him and back into the house.
“Hey, Holly?”
I turned back to him.
“You think you might like to go see a movie sometime?”
“I might.”
“Well, now I know where to find you.”
“Hey, Ted?”
“Yeah?”
“How’s the competition for the job of chief?”
“I don’t know. Probably stiff. I mean, who wouldn’t want to live on Sullivan’s Island?”
“Sometimes I wonder about that,” I said. “Well, listen, if we can do anything to help the process along, just let us know, okay?”
We waved to each other and I went back inside. I had a thought then that maybe he had a very good chance of getting the job. Why not? He’d been doing it for months anyway. Pretty long interview, I thought.
Momma was still in the kitchen and now Leslie was there, too. She was starting supper. That was one of the nice things about her return, having help in the kitchen.
“So what’s new with Charlie?” I asked.
“You wouldn’t believe it,” Leslie said. “He’s got it in his mind that since he’s got a private seamstress, aka Momma, that she can make Christian Siriano–esque costumes for him.”
“Who’s he?” I said.
“I guess you don’t watch the Oscars, huh? So he wants her to come out to Vegas, see a few shows, and get inspired. He’s going for it, Momma. Because of you!”
“I guess I’m going to spend my evenings in Las Vegas with a whole lot of Liza Minnellis,” Momma said. “I’m going to lose my mind.”
“You’ll have a blast!” I said. “Just do it.”
“Have you taken leave of your senses?” Momma said.
“Absolutely not,” I said. “Here’s what I’ve been thinking. A while back, I came to the conclusion that what we need in this family is more fun. Months and years are slipping away, and none of us are getting any younger, you especially, Momma. And what are we doing? I was thinking maybe we should take up bingo.”
“Bingo,” Momma said, as flat as a pancake.
“Yeah, that was before this opportunity popped up,” I said.
“Let me understand where you’re going with this,” Momma said. “It’s either bingo or Vegas?”
“No,” I said. “Listen, didn’t you tell Charlie if he was going to do this, he’d better be the best?”
“Yeah, Momma,” Leslie said. “You did say that.”
Momma fidgeted around in her chair, and I could feel a grumble coming on.
“Yes, uh-huh, you sure did,” Leslie added.
“So, Momma?” I said. “The same goes for you.”
“What do you mean?” she said.
“I mean, you don’t even know what the competition looks like!” I said. “How can he be the best anything if he doesn’t have the best-informed support team?”
“All right,” Momma said. “You’re right. You win. Leslie? You coming with me?”
“Of course!” Leslie said. “Charlie’s flying us out and putting us up. He’s even bought you a portable sewing machine and he’s having a form made.”
“I’m assuming the form will have breasts?” Momma said. “And that he’s doing something about foundation garments that will compensate?”
“I’m sure he is,” Leslie said.
“Good grief,” I said.
“Pack your hearing aids and your swatches!” Leslie said. “Las Vegas, here we come!”
This new aspect of our family life was still something of a challenge for me. But when I thought about it, we’d all come a long way since the cat jumped out of the bag and into the spotlight. Maybe I was too old-fashioned for my own good. But when I thought about Momma in Las Vegas going to these types of shows, impersonators at the top of their game, I wondered just how eye-opening it would be for her. She was about to become a woman of the world. She sure couldn’t wear her sweats with the kittens on them. Momma was going to have to buy a few things for herself, too. And meanwhile, I’d just be here, on the island, keeping bees and mooning over a married man and his crazy-as-hell wife. Or would I?
“One of the things that amazes me about honey bees is how they all take care of each other. They’re selfless. They feed the queen, they hunt and forage for each other, they take turns guarding the hive. Amazing.”
“They’re like you, Miss Holly,” Tyler said.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Bee Have
It took about a dozen trips to Chico’s and Belk’s for Momma to get some kind of a presentable wardrobe together, which Charlie, bless his heart, paid for. Then Robin Harris at Stella Nova gave her a haircut and highlights that were beyond a transformational experience. I barely recognized my own mother with makeup on.
“Momma! You look like a total babe!” I said.
“Oh, go on