Deadly Notions - By Elizabeth Lynn Casey Page 0,6
one of the acceptable southern responses I’ve tried so hard to teach you this past year.”
“Lots of people use that expression, Leona.”
“Where? In”—the sixty-something woman curled the corner of her lip upward ever so slightly—“Chicago?”
“No. Everywhere. Including the south.”
“And who in the south might say that?” Leona demanded in a whisper.
“My uncle.”
“You mean the uncle who lives in Florida, dear?”
“Yes, exact—” And then she stopped, Leona’s protest playing through her thoughts before the woman even uttered a word.
“For the thousandth time, dear, Florida is not the south.” Raising her voice for everyone to hear, Leona took command of the conversation, steering it into calmer waters. “Margaret Louise has been telling me all about the party you and Melissa are planning for Sally this weekend.”
“Would you believe my twin is thinkin’ about helpin’?” Margaret Louise bellowed.
Tori swung her gaze back and forth between the mismatched pair. “You do realize it’s a child’s party, don’t you, Leona? That means children will be there.”
“I can wear earplugs if necessary,” Leona countered as laughter erupted around the room.
Dixie tapped her watch. “It’s not seven thirty yet.”
“Oh, stuff a sock in it, would you?” Rose Winters, the group’s oldest member, stamped her foot against the linoleum floor. “This is sewing circle, not story time.”
Dixie’s face turned crimson. “But if we talk we won’t get our work done.”
“And the sky won’t fall down around our ears, Dixie.” Rose leaned forward in her chair and released a cough that nearly shook the room, her failing health not missed by anyone in the room. Least of all, Rose. “I’ve only a dozen years left if I’m lucky and I don’t plan on living them by the hands of a clock.”
The former librarian opened her mouth to speak only to let it snap shut, any protest she could offer stifled by the large eyes staring at her from atop a pair of bifocals. “Now that’s better.” Turning to Tori and Beatrice, Rose continued, the sharp edge to her voice all but gone. “It’s nice to see you this evening.”
Tori flashed a smile at the woman. “And you, too, Rose.”
Georgina Hayes’s wiry figure perked up from behind one of the group’s portable sewing machines, a sympathetic smile on her face. “Victoria, how are you faring with this Samuelson woman in town?”
“Samuelson woman?” Leona set her magazine down once again. “Who’s that?”
Willing her voice to remain even, she shrugged. “Beth Samuelson is Milo’s old college girlfriend.”
“What’s she doin’ in Sweet Briar?” Margaret Louise asked.
Tori looked down at the tote bag in her lap. “She’s here on business.”
“Is that what they call it now, dear?” Leona drawled, her gaze locked on Tori’s.
“Leona!” Georgina reprimanded. “There’s no need to get Victoria all worried about something silly. Milo adores her. You know that. I only brought it up because she came into the town hall today to ask for directions and happened to mention knowing Milo.”
“Is she pretty?”
“Leona!” Rose stamped her foot. Hard. “What difference does that make?”
“It’s okay, Rose.” Tori inhaled every ounce of courage she could muster in order to answer the question as accurately as possible. “Actually, Leona, she’s beautiful.”
“That don’t mean nothin’.” Margaret Louise shot a daggered look in her twin sister’s direction before turning a softer one on Tori. “Besides, you can’t tell much ’bout a chicken potpie ’til you cut through the crust.”
“That’s true,” Debbie Calhoun echoed.
“In Leona’s case we’ve already cut through the potpie right down to the ill tastin’ insides.” Rose’s voice elevated above the chatter in the room, earning a gasp from Leona and laughter from everyone else.
“Oh, quit your gaspin’, Twin. You had that one comin’.” Margaret Louise stretched her pudgy hands over her head and worked to stifle a yawn. “Good men may be as scarce as deviled eggs after a church picnic, but Milo is a good man. Just like my son, Jake.”
Tori closed her eyes, willed her mind to embrace the words she knew to be true. Just because Jeff had cheated on her during their engagement party didn’t mean Milo would break her heart as well. He wasn’t that kind of man.
“So tell us about this party you and Melissa are working on for Sally.” Rose settled back against her cushioned chair. “It sounds very clever.”
Grateful for the change in conversation, Tori removed the wooden box from her tote bag and set it on the table to her side, her hand returning to the bag for the pale yellow skirt she needed to hem. “I don’t want to duplicate what