“I didn't. I like Cynthia Cooper.” Tally beamed at Lynne Beegle, a prominent local rider, as she moved up in the receiving line.
Harry, Diego, and Cooper chatted away, soon joined by Miranda Hogendobber, Tracy Raz, Susan Tucker, and Ned. They celebrated Tracy's return, found out that Diego had a great sense of humor, and thoroughly enjoyed one another.
Over in a corner, Lottie Pearson fended off Roger O'Bannon. She had a smile on her face as she refused his advances. She'd never admit it but she liked the attention. Fair, not being her date, had gotten her a drink, then circulated. He was currently talking to Little Mim about zoning ordinances, not his favorite subject but one of hers.
Lottie pulled a cigarette from her small beaded clutch bag. “Damn.” She couldn't find a light.
Roger pulled a brightly colored matchbook from his sports coat, struck a match, lighting her cigarette. “Here, take the pack.” He paused. “I'll pick you up at eight,” he declared.
“No, you won't.” She tossed her head back.
“I'll take you to Mim's dance tonight, too. You don't have a date. And I'll escort you to the Wrecker's Ball.”
“Who told you that?” Lottie crossly said. “I have a date for tonight.”
“A little bird.”
She eyed BoomBoom across the room. “A big robin redbreast. Wait until I get my hands on her.”
“I'd rather you get your hands on me.”
Eavesdroppers stifled a giggle, making certain not to stare at the impending drama.
“Roger, dream on.”
“You know what's wrong with you, Lottie? You're a goddamned snob. And you know what else? I've never seen a snob who was really happy because there are so few people they can lower themselves to be with, you know? And you need friends in this world. You need friends. It's a cruel world sometimes. You need friends and you need a drink.”
“You've had enough to drink, which is why I'll forgive you calling me a snob. If you want me to go out with you, Roger, you're sure going about it in a bizarre manner.”
“I'm not drunk.” A whiff of belligerence filled his voice. “And I'm getting rich. You forget that. How many F.F.V.'s have money? Look at Harry. Great blood and not a penny.” He liked Harry but he didn't mind using her as an example of First Families of Virginia. “Business is booming. I'm not a poor man. Didn't your mother tell you it's just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor one? Well, I'm rich.”
Lottie at the moment wasn't pleased with Harry because she thought Diego should have been her date. BoomBoom was heartless in assigning Diego to Harry. After all, Harry could have gone to the parties with her ex-husband. Everyone knew he was still in love with her and was dying to get her back.
“Lottie, maybe you've had too much to drink.” Roger touched her arm as she was lost in thought.
“Huh. No!”
“Well, let me get you one. The world looks a lot better after you've belted back some Jim Beam.”
The John D'earth band started playing out in the garden. Aunt Tally had set up her outdoor dance floor. People drifted outside.
Sean, wearing a sports jacket and tie, walked over. “Roger, lay off for a little bit or you'll be useless by tonight.”
“Big Brother is watching you,” Roger said with no malice as Sean moved away, Lottie in tow.
“Thank you, Sean,” Lottie said, her voice low.
“He's always had this crush on you, Lottie. I wish you could see past his exterior. Roger is a good man and he'd be a good provider, solid. He needs a woman to anchor him. He drinks because he's lonely.”
“This is said by a man still single.” Lottie thought Sean the better-looking of the brothers.
“The business has taken up so much of my time, a lot more than I thought. I'll tell you, I've sure learned to respect my father and grandfather. They started the business and they changed with the times although at the end Dad was set in his ways. Rog and I have to put everything we've got in the business. But you know, I like the challenge.” He exhaled a long deep breath. “But I do have to get out more. I'm not going to find a wife in the junkyard.”
“Oh, if BoomBoom, now the artiste, comes to your lot I imagine other women do, too.”
“You'd be surprised at the people who come out there.” He grinned in semi-agreement. “BoomBoom surprises me. She really is welding.” He held up his hand. “Honestly. She's making sculptures out of scraps and they aren't bad. Kind of whimsical. But I still don't think I'm going to meet the love of my life at the salvage yard.”
“BoomBoom with a welding torch.” Lottie's eyebrows rose.
Aunt Tally followed her guests into the garden as the marching-band members served drinks and hors d'oeuvres. “Where did all these children come from? Have people been reproducing behind my back?”
“Ned Tucker called for some extra help,” Big Mim told her.
“He should run for office. He's a smart man.”
“What kind of office?” Big Mim wanted no interference for her daughter's career. She was relieved that Marilyn finally had some direction in life.
“Congress.”
“Yes, he'd be good but let's see how Little Mim does.”
“She's vice-mayor and she's young. Give her time.”
“But Ned's young, too,” Big Mim said.
“He's in his late forties. Marilyn's in her thirties. Let Ned pave the way.” Aunt Tally rapped the brick path with her cane, betraying her impatience as well as her intelligence. If Ned ran for Congress and won, then Tally and others like her could push him toward the Senate someday and Little Mim could inherit his seat. It would be less of a fight and that way they'd have two politicians in their pockets. A lot of ifs but most endeavors started that way and Tally paid little mind to ifs.
“May I have this dance?” Reverend Jones held out his hand to Aunt Tally.
“I thought you'd never get me away from her.” Tally laughed as they stepped onto the floor. “She hovers around me. What does she think? I'm going to keel over in her presence because I'm older than dirt?”
“She hovers over you because she loves you.”
“Oh, that,” Tally answered the Reverend.
Diego held Harry. She felt a chill run down her spine. Fair, dancing with Lottie, glared.
Thomas Steinmetz made the rounds of the ladies, always returning to BoomBoom, as was proper.
“You're making a lot of women happy.” BoomBoom smiled at him.
“So long as I make you happy.” He smiled at her as one who is accustomed to getting his way with women.
Roger wandered over, a bit more sober. “Are you really an ambassador?”
“Thomas Steinmetz, Roger O'Bannon, proprietor with his brother of O'Bannon Salvage,” BoomBoom said.
“Pleased to meet you.” Thomas held out his hand.
Roger blinked, then shook it. “Likewise. You guys have tin mines in Uruguay?”
“Bolivia has more of those than we do.” He noticed Aunt Tally being led back to a table. “If you will excuse me, it's my turn to dance with Aunt Tally.”
“Lucky dog,” Roger replied noncommittally.
Lottie passed by BoomBoom and hissed. “You're a real shit to fix up Harry with Diego. You want Fair back.”
BoomBoom turned on her heel. “Lottie, you are so small and so off course. I ought to smack you right in the mouth.”
“You've got a violent streak. You had it in high school. Go ahead. Just go ahead,” Lottie baited her.
Roger grabbed Lottie by the elbow. “Come on, Lots. Let's talk.”
“No.” She shook him off.
Roger stood there for a moment, indecisive, then walked away, a slight sway to his gait.
“Lottie, don't be an ass. I put Harry and Diego together because I knew he loved farming. How was I to know they'd hit it off? Because you're unhappy you don't want anyone else to be happy.”
“Bitch.” Lottie's voice rose a bit.
“Yes,” Susan answered as a joke for she could overhear part of the exchange. “I can go from zero to bitch in three point six seconds. Ask my husband.”