“Why’s that?” Ibby asked.
“I don’t know. She’s always been that way about that tree, like it means something to her. It was here when she arrived, and I guess she wants it to be here when she’s gone.” Doll patted the hairpiece on Ibby’s head. “Okay, I got it looking right pretty. Don’t go messing up what I just done, you hear me? Now I got to go see about Miss Fannie.”
When it finally came time for the party guests to arrive, Ibby and Fannie stood in the front parlor—Ibby in her floor-length dotted swiss dress and an orchid corsage, Fannie in a knee-length robin’s-egg-blue peau de soie with a corsage of pink roses—waiting to receive their guests. The scent of Fannie’s Oriental Rose perfume filled the room. Doll had spent all afternoon making Fannie look presentable. She’d dyed Fannie’s hair and had given her a perm, done her nails, and even put on false eyelashes.
“Doll did a nice job on your dress. I hope you told her so,” Fannie said.
“She did a nice job on you, too,” Ibby shot back, still mad at Fannie for making her wear an old-fashioned long dress.
The grandfather clock in the hall chimed, a reminder that eight o’clock had now come and gone. It was an hour past the party time, and still no guests.
Crow was busy rearranging the bottles on the makeshift bar that had been set up in the front parlor. Birdelia was in the kitchen rewarming the hors d’oeuvres for a second time as Doll set another platter of food on the dining-room table. Through the front window, Ibby could see T-Bone and two musician buddies of his sitting in the rockers on the front porch.
Birdelia came into the room and held a silver tray out to Ibby. “Cheese puff?”
“No, thanks.” Ibby swatted at a paper lantern above her head.
It was the first time she’d ever seen Birdelia in a maid’s uniform. She knew Birdelia hated wearing it, but Doll had given her no choice.
Birdelia narrowed her eyes. “Don’t get used to it.”
Crow was straightening the glasses on the bar. “Queenie borrowed this here tuxedo from Mr. Lionel, the undertaker.” He tugged on the lapel. “Don’t fit quite right.”
“You look just fine, Poppy.” Birdelia patted her grandfather on the back. She put the tray of cheese puffs down on the bar and yanked on her apron. “Mama’s uniform don’t fit me quite right neither.”
Crow said, “Birdelia, why don’t you go ask T-Bone if they need a drink of water before the guests arrive?”
“I just did that not fifteen minutes ago, Poppy,” Birdelia protested.
“I’ll go,” Ibby offered. She started toward the front door.
Fannie grabbed Ibby’s arm with her gloved hand. “Be patient, dear. You never want to be the first to arrive or the last to leave. It’s fashionable to be late.”
“Except to a funeral. It’s not fashionable to be late to a funeral,” Crow chimed in.
Queenie came into the dining room to check on the food. “Lawd, this rate, I’m gone have to take it all back into the kitchen and warm it up again.”
“The guests will be here shortly,” Fannie said, taking a quick glance at her watch.
Everyone’s attention was drawn to a noise that sounded like the howling of the wind.
“It supposed to rain tonight?” Queenie asked.
“No,” Doll said, “that’s the oak tree in the front yard scraping against the house. Always scares me when I hear it ’cause it sounds like an old woman crying.”
“Crow, didn’t I ask you to trim that tree back for the party?” Fannie asked.
“I did, Miss Fannie. Cut off a big limb that was blocking the front walk, but that’s a big tree. Couldn’t do nothing about some of them other branches leaning against the house.”
There was a shuffling on the front porch as the first guests arrived. Sister Gertrude burst through the front door, her robes swinging with every step. She embraced Fannie in a hug that seemed out of character.
“Fannie dear, I’m so happy to see you.” She gave Fannie a kiss on the cheek. “Am I late?”
“No, Gertie dear. You’re right on time. Come on in.” Fannie gestured toward Ibby. “You know my granddaughter.”
“One of our best students.” Sister Gertrude patted Ibby lightly on the shoulder.
“I’ll catch up with you as soon as the rest of the guests arrive,” Fannie said before turning her attention to a man that came in right behind Sister Gertrude. “Why, hello, Kennedy. Been a long time. I see you’ve risen in the ranks. You’re a commander now. It’s about time.”
He kissed Fannie’s hand. “Thank you. So nice to see you.” Then he turned to Ibby. “I believe we’ve met.”
Ibby shook his hand. “Yes, sir. Thank you for coming.”
“Kennedy, dear, would you mind escorting Sister Gertrude to the bar?” Fannie asked.
“My pleasure.” He held his elbow out for Sister Gertrude.
Emile Rainold came next, followed by several of the neighbors, including the Jeffreyses.