Exuberance Is Beauty (Book 1)

Chapter 6

Carmen was the old Carmen in the car ride back to Portland. In my mind, I compared the difference from that moment and the day she and Harry had driven me up to Bend eight months before. I had been so frightened and tired. But, things had changed. Being together with Carmen again I saw that the worst of my fears were over. Riding back in the car, I fell back into the old "Evie." I could tell when I saw Harry stare back at us now and again in the rear view mirror. His amused look brought me back. Their oldest child sat up front and Carmen and I sat in the back with Charlie and Susie. The other children rode with their grandmother in the car right behind us.

"Well," Carmen said, "I can't tell you what Kitty's been up to with the children in the car. I'd probably ruin them for life!" Carmen's expressions were exaggerated. Her face was made up perfectly, even for the drive home. She wore a wool skirt and a crew neck sweater with a red and blue scarf around her neck. I had forgotten how pretty she was. I'd forgotten how I hung on to her every word, anticipated what she'd say next and watch her expressions looking for clues.

"What?! What is she doing?" I practically screamed with curiosity.
"What mama?" Suzie asked.

"Not for your ears child. Climb up front with daddy and Linda. You shouldn't be hearing this." Suzie put her hand on Harry's shoulder as he helped her over with one arm.

"Really Carmen it's not like she won't hear from up here." Harry pointed out.

"Well turn the radio on Harry. I've only got Evie for another day. I've got a lot to give her all the sordid details!"

The Pointer Sisters came on the radio and Carmen started in an exaggerated whisper, "I told you Louis Stewart moved back to Sellwood didn't I?"

"No. I didn't know that. Where was he?"

"East coast somewhere." She bit a nail before she continued, "He is very well off now. Some kind of manufacturing business that he brought to Portland. He's bought one of those big houses on the bluff. Lives there with his wife, some society lady from Boston. She walks through Meyer and Frank with a clothing consultant!"

"Geeze. That is rich. I never even heard of such a thing."

"That's not the half of it—he looks pretty good too. Nothing like in high school—"

"God he was so lanky. And, crazy over you."

I noticed Harry look back at us in the mirror when I said that.

"Well he didn't stand a chance against Harry." She leaned forward and affectionately touched his shoulder as he drove. She took a deep breath.

"For heaven's sake, Carmen. Go on!"

She put her hand on mine and gave it a squeeze. "So, his wife is this beautiful, glamorous woman from one of those wealthy east coast families."

"I don't know if that's true," Harry chimed in.

"That's exactly what Kitty said Harry! You only know what I told you!"

"Well, they don't have one of the real big houses anyway and it's on Sellwood boulevard, not the bluff."

"Harry! You're ruining the story."

"It's getting less believable by the minute" Harry teased then turned the music up.

Carmen looked back at me, "Don't listen to him. Anyway, Kitty has decided that she wants an invitation to one of their big parties. I don't know why because no one we know goes to things like that. I love her but she's not of that ilk. She's convinced it will raise their "status as a family" as she says."