Page 20 of A Rose of Steel
Gaylon’s faced mirrored mine, the same surprised look when someone says something inappropriate and seemingly not even having a clue they’ve done so.
“We’re going to go.” Auntie Zanne said stood up, and taking over Gaylon’s role as protector said, “And we’re taking Piper with us.”
“What?” This time the one word response belonged to Piper.
“Delores needs her rest,” Auntie Zanne said. “And not so much conversation.”
I stood up. Ready to go. Confrontation with the grieving I knew, just like Auntie, was not a good thing.
“Gaylon, you’ll see us to the door?” Auntie gave a head nod to Mrs. Hackett’s niece.
“Yes,” she said, seemingly appreciative to Auntie Zanne for helping with Piper.
Auntie Zanne went over and gave Mrs. Hackett a squeeze. “I’ll stop by and speak to you tomorrow.” She gave Piper a once over. “Let’s go,” she said to her in no uncertain terms.
“I-I just got here,” Piper said, frowning at Auntie Zanne.
“And somehow you’ve stayed too long,” Auntie Zanne said. She gave Piper’s shoulder a poke, prodding her to get up.
“I guess I’ve done what I promised,” Piper said.
“And more,” Auntie Zanne said. “C’mon we’ll walk you to your car.”
Gaylon followed us to the door. She gave Auntie a hug, I was sure it was a sign of appreciation. She’d evidently appointed herself Mrs. Hackett’s guardian.
“Thank y’all for coming,” she said.
“Where’d you park?” Auntie asked Piper once we’d stepped out onto the porch.
“Over there,” she said and pointed to a big black truck.
“Good, that’s my Cadillac next to it,” we’ll walk together.
“You’re driving that big truck?” I asked. She was such a little thing, it looked as if it might swallow her up.
“Yep, that’s my baby,” she said. “And if you see us coming, you’d better watch out.”
I’d thought Auntie Zanne was going to light into Piper once we got outside. She didn’t take any nonsense especially when it came to the grieving family members. Instead, she held onto her arm and sidled up next to her.
“Who was that caterer your momma got for the wedding?” Auntie Zanne said. “Everything was so chaotic this morning that I didn’t get a chance to get his information. I may need him for another event I’m having.”
“Exquisite Caterers,” Piper said, not seeming to notice Auntie’s change in demeanor. “But my momma didn’t hire him. The caterers were sort of a wedding gift from Bumper’s coach.”
“Coach Williams?” Auntie asked about Roble’s high school football coach.
“No. His USC coach.”
“Why did you say that was ‘sort of’ of wedding gift?” Auntie asked.
“Well, because you know coaches can’t give gifts. It’s against the NCAA rules or something. This caterer was his cousin or cousin’s husband or something and he gave us a deep discount. Momma said it may as well have been free, which is how things always work out for Jori, things just fall into her lap. But...” Piper turned back and looked at the house, “we weren’t supposed to tell Bumper about it.”
“No?”
“No,” she said. “So please don’t mention it.”
“Don’t worry,” Auntie said, “I won’t tell a soul.”
We watched as Piper climbed into her car and pulled out before we got into ours. I opened Auntie’s car door and waited until she was buckled in before shutting it. When I slid into my seat, Auntie looked at me and shook her head. “That girl has lost her vertical hold. She don’t know how to act.”
