“Are you going to do it?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Because you don’t know a thing about her.”
“That’s a snobby attitude.”
After pinching off and buttering a small corner of her roll, Mama lays her knife at the top edge of her plate, the proper way to place it. Then she peers at me over the top of her glasses. “It’s not snobby. Why, it’s responsible.”
“You were never in a sorority, Mama. It’s a big deal these days. Especiallyat Ole Miss. Everyone should have an equal opportunity whether they come from thecorrectfamily or not. It should be based on the person, not the parents.”
“For your information, I was in the best Tap Club on the Sweetbriah campus. I’ve told you Sweetbriah didn’t allow sororities. We were too busy horseback riding. It was Vahginia, after all.” She looks away, shakes her head, andtsks. “I always wanted my granddaughtah to ride. It’s a shame she wasn’t allowed. She would have been a champion.”
I glance at my watch. I still have forty-five more minutes of this. “Mama. You know English riding is a very expensive sport.”
She purses her lips, cocks her head to the side. I know exactly what she means by this gesture. I’ve forbidden her to say it out loud, so she’s taken to expressing her words through body language. What she means is: You should have married a man who makes more money. Haynes is an extremely gifted attorney. He heads up a small firm and provides pro bono representation for several of his underprivileged clients. Needless to say, however, he didn’t go into it for the money.
The tempo inside my chest feels like a metronome that’s been set to high speed. I close my eyes and try to figure out a way to escape the madness. No wonder I feel like I don’t measure up.
Once we’ve ordered and the waitress has delivered our food, Mama seems to be preoccupied with inspecting her meal instead of meddling. My heart is just regaining its natural rhythm when she says, “Let’s switch subjects. How is Ellie liking that elegant dorm room I paid foah?”
This is the one place in my life I’ve given my mother license to meddle. I should never have told her about my predicament with Lilith Whitmore. Then she never would have offered to loan me the money. Then I would have been forced to tell Lilith no. I have no one but myself to blame. If only I could have a redo.
“It’s beautiful, Mama. She loves it. Thank you again.” I take my first bite of green beans and am pleased to know they aren’t overcooked.
“The pictures on Facebook are simply stunning. I particularly love the one of Ellie and Annie Laurie with their arms around one anothah.” The day Mama got on Facebook was a dark day in the Woodcock household. “Now that girl’s a beauty.”
I nod. “She is pretty.” The fried chicken is cooked to perfection—dark brown and extra crispy. I practically salivate when I pick up the first piece.
Unlike me, Mama eats to live. So far she hasn’t taken a single bite. “Two pretty girls. Living in what must be the most magnificent room on the floah.”
“Oh, it is. I think Ellie may be a little overwhelmed by it to tell you the truth. It’s nicer than any room in our house.” The absurdity of this makes me giggle out loud.
Mama nods. “I’m sure the Whitmoahs have extraordinary taste.”
I’m in the middle of chewing, so I cover my mouth. “There’s no question about that.”
As I’m nibbling on the chicken leg I can see her staring at me out of the corner of my eye. She slices off a small corner of meatloaf, then changes her mind about eating it and puts down her fork. “Now. Let’s discuss your loan.”
When she offered the loan she insisted there was no hurry to pay it back. I swallow. Put my chicken leg down. “Okay.”
“I’m assuming you’re still keeping this from Haynes?”
My eyes close on cue. Hearing her say it out loud makes it worse.
“I think you should go on and tell him. He won’t mind. He adores Ellie.” Finally she takes her first bite of meatloaf, all the while staring me down as she chews.
“Read my lips. I’m not telling him. He wouldn’t understand.” I lean back in my chair. “I’ve decided to get a job and pay you back myself. The only reason I’m waiting is because Lilith has asked me to serve as an Alpha Delt Rush Advisor. Rush doesn’t begin until October ninth, and I’ll have to be in Oxford an entire week.”
She taps her mouth daintily with her napkin. “I think it’s a shame the University has pushed Rush back to the fall. What a terrible inconvenience for the girls. The very idea of having Rush while attending class is ludicrous.”
“Apparently they were losing big money. Girls were dropping out of school when they didn’t get the sorority they wanted—while they still had time to enroll somewhere else.”
“Well, thank God for Lilith Whitmoah. Now that her daughter is Ellie’s roommate I’m sure that will go miles toward ensuring Ellie’s chances at a bid.”
“Ellie doesn’t need Annie Laurie to get a bid!” My pulse is pounding again.
“I didn’t mean it that way.” She presses a hand to her heart. “I simply meanthaving a girl with an outstanding pedigree for a roommate could only help Ellie.”
