Law and Author (11 page)

Lizzie shrugged. “Okay, that explains some of the settings but I give, who else?”

“Well, I invited Teensy and she asked if she could bring someone along. I don't have a clue as to who it could be, so don't bother asking. Now, I guess there is one thing you can do and that's take care of your okra.” The doorbell rang. “Or rather, would you mind seeing who that is? And I'll just set the okra in the microwave.”

Lizzie nodded and went to answer, opening it as the second ring sounded, wondering who it might be as everyone knew to just walk in.

“Hey, again.”

Lizzie looked from Darla to Wade, who managed a wide, if not sincere, smile.

“We thought we might as well come early and see if we can be of any help to Molly.” Darla led the way inside. “Is Granddaddy here? I don't see his car.”

“He's running an errand and will be back any minute. Come on out back.”

Lizzie puzzled over this change in plans. From late to early. What was that all about? Molly looked pleased to see them both.

“Can we be of any help?” Darla asked her. Darla looked from Molly to Lizzie and then to Wade. Lizzie noticed he made a subtle movement of his head toward the door.

“I'll bet you've already been helping a lot, Lizzie. Why don't you go outside and relax and take Wade with you so that he's not in the way. Now, Molly, what can I do for you?”

Lizzie wasn't quite sure what to make of that. A new, concerned, helpful Darla? And what had that look from Wade meant? Did he want her out of there and she just refused? Lizzie glanced at him to see his reaction. He looked okay with it all.
Odd.

“There's nothing that I can think of,” Molly said. “Why don't y'all just help yourselves to a drink and go outside, enjoy this great weather, while I finish this up. It won't take but a few minutes.”

Wade helped himself to a beer, not bothering to ask the women what they wanted. He was taking a drink out of the bottle when Lizzie heard a knock and the front door opened. Sally-Jo and Jacob appeared through the hallway door and greeted everyone.

“I've brought a pecan pie I baked this morning,” Sally-Jo explained as she cleared a spot on the counter for it. “I've been baking up a storm this weekend.” She giggled. “It helps to keep me calm.”

Jacob grimaced but Sally-Jo didn't notice.

“You leave tomorrow for your mama's, don't you?” Molly asked. She put the pot of carrots on the back burner of the stove and walked over to Sally-Jo. “How are things going in that department, honey?”

Sally-Jo shrugged. “I guess I'll find out tomorrow. As of this minute, we're still at an impasse and I'm no way any wiser as to what to do about it.”

Jacob put an arm around Sally-Jo's shoulders. “I'll just bet when you get down there and are talking to her in person, she'll feel more included in the plans and then go along with what you want. I'm sure she wants what will make you happy.”

“I'm sure any mama feels that way,” Molly added. “She would be feeling a bit out of all the planning excitement we've been lucky to share. I'm sure Jacob is right. Once you're there and possibly asking for her input on some of the other items, she'll be more likely to give way when it comes to your dress.”

“You think so?” Sally-Jo sounded a bit more optimistic.

Lizzie noticed Wade shake his head and pull Darla toward the door.

“I do,” said Molly. “Now, I want all you young people to go outside and sit and enjoy some drinks and starters—Sally-Jo, you'll just pull them out of the fridge, won't you—and let me get on with what needs to happen indoors. Scoot, now.”

Lizzie was about to follow the others outside when Teensy arrived, dressed in a vivid red caftan trimmed with shimmering gold, and an older man in tow. Lizzie almost dropped the plate she was carrying when she realized the man was Stanton
Giles, her music director. He noticed her at the same time and grinned, a little embarrassed, Lizzie thought.

“Y'all, I want to introduce Stanton Giles,” Teensy said, adding Bob, who'd just slipped into the kitchen behind them, to the sweep of her arm. “Of course, you would know him, wouldn't you, Lizzie? He's the wonderful, accomplished director of Lizzie's choir and I do so love classical music, as y'all know.”

Lizzie avoided looking at Molly, certain she wouldn't be able to keep a straight face. First time she'd ever heard of Teensy's passion for music. Oh well, Stanton was a grown man, Lizzie told herself. And he was probably in for a very good time or a bumpy ride. She wasn't quite sure just which it was and probably would never find out, she realized. Not that she wanted to.

“It's very nice to see you, Stanton,” Lizzie said. “We're just starting with drinks out on the patio.”

“Oh, yes, let's join them,” Teensy said, “or do you need my help, Mopsy?”

“No, you go on out and meet the others. You, too, Bob. I need some space and some quiet to perform some magic.”

After Teensy had done the rounds of introductions, she accepted a white wine spritzer from Bob, much to his surprise, and sat down very close to Stanton on the wicker love seat. “How long have you lived in Ashton Corners, Stanton?”

Lizzie leaned a little closer. She didn't know very much about the guy either, and now that he might be entering their little group, she was curious. She was just about to ask him something herself when Mark Dreyfus came out the kitchen door, carrying a tray of white wine spritzers.

“I guess I'm the official booze server,” he said, winking at Lizzie.

Sally-Jo leapt off her seat and took the tray from him. “I
hate to see a member of law enforcement having to moonlight.”

“You never say that to me,” Jacob said in a pseudo-whisper.

Everyone burst out laughing. Lizzie noticed Darla rolled her eyes at Wade, who made a cutting motion against his throat. She suddenly felt chilled.

Mark pulled up a chair beside her and gave her hand a squeeze. “I'm afraid it's another eat and run night.”

“No matter. I'm glad you're here. Molly is, too.”

After about twenty minutes, Molly appeared at the door. “Y'all come on in.”

They settled in their seats quickly with Bob and Molly as anchors at each end of the large dinner table. The pale peach damask cloth served as the perfect backdrop to the large centerpiece of cut flowers from Molly's garden. Almost the entire top of the table was covered with serving dishes, cutlery and everyone's plates. It looked like Molly had worked all day but Lizzie knew from experience how efficient she was when it came to entertaining large numbers of hungry people.

Lizzie was pleased to be seated next to Teensy. She hoped to quiz her about how she came to know Stanton Giles well enough to ask him to dinner. She'd just have to wait for her chance. Partway through the meal, it presented itself. Stanton was in deep conversation with Jacob, so Lizzie leaned into Teensy. “Okay, spill. How do you know Stanton?”

Teensy giggled and looked over at Stanton. “He is quite a catch, isn't he, sugar? Why that mane of white hair. It makes him so artistic looking, so virile.”

Lizzie almost choked on the sip of wine she'd just taken.

“It's quite romantic, the way we met. I was at the Valley Gardening Center, struggling to load a bag of peat moss into the trunk of my car, and he assisted me.”

“Romantic?”

“Yes. Chivalrous. I like that in a gentleman, especially one so handsome. Well, one thing led to another and he asked me out to dinner. This is our second date.” She sounded very pleased with herself.

“And you didn't think to mention this? You know he's my choir director.”

Teensy patted Lizzie's hand. “I didn't want to jinx it, sugar. He's my first beau after the disaster last summer with our former mayor.”

She looked so hopeful that Lizzie gave her a quick hug. “Fingers crossed.”

As Andie set the dessert in front of everyone, Bob asked Darla what her plans were now that Wade was in town. Molly looked at the pair seated to her right, a fork in her right hand held at half-mast.

Darla squirmed in her chair. “Well, I hadn't planned this to be so public but I'd kind of like to stick around a while longer. And get to know you better, Granddad. But we've still got this problem of not having enough money to stay on. And we can't keep mooching off you forever.” She sounded sincere.

Lizzie looked sharply at Darla, trying to detect any subtext but she seemed truly apologetic.
Maybe Molly is right. Cut her some slack.

“We're sort of in need of some cash for food and stuff. There's a microwave in the motel and we're trying to save money by eating in as much as possible. But then there's the rent.”

Molly cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention. “I have a suggestion.”

Darla's face lit up.

“We're planning a gigantic book sale to raise funds for
the literacy program here in town. Both Lizzie and Sally-Jo teach classes that meet here in my house. The other book club in town, Readers Are Us, has taken on a book sale as their main community project this year and they're donating the funds to the literacy program. So, I volunteered our group to help out. The more hands the better, you know.” Molly looked at Lizzie, who nodded. “Anyway, Darla, long story short, we're collecting donations and sorting them starting next week at the community center during Easter break. Maybe you and Wade would help out and we'll pay you a salary.”

Lizzie glanced at Wade in time to see the shocked look on his face before it was replaced by something more neutral. Lizzie knew that Molly would be paying that bill but at least it would get them more help and also put an end to the handouts.

“And, maybe we could also talk about you doing some shifts in my bookstore, A Novel Plot, Darla.”

“Uh, sure.” Darla glanced at Wade and narrowed her eyes. “That makes me feel a whole lot better. I sure do hate asking for money.”

“Great idea,” Wade added, not sounding at all like he meant it, and took a large drink of his beer.

Molly beamed. “That's set, then. Lizzie is in charge so she'll tell you when you're needed and what to do. Now, coffee anyone?”

*   *   *

L
izzie kept looking toward the door into the activity room at the community center the next morning. She had five volunteers helping sort the books that had been dropped off at the center over the past few weeks, and she was waiting for Darla and Wade to arrive. She'd asked them to be there
at ten. It was half past and still no sign of them. She sighed. She knew they wouldn't work out.

Andie hauled a box of books over to where Lizzie stood sorting through her own large one. “These look to all be big picture books, you know the kind my mama leaves around for everyone to see? The ones that scream, ‘I have excellent taste.'”

“Coffee-table books. Let's have a look.” Lizzie grinned as she pulled out a couple of home decorating hardcovers and two travel books on Italy. “These are in great condition. If all the rest of them are also, we'll just put them in the individually priced section. Why don't you put the box over at the end table for sorting?

“Okay. I thought the dream team were coming and helping to pick up boxes that are being donated. I have the list ready to go.”

Lizzie sighed. “I know. Hopefully they'll arrive soon. Do you need a map?”

“Naw. I know most of these streets. They've been divided up so that all five stops are in the same area.” Andie tugged at the silver ring attached to her lip. Lizzie cringed, hoping it wouldn't start bleeding. “They're not the most reliable, are they?”

“No. But I'm hoping they'll get into the swing of things once they get started here.”

“Do you think she's out to fleece Bob?”

“Why do you say that?”

Andie shrugged. “Well, it's like she just shows up and Molly takes her in. Then he shows up and Bob pays for their motel. And now, they're being paid to do, what? Nothing, by the looks of it.”

“It's hard to turn away a grandchild, and Molly wants to help as much as she can.”

“Yeah, but like, those two don't even seem to be grateful. They take the money and that's it.”

“Interesting observation.”

Andie shrugged. “I don't like them.”

“Stephanie seems to like Darla.”

“That's because she feels sorry for her. I guess she can relate a bit. She came here with no money and no friends a couple of years ago. But she wasn't looking for a handout.”

“It's really not up to us what happens moneywise.”

“I know. And then, there's this murder. I think something fishy is going on there, too. Like, this stranger is going to just show up and get killed right after another stranger shows up and gets taken in.”

A small part of Lizzie was just a tiny bit pleased that someone else agreed with her, but she quickly banished that thought. She also knew this wasn't the kind of talk that should be getting around. “We can't jump to conclusions.”

“No and that's why we should be doing more to find out what happened to the guy.”

The door banged noisily against the wall as it was pushed open. “Here they are now.” Lizzie went over to meet them, with Andie close behind.

“Sorry we're late,” Darla mumbled. “What do ya want us to do?” she asked as she looked around at the activity in the room. Wade stood watching but not saying anything.

“I'd like you to drive around to some homes and pick up their boxes of donations. It's nice to have a guy to help with this. Andie will go with you. She knows the streets, and of course, you'll be paid for your gas.”

Darla shrugged. “Hokay.” She glanced at Andie. “Where to?”

Andie grabbed her jacket and led them back through the door. Lizzie breathed a bit easier. She'd been wondering if there'd be resistance to the task, although Wade didn't look
any too pleased. He was Darla's responsibility, though. If he wanted money, he'd have to do what was asked of him. It was that easy. Although Lizzie had imagined it would be hard.