Her Mother's Daughter (10 page)

“Sometimes? I beg to differ. You're a jerk quite frequently.”

“That must be why I hang around with you,” Bay smiled.

“Listen, do you think I should do that internet thing Ashley talked about?”

“Meeting someone over the internet is quite common these days. There's nothing wrong with it.”

“I'll think about it.”

“You've got nothing to lose.”

“Yes, I do. My virginity.”

Bay stared at her. “You're kidding. You never told me that. As a matter of fact, you told me you did it with what's-his-face…that fellow who came here one summer.”

“I lied.”

“Oh, Gertie.”

“I'm only human. You and Bobby were driving me crazy the way you were all over each other. I was jealous. And it didn't help that your sister had every boy in town following her like she was the Pied Piper. Why I don't hate the two of you intensely is beyond me.”

Bay shook her head. “What am I going to do with you?”

Gertie laughed and headed towards the door. “Gotta run, or saunter, as the case may be. Listen, call Dermot and ask him over for supper. That's what I'd do. And then make something really nice, like Cornish hen and baked Alaska.”

“I'll make spaghetti.”

“You're too stubborn for your own good.”

Later that afternoon when all was quiet, Bay called the garage.

“Irving.”

“Hi, Dermot. It's me.”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to come over for supper tonight?”

There was a long silence. “Sorry, Bay. I have plans tonight.”

“Oh, of course. Well, another time, perhaps.”

“Right. See ya.” He hung up.

Bay looked at her cellphone because she couldn't believe it. He blew her off, just like that. She put the phone in her purse and walked out to the small mirror in the back room. She looked long and hard at herself. Hazel eyes and pretty heart-shaped face, freckles across the bridge of her nose. She looked tired, but maybe if she put her hair up and tried some makeup…

The thought that Dermot was fed up with her made her stomach knot. Dermot not being there was something that had never occurred to her, and the fact that it hadn't made her feel worse. She was the last person on earth who should take people for granted, since she knew only too well how fleeting life could be.

She needed to smarten up.

About everything.

Rain was falling when Bay left work. Before she closed up for the night, Tansy's car appeared in front of the post office. Bay ran to it and hopped in.

“I knew you'd get soaked, walking home in this,” Tansy said.

“Thanks.”

“Want to go out for supper? My treat.”

Bay leaned her head back against the car seat. “That would be great, actually.” She looked over at her sister. “I'm glad you're here, you know. Sorry I've been difficult.”

Tansy smiled and looked over her shoulder before she drove into the street. “That's okay.”

Bay looked out the side window. The rhythm of the wipers soothed her.

“Are you all right, Bay? I mean, do you feel okay?”

Bay watched the passing scenery, the familiar houses and stores of the town she grew up in. She knew it like the back of her hand, which was a blessing and a curse.

“I don't know if I feel anything.”

“And how long has this been going on?”

“Since Mom died…I miss her.”

“God forbid I sound like an old busybody, but you should see a doctor.”

Bay swivelled her head to look at her sister. “What for?”

“I think you're depressed.”

“Nonsense. I'm sad, that's all. Aren't I allowed to be sad?”

“Yes, Bay. You're allowed to be sad, but believe it or not, you're also allowed to be happy.”

Bay didn't say anything, so Tansy continued. “If not for your sake, then for Ashley's. It hurts her to see you like this.”

“So now you're an expert on Ashley. That didn't take long.”

Tansy pulled up to the house and parked in the driveway. “I've got eyes, haven't I? Look, let's drop it. Run in and get Ashley and she can decide where we'll eat.”

Bay nodded, got out of the car, and disappeared around the corner. She went into the kitchen and hollered for her. A muffled “What?” came from the bedroom. Bay went to the bottom of the stairs.

“Do you want to go out for supper?”

“Sure, can Matt come too?”

“Yeah, we'll pick him up.”

Ashley and Matt appeared at the top of the stairs. “You won't have to. He's here.”

Bay gave her a look and Ashley gave her one back. Bay's look said
You know how I feel about Matt in your room
and Ashley's said
Lighten
up, why do you always think the worst?

When Matt passed her on the stairs, he gave her a quick smile and rushed by, as if afraid she'd reach out and grab him by the collar.

“You better call your mom and tell her we'll bring you home after dinner.”

“Okay, thanks.” He went to the phone. It gave the other two a chance to stare each other down. Ashley was about to open her mouth but Bay put her hand up.

“Never mind. Let's go and have fun.”

Ashley smiled. “Okay.”

When Matt got off the phone, Bay quickly fed Merlin and then they ran out the back door and around the house and realized too late that they'd never fit in Tansy's sports car, so they got soaked as they switched vehicles.

“Great,” Tansy pouted. “I look like a drowned rat.” She checked the mirror in the sun visor. “I should've worn waterproof mascara. What a ridiculous place this is. Rain, fog, drizzle, wind—you name it, it's here.”

Bay backed back out of the driveway. “Are you telling me you didn't have weather in New York?”

“Not destructive, damp, stupid fog.”

“You're in for a great time, then.” Bay turned onto Main Street and started to pick up speed, when she noticed Gertie walking along the sidewalk, head down, with four grocery bags in her hands.

“That silly woman's going to catch her death,” Bay tsked.

“Doesn't she own a car?” Tansy asked.

“Well, not really.”

“What do you mean, not really?”

“She has one but it needs gas.”

Ashley and Matt laughed at Tansy's expression. “Do you mean to tell me she's too cheap to buy gas for her car?”

Bay nodded. “She'd rather buy nachos. We'd better pick her up.”

Tansy looked around at the back seat. “Where on earth will you put her?”

Ashley solved that. “I'll sit on Matt's lap.”

Bay pulled over to the curb ahead of Gertie and honked the horn. Gertie was wearing an accordion plastic head scarf on her head, which made her look eighty. She tried to wave, but her hands were full. The kids opened the back door and she hurried over to the car.

“Take these,” Gertie shouted. “My boxes of doughnuts are getting soggy.”

Matt grabbed the bags and Gertie grunted as she squeezed into the back seat. She took off her headscarf and shook it. Tansy cried out in dismay.

“For heaven's sake, Gertie, you're not a dog. Watch my hair.”

“Sorry. Look, Tansy, could you push your seat up a tad? My knees are up to my chins.”

Tansy pulled her seat forward. “Is that better?”

“Not really, but never mind.”

“Want to go to dinner with us, Gertie?”

“That would be great. Anyone want a doughnut?”

After arguing about where they should go, they decided on Swiss Chalet. They had a horrible time trying to get Gertie out of the back seat of the car. Even Gertie seemed distressed by the episode.

“I think I'm going to have to go on a diet.” She stopped for a breather before they got through the restaurant door. But once she was seated, she sniffed the air. “Oh darn, smell that chicken. Maybe I'll start my diet tomorrow.”

“There's no time like the present,” Tansy announced. “If you mean what you say, then act on it. Starting tonight.”

Gertie looked dismayed. “You mean I get invited to a restaurant with someone else picking up the tab and you're going to make me eat a salad?”

“That's what I'm having,” Tansy replied.

“Oh, brother. But the fries are so good here.”

Tansy patted Gertie's hand. “Listen, Gertie, my sister loves you very much and right now she can't afford to lose anyone else in her life, so let's get you into shape. You don't want to have a heart attack while walking home one night carting twenty pounds of Doritos, do you?”

“Well, no…”

“We'll start an exercise routine as well. I'll teach you everything you need to know. It'll be fun, and I'm not taking no for an answer.”

“I forgot how bossy you were.”

“Suck it up, Gertie. Okay, everyone, what are you guys ordering?”

Everyone looked at Gertie's long face and no one had the heart to eat in front of her, so they all had a salad, even Matt. The waitress gave them a funny look but otherwise did what she was told. While they ate, Tansy waxed poetic about healthy diets and vitamin supplements. It was a pretty quick dinner, as everyone was anxious to go home and stuff their faces. Gertie, Ashley, and Matt had a devil of a time trying not to make any noise while opening the packages of doughnuts in the back seat. They'd managed to wolf down three each by the time they got back to Louisbourg.

When Bay dropped Gertie off, Tansy reached behind the seat and grabbed the remaining bag of doughnuts. “Ah, ah, ah. Remember. No sweets. I'll be over tomorrow morning at seven-thirty sharp. We'll start our walking program.”

“Flippin' wonderful,” Gertie groused. “Thanks for taking me along, Bay. A firing squad would've been more enjoyable.”

“Sorry,” Bay grimaced. “Do you still love me?”

“No.”

Gertie huffed up the porch stairs and slammed her front door.

Tansy looked at the others. “You have to be cruel to be kind. You know I'm right.”

“I know,” Bay sighed. “It's just that she has nothing else in her life.”

“She'll get a life once she loses some weight and starts to feel better about herself.”

When they got back to the house, Ashley said she'd drive Matt home, so Bay and Tansy said goodnight to Matt and went inside. Ashley drove over to his place and parked outside his house.

Ashley rubbed her hands gleefully. “I can't wait for the prom. Aren't you excited?”

“I'm excited about what's going to happen after the prom, mostly.”

“You don't care about the grand march and all that?”

“Guys don't get as freaked out about stuff like that.”

“Well, I can't wait. Tansy is buying me a dress.”

“I thought your mom made you one.”

Ashley rubbed the steering wheel with her thumbs. “She did, but it wasn't fancy enough.”

“You liked it before your aunt showed up.”

“I know…”

“Don't change who you are because of her.”

Ashley frowned at him. “I'm not. Mom said it was okay, so don't make a big deal out of it.”

Matt leaned over and put his hand in hers. “You look hot no matter what you have on, but you look even hotter when you wear nothing at all.”

Ashley laid her head on his shoulder. “I wish we could spend the night together.”

“We will.”

She sat upright. “What do you mean?”

“The prom is the perfect opportunity to be together. We're supposed to go to Ryan's party, but I've made arrangements to go somewhere else instead. Just you and me.”