Mypulse quickened as I saw her. I had never liked her. She’d always been proper, ever the picture of hospitality, gentleness, and sweetness. Every bit of it lavish, and every bit of it as obviously fake as the jeweled bumblebee pin she always wore on her lapel. Maybe it was my mother, or maybe Twyla had gaydar before it was fashionable, but whatever the reason, she’d always been cold to me—only speaking to me when others were close by, and even then with barely concealed disdain. She’d never been a fan of the Durkes either, which I never could understand. She sat with her arms folded tightly over her small breasts, eyes narrowed as Mandy showed off the decorations we’d uncovered and talked about where she thought certain things might look good, and spoke of her overall vision for what the church would look like.
Soon, people split off in groups, tackling different parts of the church. Donnie and Jed led a couple of the other men in hanging the silver-white garland wrapped in white lights from the eaves of the vaulted ceiling. Sue went with them to help hold the huge ladder, constantly admonishing the men, “Be careful!” “Move slower!” “Don’t reach so far.”
Maudra and Della led a small group in setting up all the white Christmas trees at various locations around the sanctuary, spreading out their wire branches that had become flattened and tangled after being boxed for so many years. Even without lights on them, they looked brand new, and brought warmth to the sterile sanctuary. Iris and Hazel joined this group. I overheard Iris asking Maudra where I had been all these years. When she found out I had been living in Denver, she replied that her sister-in-law lived in Arvada, which is a little suburb of Denver. My pulse quickened with the thought that Iris had a connectionto my old life, but I let the thought go before I started to stress out.
Mandy and I took charge of placing the large candleholders along the walls on the outside of the pews and the arches over the center aisle. We assumed they had used these for the wedding processional to walk under.
Although there was still quite a bit more to accomplish, after an hour, all the trees had been placed, as well as the candles and the center arches. It reminded me of being in an enchanted forest at wintertime.
There hadn’t been any negative comments directed at Jed or me. While I was relieved, and surprised, I kept waiting for the moment I was sure would come.
Mandy gave me a hug and squealed, “It’s better than I ever dreamed. I feel like I just stepped through the wardrobe and into Narnia. Just think what it will look like when the blue lights are on the trees and we get the candles lit.”
“It’s an overindulgence and looks as vain and worldly as a brothel.”
Mandy and I turned around to see Twyla, her arms still crossed over her chest.
“Do you think so, Twyla? I was really hoping you would like it.” Mandy’s eyes looked moist, and her voice had a childlike plea in it. It made me angry.
“There was nothing wrong with the decorations we always use. They were simple and came from the heart. We didn’t need a bunch of fancy, highfalutin designer baubles from department stores.” Her voice was filled with contempt.
I decided Twyla had indeed changed in the years I had been gone. She never would have been so transparent with her cynicism. I also realized that I had changed, although Iwasn’t sure if it was because I had gotten stronger in my years in Denver or if it was some of my mother’s brazenness I had inherited. “Twyla, these decorations aren’t even new. They have to be pushing twenty years old. I can’t believe they are in as good a shape as they are.”
Her gaze journeyed slowly to my face and locked onto mine. Then traveled down my body and back up again, boring into me. She looked back to Mandy.
“I’m not sure what possessed you to come in and take control of the church and make decorating decisions without the input of the church family. Your father may be the newpreacherhere in a few weeks, but that,my dear, doesn’t make you a princess in charge of everyone else.”
I felt my face heat up. “Twyla, you’re out of line. Mandy wasn’t trying to take over anything. She just wanted to help make the church beautiful and help get people in the spirit of Christmas.”
She kept her eyes focused on Mandy. “The spirit of Christmas is Christ’s birth and His sacrifice for us. His love. It’s not how gaudy and tacky andHollywoodwe can decorate the church.”
Hollywood? Where did she get this stuff?
“I think it’s ’bout time you took a rest, Twyla. Yer gittin’ yer feathers ruffled fer nothin’, and you the only one lookin’ foolish.” Maudra’s voice was quiet but caused Twyla to tear her eyes from Mandy. She looked at Maudra and didn’t say anything, simply glared. Maudra lifted her chin a little higher, and Twyla turned, her shoulders thrown back, and walked swiftly through the church and out of the sanctuary.
Tyler noticed Twyla leave and came over. “Everything okay, dear?”
Mandy looked up at him, tears making their way down her face. “I shouldn’t have done this, Daddy. I’m making everything worse. It’s gonna make it harder for you when you take over.”
“Now, you git ahold a yerself, girl. You gotta be stronger than the likes a her. She’s always been a witch and ain’t done nothin’ but get worse with every day that goes by.”
“Maudra, please.” Tyler looked at her sternly. “This is the pastor’s wife we’re speaking of. And we need to show love even to those who oppose us.”
Maudra neither looked offended at the reprimand nor remorseful. “And it’s fine time fer you to figger it out too, young man. You cain’t go ’round here tryin’ to please people what cain’t be pleased, and not callin’ people for what they are. Soon as you figger that out, things’ll go a lot smoother for ya.” She patted his cheek softly and finished with a little smack. She smiled at him. “You are adorable, Mr. Preacher Man, quite adorable.” With that she walked back over to Iris and Hazel, who were agog, staring in our direction. “Come on, ladies. Let’s git back ta work puttin’ lights on these trees. If’n we don’t speed it up, we’re gonna be here all night.”
Tyler looked at me, his eyes wide and shocked.
I laughed at him. “That’s Maudra. She’ll tell it to ya straight, and I’ve found it’s best to listen to her. She’s always right.”
Donnie had made his way over by this point and wrapped his arms around Mandy from behind and kissed her hair. “Come on, darlin’. Let’s go get some fresh air.” He led her out the back by the hand, cold air rushing in through the open door.
Within a few minutes, everyone was deep into their tasks, and the scene was mostly forgotten, at least until they got home on the telephone. After another hour or so, the church was finished. Mandy had gotten herself together quickly and had come back in with renewed vigor. I was impressed as I watched her. She was efficient and thorough, all the time retaining her artist’s eye and simultaneously making everyone feel like they were the most important person in the room.
The church was truly spectacular, somehow managing to be decorated to the hilt yet maintaining a semblance of simplicity and elegance. Even Iris and Hazel, who had been making snide comments under their breaths from the beginning, gasped their approval when the overhead lights were turned off and only the Christmas lights remained.
“I declare. This will be the prettiest candlelight service we have ever had.” Hazel took hold of Iris’s hand. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more lovely.”
Iris looked over at her, her eyebrows rose in surprise, and then she took another look around the sanctuary, her face softening. “You’re right. It really is beautiful.”
