Leftover Dead (25 page)

“There’s the rub, as Shakespeare would have said. But this gives us something to go on, and if your son can find a marriage license, that will confirm it.”

“I’ll call him and let him know.” Wanda Nell stood. “I’ve got to get back to work.”

“Of course,” Ernie said. “I’ll give this some more thought. Surely I know someone who could help us find out more about Peggy Lewis and who her family was.” She grinned. “I was in about the fifth grade when she was a junior, so I wouldn’t have known her.”

Wanda Nell had to smile. Then she sobered as a thought struck her. “What would her family have done, do you think? Could they have thrown her out if she’d gotten pregnant?”

“Given the time this happened, I’d say yes. Having a baby out of wedlock fifty years ago was pretty shameful, and though it’s hard to believe, some parents would refuse to have anything more to do with a daughter who shamed them in that way.”

Thanks to Miranda, Wanda Nell knew all about it. She had been furious with her daughter, and maybe a little embarrassed, but she had never seriously considered throwing her daughter out and not having anything to do with her.

“I know, dear.” Ernie patted her arm and stood to go. “Thank goodness, some things have changed. For some families, anyway.”

Wanda Nell nodded. “I just can’t help thinking about how sad all this is.”

“It does you credit,” Ernie said, gathering up her things. “But we’re doing what we can, even though it’s been a very long time.” She gave Wanda Nell a quick hug.

Wanda Nell got back to work, somewhat comforted, and Ernie waved goodbye to her a few minutes later as she left the Kountry Kitchen.

A while later, when the lunch crowd was completely gone and the restaurant was quiet, Wanda Nell sat down for a few minutes to have her own lunch. After she ate, she went to get her cell phone out of her purse. She called T.J., and he answered right away.

“Hey, Mama,” he said. “Y’all had quite a time down in Hattiesburg.”

“We sure did.” Wanda Nell glanced at her watch, surprised to note that it was nearly three o’clock. “Have you heard any word from Tuck or Jack yet?”

T.J. laughed. “Oh, yeah. They got back to the office about ten minutes ago. Sounds like Tuck put the fear of God into the superintendent. Tuck says the minute they walked into the guy’s office and he spotted Tuck with Jack, the guy started sweating. He knew who Tuck was, and that made him nervous.”

“Good,” Wanda Nell said, mightily relieved. “Is Jack still there?”

“He is. I’ll get him for you.”

Wanda Nell waited a moment, and Jack came on the line. “Hey, honey, it’s okay.”

“That’s what T.J. said. So he didn’t cut up too rough with Tuck there.”

“He sure didn’t. He backed down pretty quick, so I’m not sure who scared him more, Tuck or whoever called to complain about me.” He paused. “I’m glad he’s off my back, at least for now. Who knows what will happen, though, once he reports back to whoever put him up to calling about me?”

“Then the faster we figure this all out, the better. Honey, Ernie called me when I was on the way to work, and she came by here for lunch. She did some digging in old yearbooks at the Historical Society, and I think we may have found Margaret.”

“Great. Tell me about it.”

Wanda Nell gave him a quick rundown on what Ernie had done. “A girl named Peggy Lewis didn’t graduate. And from what I could see, Jenna Rae favored her.”

“Full marks to Ernie for coming up with that. Sounds like y’all did find Margaret, or rather, Peggy. I’ll tell T.J. He’s still working on finding a marriage license for them. No luck on a birth certificate for Jenna Rae, either.”

“How does T.J. go about looking for these things, anyway? Are they all on the computer somewhere?”

“I’ll let him explain that to you, honey. I’m about to head home. I’ll pick up Juliet from her grandmother’s, and we’ll stop at the grocery store on the way home. Can you think of anything in particular we need? I’ll make a list.”

Wanda Nell thought for a moment before rattling off a short list of items. “Got ‘em,” Jack said. “Now here’s T.J.”

“Hey, Mama. So you were wondering how I go about finding marriage licenses and birth certificates?”

“Yes, I was. Aren’t they all on the computer now?”

“They probably are in most counties in the state, but the public can’t access them. You still have to write to the appropriate county and request the information. And of course it costs money.”

“That can take a while, can’t it?” Wanda Nell was dismayed at the thought.

“It can,” T.J. admitted. “But when you’re doing it for a lawyer, you can speed up the process a little. I just call the county clerk’s office in whatever county and work out something with someone in that office. I can usually get the information back in a day or two. In fact, I should be hearing back sometime today from the Forrest County clerk’s office, and Lamar County, too.”

“I see. Well, I hope they call back soon. I think we’ve found out Margaret’s name, though. Get Jack to tell you.”

“I will,” T.J. said. “Before you go, Mama, what about talking to Grandmama again? Jack said y’all are pretty certain she knows something about this.”

“We think she does. But from the way she reacted the other day, we’re a little worried about asking her again. It surely has to involve your grandfather, and she’s always been touchy where he’s concerned. She probably doesn’t want us raking up anything bad about him.”

“There’s probably plenty to rake up.” T.J. spoke wryly. “You ought to hear some of the stories I’ve heard since I’ve been working with Tuck.” He paused. “Let me talk to her, Mama. I’ll see what I can do.”

“If you think it won’t make her have a stroke or something.”

“It won’t,” T.J. said confidently. “She’s a lot stronger than she lets on. She’s pretty tough.”

“Okay. I got to get back to work. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Bye, Mama.” Wanda Nell tucked her cell phone in her pocket, deciding to keep it with her, just in case. Normally she left it in her purse, because Melvin wasn’t real happy about his waitresses getting personal calls during their shifts.

Back out front again, Wanda Nell got busy with the side work that had to be done before the evening regulars started drifting in around five or five-thirty. She had just finished refilling all the salt and pepper shakers when she looked up to see Mayrene coming in the front door.

Wanda Nell put away the canisters of salt and pepper she’d been using and went to greet her friend.

“Hey, girl,” Mayrene said, taking a seat at the counter near the cash register. “What’s been going on? Why weren’t y’all home last night?”

Wanda Nell grimaced. She hadn’t thought about calling Mayrene to let her know they wouldn’t be home last night. She apologized, explaining that they had been detained in Hattiesburg. “I can’t really tell you much more about it right now. I’ll have to fill you in later.”

Mayrene sighed. “Okay, but I’ll be about to bust from curiosity. How about a glass of tea? And you got any of that apple pie today?”

“There’s plenty of pie. Want a scoop of vanilla ice cream with it?”

“I sure do.”

Wanda Nell served her tea. “I’ll be right back with your pie.”

Mayrene had almost emptied her glass when Wanda Nell returned to set down a dessert plate with hot apple pie and ice cream in front of her. “Let me refill that.” Wanda Nell, turned to pick up the tea pitcher.

Mayrene had stuck the first forkful of pie and ice cream in her mouth, and the expression on her face made Wanda Nell smile.

“Pretty good, huh?” Wanda Nell asked, setting the pitcher on the counter.

Mayrene nodded, still chewing. After she swallowed, she said, “Like heaven on your tongue, girl. That’s the best apple pie I’ve ever tasted.”

“Glad you’re enjoying it.” Lately, Mayrene had been skimping on desserts, trying to shed a few pounds. But after her fights with Dixon Vance, maybe she had given up on that. Wanda Nell was about to ask her straight out when Mayrene spoke.

“And before you ask, I’m still seeing Dixon.” She stuck more pie and ice cream in her mouth, savoring it. “We had a long talk, and he’s real apologetic about everything.”

“You’re satisfied with that?”

“Yeah, I am. We talked about some stuff we never talked about before, and I flat out told him if he wanted me, he was pretty damn much going to have to take me the way I am. I’m not changing for any man, no matter how I feel about him. It just ain’t worth it, in the long run.”

“Good for you.” Wanda Nell had seen her friend go through some bad patches in the past, just because she had been trying to change her habits for the sake of a man. It had never worked out, and Wanda Nell was pleased to know Mayrene had finally come to this decision. “All I want is for you to be happy.”

Mayrene grinned. “Well, I got to find me something else to do these days, you being all lovey-dovey with Jack all the time.”

Wanda Nell blushed, and Mayrene cackled with laughter. “Girl, the way you blush, somebody’d think you’d never been married before.”

“Oh, stop it. Can I help it if Jack’s a lot more romantic than Bobby Ray ever thought about being?”

Mayrene laughed again, more quietly this time. “Jack is everything that jackass Bobby Ray never was, and you deserve the best, darling. You know that as well as I do.”

“Thank you.” Wanda Nell tried not to blush again. “You got a date tonight?”

Mayrene nodded, her mouth full of the last bit of pie and ice cream. After a moment she said, “Yeah, Dixon’s coming over for dinner after his shift.” She glanced at her watch. “Guess I’d better get a move on. I got to get by the grocery store and get cooking.” She grabbed her purse from the stool beside her and rifled through it, looking for her wallet. She pulled out some money and put it on the counter. “That cover it?”

Wanda Nell pushed back two of the bills. “It’s way more than enough, and you know it. How many times have I got to tell you, you’re not going to leave me a tip, girl?”

Mayrene shook her head as she stuck the two dollars back in her purse. “I swear, you try to be nice, but some people. . . .” She grinned. “Later, girl. You got to tell me everything.”

“I will,” Wanda Nell promised. “Now get on out of here, and let me get back to work.” Smiling, she took the money to the register and rang up Mayrene’s ticket.

Business was slow that evening, and Melvin sent them home at nine-thirty, saying he would close up on his own. Wanda Nell and Ruby accepted with gratitude. “I’ve got a test tomorrow, and I really need to study for it some more,” Ruby said as she and Wanda Nell walked out to their cars.

“Don’t stay up too late, now,” Wanda Nell said. “I know you’ll do just fine. You always do.”

Ruby’s face shone from Wanda Nell’s praise. “I sure hope so. Good night, Wanda Nell. Drive safely.”

“You, too, honey.”

The drive home was quiet, and she was looking forward to a little relaxation with Jack before bedtime. Jack met her at the door with a smile and a kiss.

He shut the door behind them and followed her into the kitchen. “Juliet’s already gone to bed. I think Belle and Miz Culpepper wore her out. Not that she seemed to mind. There sure aren’t many girls her age who’d willingly spend that kind of time with two elderly women.”

“I know. I’m proud of her for it, but I do worry about it sometimes. She doesn’t have that many friends her age.”

“She’s selective,” Jack said, “and she doesn’t go for these little cliques so many girls have. She just ignores them.”

“Good for her.” Wanda Nell opened the refrigerator door and was peering in. “Did you get some orange juice?”

“I did. It’s there somewhere.”

“I found it.” Wanda Nell reached into the fridge. “Want some?”

“No, thanks.” Jack retrieved a glass from the cupboard and took the orange juice from her. “You sit, and I’ll serve. You’ve been on your feet, and I haven’t.”

Wanda Nell smiled up at him. She sipped at her juice while he replaced the carton in the fridge.

He sat down at the table, a big smile on his face. “I’ve got good news.”

“We could use some.” Wanda Nell rubbed the back of her neck with one hand. “What?”

“T.J. called a little while ago. He went by to see his grandmother this evening, and he had a little talk with her.”

“And?” Wanda Nell prompted him. He was teasing her.

“And,” Jack said, drawing out that one syllable, “she’s going to talk to us tomorrow morning. She wouldn’t tell T.J. what she knows, but there
is
something. We’ll find out in the morning.”

During the night Jack had nightmares, and he woke Wanda Nell up twice, thrashing about in the bed. Both times she woke him as gently as she could, and they talked about his dreams until he was able to drop off to sleep again. The night before, at Miss Lyda’s, the first night after he had discovered Howell’s body, he had slept soundly. This night, however, he had very little restful sleep.

Wanda Nell and Jack awoke to a knock at their bedroom door. “Mama, are you awake?” Juliet called.

Jack stirred beside Wanda Nell. “What time is it?” he mumbled, pushing his tousled hair back from his forehead. He squinted at the bedside clock. It was almost nine.

Juliet called out again. “Mama? It’s almost nine o’clock. And y’all are supposed to go over to Grandmama’s house at ten.”

“We’re awake now, baby,” Wanda Nell called out. “We’ll be up in a minute. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll start breakfast.”

Both Wanda Nell and Jack were sitting up in bed. “That was one lousy night,” Jack said. “I’m sorry, love. I know you didn’t get much rest, either.”

“I’m okay. It’s you I’m worried about. Those awful dreams you were having.”

Jack shuddered. “Lord, I hope they go away soon. They were horrible.”

Wanda Nell leaned toward him and kissed him. “I know. I’m praying that they go away soon, but don’t you be worried about waking me up, honey.”