Small Town Girl

'Sounds like Kenny.'

Tess put some watermelon into her cart and asked, 'So how does Faith fit into the picture?'

'Faith? Oh, they've been going together forever.'

'Funny they don't marry.'

'I think he got stung pretty badly the first time-you know about his wife walking out on him?'

'Yes, I've heard.'

'My guess is he'll never get married again, not to Faith or anybody else.'

They visited awhile longer, and though Tess was infinitely curious about the degree of intimacy between Kenny and Faith, she could hardly inquire about it in the aisle of the supermarket without starting the whole town talking. Furthermore, it was none of her business. If Kenny had wanted her to know, he would have answered her last night. Instead, he'd cut her off and changed the subject. When she said good-bye to Mindy, Mindy said, 'You'll still be here for the wedding, won't you?'

'You mean Rachel and Brent's? Of course.'

'Great! Well, we'll see you there.'

And so Tess got a new take on Kenny Kronek. He was liked, respected, even praised by the townspeople, and no-body seemed to think it odd that he'd never married Faith Oxbury.

At the end of that afternoon Tess was plucking the sheets off the clothesline when Faith pulled into the alley and got out of her car carrying a grocery sack.

'Hi, Tess!' she hailed, and came right over.

'Hi, Faith.'

'How did the choir practice go last night?'

'Went great. I really enjoyed it.'

'Kenny says you're so good he feels ill matched to your talent.'

Tess couldn't have been more surprised. 'He said that?'

'Oh, he's quite in awe of you and your fame.'

How peculiar that Faith should say a thing like that. He'd never given the slightest inkling he felt that way.

'While I'm here I'm just another singer in the Sunday choir.'

'Not to him you're not. He's having trouble sleeping at night, worrying about how you got roped into doing this, and afraid his choir isn't good enough for you. I talked to him on the phone today and he was just a little bit grouchy. He said he didn't sleep much at all last night.'

'Well… I'm sorry.' She glanced over at his old bedroom window. 'Tell him…' Tell him I think the reason he didn't sleep last night was something else entirely, just like it was for me. 'Tell him while I'm here he should forget who I am and treat me just like everyone else.'

'See? That's what I told him, that you're so down to earth he's worrying himself sick for nothing. I'll tell him exactly what you said. Well…' She hefted the brown paper bag higher on her hip. 'Better get home and get these pork chops in the oven.' Tess noticed that Faith called Kenny's house 'home.' She headed toward it, then stopped in the alley and called, 'Oh, I almost forgot to ask, how's Mary today?'

Driving me crazy. 'The walking's going better.'

'That's just great. Well, you tell her I said hi, and call if she needs anything.'

'I will.'

It seemed as if everywhere she went around this town people spoke to her about Kenny. Either that, or she was running into him, until the man was on her mind constantly. So was it necessity or curiosity that drove her to his back door that evening at six forty-five when she'd put away the leftover roast beef and finished the dishes at home? Though she told herself she was going over to talk to Casey, she could have telephoned just as easily. Instead, when the dishes were put away and Mary was settled before the TV, Tess went into the bathroom, freshened her lipstick, shook her hair and crossed the alley to visit the Kronek house for the first time in eighteen years.

It was hot on Kenny's back step. She knocked and waited. The wind and sun got trapped in the L where the porch met the house, and she felt beads of sweat trail down the valley between her breasts. She tried not to peer into the porch, but who can stand beside a glass wall and resist? Where his mother used to dry her gladiola bulbs in the autumn and hang clothes on rainy days, a sitting area had been created with bent-willow chairs and plants. It looked very cozy. She wondered if the change was Faith's doing.

Suddenly Casey appeared. 'Hey, Mac, what a surprise!' She threw open the door and held it with the toe of one cowboy boot. 'Come on in!' She turned around and led the way, yelling, 'Hey, you guys, it's Mac!'

Tess realized the moment she stepped inside that she'd made a grave error in timing. The aroma of baked pork chops warned her that they were still eating their supper.

She followed Casey nevertheless, and when they entered the kitchen, there they sat, Kenny and Faith, at their meal, a picture of perfect domestic bliss. An array of old-fashioned foods was spread on the table before them: pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy, buttered hominy and a cucumber salad with dill sprinkled on top, probably the way Kenny's mother had fixed it. They had just filled their plates and sat with their forks poised, staring at Tess. Casey returned to her chair. 'Come on in and sit down. Want a glass of iced tea?'

'Oh, no… I'm sorry. I thought you all would be done eating. I'll… I'll come back later.'

Faith immediately rose, the picture of unruffled grace. 'No, no! Please… come in, Tess. We're running a little late because Kenny had a meeting after work today, but do sit down, I'll get you some tea.'

Kenny rose and said, 'I'll get it. You sit down, Faith.'

Casey said, 'I'll get it. You both sit down.'

In her entire life Tess had never felt more of an imposter. Given what had passed between her and Kenny last night she was sure he could divine that part of her reason for coming here was curiosity. Now that she was here, eavesdropping on his domestic setup, she felt like a fool.

If he sensed her ulterior motive, he hid it well, recovered from his surprise and said politely, 'Please… sit down, Tess.'

Casey made the point moot by putting a glass of iced tea at the empty place, then sitting back down and resuming her meal.

Tess sat, and said, 'Thanks, Casey.'

She saw at a glance how Faith suited him. They might take turns cooking over here, but this was her production, and the way it looked, his mother might not even be dead. This was exactly the kind of meal Lucille would have prepared, probably even the kind of clothes she'd have worn. Faith had changed into pastel green cotton slacks and a crisp green-and-white print blouse. She looked as fresh and old-fashioned as her own cucumber salad. Even the kitchen had remained unchanged. Same white walls, same blue plastic clock, same Formica-topped table. Different curtains, but the same style hung on the same brass cafe rods. Tess even recognized the dishes they were eating from. When her gaze had roved around the room it returned to the table where Kenny and Faith made halting stabs at returning to their meal. She decided since she had ruined their peaceful meal, she might as well go the rest of the way.

'I really came over to talk to Casey.'

Casey was cutting a pork chop, the only person at ease in the room. 'Sure. What's up?'

'I want you to come to Nashville and sing backup for me when I record 'Small Town Girl.' '

Casey's eyes grew as big and brown as horse chestnuts. The fork and knife fell from her fingers and clattered to her plate. 'Oh, my Lord,' she whispered. She covered her mouth and nose with both hands. 'Oh, my Loooord.'

Faith looked back and forth uncertainly between Tess and Casey, and whispered, 'Oh, my goodness.'

Kenny set down his silverware silently, watching his daughter's eyes fill with tears. Without another word Casey rose and went around the table to Tess. 'Come here,' she whispered thickly.

Tess rose and stepped into Casey's embrace. It was more than an embrace, it was gratitude and speechlessness and an inability to express her stunned joy any other way than to stand there clinging to her idol while Stardust seemed to be falling from above. Something magnificent happened inside Tess while the girl hugged her. This must be what it feels like to be a mother, she thought, to have someone love you unconditionally because they need you and respect you and hold you up as a role model. Her heart was absolutely clubbing with happiness.

'You mean it, don't you?' Casey finally managed, stepping back to look into Tess's face.