Her Mother's Daughter (11 page)

Ashley squeezed his hand. “Oh, good. Where?”

“Never mind. It's a surprise.”

“Oh, I love you.” She kissed him then, and they were so wrapped up in each other that neither of them saw Matt's mother, Ruth, come over to the car and knock on the car door window. They jumped.

Matt opened the door slightly. “Mom, you don't need to scare us like that.”

“And I don't need you two steaming up car windows in my driveway. I think you'd better go home, Ashley.”

“Okay, sorry.” Ashley gave Matt a guilty look. “Bye.”

“Bye.” He got out, shut the door, and turned to face his mother as Ashley backed the car out onto the street. “Don't embarrass me like that.”

“Me embarrass you? I think you have it the wrong way around, buddy boy.”

“Why do you hate her so much?”

Ruth rolled her eyes. “I don't hate her, Matt. I think you're too young to be so involved, that's all.”

Matt walked away. “I'm not too young and I know what I want.”

Ruth followed him. “You're going to have to cool things down anyway. You're off to university in the fall, don't forget.”

Matt swung around. “You say that at least three times a day. Well, for your information, I don't know if I want to go away in September.”

Ruth blanched. “You're not serious.”

“I'm deadly serious.”

“I knew that girl was trouble.”

Matt gave her a dirty look. “You make it sound as if she's asking me to stay here, but she's not. It's my decision, not hers and certainly not yours. Now leave me alone.” He stormed into the house and nearly took the hinges off the screen door when it hit the wall.

At seven-thirty sharp the next morning, Tansy was at Gertie's door. She had on a fabulous Lycra workout suit that hugged her curves. Gertie answered the door, looked at Tansy, and put her hands on her hips. “Are you for real?”

“What?”

“I'm supposed to go walking with someone who looks like Pamela Anderson? My ass is the size of a barn door compared to yours.”

Tansy pointed at her. “Stop making excuses. And for your information, I'm a 34 B and my breasts are real. Now let's get a move on.”

“Wait, I need a jacket.” Gertie left Tansy standing in the doorway. While she was gone, the ugliest cat Tansy ever laid eyes on sauntered up and gave her the once over. She tried to shoo it away, but it wouldn't budge. “What are you looking at?”

Jeffrey growled, so Tansy backed up. “What's wrong with your cat?”

Gertie arrived back on the scene. “I told Jeffrey about last night and he wasn't impressed by your strong-arm tactics.” She reached down and picked up her baby. “Mommy will be back soon…I hope. If I die, you're well provided for in my will.” She kissed the top of his head and put him back down, closing the door behind her.

“Oh God, can we take a few back roads? I don't want to be seen by the whole population of Louisbourg.”

Tansy started down the stairs. “Don't be foolish. You live in this town. Why should you go slinking around the backwoods? Who cares what anyone thinks?”

“I do.”

“Well, you need to get over that. The only person you have to please is yourself.”

Gertie tried to keep up with Tansy as she marched down the road. “If I wanted to please myself, I'd still be in bed with a couple of cinnamon raisin bagels and a mug of hot chocolate.”

“Stop talking.”

Gertie made a face behind Tansy's back.

The rest of the walk was an exercise in frustration. Tansy walked too fast and Gertie walked too slowly. Tansy spent most of their session walking briskly up the street, only to have to turn around and walk back to join Gertie. In the end, she walked a mile and Gertie walked a block. Tansy relented and told Gertie to turn around and head for home. She walked beside her.

“I'm worried about Bay,” she confessed.

“So am I,” wheezed Gertie.

“She gets annoyed when I say anything.”

Gertie took a tissue out of her pocket and wiped the sweat off her face. “Well, she would, wouldn't she?”

Tansy gave Gertie a quick glance. “Why's that?”

“Why do you think? You've stayed away for years and suddenly you come back and order her around. I'd be pissed too. As a matter of fact, I
am
pissed, because I'm about to have a stroke, thanks to you.”

“Hardly.”

“If you don't mind my asking, why did you stay away so long?”

Tansy looked straight ahead. “I couldn't be here.”

“Why?”

“Memories.”

“Of what?”

“A man.”

“Who?”

Tansy stopped. “Look, Gertie, you're a great gal, but I don't plan on spilling my guts, to you or to anyone. I'll save that for my shrink.”

Gertie continued up the street. “Fine. But I'm a good listener, if you ever need one.”

Tansy gave her a pat on the back. “Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.”

CHAPTER SIX

“You look adorable,” Tansy smiled.

Ashley turned around in front of the store mirror and looked over her shoulder. “How does it look in the back?”

“Gorgeous. Don't you think so, Bay?”

“Yes, it's lovely.”

They'd spent an hour trying on prom dresses, and Bay was decidedly weary. She wanted Ashley to choose one so they could leave, but she knew that Ashley and Tansy were having the time of their lives, so she sat on the one chair available and let them go at it. Trouble was, every one Ashley tried on was better than the last.

“I can't decide,” Ashley laughed. “I love them all.”

“I like this one the best,” Tansy said. “Violet isn't a common colour and with your gorgeous hair and blue eyes, it looks perfect. Right, Bay?”

“Right.”

The saleslady concurred. “I think your daughter looks beautiful in this dress.”

“She's not my mother.”

Bay stood up. “So, are we finished?”

Tansy busied herself with her purse, and then passed an American Express card to the clerk. “A gift from a proud auntie.”

“Of course.”

Bay was quiet on the way home, but when she saw Tansy and Ashley exchange glances, she gave herself a mental boot up the backside. She looked in the rearview mirror. “You'll be the prettiest one at the prom.”

Ashley gave her a big smile. “Do you think so?”

“I know so.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

As usual, the heat in Sydney started to dissipate the closer they got to Louisbourg. Bay felt it as the air rushed by her open window. She loved the cool misty atmosphere that lingered over her hometown. The smell of the ocean rode on the gusts of wind and refreshed her spirit. She drank it in as they sped by the tall evergreen trees lining the side of the road. She started to relax.

“I always forget how isolated we are out here,” Tansy said. “Doesn't it drive you mad in the winter?”

“No. I love it.”

“You need to get out of here. There's more to the world than a small coastal town in Cape Breton.”

“This small coastal town suits me to a T. I don't need to go anywhere.”

“How on earth did we come out of the same womb?”

“Beats me.”

When they got home, the first thing Ashley did was call her friends to tell them to come over and see her dress. Ten minutes later a gaggle of girls ran up the stairs and excited shouts rang from the bedroom. Bay and Tansy sat at the kitchen table with mugs of tea and smiled at each other.

“Thanks again for the dress,” Bay said. “You've made her very happy.”

“She's a wonderful girl. You've done a great job bringing her up.”

“I didn't do it alone. Mom was so good with her.”

Tansy cleared her throat. “I wish I'd seen them together more.” She looked sad, so Bay reached over and grabbed her hand.

“Mom was exactly the same way she was with us growing up; kind, patient, and loving.”

”I always ruined everything,” Tansy sighed. “I was such a miserable teenager. I don't know why she didn't hate me.”

Bay smiled. “You were a challenge.”

“I was a pain in the ass.”

“You still are.”

They laughed together.

After supper Tansy came downstairs and said she was going out for a while. Bay looked up from her newspaper. “You're dolled up. Where are you going?”

“I'm not sure. Just out.”

“If you're looking for something to do, we could go to the movies.”

“Nah, I hate sitting in the dark. See you.”

“Tansy?”

She turned around.

“I thought you were here to see us.”

“What? Twenty-four seven?”

“Well, it's nice to be together, isn't it?”

“Of course it is, but I was with you all day.” She walked back in from the porch and sat at the table. “Bay, can I ask what a great-looking girl like you is doing alone on a Friday night? Why don't you have a boyfriend?”

“I don't know.”

“Aren't men interested?”

Bay shrugged. “Some are, but I can't be bothered.”

Tansy crossed her arms. “Are you telling me you haven't been with a man since Bobby died?”

Bay didn't say anything.

“Well?”

She put down the paper. “I was sort of with one once.”

Tansy's mouth dropped open. “In almost eighteen years, you've only been with one man? Are you crazy?”

Bay got defensive. “I loved Bobby with all my heart. It was hard to be with anyone else. The thought of…” She couldn't continue.

“The thought of sleeping with someone else bothered you?”

“Yes.”

“Did you go to bed with this man?”

“I tried. It didn't work.”

Tansy sat back in her chair. Bay looked at her. “I couldn't…you know. I was nervous and on edge. He was annoyed. It was humiliating.”

“He was a jerk. Not all men are jerks.”

“No. Not all of them.”

Tansy stood. “That's my next mission. I'm getting you a date with someone nice. By the time I leave here, Gertie will weigh 150 pounds and you'll be engaged.”

“Don't be stupid,” Bay laughed.

Her sister headed for the back door. “Make a list of eligible bachelors in town and we'll start first thing in the morning. Don't wait up.”

The door shut behind her.

Bay picked up the paper and smiled. She'd make up a list, but there would only be one name on it.