Twilight's Child (Cutler 3)

"Knock, knock," she sang, peering in.

"Come in," I said.

"I just bought this today. How does it look?" she asked, turning to model the dress.

"You look very nice," I complimented.

"Thank you." Her face bloomed as it did whenever she received praise. "I feel very nice," she added, giggling. She looked drunk on herself and whatever good times she was having. Never had a husband passed so quickly from a wife's mind, I thought.

"Where are you going tonight?" I asked, expecting one of her vague responses.

She pulled herself up as if to make a formal announcement.

"Tonight I have agreed to go to dinner at one of the finest restaurants in Virginia Beach," she replied.

"Oh. And with whom?"

"Bronson Alcott," she confessed. And then as quickly as she did, she burst into justification. "I don't think it's horrible for me to be seen out with a proper escort. People don't expect me to pine away like Randolph did. I'm still quite young and attractive, and it wouldn't be fair.

"Besides," she continued, barely taking a breath, "Bronson is an old friend, an old family friend. It's not like I couldn't wait to rush out and see one beau after another."

"You're old enough to do what you want, Mother," I said. She nodded.

"Yes, I am. Exactly." She paused to look at herself in my mirror and patted her hair where she thought some strands had rebelled.

"Philip called today," I told her. "Did you call him back?"

"Philip? Oh, no. What did he have to say?" she asked, her interest minimal. She continued studying herself in the mirror.

"He wondered why you haven't returned his calls," I said. "Oh, I haven't?" She followed her statement with a short giggle. "Was he very upset?"

"He was curious and a little worried," I said, "but I told him how you were getting out and about and not pining away in your suite," I said, unable to keep myself from sounding sarcastic.

"Good," she said.

"He wanted to tell you he was going on a holiday with his girlfriend's parents. They're taking him to Bermuda immediately after his last final exam."

"That's wonderful," she cried. "It's nice that he's become involved with a girl whose family has such high standing and wealth. I’m very happy for him. At least someone has listened to me and learned about life."

"He also said he heard Clara Sue wasn't coming home for the summer," I continued, ignoring her innuendo. "Did you know that?"

"Not coming home? No. Where is she going?" she asked, her face in a grimace.

"She is going to spend the summer with a friend at the Jersey shore."

"Well, that's fine," Mother said quickly. "I really don't have the patience for her right now. I'm trying to put my life back together." She beamed a smile. "I feel a little like Humpty Dumpty. I've fallen off a wall, but fortunately, all the king's horses and all the king's men can put me back together." She laughed again and spun around to gaze at herself once more, tapping her teardrop diamond earrings and then running her fingers over her diamond necklace. Her eyes seemed to draw and absorb the sparkle from her precious gems.

"I'm happy for you, Mother," I said, and I went to my closet to choose something appropriate to wear to dinner. We had nearly a full house, and there were many guests to greet.

"Thank you. Oh," she said, turning. "With all our chatter, I nearly forgot why I came in here to see you. Isn't that silly of me?"

"Oh? I thought you came in here to show me your new dress," I said.

"Yes, that, too."

"What else brought you in here, Mother?" I asked, turning back to her, sensing she had something up her sleeve.

She paused and took a deep breath. "Bronson would like to have you and James accompany me to his home for a formal dinner this coming Tuesday night, if that's all right with you."