Her Mother's Daughter (5 page)

“So's celery.”

“Your point?”

“Don't have one.”

“Good…oh mercy, look who's coming.”

Bay looked up and saw Dermot approaching with his postal key already in his hand.

“Oh great, just what I need. He never leaves me alone.”

“He's allowed to pick up his mail, isn't he?”

“No, he's not.” Bay pretended to be busy, and Gertie pretended she was reading the flyer.

Dermot pretended he didn't see them at all. He walked up to the mailbox, opened it, took his mail, and left.

The two women looked at each other.

“Oh, shit.”

“Bay, what is wrong with you? That's one good-looking man when he's not in his grimy overalls. He cleans up real good, if you ask me.”

“I didn't ask you.”

“Well, since you're a stupid bitch, I guess you don't mind me taking my chances with him.”

Bay's head shot up and when it did Gertie pointed a finger in her face. “The thought of that scared ya, didn't it?”

“Don't be ridiculous. Look, Gertie, I have work to do, so you better vamoose.”

“Okay then.” Gertie headed for the door. “I think I'll doll myself up and run over a box of nails with my car. Might have to get my tires fixed at the garage.”

“Get goin'. And remember, supper's at six.”

“I'll be there.” Gertie gave her a wave and was gone.

Bay and Gertie met in sixth grade. Gertie's family moved into their grandmother's house after the old lady died and because her parents were older, they'd shoo her out of the house at every opportunity. Gertie was left to fend for herself, which was deadly, since she was the new, fat kid in town.

The first week of school was hell. The school bully was overjoyed to have a new target to practise on. Bay would watch from the sidelines, too afraid to intervene as Bradley taunted Gertie about her fat ass and jelly belly. Once Gertie looked at Bay with tears in her eyes, as if to ask, why don't you help me? The only reason she didn't was that Bradley had just started to leave her alone after ribbing her for weeks about her knobby knees and stick legs. No way did she want that to start over.

And so she was ashamed when her little sister, Tansy, came out of the school one day and happened to witness Bradley point at Gertie and laugh at her, calling her names while a group of kids stood around and watched the show.

Even though Tansy was in fifth grade, she marched up to Bradley and kicked him in the shin. When he bellowed and started after her, she held her ground and said for all to hear, “You dare hit me, Bradley, I'll tell your da I saw you cryin' in the principal's office.”

That stopped him dead.

Tansy went up to Gertie. “You okay?”

Gertie nodded.

“Good.” Tansy walked away and so did everyone else once the fun stopped.

Bay stayed behind and smiled at Gertie. “Want to come to my house? My mom makes good cookies.”

Gertie sniffed and nodded as she shuffled along beside Bay. “Wasn't that your little sister?”

“Yeah.”

“I like her. She's pretty, and really brave.”

“I know.”

Tansy didn't become Gertie's friend. Tansy wouldn't be caught dead with a loser. Gertie thought she came to her rescue because she didn't like to see injustice, but Bay knew it was because Tansy loved being the centre of attention. No matter. Gertie became Bay's best friend and if it weren't for Tansy it might not have happened.

Whenever Bay thought of her sister, it was as if she were remembering a character in one of the fairy tales their mother would read to them at night, more illusion than flesh and blood. She didn't talk to anyone about her sister and hadn't seen her in years. People in town were scandalized when Tansy didn't show up for her mother's funeral. They never said as much to Bay, but she knew by the hints that were dropped while they licked envelopes and stuck stamps on parcels.

“Must be hard to be on your own, dear, with only your daughter to comfort you,” they'd say in a variety of ways. Bay would nod and change the subject. Only grouchy old Mrs. Skinner had the nerve to say it to her face.

“I think it's dreadful that Tansy wasn't there to say goodbye to your ma. A finer woman I've never met, but I'm afraid I can't say the same about your sister. Stuck-up little trollop she was, always parading around and chasing anything in pants. You mark my words, no good will come to her. No good at all.”

Despite incidents like that, Bay loved her job. She had her finger on the pulse of the whole town. People would sometimes open a letter in the foyer, and then turn around with happy faces or looks of dismay. She knew everyone's secrets because people knew Bay never gossiped. They themselves talked about everyone else in town while they waited in line or leaned against the counter before heading off for work or household chores. Just by being quiet, Bay learned more than she often wanted to know about her fellow citizens.

Finally it was five o'clock. Bay was anxious to get home and talk to Ashley before Gertie arrived for supper. She wanted to give Ashley a hug and tell her how wonderful she was, despite their differences. Bay was tired of being on the outs with her daughter. Life was too short for that kind of nonsense.

She closed up the post office and hurried down the street before remembering she didn't have any milk, and tea without milk was a sad thing. She opened the door of one of the local shops and headed right for the cooler. With two cartons of 1 percent milk in her arms, she waited impatiently for Dolena Bagnell to hurry up and find the correct coins in her change purse. She knew she was in for a long wait. Dolena was as blind as a bat.

“I can't seem to find another nickel,” Dolena told the bored teenager behind the counter.

Bay searched her pockets and found one. “Here, Dolena, take this.”

Dolena waved her off. “No, dear, I'm fine. I won't be but a moment.”

The teenager and Bay looked at each other in misery. There was nothing for it. Dolena would not be moved until she found her nickel. As she fumbled around pushing aside change she spoke up.

“Did any of you see that movie star drive down the street this afternoon?”

The bored teenager perked up. “Movie star?”

It sometimes happened that the odd famous person was seen walking or driving around; Louisbourg was a tourist town, famous for its historic fortress.

“Oh yes, I'm sure of it. Beautiful, she was.”

“Who was it?” Bay asked, since she had nothing else to do.

“Oh, I'm sure it was that one who was in that movie…oh, what's the name of it…you know the one I mean.”

“Ah, no. I can't say I do.”

“She's blonde…”

The teenager shouted, “Reese Witherspoon?”

Dolena looked puzzled. “Who?”

“Kirsten Dunst?”

“Dunst?”

“Never mind, Dolena,” Bay almost shouted. She looked at the clerk. “Can you put this on my bill instead?”

“Sure.”

Bay headed for the door. That's when Dolena remembered. “Grace Kelly.”

Bay turned around. “Grace Kelly is dead.”

“Well, it looked like her, back in the days before she married that foreigner. Driving down the street in her fancy car, she was.”

“You don't say.” Bay hurried outside and kept going. As she neared her street she passed Eldon, an old widower who liked to carve rough little animals out of wood, paint them bright colours, and sell them to unsuspecting tourists as real folk art.

“Hi, Eldon.”

“What's goin' on, girl?”

“Not much.” She didn't want to stay and chat. “Sorry El, gotta run. I'm having company for supper.”

“They've already arrived, I'm afraid.”

She stopped. “What do you mean?”

“I mean there's a big fancy car in your driveway.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“I better go see.” She left Eldon behind. She couldn't for the life of her figure out who it might be. Gertie drove a Dodge Shadow. As Bay got closer she saw the beautiful sleek silver car and despite her curiosity her steps slowed down the closer she got to it. She wasn't sure why. It was a feeling. Her heart started to pound and her mind went blank.

It couldn't be.

She started up the back steps and that's when Flo poked her head out of her kitchen window. “As I live and breathe, you'll never guess who's back.”

No.

Bay looked through the screen door. Ashley sat at one end of the table looking happy and almost in awe. A beautiful woman sat opposite her. They were laughing together and both turned when they heard the door open. Bay stood there and held the heavy plastic bag down by her side.

Ashley couldn't contain her excitement. “Mom, look who's here.”

Tansy stood and faced Bay. “Hi, Sis.”

Bay couldn't find her voice.

“Aren't you glad to see me?”

Bay dropped her bag onto the counter. “Of course, how are you?”

The sisters gave each other a brief hug and stood awkwardly for a moment. Ashley broke the silence.

“I can't believe you two are sisters.”

They looked at her.

Ashley pointed at Tansy. “I mean, you're so glamorous…”

“And I'm a bag lady,” Bay frowned. “Thanks, kiddo.” She sat at the table. It was either that or run out the door. Tansy sat too.

“You know I didn't mean it like that,” Ashley said.

“I always thought your mother was the prettier sister,” Tansy smiled.

Bay glanced at her. “You always did, didn't you?”

“So why are you here?” Ashley asked. “Where do you live? Are you a model? Why didn't you come home for so long?”

Bay put up her hand. “Enough.”

“That's okay,” Tansy laughed. “I don't mind.”

Bay turned to her. “Oh. Then why the heck are you here?”

“
Mom
.”

Tansy held up her hands. “Now girls, don't fight.”

“We're not fighting.”

Ashley made a face. “We always fight.”

“That's not true.”

“We do so, Mom. You don't have to try and hide it.”

Bay got up and slipped off her jacket. “I'm not hiding anything. I need to get busy and make supper.”

Tansy watched the two of them with amusement. “Nothing changes. I used to fight with my mother. Remember, Bay?”

Bay had her back turned towards the counter and didn't answer.

“Is that why you didn't come home when Nana died?” Ashley asked. “Were you still mad at each other?”

Bay froze. Tansy didn't say anything at first. She looked down at her hands in her lap. “That's part of it, I suppose, but I was far away when it happened and couldn't get here in time.”

Bay abandoned her post by the sink, coming closer to the table. “I hear airplanes are very fast these days. Have you heard of them?”

“
Mom.
”

Bay gave Ashley a look. “You ‘Mom' me one more time and you can leave the kitchen.”

“I'm not a little girl. You can't…”

“Please,” Tansy said. “You both have every right to be furious with me for not coming to the funeral.”

“You can say that again,” Bay said.

“I'm sorry.”

“You were always sorry. It really doesn't mean much.”

Tansy sighed. “Can we just drop it? I'm tired and I've had a long day. I'm so happy to see you both. Please, Bay, let's be friends.”

Ashley stared at her mother. Bay's jaw twitched. She was about to open her mouth when the door opened and in walked Gertie.

“Holy shit, whose car is that?…
Tansy
?”

“Hi, Gertie.”

Gertie looked at Bay before answering. “Holy cow, Tansy, nice to see you again after so long. What have you been up to? Still kicking boys in the shin?”

Tansy gave a delighted laugh. “Oh yes, only now I aim a little higher.”

Thank God Gertie was there. She kept the conversation going, which was just as well since Bay couldn't think. She busied herself getting everyone's supper ready while the other three talked. Finally she served them homemade macaroni and cheese with cornbread. When she placed it in front of her sister, Tansy looked at it.

“Is something wrong?” Bay asked. “I thought you liked macaroni and cheese.”

Tansy looked up at her. “It smells like Mom's.”

“It is Mom's. It's her recipe.”