Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes
Page 34

“But I do like you, Rose, if you’ll just let me explain.”
“I don't have time for your explanation. My date will show up any minute and I don’t want you standin’ here when he does.”
“Your date?” The expression on his face said that was the last thing he expected to hear.
I walked closer to him. “What? You think I'm incapable of gettin’ a date, Joe McAllister? Is that why you thought you could lie to me when you really had a girlfriend?”
His eyes widened in what appeared to be genuine surprise. “No, Rose, of course not, and I didn’t lie. I swear.”
I opened the door and looked over my shoulder at him. “Go swear somewhere else, Joe. I don’t wanna hear it.”
I shut the door on him, amazed at myself for standing up to him, even if I was shaking.
“What was that all about?” Violet asked.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I said walking away. “Don’t you need to be goin’ somewhere?” I was irritated that I let Joe get to me. I didn’t want to go on my first date in a foul mood. I hid the bathroom and tried to calm my nerves when I heard another knock a few minutes later.
“I’ll get it!” Violet called from the living room.
“No, you won’t!” I said, hurrying out of the bathroom. “I’ll get it.” I stopped at the door and took a deep breath before I opened it.
Mildred stood in the doorway. I groaned and instantly regretted it.
“Now listen here, young lady. I knowed you been raised betta than that. And don’t think your little show on the front porch the other night escaped my notice.”
I doubted I could juggle fruit on the front porch at three a.m. and escape Mildred’s notice. “I’m sorry, Miss Mildred. I was expecting someone else.”
“Yeah, the playboy that moved in next door to ya, huh? Well, I seen he’s already been here too. I’m surprised you two weren’t performin’ vile acts in broad daylight again.”
All I needed was for Steve to show up and hear Mildred talking about me making out with Joe. I turned to Violet in desperation, but she had already gotten out of the chair and walked up behind me.
“Well, hello, Miss Mildred! What do we owe the pleasure of your visit tonight?” Violet’s cheerful voice cut the tension in the air.
“I saw your car in the driveway and wanted to come tell you hello.”
I sincerely doubted the truthfulness of that statement. Violet’s car had been in the driveway all afternoon.
Violet put her hand on Mildred’s arm and pulled her through the front door. “How sweet of you! Why don't you come in and have a glass of tea with me?”
“Don’t forget to put your jam away when you get home,” I told Mildred, silently cursing my visions while I shut the door.
Mildred grumbled as she moved past me, giving me an evil glare. She had never hid the fact that she shared Momma’s belief in my demon possession. Violet gave me a wink as they left the room. I had to admit, I owed her.
There was another knock. My front door had seen more action in one evening than it had in the last two months. I took another deep breath and opened it, half expecting to see Joe again. Instead, I saw the Pillsbury Doughboy, or as close to what I’d ever see in real life. He was missing the chef’s hat and the kerchief, but his face was a pasty white and chubby, with big wide eyes like the Doughboy. His button-down shirt barely contained his wide, round gut, and the buttons threatened to pop. I resisted the urge to poke his belly with my finger to hear him giggle.
“Rose?” he asked, his voice shaking from fear. At least I think it was fear, from the look of pure terror on his face.
Nope, no giggling.
“Steve?” I asked, but I already knew it was him from the tie he wore and the Walmart flowers he held in his hand. Either that or he was a really generous Jehovah’s Witness. “It’s very nice to meet you.” I said, trying to sound cheerful.
He stood in silence, staring at me with his big round eyes.
“Do you want to come in?” I raised my eyebrows in a happy, questioning look.
He remained rooted to the porch. It occurred to me perhaps Joe or Mildred had applied Super Glue on the wood slats.
“I’ll just grab my purse.” I said and he thrust the flowers toward me. “Oh, are those for me? Why, thank you!” I took the flowers, leaving the door open and Steve on the porch.
“Here!” I shoved the flowers at Violet in the kitchen. “Take care of these.”
Violet’s face lit up like a kid getting cotton candy at the carnival. “He brought you flowers?”
I glared at her.
“Who brought y’all flowers? The devil next door?”
“No, Miss Mildred.” Violet said, patting Mildred’s arm. “It’s Rose’s date.”
“Date?” Mildred crowed. “After she carried on with that Yankee?”
“Don’t worry, Miss Mildred. Steve’s a good boy, good Henryetta stock. He’s Stan Morris’ grandson.”
I already regretted agreeing to this date and I hadn’t even left yet. I grabbed my purse and headed out the front door before Mildred and Violet decided to start checking Steve’s teeth. He stood exactly where I left him, wearing the same terrified expression, except he leaned to the side. I worried he would fall over trying to see something in the living room.
“Looking for something?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder.