Somehow she musters more strength. “I’m fine, baby. I’ll see you tomorrow. Tell everybody I appreciate them fillin’ in for me.”
“What do you need, Aunt Fee? Tylenol? Food? Co-Cola? I’m coming straight there when I leave here, and don’t you tell me I’m not. May as well let me bring you something you want.” I dart my eyes toward Mr. Marvelle. He’s sitting on the edge of his chair. Listening to my every word.
“How about a dinner plate?” she asks. “That would be right nice.”
“What else?”
“I’ve got everything else I need right here.”
“I’ll see you after I leave,” I say. “Around seven thirty.”
“Don’t rush. I’m not going nowhere.”
I lay my phone down on my knee. Look over at my friend. “Something’s bad wrong. I can hear it in her voice. I know it, Marvelle, I know it in here.” I point to my heart.
He doesn’t respond. All he does is close his eyes and let his chin dip down to his chest. We sit in silence a long while, until it’s time for me to check the downstairs powder rooms for paper. The new pledges will be here in under an hour.
FORTY-ONE
WILDA
Only ten more minutes of this,I think, as I zip up my suitcase.Then I’m free!
Sallie and Gwen are in their rooms getting dressed; then we’re all dashing out of here together. We’ve decided to drive our own cars to campus, despite the crowded parking lots. None of us wants a reason to return to Lilith’s condo, plus I have a feeling we’ll be mowing down anything in our way to get the hell out of Dodge as soon as Bid Day is over.
I’ve decided to resign from the Advisory Board—effective immediately. Aside from the obvious reasons, I need to get to the business of finding a job. And putting this dorm room debt behind us, before Haynes finds out. All I’ve been able to think about these last few days is the big-ass lie I told my husband. Yes, so Ellie could have a beautiful dorm room, but also, if I’m honest, to get in good with Lilith Whitmore. Oh dear God. I must have temporarily lost my mind.
Ellie told me this morning she wants to room with Cali next year. Once that happens Lilith Whitmore will once again become a distant memory. I may run into her every now and then at a game or at the Alpha Delt House, but it will require no more than a wave or, at most, a brief chat. I can practically taste my emancipation already.
Lilith left for the House early this morning, something about checking on Annie Laurie’s gift baskets. Technically, she’s not supposed to know Annie Laurie is getting a bid to Alpha Delt, but since we were the only House Annie Laurie visited on Pref, it’s no secret.
Sallie is good friends with the owner of The Perfect Pick, a gift shop on the Square, and the lady told her confidentially they “could retire” on the profit from Annie Laurie’s Bid Day presents. Sallie said the lady was kidding, of course, but she did say everyone would be shocked at the amount of loot Annie Laurie would be raking in this afternoon.
Haynes and I ordered Ellie a bouquet of roses from Oxford Floral, which I can’t help hoping will be white, the Alpha Delt flower. We also picked out a gift basket full of Greek-lettered trinkets. Mama has also ordered her roses. It’s funny when I think about it. The folks at Oxford Floral already know if our daughter will be a Tri Delt or an Alpha Delt. Yet I have no idea. The suspense is killing me.
The sound of a text message dings from the bottom of my purse. After rifling through the clutter I finally get my hands on my phone, but when I do I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of dread. Suppose it’s a last-minute Rush catastrophe? Squeezing one eye shut I peek at the screen, then exhale when I see: Haynes. I sit back down on the bed and touch the message icon.
Red Alert. Your mother is “surprising” you today. She wants to meet “the Whitmore girl” and her parents. Knew you’d rather know.
Just when I was starting to feel better. I groan and type back:Thanks for the warning. I thought you abolished “Whitmore” from your vocabulary?
Right away he texts back:I have. But I made an exception. Saving you from sudden-death-by-surprise was more important.
Me: Thanks for the save.
Haynes: My pleasure. It was the least I could do.
Me: Why don’t you come with her?
Haynes: We have a toilet that needs fixing.
Me: Lucky you.
Haynes: I love you.
Me: I love you more.
Haynes: Impossible.
