Read Miss Julia Renews Her Vows for Free Online Page B

suits. I’m so afraid somebody’ll see me, though, before they know I’m married. I’ll really need some for next week, because J.D.’s made reservations for us at the Grove Park Inn. Will that be all right? I mean, to leave Lloyd with you?”
    “Of course it will, and I’m glad to hear it. At least it’ll be a semblance of a honeymoon for you, but are you sure you ought to go out of town? Dr. Hargrove wants you close by, doesn’t he?”
    “Yes, ma’am, but that’s why we’re just going to Asheville. And I have an appointment Thursday morning, so I’ll make sure it’s all right.”
    “Why, that’s perfect, Hazel Marie. That’s the day I’m having the luncheon, and you need to be somewhere else, anyway. Why don’t you go to the doctor’s, then go on over to Asheville and do your shopping? By the time you get back, everybody will know and you won’t have to slip around and hide anymore.” That seemed the perfect solution, until I stopped and thought about it. “No, that won’t do. You can’t be driving off by yourself and walk all over that mall alone. You haven’t been out of bed that long. What if something were to happen?”
    “I’ll take you, Hazel Marie,” Sam said. “If the doctor says it’s okay, we can leave from his office and go right on over. To tell the truth, I’ve been thinking of going to the mall anyway. They’ve opened a new Reel and Gun store, and I want to see what they have. While you’re trying on maternity clothes, I can be trying out a new rod. Would that work?”
    Hazel Marie smiled. “That would work just fine.”
    I declare, Hazel Marie almost ran me ragged all that day and the next. I don’t know what had happened on her wedding night, but some kind of energizing change had come over her. Her appetite picked up considerably and she couldn’t sit still for two minutes. Always had to be up and doing, wandering around the house, asking Lillian what she could do to help, making out lists for her shopping trip and wondering when she could go to Velma’s.
    “Velma!” I cried as soon as she mentioned the woman’s name. “I have got to invite Velma to the luncheon. I’ll call her right now.”
    “You’re inviting Velma?” Hazel Marie asked in wonder. “You’ve never had her before, have you?”
    “I’ve had her for large events, but never anything as intimate as this. But Hazel Marie, if we want to get the word out that you’re a settled married lady, who better to tell than the hairdresser to the stars?”
    Hazel Marie laughed, looking and sounding like her old self, with the exception of a few extra pounds and a couple more inches around her waist. “I expect you’re right about that. But what will LuAnne think? Or Mildred, even? You know how particular they are about appropriate guest lists.”
    “I know, but they’ll just have to put up with it. Besides, it’s already a mixed group, because I’m not having this luncheon for entertainment purposes. I have serious business on my mind.”
    “Who all are you having?”
    “Well, let me see. LuAnne and Mildred, of course. And Emma Sue and Helen Stroud. Oh, and Tonya Allen, Tina Doland and, you’ll like this, Hazel Marie, Etta Mae Wiggins. Margaret Hargrove and Binkie. And now, Velma. That’s a good group, don’t you think?”
    Well, no, she didn’t. She stared at me, her eyes slowly filling up. “You’re going to tell all of them? I don’t think I can stand it, Miss Julia.”
    “Now, wait, please don’t get upset. We agreed that this is the best way to do it. When they leave here, all they’re going to know is that you and Mr. Pickens have been married since back in the summer and that now you’re expecting twins. And I’m going to tell them that we didn’t announce it earlier because you came down with some kind of flu and we were afraid you’d lose the babies. They’ll understand that nobody announces anything under those circumstances.”
    “Won’t they think it’s funny that I’m