The family visited over lunch and Geneva left to rest, promising to bring the children home before dinner.  As she drove off, Miss Jessie was at the kitchen door with several large boxes.  “I’m early, but I thought I’d stop by and see if you wanted to try this dress now.  I do believe you’ll love what I brought.  You won’t see anything like this yellow silk anywhere.  I had Miss Viola put some custom touches on this beauty just for you.  Do you want to try it with these new foundation garments? I can come up and help if you’re ready.”

“Wth everything that’s going on, the fitting had slipped my mind, but let’s go ahead.” Ellen replied.  “My mother just left.  She and my girls have been with my cousin Jean all summer, and she was letting me know Cousin Jean died during the night.  She just got back in town.  They’ll be back before dinner, but we have plenty of time before then.”  She led Jessie up the stairs to her bedroom, though Jessie knew the way well.

Jessie unboxed the dress and stretched it across the bed to show it to best advantage while Ellen preened before the mirror, her back to Jessie. “I was reluctant to try this shorter style, but I think it’s quite daring, don’t you?”  Ellen asked.

“It’s charming.  I’d try it myself, but I couldn’t carry it off as well as you.   I guess I’ll keep my bun.  Now turn around and look!” Jessie said.

“This is heavenly!” Ellen exclaimed as she stroked the lace.  It’s just what I wanted.  I’ll slip into these and you can help me into it.”  With that she stepped behind the dressing screen.  Jessie handed her the corset, bra, and slip.

“Just sing out if you need help with those.”  In minutes, Ellen stepped out in her undergarments.  “I took the liberty of bringing a slip to match the other undies.”

“This lingerie is exquisite, too pretty to cover up, almost.” Ellen murmured.

“Nothing makes a woman feel prettier than frilly underthings, but I can take them back if you don’t need them.” Jessie offered.

“Don’t even think of that” laughed Ellen.  A much shapelier woman stepped from behind the screen.  “Help me into that dress.”

“Now this is more like it,”  Ellen said.  “Why didn’t you bring this yesterday?”

“I actually forgot about it.  It came in with a broken zipper and I was going to send it back, but I got Cora to put in a new zipper and put a few custom touches for you.” Jesse confided.

“Viola?  Isn’t  she the one who makes the wedding dresses? My girls will be needing dresses.  I might ask her to make them some.”  Ellen’s eyes sparkled at the thought of dressing little girls.  “And I need something for the funeral.  Maybe Viola can fix up that black satin one for me.”

Jessie didn’t like that a bit.  “She has more jobs than she can handle now.  I can dress those girls for you in a flash.  How old are they?  I’ll bring some precious things over in a day or so?”

“Charlotte is  five years old and the baby is eight months.  You can come back tomorrow, but I still might talk to Viola. I want the Evans women to be the best-dressed in town!”  She had no idea of the challenge facing her.

 

 

With Ellen’s general improvement and desire to resume her social life, Charles knew it was time to reacquaint Ellen with her two youngest children.  She had no clear memory of her hospitalization and referred simply to her female troubles.  With Cousin Jean’s death, Geneva would be back home. It was time she was relieved of the responsility of the girls.  She was past seventy.  The worries put on her with Ellen’s illness and care of the girls had gone on too long.  His family must be reunited.

Cora laid a light lunch in anticipation of Geneva’s arrival.  The mother and daughter embraced.  “Mother, it seems like forever since I saw you.  Why didn’t you come see me when I was sick?  You’ve been away so long.  I missed you.”

“I missed you, too. I came to see you every day till I had to go to Cousin Jean’s.  You were on the mend, but you just don’t remember.” Geneva explained.

“How is Cousin Jean?  I need to get out to see her.  I’ve thought of her often lately, for some reason.  She is odd, but I love her.”  Ellen told her mother.

Geneva looked to Charles for help.  “Ellen, we’ve suffered a loss.  Cousin Jean died during the night.  Geneva found her this morning.  “This has all been really hard on Geneva.  You know Cousin Jean was like a mother to her.  She’s going to need us, now.”  Charles took Geneva’s hand.

Tears sprung to Ellen’s eyes as she moved to hug her mother.  “Oh, Mother.  I am so sorry.  I know how much Cousin Jean meant to you and to all of us.  I always loved our times on her farm.”

“It’s hard to lose her.  I feel like a ship with no anchor.  I’m the last of the old ones left now.  It won’t be too long till I’ve gone to her.” Geneva mourned.

“Oh Mother, don’t say that.”

Charles spoke softly, “Ellen, I need to talk to you about your illness and some family matters.  I know you’ll have questions, and I’ve been dreading this talk, so please let me get it over with.  This will come as a shock to you, but you didn’t just have simple “female trouble.”  You surprised us all by giving birth to a baby girl several months ago.  I know you’ve heard of “baby blues. Well, after the baby came, you had a nervous breakdown.  You were a danger to yourself and everyone around you.  You were admitted to a hospital in Dallas.  It took a while but you’re getting back to your old self.  Do you remember any of this?” He asked.

“I have had a lot of terrible dreams, but it’s not like I really remember.  Did the baby die?” she asked.

“Oh no.  She’s fine.  She’s eight months old now.  Geneva has been keeping her at Cousin Jean’s.  I didn’t want to spring her on you till I felt like you were back to yourself.  When you were so confused, I didn’t think she needed to be  around you. You haven’t mentioned our other little girl, Charlotte either, Do you remember her?”

Ellen’s eyes clouded.  “Charlotte!  I do remember Charlotte!  I thought I dreamed her up.  How can a mother forget her own children?”

“You were in such a state after the baby came suddenly, it was all too much for you and your mind shut down.  You didn’t notice the boys either, when you first got home.  I thought I’d lost you. I thank God you’re better every day.” Charles spoke.  “Now you’re better, we need to bring the girls home.”

“Yes.  I want to see my girls.” Ellen whispered.

Thursday morning Jessie brought Ellen ten dresses to choose from.  Ellen hadn’t realized she was still about twenty pounds heavier than her last fitting.  She could only squeeze into two of the ten.   The group included  a black satin evening dress and a turquoise and black day dress of a mature style she abhorred.  “I see my business is no longer important to you, Jessie Austin, if this is the best you can bring me.  Besides these are fourteens and you know I wear an eight.  Now take these and come back tomorrow with some pastel shades.  My grandma wouldn’t be caught dead in these old black rags,” Ellen spouted angrily.  With this, Ellen flopped on the bed in a tantrum, sobbing loudly.

“I’ll do what I can Miss Ellen, but most of the spring pastels are gone, but I think I do have a yellow one that would make you shine.  I can bring it by after four tomorrow if that suits you.”  Miss Jessie turned and went back in the bedroom to comfort Ellen and save herself.  She wouldn’t  have had Ellen and her mother not been her best customers,.   She’d  have walked Ellen’s back door and never looked back, but each of them bought hundreds of dollars every spring and fall.  “Miss Ellen, I just remembered I had a custom order for a yellow silk, and it was delayed so the woman had to buy something else. I do believe it is just what you want.   I’ll bring it by about four tomorrow if you like.  Also, I have some new bra and corset sets.  You know you need to try the dress with the foundation garments you’ll be wearing. I can bring those and stock by Peacock’s shoe store and pick up a couple of matching pairs of shoes for you to try.  I seem to remember you wear a six, don’t you?”  Miss Jessie asked.  “Now I need to measure you to make sure of your size.  Ellen  turned her back and Jessie measured her bust and waist.  “I’ll be back tomorrow with something you’re gonna love, in exactly your size.  I won’t disappoint you again.”

Jessie hurried to her shop to get the size ten ,yellow, silk dress.   measured it and found it a full four inches too small in the bust and waist.  Fortunately, the wide butterfly sleeves would not need altercation.  She took the dress back to Viola Perkins who was doing alterations in a cluttered back room of the shop.  Jessie always acted like she didn’t see the clutter.  She couldn’t risk annoying such a valuable employee.  Viola made and sold custom wedding, bridesmaid’s, mother of the bride, and flower girl dresses through Jessie’s shop.  Patrons had to order their dresses a year ahead, she was so busy.  Jessie sold lots of lingerie and trousseau to brides, so it worked for both of them.

“Viola, I need a huge favor.  Ellen Pendergrass asked me to bring her some dresses.  She’s been in the hospital and gained a lot of weight.  I know this dress is far too little for her, but it’s the only thing I’ve got that might work.  Can you please alter it? I’ll pay you twenty five dollars to fix it. I have her bust and waist measurements right here.  And whatever you do, don’t mention her weight to anybody.  Dr. Charles will have our heads if we upset her.” Jessie handed her the dress.  “If this goes well, she’ll want several more.”

Viola sighed and put down her work. She spread the dress flat on her worktable and measured.  “I think I’ve got something that will work.”  She pulled out some pale yellow silk and a large piece of lace overlay.  With her scissors she split the dress from neckline to hem.”  Jessie gasped.  It was so quick, she couldn’t imagine  anything good could come of it.  Viola carefully placed the lace overlay over the yellow silk.  Without a hint of a pattern, she snipped away at the front and back necklines, lowering them.   She quickly put a new zipper in. She’d done alterations for Ellen many times and knew she loved showing off her swan-like neck and voluptuous bosom.  Jessie lost her nerve and left the sewing room, wondering how it would ever be a dress again.  By the time Jessie got in the next morning, the sumptuous dress  and a silk-lined lacewrap were in the window for all to see.

“Viola, I have one more thing I need you to do  Take the size ten tag off and exchange it for a size eight.”

Several women stopped in wanting to buy it, but of course, it wasn’t for sale at any price.  Jessie sent them back to see if Viola wanted to make any of them a dress of a different pattern.

Jessie skipped lunch after the morning rush and took a swatch of the silk to Peacock’s Shoe Store.  “Mr. Peacock, I need some of your best shoes to match this swatch.   I promised to bring a dress over for her this afternoon, and I’m sure she’ll want a matching bag and shoes  the outfit is for an afternoon tea.  She said she wants a size six.”  Jessie said.

“Well she must be planning to wear them for earrings, then..I always send her a seven and a half and just mark out the size.  Otherwise, I’d never get her to buy nothin’ .How do these two pair look?  He pulled out two pair of alligator shoes, one pale yellow and one bone color and two matching purses.

Those are beautiful.  Can I just take both pair of shoes and bring them back if they won’t do.” asked Jessie.

“Why sure, but I don’t anticipate getting the back.  That woman’s bought more shoes from me than Carter has little liver pills.

About nine-thirty the next morning, Ellen came down to the kitchen for breakfast.  Cora could tell she wanted to talk and dreaded what might be coming..  “Cora, I need you to call the Cut and Curl and tell Marjean to come over about two.  I need a trim and style, and a red tint.  Now I want Marjean, not just anybody, you hear.”  she was emphatic.

“Miss Ellen, I can sure call her, but she might not come on my say so.”  Cora wasn’t too happy about passing that message on to Mss Marjean.  Miss Marjean could be quite hateful, especially to black people.   She wanted them to stay in their place.  Cora knew Miss Marjean would think she was “getting out of her place, telling her what to do.  Besides, Miss Marjean was albusiness.  She definitely didn’t want to be around with when Miss Marjean was trying to pick Miss Ellen’s businesstry. “Dear Jesus!  You got to help us.  Dr. Evans has got to tell Miss Ellen about them sweet babies before somebody else does.

Instead of calling  MIss Marjean, Cora called Dr. Evans and told him about Ellen’s plan, Dr. Charles said he would take care of it.  He was headed home right now, anyway. Geneva had just called him and told him Cousin Jean had passed.  Geneva, the girls and Josie would be home in an hour or so.  He didn’t think Ellen had been close to Cousin Jean, but he wanted to tell her before Geneva got home.  Geneva was very upset.  Cousin Jean was the only mother she’d ever known.

 

 

”