Page 41 of The Women of Oak Ridge
“I bet Sissy’s upstairs right now. She’ll have a whopper of a story, too.”
I knew his grin was meant to cheer me up. “Mrs. Kepple will no doubt give her a lecture. I may give her one too.”
Garlyn gave my fingers a gentle squeeze. “I’ll see you tomorrow after work, Mae.”
Despite my reluctance to confront Sissy, I rushed upstairs. I needed to know she was safe and sound.
My heart sank when I walked into a darkened room.
I simply stood in the open doorway, my feet anchored to the floor. Light from the hallway illuminated Sissy’s empty bed and my note. I didn’t know what to think or feel.
Where was she?
If she and Clive had car trouble and were forced to remain in Knoxville until it was repaired, she would have sent word to me. Or even if there hadn’t been car trouble but they’d decided to stay in Knoxville another day, she could have let me know so I wouldn’t worry.
A shocking thought suddenly sprang to my mind, and I practically choked on it.
Had Sissy and Clive eloped?
That awful possibility hadn’t occurred to me until this very moment, but it made complete sense. Sissy had confessed that Clive wanted to talk to her about something important. Maybe he’d planned the whole thing as a surprise. I could well imagine sweet Sissy unable to say no. My roommate could at this very moment be Mrs. Clive Morrison, basking in newly wedded bliss, without a care for me or Mrs. Kepple. I wouldn’t be surprised if Knoxville hadn’t been their destination at all. They could’ve driven to Nashville for a honeymoon, for all I knew.
Aggravation quickly replaced my earlier concern. I flicked on the light and closed the door with more force than necessary. Here I’d been worried about Sissy, anxious to know if everything was well, while she and Clive may have snuck off and gotten married without telling anyone. It was the only logical explanation for her continued absence.
I fumed as I readied for bed, muttering about Sissy’s foolishness. What would her mama say when Sissy confessed what she’d done? I could imagine my own mama’s reaction to such news. I didn’t envy Sissy having to write a letter to her family with the stunning announcement.
Sleep fought to claim me after I crawled under cold sheets, and my heavy eyelids closed. My last coherent thought, however, nearly made me cry.
When Sissy returned to Oak Ridge and moved into Clive’s trailer, I’d have to get a new roommate. I’d miss late night chats and giggles with my friend.
