Louella didn’t answer; in fact, she sat very still, but it was all the understanding Em needed.
She slipped from her place on the bench and looked down at Louella and almost felt sorry for her. What drove her to be so cruel? “You’re an awful person, Louella. I don’t know why you do what you do. I don’t know why you take such pleasure from hurtin’ people by publicly humiliating them. I don’t know why you don’t put all that evil to better use. But I do know this—you’ll die alone with the title Head Magnolia as your only purpose in this world if you keep goin’ the way you’re goin’. I hope you’ll think about that before you hatch another hateful scheme, and before it’s too late.”
For the second time today, she held out her hand to someone who’d created a great deal of pain in her life. “Now, we’re gonna walk back on over to the festival—together—and you’re going to put a fake smile on your pretty face and we’re gonna show everyone what a big girl Louella Palmer really is, or I’m going to find that microphone in the gazebo you’re so fond of and use it.”
Her lips tightened in an ugly purse, but she put her hand in Em’s.
Together, they walked back to the square where Dixie and the girls and Jax waited for them. Astonished gazes flitted past them as they walked. There was even a surprised gasp or two.
But Em paid them no mind. Nothing was ever going to keep her from living her life again. Not all the cruel gossip, not the stares, not her mother and certainly not Louella Palmer.
*
Dixie and the girls stood wide-eyed, mouths open, a reflection that mirrored every other Plum Orchardian. “What happened?” Dixie was the first to ask.
Em winked. “Never you mind, Dixie Davis. That’s between me and Louella Palmer. All you need to know is, no one’s going to keep me from stayin’ here in Plum Orchard.”
Dixie gathered her up into a hug and squeezed. “I’m so proud of you.”
Em squeezed back, catching a glimpse of Marybell, standing in the shadow of the tree by herself. Something was still off with her these days, despite her protests otherwise. She’d been so wrapped up in her own personal crisis, she’d let her concern fall to the wayside.
LaDawn tugged on a length of Em’s hair and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Now that the most recent Louella Palmer crisis has passed, I’m gonna go find Gareth and see if I can talk him into winnin’ me one of those teddy bears. You—” she tweaked Em’s cheek “—have yourself a good night.”
Em blew her a kiss before turning to Dixie. “Have you noticed Marybell’s been actin’ strange these days?”
Dixie’s face was full of immediate concern. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, somethin’s just not right with her. Can’t put my finger on it, but it’s been buggin’ me since the party at your house. I’m gonna go check on her. You go see who you can slaughter at the apple-dunking booth, huh?”
Dixie’s eyes widened, the thrill of a possible victory in her eyes. “There’s an apple-dunking booth? How did I miss that?”
Em laughed. “Your competitive spirit’s gettin’ soft, Dixie Davis.”
Dixie gave her one last look—searching her eyes. “So, we’ll talk tomorrow? You know, about you bein’ my sister and all?”
Em nodded and grinned, giving Dixie’s arm a squeeze, and made her way to Marybell.
“Mama?”
She found Clifton Junior not far from Marybell’s spot under the tree. “Hi, honey. How was your day?”
Clifton surprised her by hurling himself at her and giving her a hug. “I’m sorry I was so mean to you,” he said, muffled against her arm, hiding his face.
Em reached down and cupped the back of his head, almost afraid to move for fear this would all disappear. “Oh, Clifton, I know you didn’t mean it, but you know, no matter what, I love you, right?”
Clifton nodded. “As big as the whole wide world, right?”
Her heart tightened and twisted in her chest at the familiar phrase. “Bigger,” she confirmed. “Now you go find your daddy and spend some time with him. Maybe you can see if he wants to give Aunt Dixie a run for her money at the apple-dunking booth?”
Clifton leaned back and smiled up at her. “Nobody can beat Aunt Dixie at anything.”
Em laughed, sharing the first easy moment with her son in ages. “She’s unstoppable.” Grazing a thumb over his cheek, she sent him off to find his father.
Marybell, her spiked hair glowing under the twinkling lights of the tree, her shiny bracelets and eyebrow piercings all in place, smiled at her. “You go, Em. I’m so proud of you for going after what you want.”
Em plucked at her arm. “Hey, can we talk?”
“You can always talk to me. Everything okay?”