“It’s not fair to leave two good men hanging like this.” Fanny Lou poured four glasses of milk and tore the doughnut bag down the side. “They ain’t goin’ to wait around forever. I heard this morning that Rita has been to see him three times this last week. All at the dealership. Do you want her back in those girls’ life, or worse yet, back in his? Sounds like she wants another baby.”

Mitzi knew all that already, but there was still a little niggling thought pestering her about why Graham was attracted to her. Every relationship she’d ever had came up short because she’d measured the guy by the kind of man she thought Graham was. There was no doubt about her love, but his was a different matter. Sure, he said he felt sparks, but that might be because he hadn’t been with a woman in a while.

“Well, cat got your tongue, or are you going to comment?” Fanny Lou asked.

“I thought maybe Rita had given up.” She picked out a jelly-filled doughnut and took a bite out of it.

“That woman is like them flesh-eatin’ fish. Piranhas. She’s made up her mind to have him and she just might get him if you don’t decide what the hell you want. You’re runnin’ from your own heart.”

Mitzi didn’t argue, but why were so many people interested in her life? She was past thirty, had been working and making her own way for the most part for the past fourteen years. Sure, she’d screwed up a few times, but she’d learned from her mistakes.

“Why is it so important to all y’all that I date Graham? Is it because he’s a big man, and I don’t look so fat when I’m with him? Is it because he’s got money, and y’all want to see me comfortable? Just what the hell has he got that keeps you pushing me toward him?” She could hear the chill in her own voice.

“Size and money ain’t got nothing to do with it. You had a glow, a happiness and contentment, when you were spending time with him. The past two weeks you’ve been unhappy, even with this job that used to be your dream come true,” Fanny Lou said. “I want you to be happy like you used to be.”

“And Jody? She needs to be happy, too, right?” Paula asked.