so far as to say “Hel —” when Ida said, “We’ll be there — Saturday at six.” Click.
“Well, they’re coming,” Lily sighed.
Ben shook his head. “It’s kinda hard to figure out whether that’s good news or not, isn’t it?”
That night, Mordecai slept in the bed between Lily and Ben, taking up more than his fair share ofroom. Between Ben’s snores and Mordecai’s flatulence, Lily could scarcely sleep for the noise and airpollution. Soon, she comforted herself, they’d be in their shoe box of a house, where at least they couldsleep in canine-free separate beds.
The housekeeper had dusted, scoured, or vacuumed every available surface of the McGillys’
colonial-antebellum-style home. In thirty minutes, Ben would be meeting the Maycombs at the Versaillesinterstate exit to escort them to the house. Right now, though, Lily and Ben sat on opposite ends of theslate-blue and mauve living room, dreading the evening ahead of them.
Jeanie strode into the room, nervously glancing at her gold watch. “Benny Jack, you heard me tellyour daddy to be home by five-fifteen so he could change into some decent clothes, didn’t you?”
“Yes, Mother, I heard you.”
“Well, if you heard me, why the hell didn’t he?” Jeanie was wearing a peach jersey sundress andtan canvas espadrilles. A small strand of undoubtedly real pearls hung just below the hollow of her throat.
Her curly brown hair hung loose around her tanned shoulders. She looked stylish, comfortable, and very,very rich.
Lily was wearing a sky-blue dress she had borrowed from Jeanie. Except for her most faded pairof Levi’s, it was the lightest-colored garment she had worn since she was a kid. But for Mimi she’d sufferanything — even pastels.
Lily looked down at her daughter, who was playing on the floor and wearing a mint-greensmocked dress. Lily watched as Mimi spotted Mordecai, a demonic gleam in her eye. “Mookie!” shesquealed, then pulled herself to standing at the coffee table, walked three tentative steps, and fell smackon her diaper-padded butt.
“Omigod!” Lily yelled at the exact same moment Jeanie did. Lily picked Mimi up and swung herthrough the air. “Mimi-saurus, that was great! You’re a toddler now!”
“Did you see that, Benny Jack?” Jeanie was breathless with excitement. “Your little girl just tookher first steps!”
“Yeah,” Ben said, sounding completely devoid of interest. “Well, I guess I’d better go pick up theCobb County cretins now.”
As he headed out the door, Jeanie shook her head in exasperation. “Men. Sometimes I think theyjust don’t know what’s important in life.” She turned her attention to Mimi. “Now, I think a big walking