CHAPTER THREE
“How are things at the store, Beau?” asked Gaspar seeing his cousin coming toward the men.
“Fine, Gaspar. I wanted to ask y’all if you knew what was going on with Miss Esta?”
“What do you mean?” frowned Miller.
“I mean, she’s always a little cranky but today it was much worse. She scoffed at Christmas, she didn’t want to talk about her children or grandchildren. She even seemed to be down on church. It just felt different,” he said frowning.
“She’s an old woman, Beau. Esta received notice of her husband’s death in Vietnam at Christmas time.
It was just a few months shy of us pulling out of Vietnam.
I’m sure she felt it was all for nothing.
Her kids went to college on scholarships, some provided by us.
Those kids literally graduated, came home and packed their things and said good-bye.
I don’t think I’ve seen them more than three times in twenty-five years,” said Jean.
“It’s not right. She’s struggling. Her coat is threadbare and I can’t even convince her to let me help her,” said Beau feeling defeated.
“Sometimes helping someone means doing it in silence,” said Nine. “She’s proud and she’s afraid if she asks for help everyone will know how desperate she really is.”
“I drove by her little house,” frowned Beau. “Damn thing looks like it’s going to collapse in on itself.”
“What do you want to do, Beau?” asked Ian with a smile.
“Well, sir, I was thinkin’ I could get her out of the house, maybe convince her to come to mass with me.”
“She won’t go to mass with you,” said Gaspar. “Not yet. Maybe offer to take her to the farmer’s market. She used to love going down there and I’ll bet she’d enjoy that.”
“Okay. Okay, I’ll offer to take her down to the market and while we’re gone maybe y’all could fix her porch and front door to start. Oh! And the roof.”
“How long do you plan on being at this market?” smirked Ghost.
“Well, sir. I thought maybe I’d take her to lunch as well. It’s an awful small place. I’m betting five or six of our boys could fix that place right up.”
“Okay, Beau. You get her to the farmer’s market, take her to lunch, and we’ll handle the rest.”
Three days later Beau knocked on Esta’s door. At first he was worried. It took her a long time to answer the front door and when she did, she looked older than just a few days ago.
“What’s wrong?” she snapped.
“Nothing’s wrong, Miss Esta. I was just wondering if you’d like to take a drive with me to the farmer’s market.”
“The farmer’s market?” she snapped. Her eyes were excited but she tried to cover it. “Why would I go there?”
“Well, it’s not really for you. I’m trying to make something special for my mama for Christmas. She loves anything with peaches, apples, or rhubarb. I know that you’re particular about your fruit and wondered if you could help me choose.”
Esta stared at him with a disbelieving expression, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Beau Couvillion, I don’t believe a word you’re saying but I’ll go with you just in case you’re telling the truth. Lord knows you don’t know how to choose good fruit.” She looked down at the cloak over his arm and frowned. “What is that?”
“Oh. Well, I bought this on sale for mama and it turns out she’s got one just like it.
I didn’t notice it was a final sale and I can’t take it back.
I wondered if you could use it. I mean, it’s nothing special but it’s a good wool coat.
Long to cover your legs from the wind and it’s got a nice warm lining. I think the color is pretty.”
“It’s a nice coat,” she said feeling the material. “Teal isn’t my color but I wouldn’t want your money to go to waste.”
“Good,” he smiled, holding it open for her.
She pushed her arms through, realizing it fit like a glove. Beau grinned as she wrapped his scarf around her neck and grabbed her pocketbook. As she reached for her bag, he took a step inside the door to take a look around. The entire place was worse than he’d imagined.
There was an obvious roof leak in the living room stretching all the way back to the kitchen. It was cold in the house, meaning she either wasn’t running the heat or it wasn’t working. The furniture was worn but clean.
“It ain’t much but it’s mine. Been paid for now for ten years. I just can’t afford to fix everything up.”
“Well, if you’d allow me, I could get some things fixed for you. I’m real handy, Miss Esta.”
“No, no. I don’t accept charity.”
“It’s not charity, Miss Esta. It’s bein’ neighborly.”
“Are we going to this market or not?” she snapped.
Beau laughed, taking her arm as they stepped off the porch. He helped her into the car and noticed that the boys were parked down the road, waiting for him to leave.
“Ready?”
“I’m in the car ain’t I?”
“Yes, ma’am, you are,” he laughed.
Beau tried to converse with her all the way to the market but she wasn’t having it. As they walked the stalls, trying to choose what he might need, he noticed that she actually did know a lot about the fruit.
“These apples are best for pies,” she said holding up the Honeycrisp. “Get four of these and four of the Granny Smith. Mixing them will make it taste better.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said as she turned to look at the vegetables.
“Four and Four?” said the vendor.
“Actually,” whispered Beau, “make it eight and eight.” The man smiled at him, nodding.
“That’s awful nice of you, Beau.”
Beau held a finger to his lips and shook his head. Carrying the bag with the apples, they stopped at some vegetable stands and whatever Beau bought, he made sure it was double.
“Is the coat keeping you warm, Miss Esta? I don’t want you getting cold.”
“It’s fine. Just fine, don’t worry about me.” He nodded and she let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry, Beau. Thank you. Yes, it’s keeping me warm just fine.”
“I’m glad, Miss Esta.”
“Beau, why are you doing this? You’re a fine-looking young man who I’m sure has lots of friends and lots of girls that want to spend time with you. I know for a fact there’s no finer pie makers in the city than those at the diner. Why didn’t you just buy a ready-made pie from them?”
“Well, now my feelings are hurt. I thought we were having a nice time. Don’t you enjoy spending time with me?” he smirked.
“Beau, don’t avoid the question.”
“I want to spend time with you, Miss Esta. I lost my grandma a few years back and miss her something fierce. Every time I see you, you remind me of her. I’m enjoying this. Truly I am.”
She nodded again and gave him a little smile. It made his day. It was all worth it, just to see her grin. As they left the market, Beau turned the opposite direction on River Road.
“Where are we going? My house is back that way.”
“I’m starvin’, Miss Esta. Mama and Daddy are in Houston visitin’ my sister for the week and I don’t cook much. I thought we’d have some lunch.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Beau. But I could eat.”
Lunch was actually quite enjoyable. Miss Esta spoke a great deal about her husband but not much about her children, which worried Beau. When they left, she looked tired and he wondered if he’d asked her to do too much.
Pulling into her driveway, he noticed that the new roof was on, along with a new front door, new porch railings and all the boards replaced. The shutters were repaired and painted and there was a note on the door.
“What in the world…” she whispered.
“What’s wrong?” he asked innocently.
“What’s wrong? Beauregard Couvillion this best not have been your doing!”
“Miss Esta, what’s wrong?” he asked.
“Look at my house! It’s new. The roof, the porch, the door, all of it! What on earth?”
Beau helped her from the car and she seemed to have some renewed energy as she took the steps onto the porch. She stepped up, then stepped back down and up again. She wiggled the railings, which didn’t move at all and then took the note from the front door.
Sorry we entered your home but we thought there was a gas leak. As it turns out your unit just needed a few minor tweaks. All is good now – everything is safe.
“A gas leak? Do y’all think I’m stupid?” she asked turning to look at Beau.
“Miss Esta, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let’s get inside, it’s about to rain.”
The inside of the house was no longer cold. It was warm and comfortable and the smell of plaster and paint drying hit him immediately. He looked up at the ceiling and noticed that the damaged area had been repaired.
“I know you had something to do with this,” she said. He waited for ire but when nothing came, he only smiled at her. “Get them apples home and do what I told you.”
“Miss Esta that man gave me way too much of everything,” he said looking in the bag. “I’m going to leave the extras here. I’ll see you at the store in a few days.”
She watched as he placed eight apples on the table, several ears of corn, a bag of green beans, rhubarb, red potatoes, and squash. It would feed her for a week.
As Beau opened the door, the tiny, wrinkled hand gripped his wrist. He looked down at the old woman, her eyes watery.
“I had a lovely day, Beau. Thank you.” Beau’s face lit up with a smile and he nodded.
“Yes, ma’am. See you soon!”