Her Mother's Daughter by Lesley Crewe

way and then the other. She opened her mouth and then closed it. She was so stymied she froze.
    Tansy waited.
    Kay huffed and puffed and nearly blew up from the aggravation, but in the end she just stood there.
    â€œGood day.” Tansy and the dog walked away. When they got a little further down the street, Tansy told Merlin, “Let that be a lesson to you. If you want people to know you’ve arrived, give them something to talk about.”
    Once Tansy dropped her nephew off at the house, she got back in her car and drove down the street. That’s when she noticed she was almost out of gas. She turned around and went in the opposite direction until she saw the Irving sign.
    Tansy pulled in alongside the gas pump and turned off the engine. She then reached in her purse and took out her lipstick, manoeuvring the rearview mirror until she could see her lips. She was applying the first coat when a man wearing coveralls sauntered over to the car wiping his hands on a greasy rag.
    â€œNice car.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œIs there anything I can do for you?” Dermot asked.
    Tansy put down her lipstick. “I’d like some gas.”
    â€œThis is a self-serve station.”
    She smiled at him. “I’m quite capable of servicing myself, but why bother when there’s a handsome guy here to do it for me?”
    Dermot gave her a quick look and then a small smile. He put the rag in his back pocket, and reached for the nozzle. “It’ll be my pleasure.”
    â€œYes, it will.”
    Dermot smirked and started to fill the car. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
    Tansy decided to get out. She opened the door and stood up in one fluid motion, then shut the car door and leaned against it. “Not now. I was in New York. You?”
    â€œMy family is originally from Louisbourg, but I only moved back three years ago.”
    Tansy crossed her arms. “Don’t you go crazy in this small place? Aren’t you tired of servicing Tercels when you can service this?” She tossed her head towards her Porsche.
    â€œIt is tempting,” he smiled.
    â€œI’m Tansy, by the way.”
    â€œDermot.”
    â€œHello, Dermot.” She held out her hand.
    He shook his head. “Sorry, I’d get grease all over you.”
    â€œThat could be fun.”
    Dermot laughed out loud. “You’re not shy, are you?”
    â€œLife is too short,” Tansy sighed. “Would you like to take me out for a drink?”
    â€œWell, I’m…”
    She looked for a ring. “…married?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI’m in luck, then.”
    â€œI have to work until nine.” The pump stopped and Dermot put back the hose.
    â€œI’ll pick you up at nine-thirty, back here.”
    â€œI’m…”
    â€œâ€¦looking forward to it?”
    Dermot stood awkwardly for a moment and looked down the road, before he said, “Why not?”
    She took out her wallet and paid for the gas with cash. “Thank you.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.”
    She got back in the car and drove off.

    When Bay got home she had a fit.
    â€œTansy Gillis, get down here!”
    She heard a hair dryer drone above her head, so Bay dropped the mail and keys on the sideboard and ran upstairs. Her sister was in the bathroom and Bay nearly killed herself on the cord plugged into the outlet across the hall. She lurched into the doorway.
    â€œAre you insane?”
    Tansy shut off the dryer. “Oh hi. I’ve got supper started…”
    â€œWhat have you done to my house?”
    â€œDo you like it?”
    â€œWho gave you permission to come in here and move everything around?”
    Tansy put down the dryer. “I’m sorry. I thought—”
    Bay stamped her foot. “About yourself. You don’t care about anyone else.”
    â€œHey, calm down. I wanted to help.”
    â€œDon’t do this to me. Before