The Perfect Dress(24)

“Some of us don’t like to sweat.” Mitzi winked at the girls.

Unless it would be during a hot little makeout session with Graham. Paula’s voice rang in her head.

Go away. You’re makin’ me blush, she argued.

The waitress brought their sweet tea, and Paula flashed Mitzi a look and a nod of the head that Mitzi interpreted to say, You’re right beside him. You would have given up your sweet little Mustang in high school for an opportunity like this and you haven’t said a dozen words to him.

“So where is Selena these days?” Alice asked.

“She still lives down around Greenville,” Paula answered.

Paula set her mouth in a firm line and gave Mitzi one of those looks. Mitzi took a deep breath, turned to face Graham, and changed the subject. “Daddy says that you sold him Mama’s last Caddy.”

“That’s right,” Graham said. “Had to order it special because she wanted a baby-blue one. What was that, thirteen years ago? I’ll always remember the sale because it was my first one. I’d finally worked my way up to salesman.”

“Yep,” Harry said. “It’s still parked in the garage. I take it for a spin every now and then and once a year get it tuned up. Delores loved that car. I just can’t get rid of it.”

Mitzi wondered if Graham had trouble getting rid of Rita’s things. He must have really loved her to give up his future for her. He’d gotten an offer to play basketball for the Longhorns, and of course, his father owned the dealership, so money wasn’t an issue. She stole a sideways glance at him. Did he still have feelings for Rita?

Graham sipped his tea and then set it down. “I understand about holding on to things. Mama’s car and Daddy’s truck are parked out at their place. I should go through the house and get rid of things, since we’re going to live here in Celeste. But I haven’t been able to do it yet.”

Mitzi laid a hand on his arm. “Don’t rush or you’ll regret it. Mama’s been gone two years. Daddy and I’ll give away her things when he’s ready.”

No one else seemed to notice, but Mitzi could feel sparks flitting around the room like fireflies on a summer night. If just touching Graham in sincere sympathy could cause that, what would happen if he kissed her?

Stop it, she scolded herself.

Harry shook his head slowly. “Time ain’t been right for me to get rid of anything. I knew your daddy very well. Never knew your mama. When did she pass?”

“When I was sixteen,” Graham answered. “Alice was already out of college and teaching, but it was tough on both of us.”

“Still is some days,” Alice said. “And someday, when the time is right, like Mitzi says, we’ll go through the house and put it on the market. Neither of us wants to live there, and it’s not good for a place to set empty.”

Mitzi glanced over at Graham and caught his gaze, but then he quickly blinked when Dixie shoved a napkin his way.

“Look at what we’ve drawn for our first project,” Tabby said.

Mitzi glanced down at the napkin. “This one would be a better starter project than the last one you showed me.”

“Very nice,” Graham said. “Does this mean that we won’t need to go school-clothes shopping at the end of summer?”

“Of course not,” Dixie answered. “We’ll still need jeans and shoes.”

Mitzi could have sworn that someone was staring right at her, so she scanned the room, and sure enough Wanda was shooting evil looks her way. No doubt about it, Fanny Lou, Harry, and all the girls from the shop sitting with Graham and his family would fuel the rumor mill for the rest of the day.





Chapter Six


Mitzi parked the van and crossed the grassy lawn in her bare feet. She dropped her shoes on the porch step and sat down beside Jody, who looked like she’d been crying again. “Where’s Paula?”

“Her mother called. She said she’d be back by suppertime. Mothers!” Jody threw up her hands.

“Don’t let Wanda rattle you,” Mitzi said.

“She called about fifteen minutes ago,” Jody said. “She gave me the third degree again and said that if I’d made Lyle marry me, this wouldn’t happen. She used the old ‘why buy the cow when you’re getting the milk for free’ adage three more times during the conversation.”

“Ignore her. You did the right thing by going to church and standing up to her,” Mitzi said.

“She also told me that you were definitely on a date today, because Graham picked up the bill, and evidently y’all have been seeing each other on the sly for a while, because you were introducing each other to family. And that she hopes y’all don’t sin in front of those girls.” Jody rolled the kinks out of her neck. “According to the sermon she gave me, I’ve wasted my life, but there might be hope for me if I admit she was right and repent of my sins. But I don’t feel like I need to repent for anything other than trusting Lyle.”

“I’m so sorry. You just keep going with us to church. That’ll show the whole lot of them that Lyle isn’t putting you in a corner—that you are a strong woman who can take control of her own life,” Mitzi said.

“You think in one week that will be true?” Jody asked.