He had no choice but to do as she said. She got right in his face and she wasn't smiling.
“If you or your sister or any of your family ever come near that girl again, your life won't be worth living. Do I make myself clear?”
“What Colleen did was unforgivable. She just told me what happened. I'm as upset as you are.”
Rose folded her arms across her chest. “Oh, I don't think so. I think there are a whole lot of people who are more upset than you are. And I'm glad you know what happened in that bathroom, because we sure don't. You know why?”
“Why?”
She pointed her finger at him. “Because we haven't been able to get any sense out of her since it happened. She's in bed now, practically unconscious since yesterday. The doctor says it's nervous exhaustion, that she may be in bed for a while.” Rose poked him in the shoulder. “If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive you. I'll haunt you for the rest of your life.”
“Rose, I love her. I've always loved her. I'd never hurt her in a million years. You know that.”
“I don't know anything, anymore. All I know is that your family has had a vendetta against her since she left. Yes, she went away and you were hurt. It was upsetting, but it wasn't a crime. It's not something she should be punished for forever, is it?”
“Of course not.”
“You moved on. I assume you loved Sally, you married her and gave her children. We felt awful when she died, but you can't come here and ask Libby to replace her and feel that you're entitled to do so.”
That was the one thing she said that hit him right between the eyes. He looked at the ground and his heart turned cold. “You're right, Rose. You're absolutely right.”
When she didn't say anything, he looked back up at her. “Please forgive me. Please forgive Colleen. As hard as it is to believe, she was trying to protect me. She's not a mean person.”
Rose nodded. “We know that.”
“Please tell Libby I only wish her the best. But if you feel it's better to say nothing, then that's fine. I promise you. I won't bother you or your family again.”
“Thank you, Seamus. I appreciate that. As you can imagine, we're all a bit raw at the moment, what with Ma and everything.”
“I know. I know what that feels like, and it's not good. Goodbye, Rose.”
“Goodbye.”
He walked down the steps and out of the yard, though his heart stayed in the small upstairs bedroom, with her where she lay.
Afterwards, they told her she slept for three days. Ava didn't believe it. But when she tried to get out of bed, she had so little energy, she knew it must be true. She didn't remember what had happened, just took it on faith that she was at her mother's wake, was suddenly overcome and fainted. It's not like that was unheard of. Lola told her everyone handles grief differently and it was too overwhelming.
“So what you're saying is, I'm not nuts,” she laughed.
Lola laughed too. “Well, I never said that. You've always been nuts. Let's just say, you're not a raving lunatic.”
“Oh good. I'm reassured.”
“Listen, babe,” Lola said, “while everyone else is out of the room, I want to get your opinion on something.”
“Okay.”
“I've given this a lot of thought, so it's not a harebrained idea.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
Lola took a deep breath. “I don't think you should go back to California yet.”
“You don't?”
“I shudder at the thought of you roaming around that big empty minimalist box you call home. And then I worry about the social life you'll be dragged into by your so-called friends. I don't think you're up to it. I know Aunt Vi and Uncle Angus don't need us anymore now that they're feeling better. Your siblings can certainly handle their creature comforts. And obviously with your dear mother being laid to rest, our mission of mercy is over. I think it's more a case of us needing them.”
Ava was about to say something, but Lola cut her off. “I've already discussed this with them and all of them, every last one of them, want us to stay here until you go to New York. Just spend the summer doing nothing but swim and lie on the beach. Doesn't that sound heavenly?”
“But I can't drag you⦔
Lola hit her hands on her thighs. “Will you shut up about you dragging me and making me stay in some backwater! I have no bloody life other than you. I'm Gayle and you're Oprah.”
“But what will Trent and Camilla say?”
“I'm going to tell them that you're ill. You've been through a lot and you need rest. I don't think you'll get it in Malibu. As much as Trent would say he'd leave you alone, he wouldn't. And Camilla would pop in for a quick cup of coffee but bring her briefcase with her. You're safest here.” Lola grabbed her hand. “My one concern is with you-know-who. Perhaps you'd like to get away from all that.”
“I carry him wherever I go. It really doesn't matter.”
“Well, if that's the case, will you take my advice and give yourself a true vacation? A few months in the sun with your brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews? I think you've earned it, babe.”
“I think you're right.”
Lola grabbed her chest. “I can't believe it. It's a breakthrough! Ava actually said yes to one of my ideas. Hurray!”
“Keep it up and I'll hit you with my orange.”
Lola jumped up. “I'm outta here.” She ran down the stairs, yelling, “Aunt Vi, guess what?”
Ava lay back into her pillows. A whole summer with nothing to do but sit and watch the waves roll in. It was her idea of heaven. She didn't even think of Seamus. She had no energy to think about him any more. It was as if something had changed in that bathroom. She knew Colleen was with her, but she couldn't remember their conversation. Yet, it didn't seem to matter. She wasn't afraid of them any more.
It was the best summer of her life. It took a while to get started, since she didn't have the energy to do much for a couple of weeks. She was either in bed or, now that Aunt Vi and Uncle Angus were back upstairs, on the sofa in the living room or on the front veranda sitting on the porch swing her uncle insisted on buying. For once, she was in no hurry to go anywhere. She let everyone come to her. And they did, in droves. The colour began to return to her cheeks.
Vicky, Samantha, and Emily often came over with their latest Seventeen magazines and went through the questionnaires to find out if they were sexy, organized, had fashion sense or the right haircut. Bathing suits to fit all body types were discussed ad nauseum. They asked her what she thought.
“I like one-piece suits, but of course I'm a firm believer in imagination. I like to leave a little.”
They'd nod and take it all in. Then they'd kiss her goodbye and walk away in their low rise jeans with their belly buttons showing. She'd laugh to herself.
One morning, because Hayden was supposed to be the guest, she and Lola watched the Regis and Kelly Show. They sat in their nightgowns with their feet on the coffee table. They had on thick pit socks and both had terrible bedhead. They drank their tea and feasted on two huge bowls of homemade porridge with brown sugar and cream, all the while making rude comments about everything and everyone.
The credits came up. “Aunt Vi. It's on!”
Vi limped in from the kitchen on her cane. “Look at the pair of ya. Ya look like bums.”
Lola grinned. “I know, isn't it great?”
“If you say so.” Aunt Vi hobbled over to the armchair and dropped into it. “How on earth can you two eat hot oatmeal in the middle of the summer?”
“I love your oatmeal.” Ava licked her lips. “It's making me fat. Isn't that what you want?”
“True.”
Lola pointed at Ava with a spoon. “You're going to be so fired when you show up on that movie set in New York. They're gonna kick your big fat ugly butt outta Manhattan.”
“Like I care.”
Aunt Vi spoke up. “Would you two mind if I had Club here tomorrow night?”
“Of course not, silly,” Ava said. “It's your house. Why are you asking us?”
“Because you've been planted down here for the last week, looking like somethin' the cat dragged in. I want to make sure you at least put on a brassiere when the ladies get here.”
Lola scraped her bowl with her spoon. “What's Club?”
Ava wiped her mouth on her sleeve before she answered. “It's this thing where all these old ladies show up in one old lady's house, and they pretend they're doing stuff, like making plans to bake cupcakes for the church bazaar and knitting mittens and things, but what they really do is sit around and talk about the one member who didn't show up, and then stuff their faces with tiny sandwiches and squares that they wash down with gallons of strong tea. Have I got that right, Aunt Vi?”
“Yep.”
“Wonderful,” Lola smiled. “I can't wait.”
Applause alerted them to the fact that Hayden Judd was being introduced.
“Oh hush, here he is.” Ava turned up the volume.
“He looks fatter on television,” Aunt Vi observed. “He's still cute though.”
They listened to the dreary pablum of movie promotion, where the actor grins and answers stupid questions with stupid answers. Then they cut away for a film clip and cut back to show that the hosts and guest were so cool that they didn't watch the clip because they were too busy chatting amongst themselves.
Regis just finished thanking Hayden for being there, when suddenly Hayden turned to the camera. “Before I go, I want to say a big hello to someone near and dear to my heart. Hi Aunt Vi!” He waved into the camera.
Aunt Vi's mouth dropped open. Ava and Lola laughed with delight.
“Land sakes! How did he know we was watching?”
“Cause I talked to him a couple of days ago. I said you'd get a kick out of it.”
Aunt Vi put her hands up to her cheeks. “Lord love a duck. I can't believe it. Wait till Club hears about this.”
The phone rang.
“I think they already know.” Ava grinned.
The phone didn't stop ringing all morning. Aunt Vi was a celebrity for a day, a mantle she wore proudly.
Ava and Lola took special pains to look well groomed the next night, so as not to shame the woman they loved best. They played hostess and passed around double-decker egg and Cheez Whiz sandwiches. Lola went back to the pantry for more while Ava assembled the china teacups and saucers on the dining room table. She went into the kitchen to make sure the water was boiling.
“Are there any more sandwiches in the fridge?”
There was no answer. Ava was sure Lola was in the pantry. She walked in and Lola quickly turned around to hide the platter. She couldn't hide the fact that she had a wad of sandwich in her cheek.
“Hey, stop eating those.” Ava grabbed the plate from her.
Lola started to chew furiously. “I can't help it,” she mumbled. “These are like the most divine sandwiches I ever ate. Why can't they serve stuff like this at award shows?”
“Because people would get fat and Hollywood would crumble into decay because of it.”
“Gimme another one.”
Ava pulled the tray out of Lola's reach. “They're for Club.”
“I'm in Club. I'm an honorary Club member, for your information. Aunt Vi said so.”
Ava passed her the plate. “Well then, go to town.”
Once their business was done and the lunch was devoured, the Club members felt free to sit around for a while. They obviously wanted to talk to Ava. Especially Thelma and Geranium.
“So. What's that there fella like in real life?” Geranium asked.
“What fella?”
“The fruity one with the scarf.”
“He's delightful. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of inviting him for a few days.”
“Do you think he'd come?”
“You never know.”
“Oh my.” Geranium tugged at the collar of her blouse. “He blew me a kiss you know. I thought that was kind.”
“You'd think it was kind if he coughed in your direction,” Thelma sniffed.
“Did he blow you a kiss, Thelma Steele?”
“Of course not. I don't sit in my living room window all day with binoculars like some I could mention.”
“I'm an avid bird watcher, I'll have you know.”
“The only birds you're watching, honey, belong to the milkman and the mailman.”
“Well, I never!”
“No. That's your trouble, dear. Maybe you should.”
Lola and Ava quietly got up at the same time and walked out the living room door. Then they bolted up the stairs and threw themselves on their beds, trying to stifle their laughter by covering their faces with pillows. When they finally looked at each other, they were hot and sweaty.
“You know what?” Lola gasped. “Being in this house is better than having sex.”
“Maybe you should tell Geranium. Might make her feel better.”
That started them off again.
Finally it was time to go a little further a field. The doctor, besides suggesting rest and nourishment, told Ava she should get a little exercise. Nothing like her trainer's idea of exercise, but out for a walk every day and maybe some yoga.
Ava and Lola would set their alarm for six a.m. and take a walk before breakfast, when there weren't a lot of people around so they could keep up a steady pace and not be interrupted by well-meaning fans. It was pretty slow going at first and they didn't go far, but after a while, they'd walk down Water Street and head for South Street and then walk all the way to the Glace Bay General Hospital and back.
It was on one of their outings that Ava spied a puppy. He was a friendly little thing.
“Look at this little guy. He looks like a teddy bear. You don't think he's lost, do you?”
Lola shrugged. “He doesn't look like he's starving to death, but then again, he's pretty young to be away from his mother.”