“Wow,” Ben said, unlocking the front door, “that’s the most energy I’ve seen him expend inyears.”
When they walked into the house, Mordecai followed Lily close behind. At the stairs she said,
“You wait here, Mordecai. I’m gonna put Mimi down for her nap.”
When Lily came back downstairs, Mordecai was still sitting there dutifully. When she sat on theliving room sofa, he joined her there, his bulky body occupying the length of the sofa, his huge head inLily’s lap.
“That’s amazing,” Ben said. “I’ve never seen him act that way around anybody.”
“Well,” Lily said, stroking Mordecai’s huge head. “I’m afraid he scores more points than you do inthe doting-husband category.” She sighed at the thought of having to contact the Maycombs. “But if youwant to improve your score, you can hand me the phone. I believe we have a dinner invitation to proffer.”
Lily dialed the Maycombs’ number and waited nervously for an answer. After three rings,Charlotte’s mother trilled a melodic “Hello.”
Shit, Lily thought, before she dialed, she should have figured out what she was going to say. “Um,hi, Mrs. Maycomb? This is Lily.”
“Lily Fox?”
How many Lilys do you know, old woman? she thought, but she said sweetly, “Yes, althoughthat’s not my last name anymore. I...married recently.”
“Married?” Ida Maycomb squawked like a mynah. “To a man?”
Well, sort of. “Why, yes, of course. I’m Mrs. Ben McGilly now,” Lily said, gagging slightly. “Thething is ... Ben, Mimi, and I are living up in Versailles now, and his family and I wanted to invite you todinner some night. You could spend some time with Mimi, meet her other grandparents ... and we couldtalk. I know we’ve had our differences in the past, and I was hoping we could sit down to a meal togetherand maybe straighten things out.”
“Well...um, I don’t know, Lily.” Ida’s voice quivered with the uneasiness of a person who nevermakes her own decisions. “I’d have to ask Charles, of course. And Mike ... would he be invited?”
“Sure,” Lily said cheerily, even as her stomach lurched at the thought of this horrid gathering.
“And when would this dinner be?”
“How about Saturday at six? Ben can meet you at the interstate exit to show you the way to thehouse.” Ben glowered at her, and she stuck out her tongue at him.
“Well ...” Ida waffled. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll talk to Charles when he gets home and see what hesays.”
“Okay, well, let me give you the number here.” Ida hung up the second Lily recited the last digit.
Two beers for Lily and three dog biscuits for Mordecai later, the phone rang. Lily had only gone