Small Town Rumors(8)

“Hey, Mabel, am I too late for breakfast?” she asked when she reached the kitchen.

“Honey, I can whip up something for you, but since your daddy’s gone, we don’t do breakfast. Your mama drinks one of those god-awful things that she makes in the blender, and she’s stopped drinkin’ even decaf. Says that she read in an article that it made a woman’s face wrinkle up faster,” Mabel answered. “I ain’t one to meddle, but even the garbage disposal would spit that green crap out. Me and Frank got us a coffeepot out in the garage, and we have a cup before we start our day.”

“Well, I’m having coffee,” Jennie Sue declared.

“Didn’t she bring you a glass full of that liquid grass?” Mabel asked.

“I just cleaned out the drain in the bathroom sink with it. Looked to me like it would work as good as that declogging stuff. How does Daddy get his morning three cups?”

Mabel drew in a long breath and let it out slowly. “Frank keeps the coffee going in the garage all day long. Man couldn’t live without it, and Dill goes out there and gets it in the mornin’, too. I reckon you could do the same.”

Jennie Sue picked up an empty mug and headed to the garage, returning a minute later sipping at the steaming-hot coffee. “What’s makin’ Mama sick is that green shit.”

“Most likely, but you’re going to suffer her wrath if she smells coffee driftin’ up the stairs. Poor old Dill sure does,” Mabel said. “But now that we’re alone, tell me, what’re you really doin’ here, child?”

“Tryin’ to talk Daddy into givin’ me a job. Percy left me and moved in with his girlfriend months ago. I thought he owned the apartment we had, and I got it in the divorce, but it was leased. Once the alimony checks started bouncing, I had to deplete my savings to finish my business degree online,” she answered, finishing with the tale of her ex’s diamond-filled escape from the feds.

“I’m so sorry, honey, but I got to admit, I thought that man was shifty from the beginnin’. He had a big name and acted all proper, but there was something about him that didn’t add up.” Mabel patted her on the back. “I had a feelin’ you were home for something more than your daddy’s party. You want some bacon, eggs, and hash browns to go with that coffee?”

Jennie Sue nodded. “Yes, ma’am, but you don’t have to wait on me. I’ve been takin’ care of myself ever since he left. You go on about whatever you were doing.”

“Okay, then.” Mabel’s head and all three of her chins bobbed up and down. “Just put your dirty dishes in the sink.”

“No need. Percy had to be in control of everything. Believe me, I know how to keep things spotless. First month we were married, he fired four housekeepers and told me that I’d learn to take care of the place the way he wanted it done, or I could go on back to my Podunk Texas town.” Jennie Sue opened the refrigerator.

“Why did you stay with a man like that?” Mabel’s eyes narrowed into slits.

“Why do you think? I was groomed to be a trophy wife from birth. Keeping a spotless apartment at least gave me something to do.” She lowered her voice. “Truth is, I was glad when he ran off with a bag of diamonds and another woman. I’d had about all I could stand of his cheating, and after . . .” She stopped before she said too much.

“You deserve better than that kind of treatment,” Mabel growled. “I’m sorry about the way things turned out, honey. You go on and make yourself a good breakfast. I’ve got to go make sure those two girls your mama hired to clean are doing things right.”

“This place couldn’t run without you, Mabel.” Jennie Sue laid six strips of bacon out in a cast-iron skillet.

“Oh, honey, there ain’t a one of us that couldn’t be replaced,” Mabel replied as she left the room.

Jennie Sue had lived on fast food on the bus trip for more than two days, so she was really looking forward to a good, hearty breakfast. When she finished cooking, she carried her plate of crispy bacon, four fried eggs, two pieces of toast, and a nice big hash brown that she’d made from a real potato to the table. She’d just sat down to eat when her mother entered the kitchen.

“What the hell?” Charlotte stopped dead.

Jennie Sue got ready for a lecture about calories and fat grams. “Good mornin’, Mama. Care to join me for a healthy breakfast? It’s the most important meal of the day, you know.”

Charlotte picked up the plate, slid everything on it into the garbage disposal, and flipped the switch. “This is tough love, darlin’. You are going to get back into shape so we can shop for decent clothing for you. You can’t go out in public in those ratty cheap jeans and worn-out running shoes. And I’m not buying one single thing for you until you are back in the size you wore when you got married.”

Jennie Sue clenched her hands under the table. “And what if I don’t lose the pounds, and what if I like my ratty jeans?”

“Don’t get pissy with me. This is for your own good. We’ve got to get you in shape so you can find another husband,” Charlotte said. “If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t fuss at you.”

“I don’t want another husband, and I sure don’t want another rich one. I’m not you, Mama. I want to eat what I want and live my own life,” she said through clenched teeth.