“Surely not,” I whispered back, as I motioned to the server to pass a tray of sandwiches around the room. “This town might bring itself to accept a woman taking the place of a man, but not
that.
I mean, Tony may be mixed up physically, but Mildred would just die if he got mixed up romantically.”
“Well, I don’t know,” Hazel Marie mused. “I’ve seen Calvin, and he’s real good-looking.”
She moved off to talk to someone else, leaving me with my mouth open. Lord, I’d be glad to get Mr. Pickens back in circulation before Hazel Marie cast her eyes even further afield than Curtis Maxwell.
As I moved from one cluster of women to the next, always keeping my eye on the table to be sure the trays were replenished, I made sure to keep the conversations on the thrilling topic of either Tonya or The Ring. I intended those women to have so much to think and talk about in the coming days that any other escapades Wesley Lloyd might’ve engaged in would be relegated to the bottom of the list to die a natural death as he had, himself.
Norma Cantrell, who’d been uncommonly standoffish during her brief visit, as indeed she should’ve been given what I knew about her, edged up to me as some of the guests prepared to take their leave. “Did Sam really give you that?” she asked. When I smiled and nodded, she said, “Does it mean what I think it does?”
“One never knows, does one?” I said with a knowing smile that I couldn’t restrain. I was surprised, to tell the truth, that she’d had the nerve to even show up for the party, much less speak privately to me. I’d never again be able to look at the woman without recalling the moans of passion stemming from the pastor’s office, and I knew she knew I was doing just that.
But she had the gall to look me in the eye and say, “People’re going to talk if it’s not an engagement ring. And if I were you, I’d avoid giving any more reason for rumors to fly around.”
“You should take some of your own advice,” I said, in spite of the fact that she was a guest in my home. We glared at each other for a few seconds but, heedful of the rules of hospitality, I gave way first. I took a deep breath of resignation and said, “I’m glad you could come, Norma. It’s been an education to meet the former Tony Allen, hasn’t it?”
She agreed, and it seemed we had bridged the gap. At least, until she could get back to the church office and tell the pastor that I was sporting a rock as big as Gibraltar, obvious proof that liberties had been taken and more could be expected.
Finally the last guest left after wringing my hand at the door and assuring me that she’d had a wonderful time. That constituted the usual effusive farewells, but this time I thought they meant them. They’d never had so many exciting items to ponder, discuss, and take home to further embroider with each repetition.
I shut the door and turned back to the living room where Mildred and Tonya, who’d stayed till the bitter end as they should’ve, were waiting with Hazel Marie.
“Julia,” Mildred said, “this was a wonderful party. Everything was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the flowers perfect. I’m so glad we did this. Now everybody will be kind to my sweet Tonya.” With an adoring look on her face, she reached over and patted Tonya’s knee.
Tonya leaned back in a corner of the sofa, tired from the constant chit-chat required of the center of attention. Men just don’t realize how much a social function can take out of you. You’re just drained when they’re over.
Tonya looked up at me and said, “This was the most fun I’ve had since I became a real woman.” Then she grinned wickedly.
I had to laugh, although that was as tasteless a comment as I’d ever heard. “Well, you were certainly a success,” I said, taking a seat across from her.
Mildred smiled, but wagged a cautionary finger. “Manners, Tonya,” her mother admonished. “Let’s remember our manners.”
“Oh, everybody just loved Tonya,” Hazel Marie said, still enchanted with this new woman. Or maybe with her Chanel suit. “I think everybody had a good time.”
As Mildred gazed lovingly at her daughter, Tonya patted my ring-bearing hand and said, “I can’t thank you enough, Miss Julia.”
“We enjoyed it, too,” I said, smiling with the satisfaction of having thrown a successful party, as well as at the fact that it was over. “And, you know you’ll be getting more social invitations, now that acquaintances have been renewed. I hope you’ll be staying in town a while longer.”
A mischievous look glinted in her eyes as she glanced at her mother. “Actually, I hadn’t planned to stay this long, but home seems to have a special attraction for me now.”
Mildred sighed. “Tonya, special attractions come and go, as any woman worth her salt can tell you. You need to give yourself time to know what you really want.”
“Oh, Mother,” Tonya said, teasingly.
“
A girl has to have a little freedom to look around before she know what she wants.”
If I’d had any doubts that there was still the scandalous Tony Allen inside that altered exterior, I had them no longer.
Hazel Marie, taking a cue from Mildred’s discomfort, suggested that Tonya go with her to the kitchen. “We want you to take some things home with you,” she said. “I’ll bet there’s a pile of sandwiches left, and I know Lillian has plenty of pecan tassies. We want you to take the centerpiece, too.”
They left the room, chatting together like old schoolmates, while Mildred and I stayed where we were.
“Mildred,” I said, “I am proud of you. You and Tonya seem to be on such good terms and enjoy each other so much. I’ll be honest and say that there was a time in my life when I probably wouldn’t have understood, but now I know there’s more than one way to skin a cat.” That hadn’t come out exactly as I’d meant it to, so I tried again. “I mean, more than one way to get a daughter. Who would’ve ever thought I’d get one the way I got Hazel Marie?”
“That’s so true,” Mildred agreed. “When you look at it that way, we’ve both been blessed in having such lovely daughters.” She sighed, then went on. “I wish Horace could see it that way. He is just beside himself and so angry that he won’t even speak to Tonya. He says it’s a sin and a disgrace what Tony’s done to himself, and he wants to kick him, I mean her, out of the house.”
“That’s too bad,” I said, wondering how Horace expected to do that without Mildred’s cooperation. It was family money that Horace used for his investments—Mildred’s family’s money, that is.
“Yes, it is,” Mildred replied, in her placid way. “I think everybody ought to learn to get along. Lord knows, that’s what I try to do. Although,” she said with a heaving sigh, “I keep thinking of all the things we’ve missed by Tony doing this so late in life. I mean, if this had happened when he was young, he could’ve made his debut and everything. That way Tonya would’ve had more experience with young men. And not taken up with my yardman, like she’s done.”
“Probably so,” I murmured, just to make some response to keep up my end of the conversation.
“Well, I’m going to take your advice,” Mildred said, gathering up her purse as I wondered just what it was that I’d advised. “You said I should hold my head up and defy the gossips, so if Tonya decides to stick with Calvin, that’s just what I’m going to do.”
I searched for something comforting to say, but couldn’t find anything. Mildred was bearing up better under such a prospect than I could’ve imagined. At the moment, though, all I could think of was how such a shocking union would explode in the town. Couple that with a pay-off to Monique, and I wouldn’t have to worry about lingering idle talk getting back to Little Lloyd. Nobody would be interested in talking about a man who’d been dead for years when there was something so much more recent and of such breath-taking import to talk about. I smiled to myself, thinking that life was good again and that a few other people might soon be joining Tonya and me on Pastor Ledbetter’s list of disassociates.
As if she’d read my mind, Mildred said, “I know it would be a sensation in town if that happened. But, you know, while I was in bed recovering from Tony’s operation, I listened a lot to a preacher on the radio.” She smiled in a satisfied way. “I’ve taken everything he said to heart.”
I frowned. “What did he say?”
“Well, he reminded me that everything that happens to us is part of God’s plan. And he said that by grace we are enabled to accept what we can’t change.”
I put a spiritual expression on my face and nodded. “Very true, Mildred.”
Mildred got to her feet and called toward the kitchen, “Come on, Tonya. We better go.” Then she leaned toward me and lowered her voice. “He said something else that’s really helped me. He said we should always look on the bright side, and the bright side where Calvin is concerned is that at least he’s not a Baptist.”
Well, for the Lord’s sake, I thought to myself, if that was the only bright spot she could find, she was certainly scraping the bottom of the barrel.
But I said, “Look at it this way, Mildred. You missed Tonya’s debutante parties, but you can look forward to her wedding. Even if you don’t approve of her choice. Mothers don’t have much say in that anyway, even under the best of circumstances.”
“Oh, you are right, Julia,” she said, her face lighting up. “And, you know, when Calvin changes from those filthy overalls and work boots, he can look quite presentable.” She clutched my arm in sudden inspiration. “Just think what a tuxedo will do for him.”
“If you’re thinking that way,” I said, somewhat dryly, “you might want to raise his salary.”
“Well,” she said gaily, “I’ve supported Horace all these years, what’s another one?” Then, turning her head toward the kitchen, she called, “Tonya, let’s go. We have plans to make.”
As the door closed behind them, I realized how impressed I’d been with Tonya. Say what you will, a pleasant aspect and good manners can overcome a multitude of otherwise questionable qualities.
=
Chapter 34’
The telephone rang all afternoon and most of the following day with first one then another of our guests calling with their thanks for the lovely party. Everyone spoke in guarded terms about Tonya at first, then gradually began to express delicious enjoyment of the scandal. I let them, for wasn’t that the reason for the party in the first place? But, since I’d used Tonya for my own less-than-admirable purposes, I countered some of the more scathing comments with compliments on her appearance, her sweet disposition, and her lovely manners.
Several callers went around Robin Hood’s barn trying to find out more about Sam and me, but I neither confirmed nor denied, letting them draw their own conclusions. That’s the way to foster more gossip, in case you’re interested.
Sam called every day and came over whenever he had a mind to, which was almost too often for me. I needed time to think and to nurture the right kind of gossip, since the Mooney woman’s departure was still some days hence. Actually, though, Sam’s visits helped keep things stirred up. Whenever someone called, I could truthfully cut the conversation short by saying that he was at the door.
He’d come in, try a few liberties if no one was around, and say that he had to check on his investment in the future.
That’s what he called The Ring, although I’d made it perfectly clear that it signified no more than an amicable association of congenial companions, and that I planned to return it as soon as it accomplished its purpose. He laughed every time I brought that up. It’s a fact that when men lay out good money for something, they think special privileges go along with the purchase price.
“Sam,” I said, later in the week when I was trying to divert his attention from my person before one of the children came in and caught us, “I need an escort for tomorrow night.”
“I’m your man. Where’re we going?”
“To that Pre-Grand Opening thing they’re having.”
His eyebrows went up. “Why, sure, Julia, if that’s what you want. But it surprises me.”
“Well, don’t think I want to go for any spiritual edification, because I don’t. I doubt I’d get any from that bunch, anyway. No, I want to see what they’re doing out there. And . . .” I stopped and looked away, a cloud of uncertainty sweeping over me.
“And what, Julia?” Sam turned my face to his. “Tell me, sweetheart.”
So finally I did. I just let it pour out—the talk about Monique Mooney and Wesley Lloyd and what they’d done on the loan officer’s desk and in Wesley Lloyd’s office and on the marble floor of the bank lobby, as well as the dreadful ramifications for Little Lloyd if any of it got back to him. I told him how I’d finagled to distract the talkers by honoring Tonya Allen, and was now getting credit for being kind and broad-minded and tolerant, when all I’d been was devious and self-serving. And, on top of that, she’d written the sweetest thank-you note and sent flowers, too, so that I was even more ashamed of myself. I told him about Pastor Ledbetter being so hypocritical as to shun me, and making Emma Sue do the same, which wasn’t as bad as being censured but was bad enough. I told him about engaging Mr. Pickens and how he was now locked in out at that place, while Hazel Marie was turning her eyes to other possibilities, the thought of which turned my stomach, and how I needed to get to Mr. Pickens and going to the Pre-Grand Opening was the only way I knew how to do it.
But I didn’t tell him about the eye-popping check I’d already written or what I planned to do with it. Sam might mean the world to me, but he didn’t have to know what I did with my money.
“My Lord, Julia,” Sam said after listening to this outpouring of concern. “You’ve been carrying a heavy load.” He pointed a finger in my face. “Don’t do that anymore. When something worries you, I want to know about it. Understand?”
I nodded, feeling an immense relief just to get it said and shift the burden a little. Although, Lord knows what he could do that I couldn’t.
“Now, listen,” he said, “put Larry Ledbetter out of your mind. I had a talk with him and, believe me, he got the message. You might say he now has a thorough understanding that censuring you is not the best idea he ever had.”