having watching him. And besides that, I like him too much to get into a relationship and then ruin things with everyone,” Mitzi said.
“You look miserable,” Paula said. “In my opinion, you’re overthinking things.”
“In mine, you’re afraid to get hurt, and I hope my situation isn’t causing you to back away from a good relationship,” Jody said.
“I am second-guessing myself,” Mitzi admitted. “Graham may be the best thing that ever happened to me. I know I’m making up excuses not to get into a relationship with him, because if I do and he breaks my heart, I might not ever get over it. And I am worrying so much about the future that I’m giving up the future. But I need to get this settled, so we need some time.”
“We’ll stand by you no matter what you decide,” Jody said.
“Thank goodness we’ve got lots of business the next couple of weeks. I think best with a sketch pad and pencil in my hands,” Mitzi said.
“Like I do with a needle,” Jody said as she reached for the ringing phone. “The Perfect Dress.”
“Hello, Jody, this is Quincy. Will you go to dinner with me? Any day this week would be good,” he said.
“Are you going to stop calling me if I say no?” she asked.
“I am not,” he answered.
“Well, then here’s my cell number.” She rattled off the numbers. “You have a nice evening, Quincy.”
“You, too, Jody,” he said.
“Was that Quincy?” Paula asked.
“Please, sweet Jesus, tell me that it was, so we can talk about something other than whether I made the biggest mistake of my life,” Mitzi said.
“It was Quincy, and I’ve agreed to go out with him. Mainly to shut him up. One little date and he’ll realize that I’m not all that interesting,” Jody said.
“Don’t underestimate yourself,” Mitzi said.
“If he hadn’t seen something he liked, he wouldn’t keep asking,” Paula told her.
“Maybe he’s always gotten what he wants and he can’t stand rejection.” Jody started out of the room and then turned around. “I’ve got to admit, I’m terrified. I’ve never dated anyone other than Lyle. Never been with another man or even kissed another one.”
“Then it’s time.” Mitzi followed her across the foyer, with Paula right behind them. “And I got to admit that I’m terrified, too.”
“Add me to the list,” Paula said. “Y’all are worried about relationships. I’m scared that I’ll be terrible at this single-mother stuff.”
“Thank goodness that we’ve got each other,” Jody said and meant it from the depths of her heart.
Two weeks, a dozen appointments from the bridal fair, ten orders for flowers for weddings, and no calls or texts from Graham later, Mitzi still hadn’t gotten things analyzed. No matter how many dresses she sketched, cookies she baked, or sleepless nights she endured, she was still in turmoil about Graham. She’d picked up and replaced the phone at least four times a day to call him, written a hundred texts but then deleted them before she sent them.
Then it was July Fourth, their first holiday to close the shop since they’d opened in December of the previous year. On Memorial Day they’d closed the doors, but they’d worked all day on a rush order for a dress. But after the past two weeks, they decided that they deserved a day off.
Fanny Lou came by that morning with a bag of doughnuts she’d purchased just before the pastry shop had closed the day before. She plopped it down on the table and took a gallon of milk from the refrigerator. “I’ve come to talk about this bullshit going on with you and Graham, Mitzi, and what’s happening with you and Quincy, Jody. This has gone on long enough for both of you.”
“Nothing to talk about. He asked me out when we went to the lake. I said no. He said to figure out what I want and then let him know,” Mitzi explained in as few words as possible.
“And Quincy and I’ve been talking almost every day,” Jody said. “When we know each other well enough, I’ll go out with him. Maybe even this weekend.”
“It’s not fair to leave two good men hanging like this.” Fanny Lou poured four glasses of milk and tore the doughnut bag down the side. “They ain’t goin’ to wait around forever. I heard this morning that Rita has been to see him three times this last week. All at the dealership. Do you want her back in those girls’ life, or worse yet, back in his? Sounds