Between Heaven and Texas Read Free Page B

Marlena’s hearing) that she married Noodie just so she could spend the rest of her life punishing him. That wasn’t wholly true, but the seed of resentment Marlena carried within her, coupled with an unhealthy devotion to their only child, Jack Benny, did nothing to help their marriage. And what is certain is that Marlena, who, by virtue of being a Benton as well as president of the Too Much Women’s Club and the Episcopal Church Altar Guild, was the most influential woman in town, and she was more than willing to use that influence to make sure Taffy Tudmore Templeton would live her life on the lower rungs of the town’s social ladder.
    After years of trying and failing to work her way back into the good graces of the women of Too Much, Taffy started searching for satisfaction in other areas. She tried to join the Women’s Club but received no response to her application. And though she found the rite too formal and dry for her Methodist sensibilities, she visited the Episcopal church, thinking that if she transferred her membership, then Marlena would have to accept her, if only out of Christian duty. But though Father Winston greeted her warmly after the service, the ladies of the church were decidedly cool, and Marlena actually turned her back when Taffy approached, embarrassing her in front of everyone.
    Deciding that if she could not achieve social success she would try to distinguish herself personally, she attempted to pick up the family mantle and take up needlecraft, but had little talent for it and less patience. She took up the culinary arts next, becoming a good cook and an outstanding baker, but became discouraged when, year after year, her entries in the county fair failed to earn ribbons. Taffy was a natural competitor, but it’s no fun competing when there’s no possibility of winning. As long as the game was being played in Too Much, Taffy knew she didn’t stand a chance.
    But one day, when the twins were about ten, Taffy saw an advertisement for the Miss Goody Gumdrops Beauty Pageant to be held at a Holiday Inn outside of Waco. She filled out two forms, one for Mary Dell and another for Lydia Dale, sent in the entry fee, and got Silky to whip up some fancy dresses for the girls.
    Lydia Dale placed first in her age group and was awarded a crown and a twenty-five-dollar savings bond. Mary Dell was named Miss Photogenic and placed third in the talent division for her energetic and mostly on-key rendition of “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.”
    The thrill that ran through Taffy when she saw that rhinestone tiara placed on Lydia Dale’s head was electric. When she returned to Too Much, she bought an enormous glass display case and made Dutch move the television cabinet into a corner to make room for it.
    â€œDon’t you think it’s sort of big to hold one little crown?” he asked after Taffy placed Lydia Dale’s tiara on one of the empty shelves. “It looks lonely sitting there all by itself.”
    â€œIt won’t be lonely for long,” Taffy said, her eyes glittering with conviction.
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    Thanks to Lydia Dale, Taffy’s prophecy came true. More malleable than Mary Dell and blessed with poise her sibling lacked, Lydia Dale filled the display cabinet with tiaras, sashes, and scepters. The pageant costumes and gowns were stored in a closet lined with cedar paneling that Taffy had made especially for the purpose. It stretched the length of the girls’ bedroom wall and was stuffed to bursting with glittery, satiny, silky gowns, most belonging to Lydia Dale. Mary Dell’s pageant career was over before her thirteenth birthday.
    Puberty hit Mary Dell early and hard. Almost overnight she grew up and out, towering over her sister by six inches and developing a figure that had, as they say in Texas, “more curves than a Coke bottle.” Mary Dell was as pretty as ever, but pageant judges preferred petite, perky little