The Summer Wind by Mary Alice Monroe Page B

scandal. She didn’t give a thought to what was best for Dora.”
    “Mamaw,” Carson said cautiously, “I’m sure she does care about Dora. She’s her mother, after all, and entitled to her opinion.”
    “I agree with Carson. How can saving their marriage be wrong?” Harper asked, still not convinced.
    “But of course it’s not wrong, if the reasons are sincere,” Mamaw replied. “Cal Tupper doesn’t give a hoot about Dora. Or his son.” She straightened in her chair. “He might fool Winnie but he can’t fool me. She really knows nothing about theman. He wants to keep Dora in Summerville, close to that behemoth of a house, so she can supervise the repairs. Chop-chop. That was his motive.”
    “Excuse me, but again, what’s wrong with that?” asked Harper. “It’s what she’d be doing if they weren’t having problems in their marriage, isn’t it? She is his wife, after all. And being a homemaker is her job.”
    “That’s not the point.”
    “What is the point?” Harper asked.
    Carson narrowed her eyes and wagged her finger. “What aren’t you telling us?”
    Mamaw glanced toward the door and lowered her voice. “The point is Nate.”
    “What about Nate?” Harper asked.
    “He’s not included in the invitation to live at the condo.”
    Carson was incensed. “Not included? But he’s their son!”
    “ That’s the point,” Mamaw said, nodding with satisfaction that her side had been vindicated.
    “You mean, he wants us to take Nate off his hands?” Carson asked, incredulous.
    “Exactly.”
    Carson leaned back in her chair. “You’re right. He is a shit. Poor Nate. Poor Dora.”
    “I don’t know him from Adam so I’m not defending him,” Harper said. “But do we know both sides of the story?”
    “How can you say that?” Carson blustered, turning to face Harper. “He’s a jerk. We all knew that before the divorce.”
    “But he’s Dora’s jerk!” Harper argued back heatedly.
    She paused, hearing her words, and they all burst out laughing.
    Mamaw brought the conversation back on track. “Dora’s made her decision to return here with us, so let’s not waste our time debating the merits and flaws of Calhoun Tupper.” Her tone of voice made it perfectly clear that she’d already wasted enough breath on the man.
    “Dora has spent most of her life doing what she was told. And putting others in front of herself—especially Nate. This is the first time she spoke up for herself about what she wanted, by insisting she and Nate would be best off at Sea Breeze. It’s a good start,” she added.
    Looking at Harper, Mamaw continued, “You’re quite right that Dora has to make this decision on her own. But we can guide her toward new habits that help her feel good about herself. Inside and out. Little things that you two take for granted—getting manicures and pedicures, taking time to exercise, going out with the girls—these are all foreign to her. She dotes on Nate and his needs, and then Cal’s, and then the house. She puts herself last, over and over. It’s no wonder she let her figure go. She just gave up. Plus, I doubt there’s been much money for such extras.”
    “Mamaw,” Carson said, leaning back in the wide chair and tucking her arms around her legs, “Dora wasn’t like that as a girl. During our summers, she made sure she had things her own way. I never thought of Dora as shy and retiring. In fact, she still isn’t. She’s downright bossy.”
    “Yes, she is,” Mamaw agreed. “Now think about it for a moment. Dora is a stickler for what ?”
    “Nate’s schedule,” answered Carson promptly. “Nate’s food, Nate’s clothing . . .”
    “Following the rules,” Harper said quickly. “The Southernbelle rules, I mean. Like not showing too much bosom or wearing skirts too short.”
    “Never wearing white before Easter or after Labor Day,” added Carson.
    “Manners, swearing, yelling, churchgoing,” continued Harper.
    Carson smirked. “Being a