Noel thought she would never hear the end of it.
“When I come in this room, I still expect to see the fox hunting painting above the mantel, and I’m always disappointed,” Deborah said. “I despise that television.”
And apparently she still hadn’t heard the last of it.
“I’m well aware that you do.”
Deborah was a slave to preservation, and if something wasn’t original to the house, it was evil. Never mind that Deborah, like Grandmama, had grown up in Chattanooga and gone to Belmont, where they’d lived their glory days as Phi Mus. Deborah had come to this house as a bride, and Grandmama had moved in not long after, when Noel’s grandfather died. But you’d think they had milled the lumber and built the house themselves.
“I believe in small televisions in bedrooms,” Deborah said.
Noel clicked to the NHL channel. “That doesn’t really promote family unity.”
“Why does family unity have to center around television?” Deborah settled into a wing chair. “Those of us who are fortunate enough to have been entrusted with wonderful historic properties have a responsibility to care for them for future generations.”
Noel had heard it all before. It was ironic that her mother couldn’t be bothered about what she couldn’t see, like bad plumbing and a roof that needed replacing—at least until there was a rust stain on a claw foot tub or a water stain on a plaster ceiling medallion.
“I hardly think hanging a television on the wall compromises the integrity of the house.”
Integrity of the house
was one of Deborah’s favorite phrases.
“Mama, are you at that again?” Paige and Constance entered the room, and it looked like they were here to stay for a while because Paige was carrying a bucket of pink Legos. “Are you sure you don’t want your Barbie dolls, sugar?”
“No, ma’am. Legos, please.”
“Don’t you have the sweetest manners? I’m so proud of you!” Paige dumped out the Legos on the floor and sat down among them with Constance. “Now, what should we build?”
“So, is Grandmama coming to watch the game, too?” Noel asked.
“She’ll be right along,” Paige said. “She’s getting her needlepoint. Though I don’t think any of us are going to watch the game. We just want to be with you.”
Fabulous.
Is there any chance at all that you want to be with me quietly?
Never mind that, except for sleeping time, they had been with her nonstop since she’d arrived last night. Family unity was overrated.
Noel had sent Nickolai the text message at the appointed time, though she’d had to step away from the dinner table to do it. Now, the pregame show was coming on. Maybe they’d get their conversation over before the game started. Not likely, but she could hope.
“Aunt Noel, you want to play Legos?” Constance asked.
“No, precious. But thank you for asking. I’m going to hem your Easter dress while I watch the hockey game.” She reached for her sewing basket, but having developed a little ritual of her own, she wouldn’t actually start to sew until the Sound scored. And the sooner, the better. Keeping her hands busy might calm her nerves. She wanted this win for Nickolai. The Sound had lost 5–3 in Tampa and won in Winnipeg 4–0. Nickolai had scored two goals against the Lightning and one against the Jets, but they needed this win tonight for a guaranteed place in the playoffs. Nickolai wouldn’t talk about it—probably another one of his endearing little superstitions—but Noel knew how much he wanted it.
“I like my dress. My mama’s gonna buy me shoes and a hat. And the Easter Bunny will come.”
“And you’ll be lovely.” Grandmama came in and sat on the opposite end of the sofa from Noel. “Constance, you’re a lucky girl to have an aunt who can make such beautiful things for you.”
“Will you be here for the Easter Bunny, Aunt Noel?”
“Of course she will!” That came from Deborah.
Noel didn’t contradict her mother, but she’d
“When I come in this room, I still expect to see the fox hunting painting above the mantel, and I’m always disappointed,” Deborah said. “I despise that television.”
And apparently she still hadn’t heard the last of it.
“I’m well aware that you do.”
Deborah was a slave to preservation, and if something wasn’t original to the house, it was evil. Never mind that Deborah, like Grandmama, had grown up in Chattanooga and gone to Belmont, where they’d lived their glory days as Phi Mus. Deborah had come to this house as a bride, and Grandmama had moved in not long after, when Noel’s grandfather died. But you’d think they had milled the lumber and built the house themselves.
“I believe in small televisions in bedrooms,” Deborah said.
Noel clicked to the NHL channel. “That doesn’t really promote family unity.”
“Why does family unity have to center around television?” Deborah settled into a wing chair. “Those of us who are fortunate enough to have been entrusted with wonderful historic properties have a responsibility to care for them for future generations.”
Noel had heard it all before. It was ironic that her mother couldn’t be bothered about what she couldn’t see, like bad plumbing and a roof that needed replacing—at least until there was a rust stain on a claw foot tub or a water stain on a plaster ceiling medallion.
“I hardly think hanging a television on the wall compromises the integrity of the house.”
Integrity of the house
was one of Deborah’s favorite phrases.
“Mama, are you at that again?” Paige and Constance entered the room, and it looked like they were here to stay for a while because Paige was carrying a bucket of pink Legos. “Are you sure you don’t want your Barbie dolls, sugar?”
“No, ma’am. Legos, please.”
“Don’t you have the sweetest manners? I’m so proud of you!” Paige dumped out the Legos on the floor and sat down among them with Constance. “Now, what should we build?”
“So, is Grandmama coming to watch the game, too?” Noel asked.
“She’ll be right along,” Paige said. “She’s getting her needlepoint. Though I don’t think any of us are going to watch the game. We just want to be with you.”
Fabulous.
Is there any chance at all that you want to be with me quietly?
Never mind that, except for sleeping time, they had been with her nonstop since she’d arrived last night. Family unity was overrated.
Noel had sent Nickolai the text message at the appointed time, though she’d had to step away from the dinner table to do it. Now, the pregame show was coming on. Maybe they’d get their conversation over before the game started. Not likely, but she could hope.
“Aunt Noel, you want to play Legos?” Constance asked.
“No, precious. But thank you for asking. I’m going to hem your Easter dress while I watch the hockey game.” She reached for her sewing basket, but having developed a little ritual of her own, she wouldn’t actually start to sew until the Sound scored. And the sooner, the better. Keeping her hands busy might calm her nerves. She wanted this win for Nickolai. The Sound had lost 5–3 in Tampa and won in Winnipeg 4–0. Nickolai had scored two goals against the Lightning and one against the Jets, but they needed this win tonight for a guaranteed place in the playoffs. Nickolai wouldn’t talk about it—probably another one of his endearing little superstitions—but Noel knew how much he wanted it.
“I like my dress. My mama’s gonna buy me shoes and a hat. And the Easter Bunny will come.”
“And you’ll be lovely.” Grandmama came in and sat on the opposite end of the sofa from Noel. “Constance, you’re a lucky girl to have an aunt who can make such beautiful things for you.”
“Will you be here for the Easter Bunny, Aunt Noel?”
“Of course she will!” That came from Deborah.
Noel didn’t contradict her mother, but she’d
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