Crystal’s smile faded. So much for not being divisive.
We changed the direction of the conversation as we ate lunch together, then started unloading everything from the SUV. At 3:15 Alva and Eduardo arrived. Queenie, Pap-Paul, and Corrie got there a few minutes later. I couldn’t help but notice how the youngster went straight for Crystal, who swept her into her arms and carried on about how much she’d missed her.
At 4:00 Nadia showed up . . . with Bradley Pennington. The minute the well-dressed fellow walked into our family home, I knew we had a winner. I could see it all over Nadia’s face as she gazed at him. I also saw those feelings reciprocated when he looked her way. Yep. This train was barreling down the tracks, whether Brady liked it or not.
Nadia made introductions and we settled onto the sofa for a chat. I did my best to keep the conversation light. When I asked about Bridget’s wedding, a huge smile lit his face.
“Funny thing,” he said. “I thought I knew what was best for my girl, but it turns out I was wrong.”
“Takes a big man to admit when he’s wrong,” Alva said. “Good of you to say so.”
“I couldn’t quite picture the whole sitting-on-bales-of-hay thing,” he said. “But I came around.”
“Oh, you’ve been listening to that same radio program?” Alva slapped her knee. “I swear, they need new writers. Katie, you should go to work for them. You’d come up with something far better than that.”
Mr. Pennington looked more than a little confused by this. I widened my eyes and shook my head, praying he’d take the hint. No point in stirring the waters even more.
“Well, I for one am thrilled that Bridget’s wedding came off without a hitch.” Nadia gave Bradley a warm smile. “We worked for a long time on that gorgeous Martina McBride gown, and I couldn’t wait to hear how the day went.”
“She looked beautiful.” Bradley reached over and squeezed Nadia’s hand. “You’re so good at what you do.”
Yep. She was good at what she did, all right, and she was doing it right now, whether she knew it or not. The flushed cheeks. The innocent smile. The sparkling eyes. She was showing him with every fiber of her being that she liked him—a lot.
Okay, so her son didn’t like this—at all. I could tell from the furrowed brows that Brady was having a hard time with the whole “Mom’s dating” thing. But he would get over it. Time would prove me right on that one. I hoped.
At 4:30 my grandmother’s cell phone rang. She took the call, and her mouth dropped open. “Are you sure?” she asked after a moment. “When did it happen? Where?” This was followed by, “Is she all right?” and “Mm-hmm. Yes. I’ll be right there, if I can get someone to drive me.”
We all sat in complete silence waiting for an explanation as she ended the call.
“Queenie, what is it?” I asked at last. “What happened?”
My grandmother was pale as she pressed her cell phone back into her purse. “It’s Prissy Moyer. She’s taken a bad fall and broken a hip. I’m guessing it’s broken. Sounds pretty bad.”
“Oh no.”
“I hate to say it, but it happened on Main Street. She was backing her car up and hit a cone. When she got out of the car to fix it, she slipped and fell.”
“That’s horrible.” Crystal rose and paced the room. “Just awful.”
“Paul, could you take me up to the hospital?” Queenie gave him an imploring look. “I promise not to be too long, but I just need to see her. And Bessie May too.”
“Bessie May?” I couldn’t help but gasp. “What’s she got to do with this?”
My grandmother slipped her purse strap over her right shoulder. “She was inside the bakery helping Ophelia with your wedding cake and witnessed the accident, so she called 9-1-1. She’s at the hospital with Prissy right now.”
“Whoa.” We all spoke in unison.
“We can’t let y’all go to the hospital alone,” Mama said. “I’ll come with you.”
I glanced at the clock on the wall—4:40. We still had some time before the rehearsal, though I had to wonder what was keeping Dahlia, Twiggy, and the others. Hopefully they were just pulling into town now.
After a quick nod from Brady, who must’ve read my thoughts, I tossed out the only words that made sense. “I want to come too.”
“Katie, no.” Mama shook her head. “You can’t let anything interrupt your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.”
“I won’t,” I argued. “We’ll still get to the church by six, and the folks at Sam’s will have our room ready at seven. Everything will go as planned. I only want to swing by for a minute. I think it would be good to let people know that I’m there for everyone. You know?”
“Okay.” My mother did not look convinced.
I tried to stay focused as Brady drove me to the hospital. We arrived just behind my grandparents and my mother and all rushed into the lobby of the emergency room. At once the overpowering scent of disinfectant washed over me. Ugh.
I stopped running. “I can’t stand hospitals.”
“You were born in one, honey,” Mama said. “This one, in fact.”
“Yes, but I don’t like the smell. Or the long hallways. I always feel so closed in in hospitals.” Just talking about it made me feel like I couldn’t breathe. Ack.
“I’m going to clue you in on something, Katie,” Brady said, giving my hand a squeeze. “No one likes hospitals, especially not on the day of their wedding rehearsal.”
“Good point.”
We asked at the information booth about Prissy’s room and were greeted with a firm, “You can’t go in there. I’ve already told that to half the town.”
“Can I at least wait in the hall outside her room?” Queenie pleaded. “Pretty please, with sugar on top. I need to pray.”
“Well, I suppose that would be all right.” The woman pushed a button and the door swung open. When we stepped through we saw the Baptist pastor, the mayor, the sheriff, and Bessie May standing just inside. Interesting, considering most of them weren’t officially speaking to each other.
“Any word yet?” Queenie asked as she rushed their way.
“The hip is broken in two places,” the sheriff said. “She’s going to need surgery.”
“Maybe more than one surgery.” Mayor Luchenbacher ran his fingers through his thinning hair and shook his head. “This is all my fault.”
“No, it’s mine.” The sheriff’s face blanched. “I take the blame.”
“You’re both wrong.” Bessie May released a sigh and leaned against the stark hospital wall. “It’s totally my fault. And if these fool doctors will open the door and let me in her room, I’m the only one who can make it all right again.”
The sheriff shook his head. “But you heard what the doctor said, Bessie May. No visitors until the meds kick in. She’s in too much pain.”
“Which is exactly why she needs me right now. She has no other family in town. I’m all she’s got.” Bessie May moved past the men and rapped on the door. “Let me in this room, Doc,” she called out. “Prissy Moyer is one of my best friends in the world, and I’ll be horsewhipped if you think I’m gonna stand out here in this hallway while she’s in there all alone.”
Alrighty then. Looked like we were about to have a come-to-Jesus meeting, right here in the Fairfield Hospital.
28
Wild Angels
The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present—and I don’t want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.
Audrey Hepburn
The sheriff put his hand up just as Bessie May rapped on Prissy’s door again. His jaw tensed visibly as he took a slow step forward, the toes of his boots almost coming to rest on the tips of her black orthopedic shoes.
“Now, Bessie May . . .” Warning flashed in his dark brown eyes. “We all know the potential for disaster if you go in that room. I can’t let you in there—for your sake and hers.” The man folded his arms and blocked the door with his broad physique.
Bessie
May waved her hand as if to dismiss him. “Pooh on disaster. This whole thing was just a misunderstanding. I’ve been saying that all along. Every single person in this town is a pain in the . . . you know . . . but I love ’em anyway. And I love Prissy most of all. So you might as well step aside, Sheriff. I’m goin’ in.” She took a couple of steps away from him and I thought for a minute he might try to stop her. Instead, he reached for the door handle and pushed the door open. With a wave of his hand he ushered her inside.
I turned back to look at the mayor to get his take on all of this and noticed that several other townspeople had joined us, including the mayor’s wife Nettie and her archenemy, Mildred. I also caught a glimpse of my co-workers, who must’ve just arrived. Dahlia looked the most out of place, but Twiggy seemed to find this entertaining. Hibiscus and Jane remained at the back of the crowd. I had a feeling hospitals made Jane a little queasy too, if one could judge from the pained expression on her face.
Okay, so this wasn’t exactly what I’d planned for the evening of my wedding rehearsal, but at least Brady and I were together with people we loved, right? I gazed up at him, joy rushing over me as I realized the miracle we were witnessing right before our very eyes.
“Happy almost wedding,” he whispered.
“Same to you,” I whispered back.
A gentle kiss followed, which the crowd seemed to enjoy. Then we all hovered near the door and tried to listen in as Bessie May and Prissy spoke for the first time in weeks. Maybe it had a little something to do with the medication they’d given Prissy, but the words coming forth sounded loopy. Strained.
“Get out of here, you old . . . you old . . . fart.”
Okay then.
“Over my dead body.” Bessie May snorted. “You’ll have to push me out, and you don’t appear to be in any condition to do that.”
“If I could get out of this bed, I’d . . . I’d . . .” Prissy’s words faded away.
“You’re not getting out of that bed. You’re going to do exactly what the doctor says, you stubborn old woman. And you’re going to let the rest of us—those who love you—help you until you’re able to get back up on your feet.”
I put my ear against the door and strained to hear the rest.
Bessie May cleared her throat and I thought I heard her crying. “We’re gonna be here for you—all of us—until you’re well enough to go home. Then we’re comin’ home with you, to help make sure you get your meals and your baths and such.”
“You’ll enter my house over my dead body.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Bessie May countered, “but if it does, I say we should bury you in that teal dress you wore on Easter Sunday. It brings out the pretty blue color in your eyes. I’ve always thought you looked amazing in that dress.”
You could’ve heard a pin drop after that.
“I’ve always thought I looked nice in teal too,” Prissy responded at last, her words sounding a little more relaxed. “I should wear it more often, I suppose.”
“I agree. And I like that purple dress too. The one with the built-in pearl necklace. It’s always shown off your figure. I don’t mind admitting I’ve been a little jealous of your girlish physique.”
“Thank you. I walk two miles every day. Helps burn calories and keeps me in tip-top shape. If you don’t count this busted hip.” Prissy sighed and then released an exaggerated yawn. “What were we talking about?”
“Your purple dress.”
“Right. I do love that one. Always have.”
“Me too. Hey, remember the day we went on that shopping spree to Dallas? I had to talk you into buying both of those dresses. You wanted the purple but weren’t sure about the teal?”
“I remember. You put me through fits, talking me into it. I didn’t want to spend the money, so you . . .” Prissy’s words drifted off. When she did speak, I could tell she was crying. “You. Paid. For. It.”
“That’s what friends do.” Bessie May’s voice trembled. “Especially when they see a dress that perfectly matches the color of their friend’s eyes.”
I eased the door open a few inches, just long enough to see Bessie May reach to take Prissy’s hand. “Friends argue and fuss,” Bessie May said. “And they boss each other around. And sometimes—just sometimes—they are misunderstood. They make mistakes. But then they forgive and move on. That’s how friendship works.”
We all leaned in close to hear Prissy’s response. Instead, a loud snoring sound startled us.
“Well, there you go.” Bessie May laughed. “I pour my heart out and she falls fast asleep. Good to know I have that effect on people.”
She had an effect on people, all right. From out in the hallway, I watched as Nettie walked over to Mildred and threw her arms around her neck. Then, before we could count to three, the sheriff extended his hand in the mayor’s direction. Before long half the town was gathered in the ER waiting room, weeping and hugging and begging for forgiveness.
Okay then. God hadn’t used a hurricane. Or a tornado. He’d taken a rough situation—a woman in need—and woven hearts together out of love. Love trumped anger. No storms necessary. Not the literal sort, anyway.
A short time later I walked to Prissy’s door once more to see if I could find Queenie. With the clock winding down—the time was now 5:45—we needed to head to the church. I reached the half-open doorway and listened for my grandmother’s voice. Instead, I heard Prissy’s.
“Katie Sue, is that you standing in the doorway?” she called out.
“Yes, Prissy, it’s me.”
“Come on in here. I can’t exactly see you when you’re hiding behind the door, and this fool hip of mine has me stranded. Can’t even wiggle an inch.”
I took a couple of tentative steps inside. I couldn’t help but notice Bessie May still sitting in a chair nearby. Looked like she’d dozed off.
Prissy clucked her tongue at me. “What are you doing here, girl? Aren’t you supposed to be at your wedding rehearsal or something?”
“Well, yes. In fifteen minutes, anyway. My bridesmaids are already there, in fact. But things have been so . . .”
“Complicated.”
“Yes. That’s a good word.”
“And now they’re even more complicated. I’ve messed up everything.”
“Oh, it’s not your fault, Prissy. Please don’t think a thing about it.”
“Half the town is out in the waiting room. Am I right?” When I nodded, she sighed. “Then I’d say it’s pretty much my fault you’re missing your own wedding rehearsal. And my fault the whole town’s been in a snit, folks not talking to one another. All because I’ve been too foolish to admit that I have a hearing loss. I could’ve sworn Bessie May called me a . . . well, a pain in the . . . you know. But she swore right then and there that I misunderstood her. And I’ve decided to take her at her word.”
“That’s great, Prissy.”
Her eyes fluttered closed, and she spoke in a groggy voice. “She bought me . . . a lovely teal dress . . . once upon a time. Did I ever tell you about that?”
“No ma’am, but I’ll take your word for it.”
She appeared to doze off. Just as quickly her eyes popped open, startling me. “That’s what I should’ve done when we first had our little tiff—taken her word for it—then none of this would’ve happened. The whole town’s about ready to go up in flames, and I’m the only one who can fix it.”
“Well then, let me lift your spirits. God’s already fixing it as we speak.”
“Now that they know we’re friends again . . .” Bessie May’s voice sounded from the chair. She rose and walked over to the edge of the bed, then rested her hand on Prissy’s arm. “All will be right with the world.”
“I sure hope so.” Prissy fluffed her pillows and attempted to sit up, but could not. “Get that sheriff in here, will you? I need to have a little chat with him.”
“I’m here, Prissy.” The sheriff stepped into the room with Brady at his side. “Someth
ing you want to say?”
“Yes, Sheriff. I want to say that we need to learn to forgive and forget. Misunderstandings happen. People get offended and hurt. But when it all comes down to it, we’re family. I’d hate to think . . .” She began to cry in earnest. “I’d hate to think I’d stand at the pearly gates with unforgiveness in my heart. And I’d hate even more to think that my last big feat on this earth was turning people against one another. So however you see this thing unraveling, let’s get to it. Katie’s got a wedding rehearsal to attend in fifteen minutes.”
“Twelve,” Brady said.
“But who’s counting?” I added with a smile.
The sheriff looked our way. “I say you two go on up to the church and get the ball rolling. Once I talk to my wife, she’ll help get this thing straightened out. You two don’t fret, all right? I promise, everyone on the invitation list will be at that church tomorrow evening.”
“Everyone?” Brady looked alarmed.
“Everyone but Prissy. I’m pretty sure she’ll be right here.”
“I’ll be cheering you on, though,” she said. “I’ll be there in spirit. And don’t let Ophelia talk you into letting her make the lemonade. I gave Bessie May my top-secret recipe.”
Oh boy.
I gave Prissy a light kiss on the cheek, grabbed my fella’s hand, and headed out, ready to get this show on the road. We arrived at the church at 6:00 straight up. Pap-Paul took his place at the front and Joni slipped into wedding planning mode. She talked the various couples down the aisle, one after the other. I watched in awe as she worked with clipboard in hand. Talk about a pro!
I’d just stepped into place to walk down the aisle when she stopped me. “You can’t play the role of bride at your own rehearsal, Katie,” Joni said as she shifted the clipboard to her other arm. “You’ll have to sit this one out.”
“Well, who then?”
She glanced around the room and pointed to Jane. “Would you mind doing the honors?”
Oh boy. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.
Without a word of complaint, Jane rose, took my father’s arm, and walked the aisle toward my husband-to-be.