Big Cherry Holler - Adriana Trigiani [27]
I want to say, “No. I’m scared. Who was that woman at the carnival? Are you tired of me?” Instead, I look at my husband and say, “Everything is fine.” He buys it and goes back to bed. And that, I am sure, is the root of our problem.
CHAPTER THREE
For the first time in his life, Jack MacChesney is officially his own boss. MR. J’s Construction Company opened its door on November 20. MR. J stands for Mousey, Rick, and Jack. Very clever. Rick finagled a small office for them at the car dealership. Morgan Legg, the owner, was happy to oblige them, as Rick was his top salesman on the floor last year. I have never seen my husband so happy. And they’re off to a good strong start. They bid on a job to renovate the Fellowship Hall at the Methodist Church, and they won. Jack is having a ball designing the new space. No money coming in yet, but it doesn’t matter, my husband’s smiling face is payment enough. Jack’s new job frees up extra time for Etta too. When he was a miner, he left before dawn and often came home after dark. Now he controls his time, so we see more of each other. I feel our troubles lifting a bit. A real reason to celebrate come Christmas.
I’m back to working full-time, and I like it. Jack didn’t like the idea at first, but I was so supportive of his new company that he let go of any misgivings he may have had about my schedule.
The grand opening of the Soda Fountain is December 1. (Otto and Worley are practically living in the Mutual’s, trying to finish the job.) We’re having specials and giveaways all month. (Maybe we can unload some of that partially used Estée Lauder cream that Fleeta pinches.) Pearl has sifted through lots of employment applications, looking for two waitresses and a cook. She has decided to hire Tayloe Lassiter as head waitress, who, despite having two babies now (Misty was joined by baby Travis last year) is still a looker and can draw a crowd. Sarah Dunleavy, the high school teacher who replaced Theodore when he left for the University of Tennessee, directs the Outdoor Drama and has taken Tayloe under her wing. She gives her acting lessons, and everyone in town agrees that Tayloe has gone from amateur to semiprofessional actress beautifully. Sarah has also encouraged Tayloe to model. Occasionally, we see Tayloe in the Kingsport Times on the hood of a new truck or in an ad for kitchen appliances.
Pearl comes in with a large packing box. “Fleets, the tinsel is in.”
Fleeta takes the box and rips into it.
Pearl comes behind the counter. “I’d like you to come over to Lew Eisenberg’s with me.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah. If you don’t mind.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. Just need your help on something.”
“Okay.” I grab my coat and follow Pearl out.
Lew Eisenberg has gone from the best local lawyer for the coal companies to representing the townsfolk in all matters from wills to divorces. He’s always busy, and he’s very good. He’s even happy now that his wife, Inez, has gotten back her race-car body. She is a Weight Watchers leader, having kept off fifty-eight pounds for over seven years. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard Lew mention moving back to Long Island, New York.
Lew’s hair is completely gray; other than that, you’d never guess he was flirting with sixty. “Hey kids,” he says from behind his desk. “Ave, your husband was in with his buddies incorporating last week. What do you think of that?”
“If you can’t keep Westmoreland Coal Company in town, we’ll take it,” I tell Lew.
“We’re real busy over at the Pharmacy,” Pearl tells Lew, cutting the chitchat in half.
“Okay, so let’s get to it. This is easy. Ave Maria, Pearl wants to make you her partner at the Pharmacy.”
“A partner? Why?” I turn so that I’m facing Pearl. She glances at Lew, then looks at me.
“Because I need a partner now. We’ve grown so much that I can’t oversee everything alone.”
“I can’t do it.”
“Sure you can.”
“No I can’t. I have more than I can handle.” I can’t tell Pearl and Lew that for the first time in three years