Chapter 51
FIFTY-ONE
“The middle of the story was always my favorite.”
—excerpt from the unpublished memoir,
Darling, I Must Say by Gloria Hayes
Two days before the pageant, I arrived at Shady Cove and took the elevator up to the third floor to visit Gloria.
I didn’t like this floor. Everything about it felt like a hospital: the smell, the endless beeping of monitors, the looks of quiet grief that came with waiting for someone you loved to get better or pass on.
Gloria didn’t belong in a place like this.
But she was here, nonetheless. I approached her door and heard voices.
I knocked softly and was surprised to see that it was Abe who answered.
“Oh, what are you doing here?” I asked.
“I thought it would be good for Hallie to come and see Gloria…” One last time.
I drew in a sharp breath. “How’s she doing?”
“She is doing just fine,” Gloria said. “Get over here and stop talking about me as if I’m already dead.”
“Gloria.” I adjusted her blanket and noted how much thinner and gaunter she seemed, since even yesterday. “What’s going on?”
She rolled her eyes. “Really, darling. We all know what’s happening here.”
“Does that mean you’re going to die?” Hallie asked, her voice a whisper.
I pulled in a breath sharply. Abe moved next to me, his shoulder brushing mine. His hand found mine and our fingers tangled.
“Yes,” Gloria said casually like someone had asked her if the sky was blue. “I’ve lived a very long life. Time to make room for you young ones to take my place.”
“I don’t want you to go,” Hallie said.
“I’m afraid I can’t change that. But I hope you’ll remember me every now and then. In fact”—she pointed at a green box on the table—“that box is for you. Go on and get it.”
Hallie picked it up and brought it back. Balancing it on the edge of the bed, she pulled the ribbon and took the top off the box. Nestled inside was a tiara.
“That, my dear, is the crown I wore when I was Miss Two Harts.”
“I love it,” Hallie breathed.
“Come here and I’ll help you put it on.” Gloria fussed with the crown and getting it placed just so. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you, Miss Gloria. Can I give you a hug?”
“I would be offended if you didn’t.” Hallie climbed carefully on the bed and snuggled into Gloria’s side.
“Abraham, come here.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stepped forward, dropping my hand.
“So polite,” Gloria said. “Your mother raised you right.” She pulled out a small box and placed it in his hand. “This is for you.”
“You don’t need to give me anything.”
“Please. I can’t take any of it with me and I know you’ll take good care of it.”
He took off the lid and whistled softly. “I can’t take this.”
“It’s an old watch. It hasn’t kept time in thirty years.”
I peeked around his shoulder as he pulled it gently from the box. “It’s not just an old watch. This is a Rolex.”
“Yes, Thomas loved that watch. Wore it everywhere. I almost had him buried with it.” She chuckled. “But what would be the point? I want you to have it. Maybe you could pass down to one of your children. I like the idea of that.”
“I’ll take very good care of it,” Abe said. He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you.”
“Speaking of children, Iris, your turn. The big gray box is for you.”
The box was large, but not heavy. I brought it over to the bed and opened it. “What is this?”
“Take it out of the box and find out.”
Inside was a dress in a beautiful shade of blue. The strapless chiffon gown had a fitted bodice and a full skirt that reminded me of a bell. Large, swirling rosettes accented with pale pink flowers completed the look. It was the most beautiful dress I’d ever seen.
“That is an exact replica of the dress I wore when I was in the pageant. My mother made my dress. Now, I’ve never had the patience for sewing but I do have the money to have it specially made for you. You’ll have to forgive me, but I called your mother to get your measurements.”
“This is too much.” I blinked back tears.
“It is not.” She gestured for me to come closer and grasped one of my hands. “I am so grateful we met. If I had a daughter or a granddaughter, she would be nothing like you at all.”
I laughed. “Thanks.”
“No, it’s true. She would have been just like me.
I don’t need someone to tell me how wonderful I am.
I can do that just fine on my own.” She squeezed my hand.
“You have kept me on my toes. Despite your horrible clothing choices, you’ve been the best friend an old woman could have. Besides moisturizer, of course.”
“Of course.” A tear fell onto my lip. I swiped at it with my free hand.
“Crying? Must you be so dramatic.” She squeezed my hand. “Go try it on. I want to see you in it.”
In the bathroom, I slid the dress on. It fit perfectly. The serviceable thrift store dress seemed pathetic now. How had I ever wanted to wear that thing in public? But this cupcake of a dress was perfect.
“This is too much.” I appeared from the bathroom and couldn’t help myself from twirling.
“You look like a princess,” Hallie said. A compliment of the highest order.
“Oh, you’re perfect. Isn’t she perfect?” Gloria frowned at Abe. “What are you waiting for? Tell her she’s perfect, Abe. Do I have to do everything here?”
His gaze wandered from my bare feet to my eyes. An achingly slow smile lit up his face. “You look beautiful.”
“Now if you didn’t have to actually walk and talk, you might have had a chance at winning,” Gloria said. “Although please tell no one I’ve been coaching you. I have a reputation to uphold.”
“Sure,” I murmured, but I’d hardly heard anything she said. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Abe and the look on his face. I shivered under the intensity of his gaze.
“Stop touching each other with your eyes,” Gloria said. “There are children in the room.”
Abe covered his mouth, but his eyes brimmed with laughter. Shaking my head, I glared at her. Gloria, impervious to such things, settled back in her bed with a slow exhale of breath.
“We should probably get going so you can rest,” I said. “Just let me change.”
“Wait, before you do, have you heard anything? From Warren?” Gloria’s hands fisted the comforter, the knuckles white from the effort.
“I’m still trying to track him down. I’m doing everything I can.” I moved to her bedside. “I’m not giving up, though. We’re going to find him.”
“Good, yes. Good.” She winced but it was so small and slight, if I didn’t know her so well, I would have missed it. She wasn’t just weak and tired, she was also in a great deal of pain.
“Do you need me to get the nurse?” I asked quietly.
“No, no. I’m fine.”
“You’re in pain.”
“I don’t like the way the medication makes me feel. Besides”—she yawned—“I’m very tired.”
“You’re very stubborn,” I said, but I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Tell the nurse to call me if you need anything.”
I stepped aside so Abe and Hallie could say goodbye. Hallie climbed up on the bed and gave Gloria a long hug. When she pulled back, her eyes brimmed with tears.
Gloria tsked. “Young lady, there’s no crying in pageants.” She laughed softly. “Oh, that’s a good one for the memoir, Iris. Do write that down.”
After I’d changed and shared my concerns with Gloria’s nurse, the three of us headed down to the lobby. Abe insisted on carrying my giant gray box to my car.
“Who’s Warren?” he asked.
“He’s a boy she knew when she was a teenager, her first love.
She asked me to find out what happened to him.
I thought it would be pretty easy, but I’ve run into a lot of dead ends.
” I popped open my trunk and he set the box inside.
“It’s the only thing she’s asked me to do for her and I can’t find him. ”
“I might be able to help. I know a guy…”
“If you want to try, I’d appreciate it.” I leaned against the trunk of the car. Abe joined me, standing so close we were joined at the shoulders, the hips, the ankles. “I don’t know how much longer she’s going to hold on.”
I knew it wouldn’t be long. The sharp decline over the last couple of weeks had been terrifyingly fast but the last two days had been worse. It was as though her body had given up completely and it was only hanging on by sheer force of will.
“Come here.” He pulled me in front of him and wrapped his arms around me. He didn’t say anything else. He didn’t tell me everything would work out. Or that I’d get through it. He didn’t even say he was sorry.
He just held me, and it was enough.