It’s been way too long since I’ve been home, Arden thought.
“Hey! It’s the fudge lady!” a little boy with unruly curls suddenly screamed, knocking Arden from her thoughts. A group of children quickly gathered around Lolly. “When’s your next show?” they asked, as Lolly pointed at the clock in the window.
“Five minutes,” she chirped.
“Arden? Arden, is that you?”
A pretty blond woman in bright Lilly Pulitzer and a choker of pearls was holding the hand of a girl, while a gaggle of children trailed closely behind.
“It’s Kathy,” she said. “Kathy Van Wieren.”
Arden felt like Alice again, falling down the rabbit hole. Suddenly, she was back in school, the lonely, shy, dark-haired girl who read too much, in a sea of tall, towheaded, beautiful and popular Dutch girls.
“Hi,” Arden sputtered. “My gosh, it’s been … so long.”
“I haven’t seen you since we graduated,” Kathy said, her chirpy voice as happy as a robin’s. “I heard you moved to New York to write for People magazine…”
“Actually, I live in Chicago and work for Paparazzi,” Arden answered. “I … well, I…”
Arden stopped. She realized suddenly that, other than her job, she didn’t really have a reason for staying away so long.
“Well, it sounds so glamorous,” Kathy said. “Working next to all those stars.”
Kathy gestured at her children. “My life is anything but. Not with five kids … my youngest is six.”
Kathy looked at her youngest, ruffled her locks, and chuckled. “I’m such a good Catholic.”
She continued, “My husband and I live in Chicago, too, but we spend our summers in Scoops at my grandparents’ cottage, and he comes up when he can.”
Lolly reached into her apron to grab some taffy. Kathy’s son lurched for the candy while her daughter hid behind her mother’s body.
“Sugar,” Kathy sighed. “Just what they need. But they just love your mother. Everyone does.” Kathy stopped and smiled at Lolly. “She has always been quite the character, hasn’t she? You two are so different.”
Arden couldn’t help it, but she flinched at Kathy’s words, which made her uncomfortable and reminded her why she had so much trouble coming back home.
“Can we stay and watch her show, Mom?” the little boy asked, his mouth stuffed with taffy. “Puh-leeeze!”
Kathy rolled her eyes at Arden. “Yes, yes, of course. But no more candy, okay?”
Kathy smiled, her eyes traveling southward to search Arden’s left hand. “Are you married?”
“No…,” she started, before Kathy preempted her, whispering, “Oh, my goodness. I’m sorry. I forgot.”
Arden nodded toward her daughter. “That’s my daughter, Lauren. She’s going to be a senior next year at Northwestern.”
“She’s … beautiful,” Kathy said, looking back and forth from Arden to Lauren.
“Thank you,” Arden replied, wondering if her comment was a compliment or veiled put-down. “Well, listen … We just got into town, and we’re exhausted.”
“Let’s do dinner!” Kathy said.
“Sure,” Arden lied.
“Does your Mom still live in that cute little log cabin?”
Arden nodded as Kathy walked on. Arden headed over to her mother and pulled her out of the circle. “Mom, Lauren and I would like to get a bite to eat and then head over to the cabin, okay? We’re tired from the drive. And we need more than sugar for lunch.”
Lolly looked over at Lauren, watching her granddaughter share some of her own taffy with the kids. “Listen, I have shows until seven. So grab a bite, and I’ll meet you at home later on.”
“Really, Mom? You still have shows so late?”
Lolly’s face sagged like a sailboat’s mast.
“Yes, I do,” she said. “People are counting on me. It’s almost Memorial Day. They wait all winter to see my Dolly act, and the weather looks perfect for big crowds. You two go shop, get a glass of wine … relax. I’ll run home after I’m done.
“Now, scoot! Go have some fun. Get in some trouble. It’s summer in Scoops, for goodness’ sake.”
Arden looked at her mother and laughed. “Trouble in Scoops? Now that’s funny.”
Lolly grabbed her daughter by the chin and gave her head a gentle little tug. “Always such a serious face! I’ll see you later. I love you!”
Arden watched her mother immediately transform into Dolly as she walked away, blowing kisses to the crowd now gathering in front, anticipating the next show.
“Ready?” Arden finally asked Lauren.
“Really, Mom? We have to watch Grandma do her thing. She is summer.”
Arden smiled at her daughter, and then nodded. “Okay.”
In her wigs, makeup, and apron, Lolly was the spitting image of the real Dolly Van Voozle featured in the shop’s logo.
Though her mother’s alter ego had often embarrassed her when she was young, it was a perfect fit.
She’s always had a lifelong flare for drama, Arden thought.