The Perfect Dress(89)

“Hello, Rita,” Mitzi said cheerfully as she opened the passenger’s door. “You probably don’t remember me. I was just a freshman when you and Graham were seniors. I’m Mitzi Taylor.” It wasn’t easy to be nice to that witch, but she could do it for the girls’ sake. After all, Rita was their mother, and if this new relationship between Mitzi and Graham was to go anywhere, Mitzi needed to be an adult, not the mud-slinging hussy that she so wanted to be right then.

“I remember you well.” Rita’s eyes started at Mitzi’s sandals and traveled slowly all the way to her red hair. “You’ve always been . . .” She paused a second before she said, “Tall.”

“Never was accused of being petite.” Mitzi grinned and turned her attention to the twins, who’d gotten out on the other side of the vehicle. “You girls need some help?”

“And now you’re kind of like the girls’ nanny, right?” Rita sneered.

“I’m their friend and they work for me.” Mitzi turned her attention back to the girls. “Your dad and I’ll help you get all this inside. Don’t try to take care of it all on your own.”

Rita followed Mitzi to the back of the van and barely glanced at the girls. “Those are nice dresses. I didn’t know what you might choose, but they’ll cover up . . .” She covered a fake cough with her hand before she said, “They will look good on you.”

Mitzi moved over to stand closer to the girls. “They helped with the design. And they’re teaching themselves to sew. They made the cutest little shirts for the Fourth of July fireworks. They’ve probably told you that they’ve been making all kinds of corsages and bouquets for us at the shop.”

“I haven’t talked to them in a while,” Rita said.

Mitzi was glad she had both hands full so she couldn’t slap the woman.

Tabby pulled out a tote bag and a small suitcase on wheels. “We love going to the shop every day. It sure beats sittin’ at home all day, redoin’ our makeup and fingernail polish.”

Dixie was right behind her with her suitcase. “Daddy, if you’ll get my makeup bag with all our makeup in it, that’ll just leave the shoe boxes for Mother. Wait until you see the shoes that Mitzi dyed to match our dresses, Rita—I mean, Mother.”

Neither girl had made an attempt to hug their mother, but then she didn’t try to hug them, either, or even ask to help them. That left one reason she’d come out in the heat that morning—Graham.

“I’m sure they’re lovely.” Rita ignored the shoes and looped her arm into Graham’s. “I was going to ask if you’d like to stay for the wedding.”

“No, thank you.” Graham picked up her arm and dropped it. Then he moved close enough to Mitzi to drape an arm around her shoulders. “Mitzi and I’ve got plans for today.”

Oh, yes we do, Mitzi thought. And they do not involve being anywhere near you.

“I see. So that’s the way it is?” Rita grabbed the two shoe boxes and stomped back toward the building, her heels sounding like short little blasts from a .22 rifle with every step.

“Yes, it is,” Graham called out.

“Do we follow her, Daddy, or do we get to blow off this wedding and go with you and Mitzi today?” Dixie grinned.

“I’d like that a lot better than spending the day here,” Tabby said.

“Guess we better follow her, since y’all agreed to be part of this affair,” Graham said.

Rita disappeared inside a room and slammed the door behind her.

Tabby looked over her shoulder at her dad. “Maybe they wouldn’t even miss us.”

“A Harrison keeps her word. It’s too late to back out at this point.” Graham pushed his way inside the room, and the rest followed him.

Rita was uncorking a bottle of champagne over to their right. She poured a glass to the brim and drank down half of it before she turned around to her daughters. “We’ve set you up at the end of that table. If there’s time, the professional makeup lady will take care of you.”

“We do our own makeup, Mother,” Dixie said. “The lady can use all her time on y’all.”

“Could I have a word in private with you, Mitzi?” Rita asked. “In the ladies’ room?”

“Of course,” Mitzi said.

Graham laid a hand on Mitzi’s shoulder. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Oh, yeah, I do.” Mitzi kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.” She would do her best to keep things civil, but she couldn’t promise there wouldn’t be a few drops of blood on the bathroom floor.

“Then I’ll wait right here.” Graham sat down in a chair by the door.

The girls were both busy setting out their makeup kits and didn’t even notice when Mitzi followed Rita across the room and into a bathroom. Rita went straight to the mirror and, using her fingertips, fluffed up her long blonde hair. Mitzi leaned against the door and waited.

“Well?” Rita finally flipped around and glared at her.

“You called this meeting, remember? What do you need to say?” Mitzi prompted.

“Graham is mine. He always has been, since high school, and he always will be. A man never forgets his first love,” Rita said.