that happened? And what the hell kind of dress was she—
"Oh my God. Her wedding dress. Gracie was burying Mama in that old wedding dress!"
And then she stopped. She'd lost all right to complain about anything, and when she looked at Delia again, she began to cry.
"Sorry, Mama. That's not why I'm here. I came to apologize. I let you down, and I let Gracie down, and I can't change any of that. I was an ungrateful daughter, and a horrible sister to Gracie. I will say the same thing to her, but you needed to hear it first. You look beautiful. Say hi to Daddy for me. I miss us all...the way we used to be."
And then she turned around and walked out. She made it back to the car, grabbed what was left of her drink, and downed it. She felt like shit. Then she glanced at herself in the rearview mirror and sighed. She also looked like shit. West Texas had just melted the makeup right off her face.
Chapter Six
Mamie and Joel pulled into the city limits of Sweetwater just after 3:30.
"What's the address?" Joel asked.
Mamie entered it into his cell phone, and then popped it back in the stand in their console.
"Is there a plan for this evening?" Joel asked.
Mamie shrugged. "I'm assuming James and Daphne will join us for dinner later."
"What about Gracie?" Joel asked.
Mamie teared up on cue. "I don't know. I haven't spoken to her. She only notified Daphne about Mama and said to tell us."
Joel frowned. "What the hell? Why?"
She shrugged, carefully dabbing her eyes so she wouldn't smear her makeup.
"I guess Mama never did write down ours or James's cell phone numbers after we got rid of our land lines. Just Daphne's."
"But didn't you ever call Gracie?" Joel asked.
Mamie teared up again. "I don't guess I did. The time just got away from me and I—"
Joel gasped. "But honey! What the—"
"Joel! Don't fuss at me," Mamie wailed. "I'm just so sad about all this misunderstanding. I guess I thought if Gracie needed us, she would call."
Joel was grim-lipped and silent, trying to process the horror of what he was just now understanding.
"So, you're telling me that you haven't spoken to her since Christmas seven years ago."
Now was the time to sacrifice makeup. Mamie threw back her head, covered her face, and started sobbing.
"I guess that's my answer," Joel said. "All I know is you should be ashamed. And, while she's not my sister, I should have asked about her. I should have called. I just assumed you would be in contact when you sent them money."
Mamie wailed even louder.
The skin suddenly crawled on the back of Joel's neck.
"You did send money...didn't you? We talked about it. I just assumed..."
Mamie was bawling louder, and Joel's stomach suddenly turned. He was looking at his wife in a whole new light.
"We're almost at the hotel, so I suggest you suck it up. You're gonna look like shit walking into the hotel with mascara on your upper lip. Better dig out your sunglasses, girl."
"Joel Freemont! That is the most hateful thing you have ever said to me, and when I am at my saddest! I just don't know what to make of you. You have broken my heart," Mamie said.
"I doubt your devastation is in any way comparable to Gracie's," Joel said shortly, and pulled into the parking lot of the motel.
Mamie reached for a handful of tissues and began wiping her eyes and the mascara beneath them. Then she blew her nose and dug through her purse for the sunglasses. She'd never seen Joel like this. It was going to take more than a blowjob to smooth this over. It was time to go on the defense. A cold shoulder and a good dose of the silent treatment, coupled with a continuance of silent tears, should do it.
And if it didn't, well, then she had her share of the sale of the family home coming, and Joel Freemont could just kiss her ass and fork over monthly alimony if that's how he felt.
She pushed the sunglasses up her nose, then got out and, without waiting for Joel, walked inside.
Joel grabbed their bag and followed, equally pissed at what he'd just learned.
James pulled into the parking lot just in time to see Joel entering the motel.
He parked, grabbed his bag, and hurried inside to catch up, wondering as he went if Darlene would be staying here. He hoped not. It would make everything that much