“You’ll think it’s odder when you’ve met all of us. But as long as the houses are still standing, I’ll keep renting them. Which is where you come in.”
“Glad to do my part.”
Tracy knocked on Alice’s door. Earlier she had seen Janya walking in this direction, so she hoped to do a two-for-one introduction. Wanda opened the door, and Tracy realized she’d hit the jackpot.
“It’s a party and I wasn’t invited?” she asked.
“Keep your shirt on, woman. Janya came over to help Alice with something, and when I saw there was a gathering, I brought a pie for everybody to taste. I’m thinking it might be good for opening day.”
“What pie?”
“Elvis Surprise. Elvis’s favorite sandwich was peanut butter, bacon and banana.”
Tracy made a face. “Bacon? That’s bogus.”
“Crushed peanut brittle, mashed bananas and chocolate chips.” Wanda looked up at Pete. “You look like a man might appreciate a slice of pie.”
Tracy made the introduction, and Wanda stepped back to let them inside. Janya, Lizzie and Olivia were clustered around the dining room table, with Janya pouring iced tea from a cobalt glass pitcher. Alice was just coming out of the kitchen with matching plates.
Everybody stopped as Tracy introduced Pete.
“Pleased to meet you,” Pete said. “Is this everybody?”
“My mom’s not here,” Lizzie told him. “Olivia and me were playing with my new metal detector, then we came inside. It’s heavy! Miss Alice made a tablecloth for Olivia. She crocheted it. It’s beautiful.”
“Where is it?” Tracy knew how hard Alice had worked on the pineapple pattern tablecloth, and how many obstacles she had overcome to finish it for her granddaughter. Tracy had seen the tablecloth right after Alice completed it, but Alice had insisted it had to be washed, starched and stretched out to dry before it could grace a table.
“On the floor in Nana’s room,” Olivia told her. “First you put down a shower curtain, then a sheet, then you mark the sheet as a pattern, then you put down the tablecloth and pin it to fit.
Pete smiled at the girls. “Sounds like quite a project.”
“My mom’s planting flowers,” Lizzie told him.
“I probably saw her. Up the road?”
“Maybe. She’s around.”
Wanda left for the kitchen. “I’m dishing up pie. I’ll just assume everybody wants a piece. Don’t tell me if you don’t, on account of my feelings will be hurt.”
“Do you have an extra minute?” Tracy asked Pete. “Wanda’s pies are spectacular.”
“I never turn down pie.”
The girls made room at the table, and Pete took a seat beside Lizzie, who, without a hint of shyness, began to explain how she and Olivia had made certain there wasn’t a single ruffle or pleat in the tablecloth as they pinned. Pete, who clearly liked kids, asked all the right questions.
Wanda was just bringing in the pie when the front door opened and Dana appeared. She stood in the doorway a moment, as if her eyes were adjusting.
“You’re just in time,” Tracy told her. “Wanda’s testing another pie, and we’re the guinea pigs.”
“We’ll make room for you over here,” Janya said, sliding her chair closer to Olivia’s. “Come sit with us.”
Dana didn’t move, and she didn’t smile. “Thanks, but I can’t. Lizzie and I need to head home.”
“I haven’t had pie!” Lizzie held up her wrist, adorned by a watch and pointed to the dial. “You said I could stay until five. We were going out to the beach.”
“I forgot. I need to hit the dry cleaner before it closes.”
“Lizzie is welcome to stay here,” Alice said.
“Thanks, but I have other errands, and I need Lizzie’s help.”
“That’s not fair! Can’t I at least have my pie first?” Lizzie asked.
Wanda held up a hand. “I’ll just pack up two pieces, one for each of you, and you can eat them at home tonight. No need to fuss.”
“It’s still not fair,” Lizzie muttered.
Tracy didn’t think so, either, but she wasn’t going to throw fuel on that flame. “Let me introduce you to Pete before you go.” She explained who he was and made the introduction.
Dana gave a short nod. “Lizzie, come on please. Now.”
Wanda returned with a plastic container and handed it to Dana. “Better stick it in your fridge before you go.”
“Thanks.”
Lizzie was still muttering, but she trailed her mother out the door.
“Well, that was something,” Wanda said when they’d left.
With the door open, Tracy saw that CJ had finally arrived and was getting out of a black sports car in front of her house. And not just any sports car. This one