My mother has left the pile of old coats on the dining room table.
"The church's coat drive will only be going on for a few more days, Eleanor."
Mother sits in the breakfast nook, steam drifting off her freshly brewed cup of coffee. She dabs her cigarette on the tray in front of her and unfolds her napkin. She is pale this morning. I guess it was a hard night for her but I don't say anything. Gretta, our help, piles some scrambled eggs on a plate for me and leaves it on the counter as she turns to the bacon popping in a skillet.
"I have been begging you for a couple weeks now." Mother continues, spearing a slice of tomato and arching an eyebrow at me expectantly.
"I'm sorry." I mumble, picking up the plate and taking a seat across from her, "I've been busy."
Mother sighs, "You have been doing so well with the books for your father's firm. But I just…"
I look up and see that same face she gives me every time one of my childhood friend's announces their engagement. It's a cross between fear and pity. It makes her rapidly thinning face appear even more haggard.
"I will drop them off this afternoon." I blurt out, plastering a grin on my face before she can say anything about my bare ring finger, "Don't worry, mother."
Her expression relaxes and my smile fades slightly.
"You know where Doctor and Mrs. Sledge live?"
I swallow hard, "Of course."
"They are the ones collecting for the church-"
I stand a tad too abruptly and the chair scrapes loudly against the kitchen tiles.
"Mother, I said don't worry. I can handle it." I pause to kiss her on the forehead, "You rest today."
"I heard their boy Eugene is back from the war."
I set the plate down with a clank in the sink. Mother's tone is so hopeful, it turns my stomach.
"He was at the Ball." I try to keep my voice casual.
Mother peeks up from her plate with a grin, "He was always a nice boy."
I shrug and walk from the kitchen, "Yes, he was."
It is 2 o'clock by the time I pull into the shaded, circular drive at the Sledge's house. Spanish moss sways languidly in the honeyed tones of the warm afternoon.
I grip the wheel with my gloved hands, my eyes trained on the front door of their home. The heat rises to my face. Flashes of that night by the lake come rushing back. I try to swallow it down and prepare myself as I get out of the car. There is a chance he isn't even home.
"Ellie?"
My heart jumps up my throat as I glance over to see Eugene striding towards me across the yard. Stepping onto the driveway, he takes off a pair of sun glasses. My mouth goes dry as an awkward smile pulls at my lips.
"Hi." I manage stupidly.
"Eleanor Mitchell!"
I pivot sharply to see Mrs. Sledge descending the porch steps with her arms open.
"Your mother called to tell me you were on your way. It was so sweet of you to run these over." She tugs me into a light hug, "I haven't seen you since Eugene's graduation. You have grown into such a lovely, young lady!"
I manage to keep a smile, all the while feeling Eugene's eyes on me from the other side of the vehicle.
"It was my pleasure." I nod, "It's so wonderful to see you as well!"
"Home from University, I see?" She takes my arm and leads me onto the porch, "Eugene, can you fetch those coats for us, dear?"
"Sure thing, mother." He replies dryly.
I peek over at him before being nearly carried up to the house by Mrs. Sledge. For the life of me, I cannot read his expression. I try not to think about how desperate I must seem by coming to his house.
"I want to hear all about your time at school. University of Mississippi was it? Brave girl to go so far from home!"
Mrs. Sledge sits me in their front room by an open window with a few glasses and a pitcher of tea set out.
"So your mother said she is feeling so much better," Mrs. Sledge continues, "I am so thankful to hear that. We have been praying for her and your dear family."
"Thank you." I nod as she gracefully hands me a chilled glass, "We are thankful for the recommendation Dr. Sledge gave us for that specialist. We have seen a vast improvement."
"Your mother said that you left school to come home and help her." Mrs. Sledge glances over briefly as Eugene brings the overcoats in but I keep my eyes trained on her, "I told her she was so blessed to have such a thoughtful daughter. What were you going to school for over there?"
I am half shocked to hear Eugene enter the room. His mother motions to him to sit in the chair diagonal from me by the window. I ignore him.
"I was working on my degree in music education." I answer and sip the tea, focusing on the rim of the glass.
"Eugene recently went to Alabama Polytechnic to explore what options they offer," Mrs. Sledge looks at Eugene expectantly.
Eugene is slightly slouched in his seat, his hazel eyes intently studying his glass of tea. There are shadows in the hollows of his cheeks. He looks like he hasn't slept in days.
"It was certainly an enlightening experience," He concedes after a forced silence and taking a drink.
He peers at me over his glass. I quickly turn away.
"Polytechnic is a good university," I lamely reply, more for Mrs. Sledge's sake.
The front door opens. Dr. Sledge appears in the foyer carrying his Doctor's bag. He smiles politely as he enters the room. I stand politely. The light reflects off of his spectacles as he nods.
"Miss Mitchell, it's good to see you again. How is your mother?"
"She is well. Thank you sir." I reply as Mrs. Sledge rises from her own seat.
"Dear, there is something I have been waiting to discuss with you this afternoon and I fear it cannot wait." She walks towards him and looks over at me with a cordial smile, "Eleanor, if you will excuse us for a second."
Before Dr. Sledge has time to protest, she nearly pushes him from the room and scurries the both of them down the hall. I am left standing, clutching my gloved hands together. My smile drops so fast it nearly hits the floor. I thud into my seat.
Outside, there are a few mocking birds challenging each other for territory. Other than their war songs, nothing breaks the molasses thick silence in that room. I shift in my seat and reach for my glass on the table.
"I'm sorry my mother ambushed you." Eugene shatters the quiet, "It seems she thinks you'd be good for me."
He chuckles a little as he takes another drink. I glance over at him and keep my face expressionless.
"It's a shame she doesn't know I have nothing to say to you. I wouldn't have wanted her to go through all this trouble." I stand and walk briskly towards the foyer, "Please give her my apologies for leaving so soon. I must get back to my father's firm."
I march out onto the porch. He catches the front door before it shuts and follows me down the steps to my car.
"You may have nothing to say but I do." He states as he rides my heels across the gravel, "Ellie, wait."
"If you had something to say, you should have probably done so a month ago. Maybe given me a call or something. You know, like you said you would." I rip the car door open and get into the driver's seat.
"Ellie, stop." Eugene grabs the door and keeps me from closing it.
I glare at the steering wheel. The humiliation I had felt has turned into righteous indignation. With my jaw set, I grip the door but he holds it with both hands.
"Ellie, it was wrong of me not to call you."
I release the door and rest my hand in my lap to keep him from noticing it trembling.
"Would you look at me please?"
I turn my scowl on him. Again, I am struck by how exhausted he looks. He exhales slowly through his nose.
"Ellie, I need you to understand something. The other night was one of the best I have had in as long as I can remember."
"So?"
"Something that good has not happened to me since before the war."
"What something?"
"You." His tone loses its pleading quality and takes on a power I've never heard in him.
He stops and runs a hand over his face. At the sight of his struggle, I relax a little.
"I wanted to save you the frustration of dealing with a train wreck like me." He admits, his eyes dropping, "But it looks like I'm doing that anyway."
He shuts the door firmly and crosses in front of my car towards the yard once more. I glance at the key in the ignition but instead I open the car door.
"For what it's worth," I call over to him as I stand out of the vehicle. Eugene stops but doesn't turn towards me, "I'm not afraid. What's the point of something great if it doesn't scare you a little? I thought the other night- we- whatever that was could have been great."
He doesn't turn.
My throat knots up and I am shocked to feel the tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. Mortified by the emotion, I get back in the car and drive away.
