Flight of Fancie Read online

  “What are the arrangements?”

  “I don’t know yet. We have to meet with the funeral director tomorrow morning.”

  “What can I do?”

  She shook her head as if he could see her. “Nothing. I just needed to hear your voice. I have to go. The whole family’s here. I call you tomorrow.”

  “Okay. Get some rest.”

  “Thanks. Goodnight.”

  She ended the call, but clutched the phone in her hand as if it made it possible to hold the connection with Luke. Again she felt a deep sadness that her grandmother never got to meet this wonderful man and that he wouldn’t get to know Bitsy. She sniffled and grabbed a wad of tissues from the box on her nightstand.

  Footsteps sounded in the hall and she looked up. Her brother stopped outside her door, hands shoved deep into his pockets. “You okay?” he asked.

  “I’m sad. Nothing will ever be the same, you know?”

  He walked over and sat beside her on the bed. “I know. She always told me how smart I was. I always just figured that’s what grandmothers had to say.”

  Fancie clutched his hand, big and rough from work. “You know Bitsy. She never said anything she didn’t believe. You are smart, Tripp.”

  He grinned. “Don’t go all mushy on me here. Who were you talking to?”

  “Luke. I called to let him know Chas and I were home and to tell him about Bitsy.”

  Tripp nodded. “So, you two have a thing now?”

  “You could say that.”

  “Good. I liked him.” Tripp stood and took in a deep breath. “I just needed a break. Guess we should both get back downstairs now.”

  She stood wearily. “Guess so.” She caught his arm. “Hey, Tripp?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Bitsy didn’t have favorites. I know you thought that at times. In any case, you were her favorite grandson.”

  He snorted. “I’m the only grandson.”

  “There is that.” She punched his arm and swept past him. For a moment it felt as if they were kids again, competing to see who got down the stairs first.

  The following morning, Fancie drove her parents to the Grayson Funeral Home to make arrangements for the funeral and then to the First Baptist Church to meet with Pastor Thomason.

  “We haven’t had a chance to ask about your trip,” her mother said as they headed back to Quail Hill.

  “It was fine.”

  “How is Luke?”

  “He’s fine.” Her mind flashed on the image of Luke and just how fine he could look. Heat spread from her center and she tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

  “Can we stop by the florist? I want to order something special for Mama’s grave,” her father said.

  In that statement, Fancie realized that her father was not only her father, but also a son who had lost his mother.

  Fancie parked and rounded the car to help her mother out. The sweet smell of flowers inside the shop overwhelmed her and her stomach roiled. For some reason, flower shops always made her feel closed in and suffocating. She loved flowers, just not the overwhelming mixture of aromas they exuded in this environment.

  She stood reading through greeting cards when the door opened behind her. She glanced up and into the face of Marianne Babbitt. The woman stopped and straightened to her full height like a dog trying to look more imposing than her opponent.

  Rearranging her startled face, Marianne said, “I’m very sorry to hear about your grandmother.”

  “Thank you.” Fancie went back to perusing the cards.

  Marianne took a few steps, stopped and came back to stand in front of her. “I’m glad to see your parents are recovering from their injuries. Does that mean you’ll be leaving town again?”

  Fancie stuffed the card she was reading back into the rack and drew herself to her full height, shoulders back. “No. It means my parents are recovering.”

  “So…you’ll be staying in Columbus?”

  “I haven’t decided yet.” Then realizing anything she said would be carried directly back to Graham, she added, “Luke and I haven’t discussed where we’ll eventually settle. Thank you for your concern, though.” She turned on her heel and joined her parents at the counter where James was paying for his order. Fancie fought a smile for a moment, just until she realized the news would spread like wildfire that Francine Hollensby was engaged to a Yankee. She wanted to kick herself but, well, that would just make her look crazy.

  When they were back in the car, her mother asked, “What did Marianne have to say to you?”

  “Just offering condolences about Bitsy. That’s all.”

  Her mother studied her face. “Uh-huh.”

  Fancie started the car and eased into traffic. “Any other stops you need to make?”

  “No. I already took out a roast for dinner tonight.”

  “I’ll prepare it. You can sit and give me directions.”

  “You know, that’s how I learned to cook, but not until after I married your father. My mother didn’t like anyone in the kitchen when she cooked. Your Grandmother Bitsy would set out everything for a meal and then sit and sip sweet tea while she told me how to put it all together—all of her little secrets, none of which she ever wrote down.”

  “She didn’t leave any of her recipes?”

  Her mother laughed. “Of course she did. They’re right here.” Alicia tapped on her temple. “And you and I are going to get them written down before I’m too old to remember them.”

  Fancie smiled. She liked the idea of a project that would preserve her grandmother’s memory and recipes that might go back several generations. “We’ll do that, Mama.”

  “Y’all need me at home this afternoon for anything?” James asked from the back seat.

  “No. Why?” Alicia responded.

  “I thought you could drop me at the men’s club and I’ll have lunch there, see who’s around. Somebody’ll give me a ride home later.”

  Fancie waited for her mother’s okay.

  “How much later?” Alicia asked.

  “I don’t know. Later. After I have lunch and catch up with the guys.”

  The men’s club her father referred to was a bar-slash-barbecue joint on the edge of town owned by one of his old high school classmates. It was his go-to place to get away from all the hormones in the house.

  “You’ll be home for supper?” Alicia asked.

  “Scout’s honor. You know where to turn, Fancie?”

  “I know, Daddy. Call if you need a ride home.” She turned and pulled to the curb in front of The Watering Hole.

  Her father got out slowly, using the cane to keep pressure off his still-booted ankle. He then leaned in the open passenger window and kissed Alicia’s cheek. “Thank you. I promise I won’t be long.”

  She lifted her right hand and patted his cheek. “Have a nice time. You deserve it.” After he disappeared through the front door, her mother said, “He’s hurting more than he’ll let either of us know. This is his way of grieving.”

  Tears expectedly burned the backs of her eyes. Fancie wanted what her parents had. She wanted that tenderness they shared, the love that held them together, yet let each of them be themselves.

  Fancie turned up the oak-lined drive to Quail Hill. “Mama?”

  “Yes, sweetie.”

  “I think I’m in love with Luke.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The night before Bitsy’s funeral, the family left the viewing and gathered at Quail Hill. Fancie had ordered sandwich trays with all the sides and plenty of drinks earlier in the day. She kicked off her heels and padded into the kitchen where her aunt and cousins were already setting out food.

  Once everyone in the living room had plates and places to sit, Fancie escaped once again to the kitchen where she sat at the counter pushing a clump of coleslaw around a paper plate. The doorbell rang. A moment later footsteps sounded behind her. Fancie turned to see who had come in.

  “Luke.”

  “I hope it’s oka
y that I came.”

  Her lower lip began to tremble. “Come here.”

  He folded her into a full body hug. “I’m so sorry about your grandmother.”

  “Thank you for coming.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and sank into him. “I told my mother about us.”

  He pulled his head back and smiled down at her. “Really?”

  She nodded.

  “Then I suppose it’s okay to do this.” He lowered his head and kissed her.

  When the kiss ended, she pulled away, laughing. “It’s okay.”

  Her father limped in, heading for the fridge. “Hey, Luke. How’s it going?”

  Without releasing her, Luke turned his head. “Good, sir. And with you?”

  “Coming along. Just need more ice in there.” He removed a bag of ice from the freezer and headed back to through the door.

  “I think he approves,” Luke said.

  “How did you get here?”

  “Flight and a rental car.”

  “Someone could have picked you up.”

  “I need the car. I have a room at the Hyatt.”

  She stepped back. “Why? You could have stayed here.”

  “I figured you’d need the space for family.”

  She nodded. “You’re right. Every room’s taken, even the cottage.” Then she grinned. “Maybe I should stay with you. When do you go back?”

  “Sunday afternoon.”

  “We have more family arriving in the morning for the funeral. If I stayed with you tomorrow night, it would free up my room for a cousin who is currently sleeping on the floor in the cottage. She’s sixteen and not happy about that.”

  “Then I think we should definitely make room.” He winked at her.

  She picked up a paper plate. “Hungry?”

  “Famished.”

  Luke filled his plate and popped open a cold beer as they joined the family gathered in the living room. He sat in one of the overstuffed armchairs. It seemed convenient that there were no other seats, so Fancie sat on the arm of the chair beside him. She liked being close to Luke.

  Her mother caught her eye and a slight smile pulled at her lips.

  Fancie smiled back. In the midst of all this loss and sadness, Luke brought a small joy to her, to her home. He seemed so much at ease with her family, offering appropriate condolences, listening to the stories being told, not needing to be the center of attention. He just fit.

  ~

  The following morning, the family and a small group of her grandmother’s friends gathered in the private cemetery behind Quail Hill to lay Elizabeth Hollensby to rest. Fancie’s heart broke as she placed a rose on the wooden casket. She was the last to leave the gravesite.

  Luke put an arm around her. “You okay?”

  “I’ll miss her terribly. She’d have a fit if she saw me now. Bitsy would frown and tell me to stop moping around like someone peed in my grits.”

  Luke laughed. “I need to hear more of Bitsy’s sayings.”

  Fancie sighed. “She wouldn’t want me to let grief settle on me like a wet blanket. She lived a long life. Mostly a good, happy life.” She paused. “Can I ask you something and will you promise not to think I’m crazy?”

  “Promise.” He held up his right hand.

  She told him about the moments before her grandmother died, the smile and her reference to her grandfather. “Do you think the people we love come for us to make the transition easier?”

  “I don’t know. I guess it’s possible or that we imagine we see them to make dying easier.”

  “I like to think Pawpaw came for her. That his face was the last thing she saw in this life and the first thing she saw in the next. That thought gives me a sense of peace.” She glanced at him. “So, you think I’m crazy?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. I think you’re caring and compassionate and sweet.”

  “I think you’re too good to be true, Luke Campbell.”

  “Nah, I just haven’t let you see all my flaws yet.”

  “You have flaws?”

  “I sometimes leave the toilet seat up.” They’d reached the house and he held the door open for her.

  “Yeah, that could be a deal breaker. I’ll need to think about this.”

  An assortment of casseroles and barbecue awaited them as family and friends crowded into Quail Hill. When the last guest left and those who remained had kicked off shoes and settled for the evening, Fancie went to her mother. “Are you tired?”

  “No more so than you.”

  “Do you need me here tonight? Luke and I need to talk. Besides, I think Brittany would rather use my room than sleep on the floor.”

  Her mother glanced past her to where Luke sat talking with James. “Very generous of you. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.” Then she took Fancie’s hand. “Luke’s a good man. I hope the talk goes well.”

  “Are you sure? I mean, it’s a funeral.”

  “Your grandmother would not want any of us moping around feeling sorry for ourselves and putting our lives on hold. You know that’s the truth.”

  “It is. She lived every minute for as long as she could. Thanks, Mama.” She hurried up to her room, packed an overnight bag and toiletries, and slipped down the back stairs, meeting Luke in the kitchen. “Ready to go?”

  He leaned in and kissed her lightly. “If you are.”

  She grabbed two beers from the fridge and tucked them into her bag, then took his hand and tugged him toward the door.

  As they rode to the hotel, she asked, “Am I a terrible person for wanting to run off with you right after burying my grandmother?”

  “I’m not the best one to answer that question. But from what you told me about your grandmother, she embraced life. And isn’t that what you’re doing? What we’re doing?”

  “That’s pretty much what Mama said, too. Bitsy once told me that you don’t find happiness like it’s a lost puppy sitting on your doorstep. You make happiness. I think that’s how she lived her life, making happiness for herself, Pawpaw, and my father. All of us. But mostly for herself first.”

  “She sounds like a very wise woman.”

  “She was.” Fancie paused. “The other day I watched my parents, really watched them, how tender they are with one another. They don’t always agree. My mother can be controlling and my father can be stubborn.” She glanced at Luke. “I get that from him. But they never let those things get in the way of what’s important. I realized I want that.”

  He glanced at her and then reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze.

  “I don’t mean right now. Don’t get me wrong. I need a job and…and….”

  “And a guy who wants that too?”

  “Yeah. That guy.”

  He stopped at a red light and took advantage of the opportunity to lift her hand and kiss the palm. “I might know that guy.”

  She grinned. “You think so?”

  A horn sounded behind them.

  “You have a green light,” Fancie said.

  “Is that code for it’s a go?”

  The horn blared again. “No. It means you have a green light.” She shifted her gaze from him to street ahead.

  A pickup truck squealed tires and cut around them, the passenger flipping a one-finger salute.

  “Oh.”

  The green light changed to yellow and then red again. Luke looked up. “Seems we have to wait. While we do, let me say this. I want to be that guy for you, Fancie. I know we don’t know everything about one another, but we have a lifetime to learn. I know we’re over a thousand miles apart, but that doesn’t have to be forever. Mostly I know how I feel when I’m with you, and when I’m not.” He leaned his face close.

  “You have a green light,” she said, her voice husky. “So let’s get to the hotel.”

  After they made love, she lay in Luke’s arms and listened to him talk about his parents, his grandparents, and his younger brother. He answered every question she posed. “So there you have it—the life and times of Luke C
ampbell.”

  She snuggled closer, letting him spoon around her as she drifted into sleep.

  When they lay awake and tangled together as the sun rose, Fancie said, “I’ve given this a lot of thought. I don’t have to stay in Mississippi.”

  “Really? Because I was thinking on the way down here that I don’t need to stay in New Hampshire.”

  She looked up at him. “But you have a job there.”

  “I can get another job.”

  “And what about your house?”

  “I can sell it. Or I can continue to rent it out and have someone manage it. Maybe Kate.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to his chest. “The only thing that matters is that I’m with you.”

  “Same here. So—now what?”

  “I know you want to be close to your family. I don’t have a problem with that. Let me look into some teaching possibilities in the area.”

  “I don’t want you to do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’ll always feel like you gave up something you loved for me.”

  “I like teaching. I love you.” He wrapped both arms around her now. “You’re not asking me to give up anything. After the time I spent here researching my book, I kind of like the idea of living in the South. Maybe it’s time for a change.” Then he pressed against her leaving no doubt of his desire. “Besides the women down here are hot.”

  ~

  Fancie watched Luke’s car round the circular drive and pull away. She’d never so intensely experienced someone’s absence, but her body shivered from the chill. The house was quiet. The guests had departed and her parents were both resting. She found her brother in the kitchen.

  “Hey, Tripp.”

  “Fancie. What’s with you and the professor?”

  “His name is Luke.”

  “I know, but that wouldn’t pull your chain.”

  “We’re dating, sort of. I mean, it’s long distance for now.”

  “For now?”

  “We’re talking about how to get both of us into the same place. I offered to move to New Hampshire again, but Luke says he wants to explore possibilities of finding a job here in Mississippi, or in the area.”

  “He’d do that for you?” Tripp grinned at his emphasis on ‘you.’