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Summer In Vermont

Chapter Four

Maggie held the newspaper clipping between her index and middle fingers so Dot could see it, but her aunt wasn't looking. Her eyes were directed downward at the other photos in the album, and she already knew the picture Maggie was looking at from memory. Maggie had been wearing a jean skirt, one striped sock, one blue sock, and a pair of sneakers. Her t-shirt had an owl on it, and her hair had been in pigtails until Maggie removed the rubber bands and let her hair fly wildly.

"Dot," Maggie said as she nudged the photo album with her foot.

She was sitting upright on the edge of the bed as she stared down at her aunt who was still seated on the floor. Dot had forgotten that Maggie was in the picture, she had been too excited to give her niece something to gaze at but as usual, Dot's best intentions had backfired.

Maggie flipped the picture around and looked at it once again.

"Why don't I remember this?" She asked. "I must have been, what, eight?"

Dot nodded and lifted her gaze to meet Maggie's.

"I almost forgot you had come to stay with me for a couple of days," Dot said.

She tried to think of a story to cover the truth..

Just for now, Dot thought. But why would anyone dump their kid off with someone who the child hardly knew?

Maggie pursed her lips as she waited for more information from her aunt. Dot ran through a bunch of options in her head though none of them seemed believable. She decided to go with the one that was closest to the truth.

"Your parents wanted to have a romantic weekend," Dot said. "They dropped you here one morning and went off for a night to some vineyard."

Maggie looked at the photo again, but this time she was memorizing Joshua's face.

"He is sexy isn't he?" Maggie swooned.

Dot let out a breath of air, having held her breath for what seemed like hours.

"He certainly is," Dot laughed. "Handsome little fecker ain't he?"

Maggie smiled and shook her head, then glanced sideways at her aunt.

"Can I keep this?"

"Sure," Dot said.

Maggie lowered the picture and placed it between the pages of her book.

"There, now I can have a more attractive bookmark," Maggie joked.

The women became silent, and Dot forgot why she had come upstairs to begin with. She found herself looking around at Maggie's things and she remembered her desire to help her niece make the room her own.

"Hey," Dot said as she closed up the photo albums. "How about we go to town tonight and find some stuff for your room? Maybe grab dinner at Dixie's after?"

Maggie didn't have to think it over because her hangover was feeling better and she could use some excitement.

"Sure, look it," Maggie joked.

She stood up and crossed the room to the dressed, then lifted the brush to run it through her hair a few times before turning back to her aunt.

"I'm ready," she announced.

Dot had only just gotten up from her seated position so it surprised her that Maggie was ready to go so soon.

"Oh, my," Dot said. "I guess I am the one who needs a few minutes to get ready."

She tugged at her dirty skirt and retreated to her bedroom which was a few doors down from Maggie. She entered her room and tossed the albums on her bed before she shut the door.

Her closet didn't have anything special, but she didn't need special for today, so she selected jeans and slipped them on. On her way by the hall bathroom, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and she stopped. Standing in the doorway, she took in the view of her unruly hair, the grays poked out in several places but for the most part it was still as red as ever.

She walked closer to the mirror and looked down at the makeup that littered the sink. Mascara, eyeshadow, and lots of brushes that seemed to be excessive. She picked one of the brushes up and used it to dust a light green color from one of Maggie's palettes. She swiped the color onto her eyes and leaned closer to the mirror.

"Not bad," she whispered.

She took the mascara in her hand and unscrewed the wand, pulled it out, and ran the bristles through her lashes. She was surprised that the stuff didn't clump like other stuff she had used before, but after she closed the applicator and looked at the price tag that was still stuck to the container, she figured for that amount it should cure cancer too.

"Seriously, Mag," she shouted over her shoulder while she kept her eyes fixed on her reflection. "Who spends thirty dollars on one piece of makeup?"

There was silence instead of her niece's smart ass response.

"Mag?"

Still no response.

Dot stepped away from the mirror and leaned out of the bathroom and peered down the hall at Maggie's closed bedroom door. She waited a moment but didn't hear anything.

"I'm going down to the truck," Dot said. "You know the rules."

She stopped in the hallway when she heard a loud noise from the yard.

"Mag?" She shouted again.

She stood at the top of the stairs and tried to get her niece's attention once more.

"Maggie!" She yelled.

Dot heard the engine of the truck start up and she scurried down the stairs and jumped the last few steps. She landed only for a moment before she sped around the staircase toward the kitchen and her boots stomped the floor as she raced through the screen door for a second time that week. She sprang off the edge of the porch as she spotted the truck taking off slowly up the driveway.

Dot sped toward the truck as her heart drummed in her ears so loud that her footsteps were hardly audible. As Dot approached the truck and reached out for the handle to open the door, Maggie slammed on the brakes, which caused Dot to continue to run past the vehicle after it had stopped.

She slowed to a stop and leaned forward, cupping her knees with her hands as she strained to catch her breath. As her breathing became normal and her heartbeat slowed, she could hear Maggie snorting with laughter from the front seat.

Dot felt like a dog retreating with its tail between its legs as she walked to the truck. She yanked the door open and climbed into the cab of the truck and glared at her niece, who was as red as a strawberry.

"Oh good," Maggie said as she wiped a tear from her eye. "You're ready."

Dot's face softened as she failed to maintain her angry guise. She began to laugh quietly as she closed the door to the truck.

"Can we get on with it then?" Dot asked. "You little fecker."

Maggie put the truck into gear and continued to laugh as they rolled down the dirt road. Dot started to chuckle a bit louder as she imagined how she must have looked chasing after the truck and recalled how Maggie had looked. Dot lost her ability to hold in the laughter and she began to shake as she let out one hearty guffaw after another. Maggie had been trying to compose herself, but the laughter was infectious and she lost the ability to fight it.

As the truck rounded a corner, the two women were in stitches, and Maggie held her side with one hand as she steered. Dot leaned against her window and shut her eyes as they shrieked uncontrollably. Maggie's mouth dropped open at the sight of something in the road, and out of instinct, she put her foot down hard on the brake which caused her and Dot to jolt forward toward the windshield. The truck skidded and fishtailed on the gravel as Maggie struggled to steer the truck back into control and avoid the obstruction in the road. Maggie's brain was focused solely on the act of keeping the truck out of the ditch that she could only mutter the same word repeatedly out of shock.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit," Maggie said as though she were stuck in a loop.

Dot held her arms out at either side as she witnessed her niece's incredible driving skills and she joined Maggie in her chant.

When the truck came to a stop, Maggie rested her head on the steering wheel and exhaled loudly. Dot echoed Maggie's sigh of relief and rolled down her window to look out at the offending barricade. She stuck her head out the window and looked toward the back of the vehicle. She groaned at the sight of a flock of geese sitting in the middle of the road and she sat back in her seat.

"Goat fecker," Dot said as she smoothed her hair out of her face.

"What?" Maggie said, glancing in the rearview mirror at the geese behind them.

Dot sighed again and gestured for Maggie to get the truck going again.

"He's a crazy old bastard who keeps a dozen goats inside his house," Dot explained. "He also keeps geese."

Maggie shifted the truck as it began to pick up speed, and she listened carefully to her aunt's story.

"See that barn over there?" Dot said, motioning to a large barn that was a mere three feet from the edge of the road. "That is where he expects those little feckers to stay put, but when they don't, he seems awfully surprised."

Maggie decided it best to keep her eyes on the road as her pulse came to its normal resting state after suffering such a surprise. Dot kept explaining the background of the Goat Fecker.

"We're just lucky he isn't standing out there keeping watch of them as they nest in the road," Dot said. "He's been arrested, you know."

"Can we complain?" Maggie asked.

"Nah," Dot shook her head. "He just keeps finding a way to skirt the law. Best to just deal with it. He'll be dead eventually."

"Aunt Dot," Maggie shouted, shocked that her aunt would say such a thing.

"Come on, Mag," Dot chuckled. "I'm just joshing."

Maggie turned her head to look at her aunt in reaction to her choice of words. Dot winked an eye at Maggie and a bright smile spread across her face. They rode in silence for the remainder of the drive, and when Maggie parked the truck in front of the fabric store, Dot turned to face her.

"Okay, first we can get some fabric for curtains," Dot said, shaking her fists excitedly. "Then we can get our hair done if you want before dinner."

Maggie thought about it, but before making a decision, she noticed something about her aunt.

"Aunt Dot, are you wearing my eyeshadow?" Maggie inquired as she leaned in closer to her aunt for a better look.

Dot jumped in her seat and swung open the door.

"Come along," she shrieked. "Much to do if we're going to beat the dinner rush at Dixie's."

Maggie was still inside the truck mulling over the image of her aunt wearing makeup.

"That stuff cost eighteen dollars, ya know," Maggie yelled, but Dot was already inside the beauty parlor.

Maggie jumped out of the truck and made her way around the front of the truck and stood against it as she waited for Dot to emerge. When her aunt came out, she was smiling wide as she waved goodbye to the ladies inside.

"Good news," Dot beamed. "They can get us both in around four, which means we have plenty of time to shop before our appointment."

Dot left no time wasted as she clasped Maggie's hand in hers and dragged her through the open door of the fabric shop. Upon entering, a bell rang throughout the store and all of the inhabitants turned toward the door and cheered a hello to Maggie and Dot.

Maggie waved back sheepishly as her aunt created a fuss.

"My lord," she squealed. "Donna, I ain't seen you in ages. How's the baby?"

Dot took off to reconnect with a woman Maggie hadn't seen before, so she decided to take the opportunity to mill around the store and browse in peace. The layout of the store seemed practical enough, however most stores Maggie had been in didn't have a kitchen that was open for customers to enjoy a cup of coffee while seated in overstuffed chairs.

Maggie was approached by Matilda who held her arms out and came in for a hug.

"Maggie, my girl," Matilda said in a hushed tone, which judging from the events from last night was surprising to Maggie. "How are you? Are you here for fabric? Are you starting a project? You just tell me what it is you want."

Maggie didn't get a chance to answer the questions before Matilda hooked their arms together and led her into the kitchen. Maggie was pushed into one of the chairs as Matilda went to the coffee pot to pour them each a cup.

"Milk, sugar, or anything?" Matilda inquired.

Maggie shook her head and accepted the cup from Matilda when she came to sit in the chair opposite her.

"So what is it you are here for?" Matilda quizzed.

"Dot seems to have curtains in mind," Maggie took a moment to blow on the coffee. "For my room."

"Hmm," Matilda hummed as she took a sip. "What color scheme are you considering?"

Maggie was taking a drink from her cup as she pondered the question.

"I'm not really sure," she answered.

Matilda's eyes popped out of her head when she made a snap decision in Maggie's favor.

"You just relax right here," Matilda stood abruptly and set her coffee on the side table. "Tilly is going to take good care of you; don't you fret."

Maggie shrugged and leaned back in the chair to enjoy her coffee and quiet time.

Matilda hurried from one bolt of fabric to another, speaking quietly to herself as though she was expecting an answer.

"Now, what would a young woman be into these days?" Matilda queried. "Maybe florals? No, no, that simply won't do."

She buzzed around the room in a frantic manner, and it seemed to Maggie who watched the scene from the comfort of the kitchen, that Matilda was a creative genius in her own right.

"You've got this under control, Til," Maggie said. "I believe in you."

Matilda came into the kitchen to drop off a couple bolts of fabric for Maggie's inspection.

"Do any of these spark your interest?" Matilda asked.

Maggie considered the choices before her. A hideous yellow fabric with green and orange flowers was absolutely out of the question. Maggie wrinkled her nose and pointed at the ugly pattern, and Matilda picked it up and placed it on a nearby cart.

"Gone," Matilda said.

Maggie looked closely at the second bolt of fabric which was a pretty black and white damask, something she had often considered for a dress.

"This is nice," Maggie said as she ran her hand along the length of the bolt to get a feel for the fabric. "The texture is nice, but do you think it is drape worthy?"

Matilda shifted her weight from her left leg to her right and began twirling her hair around her finger.

"This is an acceptable fabric weight for drapes," Matilda explained. "Anything thinner, though, and you're going to have to add a liner."

Clearly Matilda was smarter than Maggie had given her credit for, and she certainly knew her fabric weights and material.

"Okay," Maggie nodded. "This is a definite possibility."

She picked up the third bolt of fabric, but the plain teal material left much to be desired.

"I do love this color," Maggie began. "But it's a bit plain."

Matilda held the damask and teal fabrics side by side, and made a suggestion.

"Perhaps you could use one of these as a trim or sash to tie the curtains with," Matilda said.

Maggie smiled and nodded. She felt excited for the first time in a while.

"Yes, that would be fantastic," Maggie said in a cheery tone.

"Well, look at you," Matilda said surprised. "You almost act like you're excited about this stuff."

Maggie sat back in the chair once again and thought about what Matilda said.

"Yeah," she responded. "I suppose I am kind of excited."

She didn't realize that she could be completely happy with something so trivial as shopping for fabric, not to mention the fact that she left the house without makeup.

"I think this country life is getting to me," she said before she returned to her coffee.

Matilda gathered the two bolts up and began to make her way toward the cutting table.

"Well, sure," Matilda chuckled. "You're a born country girl, ya know."

Maggie thought back to the photograph she had seen earlier that day. Perhaps Matilda would know a little more about that, she thought. She began to rise from the chair but was surprised at how much effort it took. Holy crap, this chair basically swallowed me whole.

"Hey, Matilda," Maggie said. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure thing, hon," she answered. "What's up?"

Maggie tried to think of the way to phrase her question, but as she opened her mouth to speak, Dot came rushing over in her usual boisterous manner and roared at the sight of Maggie's picks.

"My stars," Dot said loudly. "What good taste, girl."

Maggie smiled and opted to ask Matilda some other time. Dot and Matilda discussed yardage as Maggie leaned against the register and waited. She glanced at the clock quickly before returning her gaze to the two women and she ran her fingers along the edge of the counter.

"Come along, Mag," Dot said as she made her way to the door. "Til is going to finish getting the stuff together while we go get our hair done."

Maggie decided to just roll with it, and she followed Dot into the beauty parlor.

Des waved her hands at the women when the entered, and Maggie took a quick look around. It was a one room shop, and a man around Des' age was taking care of a man in his chair. The customer was covered in shaving foam and leaned back in the chair as the barber took care in running a straight razor along the client's face.

"Maggie," Des exclaimed as she put her arm around Maggie's shoulders and led her to a seat facing the large mirror mounted on one wall.

From the mirror, Maggie could watch the barber shaving the man in his chair, slowly removing a small amount of shaving cream at a time. Maggie was always mesmerized my acts that involved clearing something off, like wiping up a spill or pushing snow off the hood of a car. She had done that happily when her parents took her up to the mountain for a ski weekend.

Her attention was redirected when Des and Dot began giggling about some gossip they had become privy to recently.

"Apparently Donna said," Dot began whispering some juicy secret into Des' ear.

Des let her jaw drop open and she gave a breathy laugh.

"I guess it goes to show you that you can't take the country out of the girl," Dot said.

Des began grooming Dot and leaned the chair back to the sink. She wetted Dot's hair and started to foam it with shampoo, gently massaging the suds in. Dot moaned in an almost inappropriate manner, and Maggie shifted in her seat as she watched her aunt's apparent orgasm reach its peak.

When her hair was rinsed, Dot's chair was returned to its upright position and she held the towel around her head.

"So Mag," Dot said louder than expected. "I see you got some drape fabric that's pretty mature for a young twenty-something."

Maggie rolled her eyes.

"Yes, perhaps I should have gone with the hideous yellow fabric with green and orange flowers," Maggie teased.

Des brushed Dot's hair.

"I bet you're planning to entertain a gentleman up there," Des taunted in return.

Maggie burst out in a belly laugh that echoed in the shop.

"Good news travels fast, doesn't it?" Maggie said.

Des held a finger over her lips to shush Maggie.

Maggie waved her off and continued.

"What? I'm not mad or anything," she said. "Big deal if the whole town knows I have a crush on a handsome, older man? Perhaps the kind professor could even teach me a little something, if you know what I mean."

Des and Dot looked at each other with their lips tightly closed and their eyes wide.

From behind her, Maggie heard baritone laughter. She sat up straight in the chair and glanced in the mirror reluctantly to see who it originated from.

In the mirror she could see Joshua sitting in the barber's chair as he wiped his face with a warm, wet towel. Maggie froze at the sight of his bright smile, his eyes were squinted slightly as he enjoyed this revelation.

"Well, I can't say I offer private tutoring," Joshua joked. "Dinner might be arranged if you'd like."

Maggie was still too mortified to answer.

Joshua stood up from the chair and handed the barber money for the cut and shave. Before he exited the shop, he turned to Maggie and smiled.

"I'll call you later," he said.

Maggie buried her head in her hands as she crumpled to the floor in embarrassment. Dot and Des joined the barber in a fit of laughter, and Maggie stared at the ceiling of the beauty parlor as she recalled what had just happened. She knew she should still be feeling embarrassed, but she was too bewildered by her impending date with the handsome professor.

She bolted upright and threw her hands into the air like a madwoman.

"I have nothing to wear!" She exclaimed.

Dot and Des stopped laughing for a moment to set Maggie at ease.

"Don't worry, deary," Des said soothingly. "We will take care of everything."

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