“I need to wake up Valerie before our next stop anyway.” I moved to the back of the theater and touched the new mother onthe shoulder, but she didn’t budge. In fact, she didn’t so much as flutter an eyelash.
“Valerie,” I whispered, trying to be gentle. When she still didn’t flinch, I said her name again and put a hand on her shoulder. Nothing. My heart beat faster in my rib cage, and for a second I wondered if she was breathing. I shouted this time as I called her name, emphasizing each syllable. “Va-le-rie!”
That time she shifted in the seat but didn’t open her eyes. “No, thank you,” she mumbled, before her head lolled against her shoulder again.
I tried one more time to wake Valerie, this time practically propping her up and holding one eyelid open, but her only response was in the form of two words: “So sleepy.”
Apparently, the desperate need for rest in these early days of motherhood—in addition to the stress I assumed came from whatever shady business her husband was up to—could basically mimic the effects of a strong dose of Ambien. Since I didn’t hear Ollie crying, I decided to leave her for as long as Lou would let her stay.
I made my way back to the front and told him as much. He shrugged and gave a curt nod, which was as much communication as I could expect from him. Then he told me he would put onIt’s a Wonderful Lifeand let Valerie sleep a couple more hours—as long as we would take the baby with us.
I considered, wondering if my old classmate might wake up terrified that we’d run away with her child, but then I realized that we would literally be two storefronts and one flight of stairs away from her at The Attic, one of the town’s beloved boutiques and my aunt’s most recent hobby. Surely it couldn’t be called kidnapping if you’re no more than a few yards away and you wish the mother was there?
“Deal,” I told Lou as I checked my watch. “Valerie can call Savilla whenever she wakes. We won’t be far.”
“Sounds good,” Lou said, starting toward the projection room, where he would put on the soothing tones of Jimmy Stewart’s and DonnaReed’s voices.
I kind of wished I could stay myself, but instead I turned to round up the ladies and pull out the second clue, handing it to Lacy, who cleared her throat and read aloud the next riddle.
You’ve always wanted
to glimmer and shine.
High above Main Street
you pick the jewels this time.
Lacy narrowed one eye, knowing immediately that our next destination was one of her all-time favorite spots downtown, partly because it was the only shop that ever carried the vintage-chic clothing she liked to wear, but also because Aunt DeeDee dropped off cookies each afternoon for the salespeople to give out to shoppers. In elementary school, Lacy would practically pull me into the store on our walk home; inside, there were usually a handful of other customers—and sweets. It had been a happening little place, especially for a town of our size.
“The Attic opened late for us?” Lacy asked, excitement in her words.
“I kind of know the new manager,” I said, smiling as I referred to Aunt DeeDee. “She was excited to be asked.”
We wrapped winter coats around ourselves and Savilla folded the sleeping baby against her chest as we braced for the brief but very chilly walk to the store.
When Bella muttered something about being shocked that this town even had a real store, Myrtis giggled while Charlotte side-eyed the baby. I’d noticed her doing the same to Valerie on our way out of the low-lit theater, and I wished I could read past the curious expression on Charlotte’s face. Did she hate Valerie? Did she want to be her? Or was Charlotte merely in shock that a postpartum woman could sleep so soundly?
I couldn’t think about it too long because Lacy put an arm through mine and leaned close.
“Thanks for being so great tonight,” she said quietly. “You’vekept everything, including me, afloat even though we’ve had a few”—she glanced behind her and lifted a chin toward the three women—“a few surprises.”
Lacy wasn’t the kind of friend who needed defending or protecting very often, so I felt pleased that she’d noticed me come through for her this time.
“Happy to,” I said, squeezing her gloved hand.
We climbed the stairs, gripping the cold metal railing, and as we reached the stairwell, Aunt DeeDee was there to greet us with a smile and an invitation to hurry to the warmth inside.
“Come in, come in, ladies!”
We scurried into the foyer of the boutique, which had been a series of tiny apartments for the mining families in the late 1800s. The conversion to a store had kept the exposed brick and the high wooden beams, and Aunt DeeDee had added a simple festive flare by stringing white lights across the room.
When we were all inside and standing in a half-circle, Aunt DeeDee surveyed us, taking in the extra three attendees and the baby one by one with a kind nod. Ever the gracious hostess, she welcomed all of us, taking the hands of Bella, Charlotte, and Myrtis and introducing herself to them each in turn. When she reached Savilla and the baby, her words of welcome turned to murmuring as she moved in for a closer look.
“And this must be Oliver,” Aunt DeeDee cooed.
“Ollie,” Savilla gently corrected, beaming as if the child were her own. “Valerie and Will’s baby.”
“I got to visit with him in the church nursery a couple of weeks ago.” Aunt DeeDee rubbed the baby’s back, but he didn’t stir. “Precious boy.”
