Hotter than Texas (Pecan Creek) - By Tina Leonard Page 0,13
we’re looking for a figurehead mayor, so to speak, I present Ms. Maggie Cassavechia to the town council for consideration.”
“Really, Jake,” Vivian said, “you don’t want to burden our newcomer with town duties right away.” Vivian’s smile stretched at Maggie, who looked back at her, transfixed like she was in front of a cobra. Even from fifty paces back, Sugar could tell the smile masked annoyance.
“We don’t really need a mayor, do we?” another gray-haired woman asked.
“Although I’m sure you’d do a lovely job, Maggie,” a lady said. Her sweet face was bright in the unforgiving lights of the courthouse room.
“I think Maggie would make a fabulous mayor for us.” An older lady with a tall hairdo and starched clothes pinned Vivian with a meaningful gaze. “Peachy idea, Vivian. We owe you a debt of gratitude, Maggie, for agreeing to this. Welcome to Pecan Creek.”
Vivian seemed to sit straighter in her blue shirtwaist dress. Sugar was fairly certain Jake’s mother was faking her charm school diploma right now. She smiled syrupy-sweet at her son. “We’ll certainly give it some thought. Maggie, can we offer you some coffee?”
“Maybe with a little strychnine in it?” Lucy hissed in Sugar’s ear.
“You should come to our Bible meetings on Sunday mornings,” the tall woman said, “and we have a book chat on Wednesday night. We’d love to have you join us.”
There was definitely a power struggle being waged, but Sugar couldn’t tell who was on what team.
“Yes,” Vivian said, her gaze on her son. “We would so love to have you join us, Maggie. I’m sure you could contribute a fresh point of view to our meetings.”
Maggie seemed flustered. “Thank you.”
“They don’t like her,” Lucy whispered to Sugar. “Those bitches.”
“How can you tell?” Vivian was probably always a little frosty. Maggie had been known to wear down the frostiest of people. Eventually, everyone loved Maggie.
“They’re waiting on Vivian to give the nod to really warm up to Mom.” Lucy grimaced. “Only that tall battle-ax has stood up for Mom.”
“And Jake.”
Lucy gave her a sharp glance. “Jake is using Mom. He’s not standing up for her. The fink. Wait till I get my hands on him.”
Sugar blinked. She watched Maggie dig around in her purse.
“I’m sorry, there’s no smoking allowed in the courthouse, of course,” Vivian said.
“I was getting a piece of gum.” Maggie pulled a stick from her purse. “Want one?”
The four women opposite Maggie shook their heads. Jake took a stick, popping it into his mouth with gusto.
“I’m going down there.”
Sugar grabbed her sister’s arm. “No! Let Maggie win them over.”
“Why?” Lucy bristled. “They aren’t interested in her being the may—”
“Anyway,” Jake’s booming voice came to them all the way up the aisle, “if Maggie doesn’t mind being mayor, that leaves the rest of you free to be ambassadors of good will.”
“Really, Jake.” Vivian’s voice was sharp. “We don’t need ambassadors. Pecan Creek is good will.”
“You could have fooled me,” Lucy said on a hiss. Sugar patted her sister’s arm once more.
“Perhaps a man is what you’re really looking for,” Maggie said.
Vivian drew back.
“In a mayor, I mean,” Maggie said, floundering.
Jake stood and helped Maggie to her feet. “Possibly a male mayor is exactly what the council had in mind. Vivian, Charlotte, Dodie, Minda, I’ll see you at the next meeting.”
“It was nice to meet you,” Maggie said, and Vivian inclined her head. The other ladies each offered her a hand but with little enthusiasm.
“That’s it,” Lucy snapped. “I’m taking Mom home.”
She strode down the aisle toward Maggie. Sugar followed.
“Oh, here are my daughters, Jake,” Maggie said, sounding more braced. “Ladies, I’d like to introduce you to my daughters, Lucy and Sugar.”
Sugar put out a hand. She got the same limp-wristed treatment her mother had gotten. Lucy didn’t bother. Vivian’s gaze locked on Sugar first, then Lucy.
“Well,” Vivian said, “these are the people to whom you rented our house, Jake?” Her gaze traveled from Lucy’s short brown Uggs to her rhinestone navel ring just above her cut-off sweat pants with glittered Victoria’s Secret lettered up the side. Lucy’s chin-length red hair had frizzed in the August heat and the warm kitchen, making her look like a wiry doll. Vivian’s gaze moved to Sugar, checking out her short-shorts, her pigtails, thumb ring and, Sugar was certain, her chipped toe nails.
Screw her, Sugar thought. Lucy’s right. She’s from the school of cold-and-clammy. I’ve seen corpses with more body heat. Jake must get his warmth from the other side of the family.