lessons to learn.”
Her bruises throbbed. “Yes, Thompson.”
“Good girl. I might stay at my brother’s overnight. I might stay the night after that too. I hear there’s overtime to be had. It’d be silly for me to drive back here so late when the factory is by my brother’s.”
Carolyn often wondered why he came home at all. The factories were so far away. She wanted to pretend that he would stay in the factories permanently, but she knew that he’d be back home after the war. As badly as she wanted the violence to cease, part of her hoped that the fighting would drag on forever.
“I know you’ll be lonesome without me here,” he said.
She forced a nod. “Yes.”
“Well, we’ve got all day to be together tomorrow. When you’re not baking, I mean. How about that pie? I’m ready for dessert.”
“I’ll cut you a slice.”
“A big one. I’ve worked up an appetite.”
Carolyn left the table to slice a piece of the pie. Her mind strayed to picking berries in the afternoon sun with Hazel. It doesn’t matter, Carol, she thought. Her life was right in front of her. It was the same one that had been in front of her for twenty years. She didn’t believe that there was a way to walk away from it.
Twenty-one
On Sunday, the church service was abbreviated. Everyone had something to do for the party that night, and time was not on their side. They had to be ready by sunset. Otherwise, it would be far too late for fireworks. Hazel felt somewhat useless without having a job, which only hurt worse when she thought of Carolyn working alone. Carolyn was obviously stressed, as she barely said two words to Hazel that morning.
“Isn’t there anything that I can do?” Hazel asked Elmer.
Elmer hummed at her stubbornness. He told her multiple times that she didn’t have to help him, but she wouldn’t let it go. “All right, all right. Take a breath, will ya? I’ll give you something to do tonight. You can help me set up some tables at the barn. Do you know where the barn is?”
“Not really, no. I just know that it’s Richard Richardson’s.”
“What a nice guy he is,” Elmer sarcastically mumbled. “I’ll give you the directions…”
After getting directions, Hazel went home. She chose to spend her afternoon trying to find a place for her garden. Later, she’d work on selecting the perfect dress.
Carolyn’s day wasn’t so relaxing. Her hands were sore from kneading dough and clutching a spoon. Rather than sit down with a cold glass of water, her husband led her to his bed. She’d have to shower to scrub the flour and his touch from her flesh.
*-*-*-*
“That is the left, Elmer.”
“Okay, to the right,” he corrected.
Hazel gave it a push. “There?”
“There. Thanks for the help, Hazel. The table is ready to go,” Elmer said as he dramatically clapped his hands.
There was nothing to it. Hazel put out a few items and made the punch. Afterwards, she waited. The townspeople arrived one by one as time went on. Music played, people danced, and Hazel waited in the corner with a cup of punch. When she saw Carolyn arrive with a stack of pies, she leapt into action.
“Hello, Carolyn. May I help you?” Hazel asked.
Carolyn breathlessly replied. “There’s a whole lot in the truck.”
“I’ll get them,” Hazel said.
Given the day that Carolyn had, she was grateful. She set the pies on a table with the other food. Hazel arrived with the rest of the pies shortly after that. Hazel loudly whistled at Carolyn’s feat. She had no idea how Carolyn baked so many pies on her own.
“You’ve been so busy. I can’t imagine the effort that this took,” Hazel told Carolyn.
“Just another day on the farm,” Carolyn downplayed.
“I’ve been busy too. See that table? I helped Elmer set that up. It took so much out of me. Really, I am drained,” Hazel joked.
Carolyn played along. “I’d bet. That is a mighty fine looking punch bowl.”
“Isn’t it just?” Hazel lightheartedly agreed.
With a tiny chortle, they gazed at one another. Carolyn’s chest fluttered when she saw that Hazel was in one of her fancier dresses. It hung on her curves like nothing Carolyn had ever seen. Hazel had a similar feeling. She had seen Carolyn in dresses at church, but they were nothing compared to the outfit Carolyn had on that night. Inevitably, they were interrupted by someone’s arrival.
“Hello, Mrs. Jennings. Hello, Ms. Mayer,” Rodger politely greeted them.
“Hello, Rodger,” Carolyn replied.
“Good seeing you off the farm, ma’am. And you brought the pies!” he excitedly reached for one.
“Manners, brat,” Ronnie growled as he joined them.
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