The Chicken Sisters - K.J. Dell'Antonia Page 0,130

and Gus to take down a light he’d set up there, shrugged. “We’ve left worse messes,” he said. Then he looked around. “Well, maybe not, actually. Good luck.”

Barbara disregarded the crew rolling up cords under her feet and spoke to Mae. “What’s this about Amanda stealing a recipe?” She sank into a dining room chair, one of six that were strewn across the grass, and Amanda saw Nancy watching her thoughtfully.

Mae was watching Barbara, too. She flushed. “I saw Amanda in Mimi’s one night. I didn’t tell you. And then, when Andy tasted the chicken and it was the same, he thought—well, I thought—she took it. And I said so. To Sabrina, with the cameras . . . I’m sorry. I should have given you a chance, Amanda. I should have known you wouldn’t lie.”

Barbara looked up, energized for a moment. “You know your sister doesn’t tell lies, Mae.” She glanced at Amanda, and their eyes met. “She does a lot of things, apparently, but not that.” Her voice slowed, and she paused, as if looking for words.

Amanda could see that Nancy, and probably every adult on the patio other than the self-centered Sabrina, now disappearing in the distance, had begun to realize that Barbara had more problems than just a messy house. She put a hand on Nancy’s shoulder and nodded toward her mother, speaking softly so her mother wouldn’t notice the exchange. “I’ll tell you later,” she whispered, and caught Aida’s eyes on them, and Andy’s. He, too, would have to know.

After much too long, Barbara went on. “I’m glad about Mimi and Frannie,” she said, “but there was more to all this. Your man,” she said, now looking at Nancy. “He and his father put me through a rough time. Wanted to buy the place out from under me, and they were willing to do just about anything to make it happen.” She spoke very slowly, as though choosing every word. “We’re a ruthless lot on all sides, I guess. Maybe it’s time we stop working against each other.”

“Past time,” said Nancy. “And I want to say it too, Mae. I’m sorry. When Gus showed me the recipe, I was worried about the chicken, and then when I read the back—I should have come over right then, and I didn’t. Maybe I could have prevented all this.”

“Maybe,” said Mae, sounding more cheerful now and watching Sabrina and her crew pack into their cars. Amanda looked at her. Are you going to tell us now? Mae shook her head, glancing at their mother.

“And maybe it’s all for the best.” She clapped her hands together briskly. “Either way, we have some figuring out to do,” she said, then, looking around: “And some cleaning up.” She visibly assessed her troops, and her gaze landed on Gus. “You,” she said. “Mom, how about launching our détente by having Gus help you prep for Mimi’s tonight? That frees up Muscles here”—she gestured to Andy—“to give us a hand for another hour or so.”

Barbara hesitated, and Amanda watched Mae play her trump card. She knew what her sister was trying to do—get Barbara out of the house before she had a chance to start putting things that “we might need” or “I could sell” back inside. “Of course,” Mae said thoughtfully, “if you need Andy . . .”

Barbara got up instantly. “I’m fine, Mae,” she said, and looked at Gus. “I know you’re good on the baseball field,” she said. “You any good in the kitchen?”

Gus nodded, with a glance at Amanda. She smiled encouragingly. “I am,” he said. Barbara took his hand, and together they marched off for the restaurant.

“Nice one,” said Amanda softly to her sister, and Mae laughed.

“Andy,” she said, “Mom’s kitchen? It’s a nightmare. But the more we get out while we’ve got that giant dumpster thing they brought, the better.”

Andy nodded. “I’ll help,” said Jay, and Amanda watched doubt temper Mae’s resolve. Jay smiled reassuringly, and as he did, Kenneth walked up, followed by Patrick, each carrying a container of iced coffees.

“We,” Kenneth said, “are in, too. Patrick will check the basement for the valuable antiques I am dead sure aren’t in there, and I will provide Andy and Jay with additional hard labor in return for the promise of what I understand is the Mimi’s-and-Frannie’s famous fried chicken dinner.”

Mae and Amanda both looked at him, surprised.

“Ran into Sabrina on the way out, arguing with someone about how to set this up for tomorrow morning’s big winner announcement,”