Page 102 of Red Mountain Burning
Joan rubbed her eyes and nodded. “Anyway, let’s not go down the wormhole of my heartache all afternoon. What about you?”
“No, no, no,” Margot said. “I’m not letting you off the hook that easily.”
“Yes, you are. I want to talk about Margot Pierce. You look wonderful.”
Margot let Joan win and smiled. “Thank you.”
“I see lots of changes in you. What’s going on?”
“Oh, things are really good. For once, you don’t need to worry about me.”
“I want to hear all about it. I could use some good news.”
Margot pushed up from the deck and reclaimed her seat. Like a woman sitting for her first confession, she whispered, “Burning that dress might have been the best thing I’ve ever done. Otis wasdrowningyou. The darn dress wasstranglingme. What was that? Like a month ago? I feel so much better.”
Joan’s smile rose slowly like the sun in the morning. “Youlookso much better.”
“It’s like everything I’ve been working on for years all came together at the same time. It was like I ripped tape off my eyes and could finally see. I’ve been trying to be someone I’m not and don’t know why. Who am I living for? It’s so funny that Carly was the one who pushed me over the edge.”
Joan tapped her own thigh. “It’s not that surprising. It’s our toughest challenges that see us through to the other side.”
“I guess that’s true. What I realized was that my weight issues…all the crap I’ve put myself through since I was a teenager…it was really a larger issue screaming at me. I needed to learn to love myself for who I am. Our bodies are really just our ‘earth suits.’ Ourrealselves are what’s inside.” Margot stopped. “Sounds like something you’d say, right?”
Joan let another smile lift out of her heartache. “We can’t take our bodies when we go. That’s for sure.”
“No, we can’t, but that doesn’t mean I will let myself go. It’s just that I will love my body the way it is. I willrockthis body. It’s what I was given, and I’m not going to starve it as a way to make myself look like Carmen or the rest of the Red Mountain beauties with their skinny little waists and torpedo boobs.” Margot shook her head, feeling wonderful as she spoke. “Remi loves the way I look, and that’s all that matters.”
“As I’ve told you from day one,” Joan said, “I’d love to have your curves.”
“Thank you. I still do want to get in shape though, but in a healthier way. Shay’s promised to teach me to ride Elvis.”
Joan made a face showing she hadn’t seen that one coming. “Oh, that’s a great idea. Hold on. Didn’t you tell me you were afraid of riding?”
“I was thrown off when I was a girl, but it’s time to get over it.”
“Good for you. Your whole new thing is nothing short of inspirational for this sad sack of bones—speaking of earth suits.” Changing the subject, she asked, “Is Carly still doing better?”
“Every day,” Margot said. “She and her dad are spending all their time down at his place taking care of his farm. I think Carly has a bit of a green thumb. You wouldn’t believe the baskets of fruit and vegetables they bring up to the inn. The guests are in heaven.”
“I bet.”
“And she quit smoking and is talking to her mom again,” Margot added. “Remi’s just beside himself.”
“I couldn’t be happier for you all.”
“I couldn’t have gotten here without you. That’s for sure. So what can we do to make you feel a little better? More veggie crisps? Maybe a Coke Zero? Dare I suggest celery and a reduced-calorie ranch dip?”
As Joan broke into a laugh, Margot said, “You really could learn a thing or two about breakdowns. Joni Mitchell is great and all, but we can make it much more pitiful around here if you’d like.”
Joan drew in a huge breath, the kind a woman takes when she’s caught in the middle of a cry and a laugh “It might be time for that bottle of wine.”
“Now, you’re talking.”
