Here Today, Gone Tamale Read Online Free PDF Page B

up about it.” He turned to his wife. “Felicia and I aren’t worried, are we, hon?”
    The mayor’s wife tried to smile. “Why, no.”
    Suellen crossed to her sister’s side. “Well, I’ll admit it, even if none of the rest of you will. I’m worried.” She thrust herhands on her hips and lowered her chin like a bull ready to rumble. “You haven’t ever delivered early. Last year we had to hold up the auction thirty minutes so you could drive over that set of his and hers rings.”
    â€œThe rings
I
designed.”
    The room fell silent except for Senora Mari, who chose that moment to start humming an old Freddy Fender song as she pulled another pork roast from the refrigerator. I recognized the tune as one of her favorites, “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights
.
”
    With a lurch, Dixie stepped nose to nose with Suellen. “I don’t see your sister stepping up to donate her work.” She tapped her forehead with a long, pudgy finger. “Hmm . . . maybe that’s because everyone knows the auction wouldn’t make a dime if she did.”
    â€œYou . . . drunk . . . cow,” Melanie sputtered and stepped back. “You should be thanking me for allowing you to sell your Native American knockoffs in my gallery.” Her face flamed as she looked at one committee member after another. “Without me, she’d be selling cactus on the side of the road.”
    â€œMaybe just this once you could email a picture to me, and I could post it the morning of the auction.” Mrs. Mayor tipped her glass for a sip from her second margarita, though the glass was clearly empty. She volunteered down at City Hall, maintaining the city’s website and festival pages, though she had no experience.
    Her husband cleared his throat. “She can’t send it because it isn’t finished.”
    Dixie reached out and patted Mayor Cogburn’s hand, smiling at him as if they shared a delicious secret. “I’m creating something breathtakingly beautiful. You, on the other hand, have no excuse for your shortcomings, darling.” The mayor must have caught an eyeful if the twinge of pink in his cheeks was any indication.
    Without warning, Dixie lurched to her feet and pointed her finger inches from Felicia’s face, cackling like a witch onhelium. “You’re a better woman than me.” She drew a deep breath. “I would have left for greener pastures years ago.”
    The mayor’s wife gasped as if Dixie had struck her across the face. I stole a glance at her husband. The mayor was staring at the jewelry maker with enough venom to wipe out even her large frame and, indeed, the whole county. Before the cow patties could hit the fan, Aunt Linda rode to the rescue. “Why don’t we all take a fifteen minute breather?”
    â€œSpeaking of
breathers
,” Dixie pulled a pack of Marlboro lights from her crocheted bag.
    â€œNo, no, no,” barked Senora Mari, reaching out as if to take the offensive object. “Take it outside.”
    â€œAlright, I was kidding.” Dixie dropped the soft pack back into her bag with a shrug. “Geez.”
    *   *   *
    During the unexpected break, I presented the long-suffering committee members with flautas, quesadillas, and generous helpings of sour cream, guacamole, and pico de gallo. They swarmed the platters like flies on popsicles, and I rushed out the door, intent on rescuing Dixie from herself.
    I found my aunt standing in the hallway outside the door marked
Niñas
. “How’s she doing?” I asked, carrying a fresh cup of black coffee for our inebriated guest.
    Rubbing the bridge of her nose, she sighed. “She’s crying over some guy who deserted her for the Coast Guard during the peace movement.”
    With a bang, the bathroom door sprung open and the inebriated jewelry maker spilled out. Her eyes were