how to drive, and I’ll buy her a car when I start to earn money. I’m going to take real good care of her. What do you have to say to that, Sela?” Callie demanded, her face flushing a rosy pink.
“I think it’s wonderful. She deserves the best, and I hope you follow through.”
“Do you think I won’t?” Callie screeched. “Do you think I just said all those things to hear myself talk? I meant every single word.”
“Sometimes the best intentions go awry. What about Wyn? He’s going to want to socialize. How are you going to do all those kind, wonderful things if you don’t have the time?”
“I’ll make the time. Pearl comes first. She does, Sela, don’t look at me like that. Wyn understands. And if he switches up on me at some point, tough.”
“Good for you, Callie,” Sela said, hugging her friend fiercely.
“Ta da!” Brie sang from the bathroom doorway.
“My God, it’s wearing a dress,” Sela said in mock horror. “And its hair looks fashionable, and is that makeup I see on those freckled cheeks? Earrings, too. Lord have mercy!”
“You’re an asshole, Sela. I told you that when you were six years old and I’m telling you it again now. My question is this: are you going to drive Pearl down here to see Bode? I can’t exactly picture him pedaling that bike of his all the way to Beaufort. Did he ever get a car?”
“Yes, but he hardly ever drives it. He said he doesn’t want to contribute to the pollution.”
At that moment, Pearl appeared in the doorway, dressed in a colorful muumuu, her favorite daytime attire. A massive braid was wrapped around her head and fitted her like a crown. Once black, her hair was now streaked with gray to match her eyebrows. Her eyes were round, dark, and as shiny as new pennies. There was always a smile on her moon-shaped face, matching the one in her eyes. All she had to do was hold out her arms and all three young women would rush to her, grateful for the warmth and love she gave them. Her feet were big with calluses so thick and hard she wore them like a second skin. She hated shoes and only put them on when she went to church, which was seven days a week and twice on Sunday.
“Miz Callie, Mr. Wyn is on the phone,” she said, dragging the curly wire from the kitchen into Callie’s room.
Sela and Brie tactfully withdrew, Pearl’s arms around their slim shoulders. “Melon and coffee?” she asked, placing pristine white linen napkins, expertly mended, in front of them. The china was from Wal-Mart as was the cutlery, the good stuff sold off years ago.
“Just coffee, Pearl,” Sela said.
“Just coffee for me, too,” Brie said.
“Lord have mercy. The two of you don’t hardly make one good substantial woman. Side by side you’re still skinny. Men like their ladies to have meat on their bones.”
“I’m this skinny because a man made me so,” Sela grumbled.
“I’m this skinny because I don’t have time to eat. I’m out chasing the bad guys all day long.” Brie laughed nervously.
Pearl chuckled, a deep rumble starting in her massive belly and working its way up to her robust chest. “Has Miz Callie been filling your heads with all the fine things she’s gonna be doing for me? If she has, don’t you go paying her no never mind.”
“She needs to do it for you, Pearl. Let her. Be gracious and accepting. How’s Bode’s law practice? Do you think he’ll ride his bike to the wedding?”
“Well, his practice is fine . . . was fine. He makes money and he gives me some, but I won’t take it. Bode is a fine man. He had some lady make me this dress I’m wearing. He knows how I like pretty colors. But to be answering your question, I don’t know how he’s getting to the wedding. Maybe he’ll take a taxi and maybe he’ll walk and maybe he’ll ride his bike. As long as he gets there is all that’s important.”
“Hear, hear!” Brie said, holding her Wal-Mart mug high in a toast. “To Bode Jessup, a fine man!”
“A mighty
“I think it’s wonderful. She deserves the best, and I hope you follow through.”
“Do you think I won’t?” Callie screeched. “Do you think I just said all those things to hear myself talk? I meant every single word.”
“Sometimes the best intentions go awry. What about Wyn? He’s going to want to socialize. How are you going to do all those kind, wonderful things if you don’t have the time?”
“I’ll make the time. Pearl comes first. She does, Sela, don’t look at me like that. Wyn understands. And if he switches up on me at some point, tough.”
“Good for you, Callie,” Sela said, hugging her friend fiercely.
“Ta da!” Brie sang from the bathroom doorway.
“My God, it’s wearing a dress,” Sela said in mock horror. “And its hair looks fashionable, and is that makeup I see on those freckled cheeks? Earrings, too. Lord have mercy!”
“You’re an asshole, Sela. I told you that when you were six years old and I’m telling you it again now. My question is this: are you going to drive Pearl down here to see Bode? I can’t exactly picture him pedaling that bike of his all the way to Beaufort. Did he ever get a car?”
“Yes, but he hardly ever drives it. He said he doesn’t want to contribute to the pollution.”
At that moment, Pearl appeared in the doorway, dressed in a colorful muumuu, her favorite daytime attire. A massive braid was wrapped around her head and fitted her like a crown. Once black, her hair was now streaked with gray to match her eyebrows. Her eyes were round, dark, and as shiny as new pennies. There was always a smile on her moon-shaped face, matching the one in her eyes. All she had to do was hold out her arms and all three young women would rush to her, grateful for the warmth and love she gave them. Her feet were big with calluses so thick and hard she wore them like a second skin. She hated shoes and only put them on when she went to church, which was seven days a week and twice on Sunday.
“Miz Callie, Mr. Wyn is on the phone,” she said, dragging the curly wire from the kitchen into Callie’s room.
Sela and Brie tactfully withdrew, Pearl’s arms around their slim shoulders. “Melon and coffee?” she asked, placing pristine white linen napkins, expertly mended, in front of them. The china was from Wal-Mart as was the cutlery, the good stuff sold off years ago.
“Just coffee, Pearl,” Sela said.
“Just coffee for me, too,” Brie said.
“Lord have mercy. The two of you don’t hardly make one good substantial woman. Side by side you’re still skinny. Men like their ladies to have meat on their bones.”
“I’m this skinny because a man made me so,” Sela grumbled.
“I’m this skinny because I don’t have time to eat. I’m out chasing the bad guys all day long.” Brie laughed nervously.
Pearl chuckled, a deep rumble starting in her massive belly and working its way up to her robust chest. “Has Miz Callie been filling your heads with all the fine things she’s gonna be doing for me? If she has, don’t you go paying her no never mind.”
“She needs to do it for you, Pearl. Let her. Be gracious and accepting. How’s Bode’s law practice? Do you think he’ll ride his bike to the wedding?”
“Well, his practice is fine . . . was fine. He makes money and he gives me some, but I won’t take it. Bode is a fine man. He had some lady make me this dress I’m wearing. He knows how I like pretty colors. But to be answering your question, I don’t know how he’s getting to the wedding. Maybe he’ll take a taxi and maybe he’ll walk and maybe he’ll ride his bike. As long as he gets there is all that’s important.”
“Hear, hear!” Brie said, holding her Wal-Mart mug high in a toast. “To Bode Jessup, a fine man!”
“A mighty
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