Ironically, at that very moment, I spy the bronze statue of William Faulkner sitting on a bench near City Hall. “Why, you must be speaking of the silly hubbub over the Faulkner statue.”
“I had forgotten about that one but, yes, you are correct: that was inane… in my opinion, anyway.” Haynes grins and I melt all over again at the sight of his luscious dimples.
About twenty years ago, a local artist was commissioned to sculpt the statue. The $50,000 project was paid for with both private and public funds, but no one could agree on a place to put it. There was a bit of an outcry when the mayor ordered that an old magnolia tree be cut down to make room for the statue in front of City Hall. Twenty-five people held a memorial service for that magnolia tree. They even laid a black wreath at the stump.
“If not the statue, to which controversy were you referring?”
“Actually, I’d rather not comment. I prefer to let negativity die. I’ll finish this interview by saying, it’s always something in Mississippi.”
I withdraw the mic and place my hand back in my lap. I know exactly what he’s talking about. “I hate to rebirth negativity, but whatever happened to those kids?”
He sucks in a breath, exhales loudly. “Last I heard only one’s going to jail. The second guy cooperated with the prosecution, pled guilty, and was given a year’s probation. The third was never charged.”
“What’s fair about that?”
He simply shakes his head without commenting.
A few years ago, three college guys put a noose around the James Meredith statue. That despicable stunt almost killed Haynes. He was on the University committee that had worked to erect it in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the admission of the first black man to Ole Miss.
It’s always something, all right.Now my thinking shifts to the money I owe Mama and the terrible predicament I’ve gotten myself into. It was the dumbest decision of my life. My desire for Ellie to have a transcendent college experience has caused me to lie to the person I love most. But I’m determined to pay it off before he finds out. “By the way, I’ve decided to get a job as soon as Rush is over,” I say. “To help pay for Heart’s sorority dues.”
“That’s great, babe. Proud of you.”
“If I take it now, I’ll have to give up the advisor position. What do you think?”
“Whatever makes you happy. Have you thought about where you want to work?”
“Well, considering I’m fifty-eight and haven’t worked a real job since the kids were born, I’m thinking about that store where Vicki works—What’s Hot. You know that pale green sweater you love on me?”
He nods.
“I got it there. She thinks she can hire me.”
“That’s great, honey. Why don’t you work part-time? Even that would be a big help.”
There’s talk Haynes’s law firm may be hired by the family of a former UPS employee who was killed on the job, but who knows when or if that will happen. And considering the new tunic I’m wearing cost another two hundred dollars, on top of the money for my new booties and the ten thousand I owe Mama, working part-time is not an option.
***
Driving onto campus always gives me a warm nostalgic feeling, no matter how many times I do it. First of all—and maybe I’m biased—I think it’s the most beautiful campus in America. The old buildings with their rich histories, the monuments, the Grove, the grand sorority and fraternity houses, even the smell of the place—it all makes me happy. Haynes and I both love it so much. We’re making Ole Miss one of the beneficiaries of our estate—if there’s one left after I’ve finished paying Mama back.
“Haynes! I see a spot.” I point frantically down a hill with a grassy area that’s been turned into a parking lot on the outskirts of campus. “Hurry before someone gets it.”
“Great eye.” He whips to the right, rolls down his window. “How much?” He asks the guy taking the money.
The fellow leans in with a wad of cash in his hand. “Twenty bucks.”
Haynes turns to me. “A casualty of growth,” he says, then hands the man our money.
After pulling down the visor, I flip open the mirror and apply lipstick. “It’s going to be a tight—” Suddenly, we bounce hard in our seats, “Fit.” He’s looking at me with a barely contained snicker. I turn from him back to the mirror and see an amber-colored line between the top of my lip and the bottom of my nose. We both explode with laughter.
Despite the pothole, Haynes expertly manages to maneuver our Expedition into the parking spot. With his hand on the gearshift he turns to me, squeezes his lips together. “Just so you know, I’ll have one beer at the Whitmore tent. That’s it.”
My shoulders slump in disappointment. I’m just sure it’s the hottest ticket in town. Why doesn’t he see that? “You told me that already,” I say. Then, gripping the door handle, I turn to him with a pleading face. “Lilith says it’ll be really nice. Trust me, the food will be incredible.”
“I have no doubts about that, but I’m not interested in spending my whole day off with the Whitmores.” He glances at his watch. “It’s eleven now. Let’s stop by Frank and Judy’s, then we’ll meet Ellie and Cali at the Whitmores’ at one. That’s the time you told her, right?”
“Yes, but I thought we could get there earlier to have lunch.”
