Lovesick (15 page)

3

As the weeks progress, two facts emerge: Freddie disdains Mr. Odom as much as she regards Isabelle. Mr. Odom is excessive in his flattery toward Jewel. Meals are not just good or even excellent, they are “delectable and delicious.” But he is also extremely officious and overbearing. He does not like having to ask Freddie for anything. They have gone round with each other about the car.

“I am perfectly capable of driving your Dodge, Miss Winifred,” he informs her one morning. “And I have in my possession a valid Georgia driver's license. I can show it to you if you wish.”

“If you wanted to drive a car, then you should have brought one” is Freddie's reply, which brings on a litany of excuses and defenses. His lamentations, Freddie has begun to think of them. Business deals that went bust through no fault of his own. Associates who had maligned or mistreated or deceived him. Errors in judgment, but only made in the cause of being too trusting, too loyal, too eager to help someone. It doesn't change the situation, however. When all is said and done, they both know he doesn't have a pot to piss in. He will do what she and Jewel tell him to do. For now. He has the expectation that once he is married to Jewel, things will change.

Yet Freddie has acquiesced to some demands Jewel makes on his behalf—the need for new suits, for example. Jewel simply bursts out with it one night at dinner. “Conrad, everything you own is either out of style or too small or both. It is a disgrace. I am ashamed to be seen with you in public.” Freddie is not surprised at her sister or the abruptness of her remark, but she can see that Jewel has wounded his pride calling attention to a defect.

“I am sorry, milady, if my appearance does not please thee,” he says, attempting to make light.

Jewel does not recognize his protest, already caught up in a plan. “Now, Freddie is like you. She doesn't give a whit about fashion. If I need her to look presentable, I have to pick out her clothes. Practically have to dress her.”

“That is not true,” says Freddie, but Jewel ignores her as well.

“I think we need to get you some new suits. Some shirts as well.”

“I shall be the first groom to have a trousseau,” he says.

“It is a good idea, but we should not overlook Isabelle,” Freddie interjects. “She will need some new clothes as well—as things progress.”

“Yes, I can see that your clothes are binding you. They can't be comfortable,” says Jewel.

“I don't mind. I don't want maternity clothes.”

“Don't be rude, girl,” Mr. Odom commands. “It is never polite to refuse a gift.” As he speaks, biscuit crumbs tumble from his mouth.

“You may not want them, but you will definitely need them,” Jewel reminds her. “We can put some elastic on your waistbands for now and I will pick up fabric and a Butterick. I can make you some smock tops. They will do you for around the house. What is your favorite color?”

“I don't know,” says Isabelle.

Before she thinks, Freddie blurts, “Blue. For her eyes.”

Mr. Odom adds, “But we should get some pink as well. Don't want to stack the deck.”

Isabelle blushes, but Freddie is not sure which remark has embarrassed her. She is relieved when Jewel nods and says, “Yes, blue is a good choice for you.”

And so it is decided. Jewel has concocted a story for Mr. Odom's existence, their courtship, tells the women at Lurdelle's that she received a letter from her “long-lost beau out of the blue.” Isabelle's story is easy enough to weave into the fabric of the tale, and if anyone in town is shocked that Jewel is soon engaged to Mr. Odom, they do not demonstrate it. The ladies of her Stained Glass Committee even arrange coffee and coconut cake to be served at the regular monthly meeting held in early June just before Jewel departs with Mr. Odom for Savannah, where they are to be wed by a justice of the peace and spend a brief honeymoon touring historic sights.

Freddie has also become aware that Mr. Odom drinks, something she and Jewel discuss at night in their room before they go to sleep. He is never drunk, but on some evenings when he comes to dinner, he is noticeably wobbly and talkative. Freddie suspects that he has packed away a couple of bottles in his suitcase. They do not normally have wine with dinner, but Jewel has offered him a bourbon several evenings. He never declines the offer. Freddie also suspects this is why he wants to drive the car. So he can seek out a Red Dot store, replenish his supply. She does not mind the drinking, though she does hate the way he carries on. Story after story about people and places meaningless to her. Still, if he does drink, it may make things easier down the road when it is time for him to be disposed of. Drunks have accidents. Drunks fall down. She encourages Jewel to bring some bourbon back with them when they travel to Savannah.

Freddie is also troubled by, annoyed by his treatment of Isabelle. He watches her. Jewel tells her that he says he is afraid she will run off again. Afraid she could even try to harm herself. She thinks it admirable of him in such a difficult circumstance, but Freddie is not as sure. He does not act like a father should. He is often dismissive of Isabelle, calling out orders like she is a waitress in a diner: “Girl, bring me and Miss Jewel some fresh coffee. This one has gone cold.” Freddie can see Jewel is more than happy to have someone, anyone, fetch for her, and therefore does not intervene. When Freddie reminds him that Isabelle is pregnant, his retort is, “She will need to move quick once she has a youngin' to chase.” And then there are the times she catches him just looking at Isabelle, his gaze lingering, or his hand placed over hers as a gesture of thanks. He is expansive in his assertions of adoration of her, especially when he has been drinking. On some nights, he allows himself to be overcome and weeps openly while Jewel serves dessert and coffee.

“A lovely thing she is,” he says, waving his arm toward Isabelle. “And so like her mother. I do no disrespect to you, dear Jewel, to speak of her. She was my wife. And I loved her. I am not ashamed. And when I look at Isabelle, it is her dear mother I see. How I failed her. How I have failed them both. But you know that I love you, sweet Isabelle. Love you more than I can say.”

Isabelle sucks on her bottom lip when he talks like this, and Freddie speculates on what history has passed between them. She wonders if Isabelle can feel his gaze, notices how she pulls away from him when he reaches out to her, avoids him whenever possible. Yet she returned to him. Was she that desperate that Mr. Odom is the desirable alternative?

Jewel leaves casseroles and chicken salad for Freddie and Isabelle to eat while they are in Savannah. Jewel wanted to depart from Morris in broad daylight from the train station so everyone can see. Freddie knows she wants the ladies from her committee to see her boarding the train in her new suit, with her orchid corsage, and her fiancé. The train routes are not compatible with their schedule, however, and they are forced to drive to Florence, so there is no opportunity for Jewel to show off for her friends. Mr. Odom sulks for most of the drive. Freddie believes he has half expected her to relinquish the car for the trip. And then what? Walk to town? He is presumptuous beyond belief, and Jewel scolds her to be in a better mood as they say good-bye at the station.

“Goodness, Freddie. Don't send us off under a rain cloud.” Jewel is nervous, she knows. This is where things will change for her. It is one thing to have a suitor, another to have a husband. However, she assures Freddie she does not mind the intimate parts that will soon follow.

“In my opinion, people make more of it than they should,” she says. “Not really worth the bother or the messiness.” Still, in the past week, she has been like a hummingbird, flitting from one activity to the next. Freddie has left her alone, let her pack and repack, cook, clean, and babble as she needs. Freddie takes care of other business, has a heart-to-heart talk one morning with Mr. Odom.

“I will just come out and say it,” she says when Jewel takes the remaining breakfast plates into the kitchen to wash. “We should talk about financial matters.” She has waited for a morning where he is slightly hung over, more manageable. He fidgets like a schoolboy, searching for a reply. She does not wait for him to find one.

“It is my observation that you have . . . limited assets.”

“I have thought my good character to be a virtue,” he says. He pushes his chair back from the table and stands to emphasize his point. He is a big man, once muscular, probably considered to be attractive to many women, Freddie thinks. He knows he cannot charm her, so he stands over her. He reminds Freddie of a gorilla, wonders if he will beat on his chest for emphasis.

“Yes, but when this marriage occurs, Mr. Odom, my sister's property and investments become yours as well. Since her property and investments involve me, I think it only fair to make sure we are protected.” She gestures to the chair. “Please sit. I only wish to speak with you about the future. It is not an insult to make provisions.”

“I can assure you, Miss Winifred, that I have only the most honorable intentions with your sister. I think I have made that apparent.”

“I am not here to wound you, Mr. Odom. The marriage will be what it is. I imagine that you and Jewel will live here. This has been her home—our home—for twenty years.”

“Yes. Yes, I would imagine that we would stay. It is beautiful. And I hope that you would stay here with us if that is what concerns you.”

Freddie is tempted to laugh out loud, realizes he thinks she is asking permission to stay in her own home. “Thank you, Mr. Odom,” she says. “That is so kind. Now, let's talk about what arrangements need to be made.” And with that, she lays out for Mr. Odom his future in the house, his role in their affairs. She can see in his eyes as looks ahead—imagining the rest of his days spent like a fat basset hound sprawled on a soft pillow. She talks about Jewel's will.

“I leave everything to her, and she to me, which I think is only fair. But she will want to provide for you. She has arranged to take out a life insurance policy on herself. You would be her beneficiary.”

“Yes,” he says. “That is very kind of her. To be so generous. It was difficult when my wife—my first wife passed.”

“And do you have insurance on yourself, Mr. Odom?”

He tells here he does not.

“But you should,” she insists. “Absolutely.”

Freddie arranges to have Deland Coombs, the insurance representative, come by to sign the papers two days before they leave for Savannah. He is happy to make the drive, with the promise of two policies. Jewel is not pleased that Mr. Odom has stipulated he wants to leave a portion of the policy “just in case” to Isabelle. Jewel has calculated the loss she will incur and complained mightily to Freddie, but Freddie appeases her by having Leland Combs up the amount on the whole policy to compensate. When they sign the policies, they make it a festive occasion. Jewel serves pecan shortbreads and tea. Mr. Odom makes a toast to “long and happy lives.”

On the drive back to Morris, Freddie jokes to Isabelle about how quiet the car is without them, how glad she is to have things “back to normal.” The drive has become a habit for Freddie and Isabelle since McCloud's Hospital and the doctor who will deliver her are both in Florence. Freddie insisted on that, arranged with Mr. Odom to pay for the expenses from her own accounts. She assures him that no one, not Jewel, not Isabelle, needs to know. When he hesitates, seems reluctant to accept anything from her—especially something without Jewel's knowledge—Freddie reminds him of his advice to Isabelle, that it is “rude to refuse a gift.” Mr. Odom even makes the first trip with them to see the doctor, making a show to Jewel that he needs to get everything in order. Freddie has withdrawn money from her savings account and gives it to him for the doctor, tells him to bring her the receipt and the projected costs for the doctor's care and the hospital. She will pay those as they need to be paid.

Mr. Odom does not go to the doctor with them after the first visit. Isabelle tells him that there is no need for him to be there. Freddie does not insist, is happy not to have him along for the ride, but when she parks the car at the doctor's office, Isabelle tells her that she wants to go in alone.

“There is no reason,” she says, turning on the seat to angle toward Freddie. Her hair is pulled back, tied with a sky blue ribbon to match the smock Jewel has made for her. When Isabelle looks at her like this, Freddie finds it difficult to breathe, like she has swallowed all the air in the car. She struggles to roll down the window. “And it is not that I don't appreciate what you are doing. But this is something I must do.”

“But I want you to know . . .” Freddie stammers. “I want you to know that you can count on me if you need.”

“I will remember that.” And then she is out of the car, up the steps, into the building. Freddie spends the better part of an hour walking in and out of shops on Evans Street, then checks back to see if Isabelle has come out, if she is waiting by the car, but she is not. After fifteen minutes, Freddie begins to worry, wonders if she should go inside to check on her. It is another fifteen minutes before she can bring herself to go into the office.

The waiting room bustles with women—most are pregnant, their large, round bellies on proud display. They chatter loudly, competitively comparing complaints. Several small children sit on the floor, playing with a puzzle. An old woman, sitting with a woman who resembles her closely, holds a small baby—her grandchild, Freddie assumes. Most of the women pay Freddie no notice, but the old woman eyes her cautiously. Freddie feels awkward, like a giant crammed into a dollhouse. This is not a world in which she belongs. She stands frozen in the doorway until the old woman points at a partitioned glass on the other side of the room. When she knocks on the glass, the office receptionist slides back the window over her desk and Freddie gives her Isabelle's name. The woman checks a large ledger and tells Freddie that Isabelle finished with her appointment and left over half an hour earlier. Freddie apologizes, tells the woman she is there to pick her up, take her home, she is sure she must have just missed her. “Probably looking in a store.” But on the inside, she is panicked. She remembers what Jewel told her—Mr. Odom's fear that Isabelle would run off again. Has she bolted?