My novel has been a bonding experience with my Son-in-law which I was surprised about. My novel begins with a sad place in a marriage. I have decided to go back to the roots of Mabel and Fredrick's quick courtship and early married life.
Mabel went up to her shared bedroom. Her sister was reading one of Mabel's Fitzgerald novels. Mabel glanced at Shirley too tired to care. Mabel sat her vanity table slathering her face with Pond's Cold Cream and wiped her makeup with tissues. She poured water from the pitcher into the China basin. Mabel lathered her alabaster skin with Camay Soap and rinsed it off carefully with light fingers. Mabel wiped off her face with rose water and a cloth.
"What did you do to make Mildred mad this time?" Shirley inquired.
"Nothing, it's just Mildred being full of herself as always and ended up with egg on her face."
Mabel got into bed and slept a fitful sleep. Mabel awoke, washed, and dressed for breakfast. Mabel went down to breakfast. Thea was cooking at the wood stove. Cottage potatoes, fried apples, salt pork, thick bread, and tea. Thea looked at beautiful daughter, "I heard about the trouble in town last night. I suggest you bring yourself into line".
Mabel thought to herself, "Delbert snitched on me, Yet, again. It is not like he isn't always chasing girl".
Yes, Mommy, Mabel whispered.
The men folk started filling the kitchen, Mabel's father, her brothers, and the hired hands. Thea filled plates and motioned for Mabel to eat in the sitting room. Thea didn't care for her daughters to eat with the men. It was too common; Thea expected her girls to be ladies. She had them to the finishing school in Boston. Mabel had come home early after a matter that was no to be discussed. Thea had taken care of the matter with a mixture of herbs, there was nothing more to be said.
Mabel finished her breakfast silently. Delbert came in. "Are you ready, sis." Delbert asked. Mabel was no longer angry with Delbert. They have been always been close. "Yes, I am" Mabel brought her plate to the sink and kissed her mother. Mabel noticed her father had a disapproving look on his face. Mabel kissed her father goodbye.
Mabel and Delbert drove in silence to town. Both were uncertain about whether to discuss meeting Fredrick last night. Mabel thanked her brother. She walked into see Dolly glaring at her. Mabel smiled at Dolly smugly. Mabel tied her apron around her waist. Dolly sneered, "I am sure that you are hoping your Dandy will be in today. You are handling the kitchen today."
Mildred retorted, "I am certainly not working in the kitchen. You know that on the weekend. Hank prefers you to be in the kitchen, your face makes the customers lose their appetite. So, go ahead, I will call Hank and tell him I am quitting. He doubles the sales on the weekends I am here."
Mable walked to phone. " Wait until your beauty fades and see you will end up on the farm with a brood like your mother". Dolly snapped.
The morning was uneventful as Mable took orders, refilled coffees, and tolerated a bit of butt slapping. Mabel always took it in great stride. Men were simply carnal beings and women were simply empty vessels filled with whatever emotions or weakness occurring hourly. Mabel didn't like women and women didn't like her, they looked at her as a sense of betrayal. Mabel believed in taking what she needed.
At noon, Fredrick walked in. He was dressed in work clothing. He sat at the counter. Fredrick called over to Mabel who was reading during the lull. "Hey, Mabel, I would like the meatloaf plate. " Mabel glanced at Fredrick, she felt a slow smile across her face, it frightened her and delighted her because she was always in control of her facial expressions. Mabel nodded and put the order for Fredrick. Mabel demurely set the plate in front of Fredrick, she could see herself in the future doing this as his wife.
Fredrick ate in silence. He hadn't ordered a drink. He ate and left. Dolly hollered from the kitchen. "I see your beau already lost interest in you." Mabel didn't answer. She mopped the counter and took the dirty dishes to the kitchen.
Mabel's shift was over, she hung up her apron, and counted her tips. Mabel had 4 dollars. Her wages were only 30 cents an hour. Mabel saved every nickel, so to not hold up a dollar. Mabel wanted to attend Colby College in Waterville. Mabel's aunt Hattie agreed to pay her remaining 3 years if Mabel paid for the first year. Mabel had the 640 dollars saved that she needed. Mabel walked out the door without so much as wave to Dolly. Mabel stepped out on to the street. Fredrick was walking toward her.
"Hello, Mabel, I waited for you to get off. I didn't want to stir up more trouble for you with Dolly. Mabel smiled said, "I don't much care how much Dolly's nose get out of joint. She has no life of her own. She certainly has no passion for anything in life. "
"I would love to take you to Portland for evening to a supper club. They have live band music. I know you love to dance. I brought you an evening dress and shoes. I realize you are the same size as my mother. I purchased you a sapphire embroidered evening dress that made think of your eyes. I hope you won't take offence. I knew you would have to go right after work."
Mabel took the clothing and walked to her Aunt Hattie house. She explained that she would change at her Aunt Hattie's house. The older woman was Mabel's twin spirit. Mabel could shower and prepare her hair and face without judgement. Mabel knocked on her Aunt Hattie's door. " Hello, Aunt Hattie, she called out. Hattie came to the door. She was dressed in her regal way. Pearls, a French twist, and red lipstick finished her black dress. Hattie smiled at her beloved niece. Hattie lived in Maine part of the year and part of the year in Boston. " Mabel, it is so nice to see you. "
"Auntie Hattie, can I get ready here to go to a supper club. "
"Mabel, it is with that man I saw you walking with Friday night? If so, you know I am going to have him checked out by Max. " Mabel rolled her eyes. Aunt Hattie worked in Max Coldwell's office part of the year because she was his mistress. Mable had heard her mother whispering at night when Thea sat with her husband at the table late at night. Mabel knew not to argue with her Aunt Hattie.
"Run upstairs, I will tell your mother that you are staying with me. I am going out to meet this young man. " Aunt Hattie told her.
Mabel spent a good hour preparing herself. She washed the smells of the diner off. Mabel always kept a set of toilet articles at her aunt's. Ponds cold cream, rose water, cake mascara, Jergens lotion, and Honeysuckle perfume lined a shelf in Hattie's bathroom. Mabel carried lipstick, and powder in her cosmetic carryall made by Evans for 15.00. Her mother had scoffed at such a sum for a dance purse. All the girls in charm school had them. Mabel had bought herself one. It had makeup already in it, a place for dance cards, and a compartment for secrets.
Mabel walked down the stairs in the sapphire evening dress and matching shoes. It was as though it was made for her. Hattie was walking in. Hattie gasped, "You look, beautiful dear. I met your young man. He is a little too well-dressed for these parts, his hands are too soft. He is very polite. There is something a bit off about him. I will have Max do a check on him. Have fun dear."
Mabel kissed her Aunt goodbye. Fredrick was waiting at the door to walk her to the car. Mabel and Fredrick made the drive down the winding, dirt country roads. Mabel and Fredrick talked about their lives. Fredrick's family was very different than hers. His family worshiped money and made it in unseemly ways. Fredrick had joined the military to serve his country. Now, he was building houses. Honest work that made you mentally and physically tired.
Mabel and Fredrick arrived at the Rainbow Room. Tonight, it wasn't a swing band. Charles Parker and Ella Fitzgerald were headlining. "Oh Fredrick, I love Jazz." Fredrick slipped his arm around her waist and ushered her inside the Rainbow room. Fredrick and Mabel were seated not far from the Stage. The waiter came to the table to take their orders. Fredrick ordered for them both Prime rib, mashed potatoes, and salad. Fredrick declined a drink. He turned to Mabel, Would you like a drink? Mabel said, "I would like a Manhattan."
Fredrick looked at her puzzled. After the waiter left, Fredrick inquired " You drink? "
Mabel glanced up at him, " I have a Manhattan with Aunt Hattie when I have Tuesday night supper with her. Aunt Hattie is a modern woman. She believes a woman should learn to handle alcohol before a man tries to handle her with alcohol.
The music entered her body from her bones into the core of her soul. Charles Parker opened with Well, you needn't. Ella Fitzgerald opened with In my Dreams. As they ate she watched to see how Fredrick handled his napkin and held his silverware. Mable held her fork in her nondormant hand, the knife in her right hand. She had her napkin folded toward the table. Fredrick had the manners of rooming house boarder. Fredrick studied her. He was enchanted.
Fredrick knew the second he opened his mouth, he had put his foot in his mouth, " I suppose you are not used to such rich food".
Mabel sat a little taller and wiped her mouth. Her eyes were nearly black with insulted, and rage. Her pupil had dilated so rapidly. "Well, I have certainly had finer meals cooked on a wood stove, I have dined in supper clubs in Boston. I certainly have never seen such boorish handling of silverware in a man of your age."
"I didn't mean for it to come out that way. I am terrible at small talk. My family isn't much at niceties. I'll be straight with you my family is unseemly in the way we made our money. You will find out after your Aunt Hattie comes back from her lawyer friend. So, I am going to tell you the truth my father is a hard man who ran booze for Capone, bred a racehorse, and ran book for race horses. He chased skirts. He broke my mother's heart by busting up my marriage. She killed herself by swallowing a horse tranquilizer. I was serving my country when I had a nervous breakdown. I was honorably discharged; He is raising my son. My father is all about control. All I ever wanted to do was settle down with a nice girl, work with my hands, and have a couple of kids."
Mabel sat in silence for a while absorbing that she had the plot line of a Fitzgerald novel sitting in front of her. At least she composed herself. " I have a life planned for myself. I want a career. I want a college education. I want to sing occasionally in a club like this. I simply want to teach literature. I want a family someday."
Fredrick nodded and took Mabel to the dance floor. They danced and their bodies melded together.
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