Reality was way overrated.
“I have to get these cookies. All of the ladies of the auxiliary would be depressed if I didn’t bring them. They are huge fans of this bakery.” Evelyn’s voice carried all the way to our kitchen. I walked out to the front and waved at her. She may be a little crazy or extra, but she was a dependable customer who came every week for the same order.
“Hello, Percy. The girls are huge fans of your snickerdoodles. I know you don’t usually carry them in the store very often, but I always appreciate you making them for me. They go perfect with our tea.” She beamed at me happily.
“What is the group that you belong to, Evelyn?” I swear that Tammy Sue got off on Evelyn’s stories. The name of her group changed every week or two as if she couldn’t remember what she had previously told us.
“Oh, honey, youknowwhat group! It’s the Blue Hat Ladies Auxiliary down by Chico. We get together and travel around to see plays and concerts – the fine arts, you know. We are a charitable organization that gives hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to the arts and artists that we love.” Her eyes darted around the store. “I think I’ll grab a loaf of that bread, too, if you don’t mind.”
“Do you help bakers?” I huffed. “Because this one is very needy.”
“We should. This place is one of my favorites in Foggy Basin. Your mother always helped me with these same cookies. Yours are even better than hers, Percy, and that is saying something. We’re all so glad that you’re back.”
“Are there any other ladies here in town who’re a part of the group? You don’t drive all the way there yourself, do you?” Tammy asked. We had all seen Evelyn behind the wheel, and it was not pretty.
“I’m fine, and no, there are no other art aficionados in this town. It’s a very lonely thing to know you are a one-of-a-kind in a town full of plebians.” She giggled. “When I started the organization forty years ago, I had no idea it would grow into the size it is now. There are hundreds of blue hat ladies in California alone.” She ran her hands over her silvery gray hair and giggled. “You look tired, honey. You’re working too hard.”
“Oh, it’s not work that made Percy so tired. He had a date last night.” Tammy Sue teased.
“Oh, did he, now. Was it that sweet boy Ezra from Beauty and the Boutique? I always thought you two would be adorable together. Of course, I don’t know if he’s a bottom or not.” She put her hand over her mouth and giggled.
“Evelyn, I am shocked that you know anything about that.” Tammy Sue burst out into a cackle.
“Please. When you’ve been around as long as I have, you learn quite a few things. I was actually at the uprising in Modesto when a brick got thrown through a window at a gay bar. I think Judy Garland was performing that night.”
“Stonewall?” Tammy Sue looked over at me and grinned.
“No. I don’t think the walls were made of stone. I’ve always been a supporter of the gays. So, was it Ezra?” She asked hurriedly.
“No, it was definitely not Ezra. It was Ben Fitzgerald. He’s visiting for a while.” Tammy Sue answered quickly and stuck her tongue out at me. “The secret is out!”
Evelyn’s eyes grew wide. “Quarterback Ben? Nancy’s boy? Oh, he’s not here visiting. He’s working.”
“What do you mean he’s working.”
“Oh, you poor thing. He works for that resort who’s trying to buy the land from the city. I was told by Reuben, you know, our mailman, that Susie over at the Dress Emporium told him that Ben was here to try to get the businesses to sell to his company. Didn’t he tell you that? He wants you to sell the bakery to them. That’s why he’s in town.”
“I… I have to…” I turned and walked back into the kitchen. The world had stopped spinning, and my thoughts were like lead.
“Did I say something wrong? Tell him to call Ezra. I always thought they’d be so cute together. Thanks for the cookies, Percy.”
I heard Tammy Sue shut the door. A few seconds later, she was walking into the kitchen and stood there with her arms crossed. “Do you think that what she said is true?”
“Do you?” I mumbled, feeling like the world’s biggest fucking loser.
“I don’t know. I mean, it’s Evelyn, and she’s batshit crazy. I mean, the Blue Hat Society and Judy Garland in Modesto at agay bar… Crazy. But… I mean, it could make sense. Maybe? He’s here. I could run over to Susie’s when she opens and ask. Do you want me to?”
“No. I think it’s best if I just ask him, don’t you? It can’t be. He hasn’t said one thing to me about it.” I turned and picked up a ball of dough that Tammy Sue had begun working on.
“He works for some kind of architecture firm or something, right? What was it he said he did?”
“He works for… Oh, God, Tammy Sue.” I could feel the tears building up in my eyes. “I might have slept with the enemy. I’m fucking Julia Roberts, and that movie did not end well.”
She quickly closed the gap between us, and as soon as her arms wrapped around me, I sobbed onto her shoulder. I knew it was true, even if I had heard it from Evelyn. She knew most of the gossip around here since she was the town's busybody.
“It was too good to be true. He was using me to get close to me. He was going to try to get me to sell, wasn’t he?”
“I don’t know, babe. But we’ll soon find out.”
