Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise (28 page)

I took her by the arm and showed her Hazel's trailer through the window.

"My stars! I didn't even notice it on my way over."

Asa and Jake Pilkey were already there with chain saws, clearing what was left of the oak. "I heard that the men are coming home early from Elsmere."

"Sure are," Hazel said. "I called Cash Vangarten just before that dang-fool tree fell on my house and told him to let those people go as soon as he could. They need to get home and help out."

That was when Ginger leaped onto a kitchen chair. She stood on it to make herself as tall as possible. "Hazel called? What does Hazel have to do with Elsmere Elastic? I knew there was something fishy going on around here. So spill it."

Rose and I exchanged looks. "Better tell her," Rose said.

"Ginger," I whispered. "Hazel owns the factory."

"And Paradise," Rose added directly into Ginger's ear.

"Stop whispering," Hazel hollered. "I hate whispers. If you can't say it in front of me, don't say it at all."

"Hazel," I said, walking toward her. "Ginger knows your secret."

"Course she does. I just told her. Now, what's happening with my trailer?"

Rose sat on the other side of Smiley. I watched her touch the cat, and I tried to avert her with my eyes but it was too late.

"This cat is dead," Rose said.

My heart stopped.

"He is not," Hazel said. "He's just been sleeping a lot. Might have gotten a hairball caught in his tummy and he's sleeping it off. Poor thing. Imagine that. You'd sleep too if you had wadded up hair in your guts."

Ginger made her way to the cat.

"Hazel. How about if I take the kitty into the kitchen for some water?" she said. "Maybe he needs a drink."

Hazel patted the cat. "Well, okay. But not too much. I don't want him throwing up all over Charlotte's floor."

"I don't think we have to worry about that," Ginger said. And she gently lifted the stiff (and getting stiffer) cat off the couch.

I followed her into the kitchen.

"What do we do now?" I asked.

"I say we take it outside and bury it," Ginger said. "Have a service. Do something. The woman can't live with a dead cat."

Lucky got up from his spot in the kitchen and sniffed the cat again. Then he lay back down.

Just making sure, I supposed.

"We have to make her understand."

I looked back and saw Rose holding Hazel's hands.

"I think Rose is doing that."

Ginger and I stayed in the kitchen a couple of more minutes until we heard Hazel whimper, "Smiley is . . . is gone?"

M
other came out of the bedroom dressed in her traveling dress and holding Tweety's cage.

"I'll call a cab, Charlotte."

"Mother. What are you doing?"

"I can tell I'm no longer wanted here."

I sucked air and blew it out my nose.

"Mother. Don't leave like this."

"How should I leave, through the window? Do you expect me to sprout wings and fly, Charlotte? Should I pirouette out the door?"

"Mother."

"Well, you made it very clear. There is not enough room in this decrepit little trailer house for me and your good friend Hazel and her dead cat."

Hazel, who was wiping her nose on a pink tissue, spoke up."What in the heck are you yammering about? I am not staying here. Who said I would stay here?"

"Well, I just thought—"

"You just thought? I hate it when people think. Didn't I tell you I have a whole big house down the road a piece? I'll stay there until I replace the trailer."

I felt like an idiot. "I didn't think about that."

"Of course, you didn't. I'll just have Fergus drive me over there. He can open the house and get the electricity turned on and the gas. I'll be fine."

"There, now. See, Mother, you can stay."

"I still think I should go, Charlotte."

"Oh, Lillian," Rose chimed in. "At least stay until we win a game."

"Yeah, stick around," Ginger said.

"No. I'll call a cab."

"Let her go," Hazel said. "She's just being a martyr. I hate martyrs."

Mother harrumphed toward the telephone. "I am not a martyr."

"You can't call a cab. The phones are out."

"Okay, fine. You want me to stay. I'll stay."

Lucky jumped up and ran to the door and barked.

"What is it?" Rose asked. "What is it, boy?"

We heard a loud bang on the door.

"Well, open it," Hazel said. "See who's there."

Fergus stood on the stoop. "The storm has trees down all over. The only road in or out of the park is closed. You all just stay put."

"Where's Suzy?" I asked.

He glared at me. "She's fine. Don't you worry about her, Charlotte." And he dashed away from the door.

I didn't appreciate his tone. "I just hate the thought of Suzy all alone in a dark trailer. She should be here, with us."

"Ah, don't fret," Hazel said. "We've weathered storms like this before. She will be fine down there."

"But, Hazel, you don't un—"

My mother piped up. "Maybe we should try and listen to a weather report. Do you have a battery-operated radio, Charlotte?"

"Rose," I said, "reach into that drawer next to you. I have a transistor radio."

She flipped it on and set it on the coffee table.

"Keep an ear tuned to it and see if they have any more information. I wonder if the men can get through from Elsmere."

"Oh, pshaw," Hazel said. "Some of them will climb over branches and the rest will pitch in to help clear the roads. They'll get here sooner or later."

"Then I guess we just sit and wait," I said. "Anyone want coffee or tea?"

Ginger grabbed her raincoat and pulled on her boots.

"Where the devil do you think you're going, little missy?" Hazel asked.

"I'll be back. I just want to make the rounds and make sure everyone else is okay. You know, the rest of the team."

I snapped my fingers. "The team. Good idea. And tell anyone who can, to come to my place."

"A party," Hazel said. "Reminds me of the olden days when the power went out and the neighbors would gather and we'd roast hot dogs in the fireplace and pop corn."

"I remember times like that," Mother said. She sat next to Hazel. "Why, my Henry, that was my husband's name, would get a fire roaring and . . . "

A smile as wide as the Thunder's first baseman's behind stretched across my face, and I went to the kitchen to make coffee and serve pie. Rose and Ginger ventured out to check on the Angels. "If you can, would you check on Suzy?" I asked them before they left. "Just knock on her door. She'll answer."

I brought tea to the living room and heard the weather report coming on the radio. "Shh, listen," I said. I turned the transistor up. "The storm has left quite a path of destruction," the announcer said. "The weather bureau has now declared that a tornado did set down in Cranston, just a half mile east of Shoops. We have a reporter on the scene at Haven House, where there is a report that the roof has blown off the group home there."

"Haven House," I said. "Fleur de Lee and the baby."

Mother grew quiet, and I saw her take Hazel's hand.

"Is that the little girl who had the baby on the field?" Hazel asked.

"Yes," Mother said. "Shhh."

Hazel snarled but kept quiet.

"Thanks, Dave," the reporter said. "I'm standing here with Jaster Cook, a resident of Haven House. Mr. Cook, it looks like the twister destroyed the place."

Jaster breathed hard. "Yes, it was mighty scary. I grabbed my wife and baby and we got to the basement before the roof tore off. It was like a train . . . like a big old train come rumbling right through our house. Fleur de Lee cried, but she done all right until we got the all clear."

Hazel gasped. "Jaster works for me. I hope he's okay. And the baby."

"But we're okay," he said. "My Fleur de Lee and tiny Angel Fleur de Lee are A-OK."

"Thank you, Lord," I said. A remark that garnered a strange look from Mother. I turned off the radio. "They'll need a place to stay," I said.

"You're not suggesting here?" Mother said.

I shook my head. "No, Mother, but if I had the room."

Hazel slapped her knee. "They can stay at Willow Way. I got plenty of bedrooms in Willow Way. They'll just stay there."

"Willow Way?" Mother said. "Charlotte told me about your mansion."

"Birdy named it that because of all the willow trees on the way up the long, long driveway."

"Well, why in the world do you live here? In a trailer?"

Hazel chuckled. "I like it in Paradise and just as soon as they get my trailer fixed or I can arrange for a new one, I'll be back."

I watched my mother turn her mouth into a puckered hole.

"Once you get to know the folks, you'll understand, Mother."

She shook her head. "Well, I never will. I mean—" She turned toward Hazel, "You obviously have money, so why not spend it?"

Hazel slapped her knee. "Money isn't everything. I couldn't get used to knocking around that big old house all by my lonesome. And I spend plenty of money, just how I see fit. Who do you think paid for all those uniforms and equipment? That reminds me, Charlotte, I had Mr. Vangarten deposit enough money in your bank account to more than cover whatever you took out to get the ball rolling."

"That is so sweet of you. Thank you."

I watched her yawn and settle back into the sofa. "Where is Fergus? I need him to drive me to Willow Way. This has been quite a day."

"He'll come get you when the roads are clear," I said.

Lucky whimpered and hid his eyes under his paws. Mother gave him a quick pat and a scratch behind the ears. "That's a good doggie. The storm will be over soon, and you'll be back to chasing squirrels."

For a second I wasn't sure which storm she referred to. The door opened, and in came Rose and Ginger with a happy report.

"The Angels are fine, all snug with their children, and the men are making their way home. Fergus just learned the roads are clear."

"Praise Jesus," Ginger said. "It could have been so much worse."

"Did anyone check on Suzy?" I had settled into the rocking chair. "I've been worried sick about her."

"She's with Fergus," Rose said. "She's been following him around while he checks on things."

"That's crazy," Hazel said. "Why would he cart his wife with the broken arm all around?"

No one answered.

Hazel stood up for the first time since the morning. "This is turning into a regular donnybrook fair. Cats are dying, and people are either going off the deep end or getting their houses blown away by a nasty wind. What's next?"

"Hopefully nothing," I said. "I'll go over to your house and see if you can get in to pack a few things."

"I don't need anything from there. What I don't have at Willow Way I'll send Fergus for. Where is that fool? And what did you do with Smiley?"

"He's outside," I said. "You dozed off a few minutes and Lillian and me put him in a bag and set him outside."

"You did what? My Smiley in a plastic bag? Outside in the rain?"

"Well, it's stopped now, and we just thought it would be best to put him out."

"The raccoons will eat his liver, or the buzzards—nasty dang birds—will pick him clean."

"Hopefully not," Mother said. "Maybe we can bury him before you leave."

"Capital idea, Lillian," Hazel said. "We'll let Rose do the service."

Rose, who was drying her hair on a towel, said, "It will be an honor to send Smiley off to kitty heaven."

There was a knock at the door. Lucky bounded over and barked his head off. I grabbed his collar. "Come on, boy. Just sit and behave."

"What's wrong with him?" Hazel asked.

"He doesn't care much for Fergus." I pulled open the door. Lucky snarled and bared his teeth.

"Get that mutt away from me," Fergus said. Then he let Suzy inside first. "You go on."

Hazel got to the door with Rose's help. I moved back and joined Rose. "I don't think he's let her out of his sight since the barbecue."

"He's afraid," she said.

"We could say something now."

"No. Let him get Hazel to her house."

"Yeah."

"Got any stuff to take, Hazel?" Fergus said.

I looked at Suzy and smiled. She looked away and stood there shivering like a drowned rat.

"Now, look," Hazel said. "Suzy doesn't need to take the ride to Willow Way. She can stay here with Charlotte and Rose and—" she looked around. "Where's Ginger?"

Ginger came out of the bathroom. "I'm right here."

"You girls stay put. Fergus won't be long."

Suzy stepped away from Fergus. "Is it all right, Fergus?"

"Why you asking his permission?" Hazel said. "Course you can stay."

I smiled at Fergus. He glared at me, and I knew exactly what he was thinking. He was scared to death I would talk Suzy into doing something while he was gone. He was in a pickle now.

"Come on, Hazel," he said. "Let's get you home."

"I'm coming, I'm coming, but we got to bury Smiley first."

I watched Fergus's shoulders rise and fall in exasperation.

"Fine, fine. Let's get it over with."

We paraded to Hazel's yard. I carried Smiley. The men had cleared most of the tree. Hazel found a lovely spot near her sitting bench. "This is good. Fergus, dig a hole."

He ran to his truck and retrieved a shovel. By then Asa and Rube came walking down the street. I waved them over.

"I think we're pretty secure," Asa said. "Looks like Hazel got the worst of it." Then he looked at us like we had all sprouted petunias out of our heads. "What's going on? What's in that bag?"

Hazel sat on the bench. "Smiley."

"Smiley? You mean he's . . ."

I nodded. "We're here to bury him."

Fergus started digging, and I must admit that I enjoyed watching him dig. I only wished he was doing it in a prison camp.

"My dear friends, neighbors, sisters and brothers," Rose said. "We are here to see our feline, furry friend Smiley off to heaven's gate. He was a good cat, a fine companion, and he will be sorely—"

"Hold on, hold on," Hazel said. "Don't be so dang-blame solemn."

"Would you care to speak?" Rose asked.

Hazel shook her head, and then she nodded. "It's too hard. I just want to say that I'll miss him. He was my best friend for a long, long time. My only friend until Charlotte came to town and opened my eyes to more—opened up all our eyes to joy and softball and friendship."

My heart raced. Mother and I made eye contact, but she turned away.

"Rest in peace, my friend." Hazel closed her eyes and then popped them open. "Shh. Listen. Over there. It's that Whistlesnook."

We all turned in the direction she pointed, toward a big maple in the corner. And sure enough, there was a bird that kind of resembled a woodpecker with odd blue wings, perched on the trunk.

"He came to say goodbye," Hazel said. "Animals have a way of knowing. He must have cleared out before the storm, and now he's back to say goodbye to Smiley. They were friends, you know, even though nature told them to be archenemies."

The little crowd exchanged glances, and then Fergus dropped the bag in the hole.

"Pull me a daisy over there, will you, Asa?"

She dropped it on top of Smiley. "Go on, Fergus. Bury him."

We waited until Fergus tamped the wet dirt on the grave.

"I'm going over to Haven House," Asa said. "See if I can help out."

"You can bring Jaster and his wife and baby and whoever else wants to come over to Willow Way," Hazel said. "They'll need a place to stay."

Hazel took Fergus's arm. "C'mon, we'll need to stop at the Rexall," Hazel said. "I need a toothbrush, you know."

"You mean, there isn't one toothbrush in that whole big house?"

"And I want to stop at the pound."

"The pound?"

"Need a new cat."

His complaining voice trailed off as he got her to his truck. Rose and Suzy and Ginger and I watched him pick the old girl up and sit her in the truck cab.

Suzy took a huge breath and fainted dead away.