Read Online The Man She Married by Ann DeFee - Free Book Online Page B

Fourteen

    Trina Carruthers had been Maizie’s archenemy since the eighth grade. Just the thought of walking in her store gave Maizie heartburn, but considering that Trina’s Emporium was the only place in town that made gift baskets, she didn’t have a choice.
    “C’n I help you?” The clerk popped her gum in time to the song playing on the radio.
    “I’d like a basket done up in the University of Georgia colors with some cans of beer, a couple of boxes of popcorn, maybe a pom-pom or two. You know, that kind of thing. It’s for my husband.”
    The clerk snapped her gum a few more times. “Is it for a special occasion?”
    “No. I thought I’d surprise him.”
    “Okey-doke, just a minute.” The clerk gave her gum another chomp before heading back to find her boss.
    Maizie heard giggling and whispering before Trina deigned to show her ugly mug.
    “Hey, Maize. I hear you want a basket with pom-poms and beer cans.” Trina tried to hold back her laughter, but ended up snorting instead.
    What was so funny?
    “Uh-huh.”
    “That’s not on our normal price list so let me figure it out.” She took a pencil from behind her ear. “So, how’s everything goin’?”
    Had Trina heard about Clay leaving her?
    “I’m doing okay.” Maizie just wanted to get out of there.
    “We can modify our normal UGA basket and make it the adult version. That’ll be fifty bucks plus tax. Does that work for you?”
    Was she kidding? “Yeah, that’s great.”
    “Do you want it delivered?”
    Her old nemesis was dying to know what was happening, but there was no way Maizie was giving her that ammunition.
    “No. I’ll pick it up.” Information concerning her reconciliation project was strictly on a need-to-know basis. And Trina definitely didn’t need to know.
    “When will it be ready?”
    “Day after tomorrow should do it.”
    “Great.” Maizie handed over her credit card, glad to have taken the first step. She wasn’t certain Liza’s idea would work, but it was better than doing nothing. The fact that Clay hadn’t called or e-mailed or anything was about to send her into a panic.
    A fight like this was a once in a lifetime—please God! At least the make-up sex would be stupendous. If they ever got that far.
     
    T WO DAYS LATER , M ARY Stuart Walker found herself standing on the miniscule porch of her mother’s garageapartment holding the most ridiculous basket she’d ever laid eyes on. The pom-poms were the size of basketballs, and there was enough beer to slake the thirst of a chain gang. A dozen beer cans were glued to dowels and nestled next to the pom-poms. It was redneck taste at its finest.
    Did Trina still blame her for the quarterback and the prom debacle? Terrible as that was it wasn’t completely her fault. That infamous escapade had occurred when she and Clay had decided to date other people.
    Maizie knocked again, alternating between hoping Clay was home and praying he wasn’t. Mostly the latter.
    “Mary Stuart, what are you doing up there?”
    Deep down she’d hoped to drop off the basket and avoid Mama, but Lady Luck was obviously missing in action.
    Before she could answer, Mama was halfway up the stairs.
    “ What is that thing?” Mama eyed the basket. And why not? It was a nightmare.
    “A gift. I brought it for Clay. Remember we discussed giving him a present.”
    Mama glanced back and forth between Maizie and the basket, and then broke into a belly laugh.
    Eleanor Westerfield and a belly laugh? Would wonders never cease?
    “I thought you were trying to make up with him, not encourage him to drink himself senseless. Leave that thing on the stoop and come for coffee.” Mama started back down the stairs. “He went out with Zack and Win, so I don’t suspect he’ll be home anytime soon.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” No matter how old you were, a parental demand required immediate attention.
    Maizie put down the basket and followed her mother to the kitchen. The Westerfields’ kitchen hadn’t