Her Mother's Daughter (7 page)

Bay was outside for a long time after Gertie said her goodbyes, looking over her plants and pulling out the odd weed from the garden. Flo came out her back door and hung up her dishtowels. It gave her the opportunity to grill Bay.

“So? Why's she here?”

“I don't have a clue.”

“She must have said something.”

“That something was pretty vague. Apparently she needs a rest before her next big adventure.”

“It's all right for some,” Flo snorted. “I hope you gave her a blast for staying away so long.”

Bay walked over and shut off the valve on the water hose and started to reel it in. “I haven't really talked to her yet.”

“Well, when that child of yours goes to bed, demand some answers. You need to stick up for yourself.”

“I know you mean well, Flo,” Bay smiled sadly, “but I need to do this my way.”

Flo patted her arm. “Of course you do, duckie. Don't mind me. I just hate to see you looking down in the mouth.”

Flo's back door opened and Ira stuck his head out. “Where the hell's the rum, woman?”

“I poured it down the toilet. Add a bottle of Coke and sup it through a straw if you're that desperate.”

“You miserable old hag.”

Flo took off across the lawn. “Get back in that house, you, before I set the dog on ya.”

Ira disappeared and two seconds later so did Flo.

Bay had no more excuses to stay outside. She and Merlin went indoors and Bay washed her hands at the kitchen sink. All was quiet. She went upstairs and peeked in Ashley's room. She was reading.

“Studying for your last exam?”

Ashley nodded. “It's Biology. I hate science.”

Bay went over to the end of the bed and sat down. Ashley put her book on her stomach.

“Honey, I don't want to fight anymore. So many nice things are going to happen to you in the next few weeks. I want to be able to share them with you.”

“I know. Me too. I'm sorry I mouthed off at Dermot.”

“I expect you to apologize to him the next time you see him.”

Ashley made a face. “Great.”

“Ashley…”

“All right, all right, I will.”

“And I'm sorry I slapped you. There's no excuse for that.”

“Okay.”

Bay nodded and absentmindedly picked lint off the hem of her sweater.

“Are you okay, Mom?”

“Yeah.”

“You know, you don't have to worry about Matt and me.”

Bay gave a little smile. “I don't?”

“No. I'm not stupid.”

“I know you're not stupid. I just don't want your heart to get broken.”

“Matt loves me.”

“You're young…”

“So were you.”

“I know,” Bay sighed, “but your dad was also three years older than I was.”

“That doesn't matter.”

Bay didn't want to get into another argument. “I better let you get back to it.” She got up and started for the door.

“It's fun to have Tansy back, isn't it?”

She didn't turn around. “Yes. Goodnight, honey.”

“Night.”

“And don't stay on the phone too late, missy.”

“I won't.”

Bay went across the hall and walked into her room. Tansy stood by the bureau looking at a picture of their mother. She turned quickly when she heard Bay approach.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to barge in. Do you think I could get a copy of this?”

“You don't have that picture?”

“No.”

“Well, you left in a hell of a hurry, Tansy, so I guess that's your fault.”

“Isn't it always?”

CHAPTER FOUR

The next morning, Bay and Ashley's routine was thrown into chaos. Tansy, awake since five thanks to the crows cawing outside the bedroom window, had used up all the hot water with her twenty-minute shower, and was downstairs trying to make breakfast for everyone.

Since she hadn't cooked in years, the only one benefiting from her efforts was Merlin. He had a full breakfast from the stuff that fell on the floor. When Bay and Ashley roared downstairs to grab their usual glass of juice and granola bar, they were greeted by Tansy, who stood over their plates of burnt pancakes and undercooked bacon, as pleased as punch with herself.

“Breakfast is served.”

“Gosh,” Bay grimaced, “we don't usually stop for breakfast. Ashley has to catch the school bus and I have to be at work in ten minutes.”

Tansy looked crestfallen.

“It looks delicious though,” Ashley piped up. “How about I take a pancake for the road?” She reached out and grabbed one, taking a big bite.

“Don't you want syrup?”

Ashley couldn't answer. Her mouth was stuck together with batter. She rushed over to the sink and spit it out. “Yuck.” She cupped water into her mouth to rinse out the glue-like substance.

“Oh dear, I suppose these are all horrible,” Tansy fretted, poking them with a fork.

Bay smiled. “Don't worry about it. It takes practise.”

Ashley agreed, once she'd wiped her mouth on a paper towel. “Pancakes are hard.”

Bay looked at her watch. “You better run, Ash. Good luck with your exam. I'll keep my fingers crossed.”

“Thanks.” Ashley grabbed a banana, kissing her mother and then her aunt before she raced out the door. Tansy held her hand up to her face.

“She likes me.”

“She does.”

“I don't deserve it.”

Bay looked away. “I'll see you tonight.”

“Can I do anything for you today?”

Bay turned back. “Okay. Buy something for supper, and we need milk, dog food, and more granola bars.”

Tansy ran to the pad by the phone and muttered the list. “Okay. I can walk the dog, too. And maybe I'll vacuum. I haven't done that in years.”

“Wonderful. That puts me in a great mood, knowing you haven't lifted a finger in ages.”

“I paid dearly for the privilege.”

The sisters looked at one another. “See ya later,” Bay said.

“Bye.”

Once Bay was gone, Tansy looked around. “Well, Merlin. I think I can fix this place up. I picked up a hint or two from decorators over the years. What do you say we try and put our stamp on things?”

Merlin wagged his tail.

She didn't do the dishes or make the beds. Instead, she spent her morning moving furniture around and taking pictures off the wall only to hang them again, several inches lower than they were originally. The fact that there were now glaring nail holes showing mattered not a whit.

“All right, Merlin. I'll walk you first and then I'm off to hit the shops.”

Tansy got dressed in her casual clothes, a cashmere sweater set and four-hundred-dollar jeans. She reached for her sunglasses and put Merlin on his leash. Then off they went, just in time to run into Flo scrubbing her front walk.

“Well, well.” Flo threw the scrub brush in her bucket. “Look who the cat dragged in.”

Tansy stopped. “It's look who the dog dragged out, unless you're blind, what with being old and everything.”

Flo's mouth dropped open. “You always were a handful, Tansy Gillis. Your ma used to say so.”

“And Mom used to say you were a windbag. I can see nothing's changed. Come on, Merlin.” Tansy walked past the flustered Flo.

“You break your sister's heart and you'll have me to reckon with,” Flo shouted.

Tansy waved but didn't look back.

She ran into Eldon next, sitting on his doorstep.

“Hey, girlie.”

“I'm not a girl anymore, Eldon.”

“Eh?”

She kept going.

Merlin made several stops at telephone poles, fence posts, and garbage boxes. But when he did his business on Kay Cathcart's newly sodded lawn, the shit hit the fan. Kay came down her front steps at a clip.

“Excuse me. Excuse me!”

Tansy and Merlin turned around. “Yes?”

“Your dog left his calling card on my new lawn. Didn't you see the sign?”

“What sign?”

Kay pointed at the big sign not ten feet away. “The one that reads ‘No dogs, kids, bikes, Rollerblades, or salesmen.'”

“Merlin's not a dog.”

Kay screwed up her face. “Not a dog? That hairy beast?”

Merlin looked away.

“That's right. He's my nephew.”

“Your nephew? What kind of game are you playing at? Now pick up that mess before I call the cops.”

Tansy stood there. “Make me.”

Kay looked one way and then the other. She opened her mouth and then closed it. She was so stymied she froze.

Tansy waited.

Kay huffed and puffed and nearly blew up from the aggravation, but in the end she just stood there.

“Good day.” Tansy and the dog walked away. When they got a little further down the street, Tansy told Merlin, “Let that be a lesson to you. If you want people to know you've arrived, give them something to talk about.”

Once Tansy dropped her nephew off at the house, she got back in her car and drove down the street. That's when she noticed she was almost out of gas. She turned around and went in the opposite direction until she saw the Irving sign.

Tansy pulled in alongside the gas pump and turned off the engine. She then reached in her purse and took out her lipstick, manoeuvring the rearview mirror until she could see her lips. She was applying the first coat when a man wearing coveralls sauntered over to the car wiping his hands on a greasy rag.

“Nice car.”

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?” Dermot asked.

Tansy put down her lipstick. “I'd like some gas.”

“This is a self-serve station.”

She smiled at him. “I'm quite capable of servicing myself, but why bother when there's a handsome guy here to do it for me?”

Dermot gave her a quick look and then a small smile. He put the rag in his back pocket, and reached for the nozzle. “It'll be my pleasure.”

“Yes, it will.”

Dermot smirked and started to fill the car. “You're not from around here, are you?”

Tansy decided to get out. She opened the door and stood up in one fluid motion, then shut the car door and leaned against it. “Not now. I was in New York. You?”

“My family is originally from Louisbourg, but I only moved back three years ago.”

Tansy crossed her arms. “Don't you go crazy in this small place? Aren't you tired of servicing Tercels when you can service this?” She tossed her head towards her Porsche.

“It is tempting,” he smiled.

“I'm Tansy, by the way.”

“Dermot.”

“Hello, Dermot.” She held out her hand.

He shook his head. “Sorry, I'd get grease all over you.”

“That could be fun.”

Dermot laughed out loud. “You're not shy, are you?”

“Life is too short,” Tansy sighed. “Would you like to take me out for a drink?”

“Well, I'm…”

She looked for a ring. “…married?”

“No.”

“I'm in luck, then.”

“I have to work until nine.” The pump stopped and Dermot put back the hose.

“I'll pick you up at nine-thirty, back here.”

“I'm…”

“…looking forward to it?”

Dermot stood awkwardly for a moment and looked down the road, before he said, “Why not?”

She took out her wallet and paid for the gas with cash. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

She got back in the car and drove off.