Hotter than Texas (Pecan Creek) - By Tina Leonard Page 0,38
decide which way his weather vane is blowing,” Kel said. “I just need a few pairs of underwear and a toothbrush.”
Jake glanced at Bobby. Bobby shrugged at Jake, lacking advice.
“Get whatever you need out of the guest room,” Jake said, and went upstairs to crawl in bed and think about Sugar.
Morning dawned bright and fresh, so Lucy pedaled the bicycle she’d found in the garage over to Charlotte Dawson’s house for another day of shipping jeweled and sequined funcaps for men. After waiting up in Sugar’s room all night for Maggie to come in, she’d heard the door open at five a.m., heard her mother quietly close the door and creep upstairs. Worry about Maggie had robbed her of any chance of sleeping after that, and besides, she had to be at Charlotte’s early but even her short day job was going to be tough today.
She slowed her bike when she saw Vivian Bentley standing in front of her house, planted in the sidewalk, obviously waiting for her.
She was not in the mood for whatever the witch was brewing. Lucy stopped her bike in front of Vivian. “Hello, Mrs. Bentley,” she said, in her best schoolgirl voice. “Nice morning, isn’t it?”
“I’d like to speak with you, Lucy,” Vivian said, “if I might have a moment of your time.”
“I’m kind of in a hurry, Mrs. Bentley.”
Vivian sniffed. “Charlotte’s peter heaters can wait. Come inside and have a cup of tea, please.”
Lucy shivered, her bare arms in her white blouse prickling in the sunshine. “Where should I put my bike?”
“I believe,” Vivian said, looking at Lucy’s transportation, “that is my old bike I used to ride into town for groceries. Since it’s older than you, you may lean it against the porch column. I doubt anyone will steal it.”
Lucy felt somewhat cowed, which annoyed her. I’ve been dressed down by military brass and other assorted assholes—why does uptight VB intimidate me?
She followed Jake’s mother inside the small, tidy home. “I don’t need tea, thanks, though. I really must hurry, Mrs. Bentley. Mrs. Dawson doesn’t like it if I’m late.”
“Very well. As Charlotte is the topic of conversation I want to discuss with you, we can start there.”
“Okay,” Lucy said, knowing very well that Charlotte had mentioned “friendly” competition between the two women. It might be friendly, but Charlotte had seemed distinctly pleased at being able to outdo her neighbor. “What’s up?”
“I want you to quit your job with Charlotte.”
Lucy’s eyes went round. “Why?”
“I have my reasons.”
Lucy glanced around the small house. Perhaps it lacked the charm of Charlotte’s, but maybe she felt that way because she liked Charlotte and Vivian could take a leap into the PC creek and she wouldn’t care. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Bentley. I need the work. I can’t quit Mrs. Dawson, and anyway, I wouldn’t, without a really good reason.” She looked at Vivian, who seemed mildly annoyed that she was resisting. Lucy figured most people probably folded like a piece of paper if Vivian so much as gave them the evil eye.
Military life had been rife with evil eye. She was pretty jaded to it. Lucy stood a bit taller, secure in her stand.
“Then your mother will not be the mayor of the Pecan Creek Christmas parade,” Vivian said.
“Like Maggie cares,” Lucy shot back.
“I think she does,” Vivian said. “I think your mother also seems to want to join the book club and a few other select circles in town.”
“How do you know?” Lucy asked, curious. “Are you the head witch with final say-so on all the circles?”
Vivian’s lip curled. “You might say that.”
Lucy edged toward the door. “You’re a mean old woman. I don’t give a damn what you do to me. But if you upset my mother, you horrible old crow, I’ll tell your son that you’re a stinky, bossy, meddling old bitch and that he needs to put you in a home. I swear I will.”
Vivian stared at her. “You filthy-mouthed slut.”
Lucy shrugged. “Back at ya. Nice chatting with you, Mrs. Bentley, but I have to run.”
“Leave the bike,” Vivian said.
Lucy laughed. “You know what your problem is? You think you’ve got power because you’ve cowed everybody in this one-horse town. You have no power over me.”
Vivian smiled. Her lips thinned, and the smile never reached her eyes. “Oh, I think I do. Either you quit working for Charlotte, or you’ll be out of the house in a flash, you and your tawdry sister and your smoking mother.”