Рита Браун - Pay Dirt

"Well—"

"Wear the drop pearl earrings. Discreet, yet they make a statement."

"All right." Aysha marched into the bedroom, took off her enameled earrings, and plucked out the pendant pearls. "These?"

Exasperated, Norman joined them. "Aysha—please."

"All right, all right," she crossly replied. "I'm ready."

"I hope you'll be made president of the branch now." Ottoline inspected her son-in-laws attire. He passed muster.

"This isn't the time to think about that."

Her lips pursed. "Believe me, there are others not nearly so scrupulous. You need to go into Charlottesville and talk to Donald Petrus. You're young, but you're the obvious person for the job."

"I don't know if that's true."

"Just do as I say," she snapped.

"There are others with more seniority," he snapped back

"Old women."

"Kerry McCray."

"Ha!" Aysha finally entered into the conversation. "She murdered Hogan Freely."

"Like hell she did. She'll be found innocent."

Ottoline tapped her foot on the floor. "Innocent or guilty… she's irrelevant. You must seize the day, Norman."

He looked from mother-in-law to wife and sighed.

28

Harry hated these dolorous social events, but she would attend. Sad as such events were, not to pay one's last respects meant just that, no respect.

She hurried home from the post office. Miranda had spent the day dashing back and forth between the mailboxes and her kitchen. Luckily, Blair had helped drive food over to the Freelys' and had run errands for Miranda, because the mail load, unusually heavy for a Wednesday, kept her pinned to the post office more than she had wished.

Once home, Harry hopped in the shower, applied some mascara and lipstick. Her short hair, naturally curly, needed only a quick run-through with her fingers while it was wet.

" What's she doing in there?"Tnckst languidly rolled on the floor, ending up tummy in the air.

"Tarting herself up."

" Did she remember the blusher? She forgets half the time , "Tucker noted.

" I'llgo see . "Mrs. Murphy quietly padded into the small bathroom. Harry had forgotten. The cat leapt onto the litde sink and knocked die blusher into the sink. " You need some rose in your cheeks ."

"Murphy." Harry reached down and picked up the square black container. "Guess this wouldn't hurt." She touched her cheek with the brush. "There. A raving beauty. I mean, men quiver at my approach. Women's eyes narrow to slits. Kingdoms are offered me for a kiss."

" Mice! Moles'. Catnip, all at your feet . "Mrs. Murphy enjoyed the dream.

" Who's there? Who's there ?" Tucker barreled toward the back door.

Fair knocked, then stepped over the litde dog, who immediately stopped barking.

"Hi, cute cakes." Fair smoothed his hand over Tucker's graceful ears, then he called, "It's me."

"I didn't know you were coming," Harry called from die bathroom.

"Uh, I should have called, but it's been one of those days. Had to put down Tommy Bolenders old mare. Twenty-six. He loved that mare and I told him to just go ahead and cry. He did, too, and then I got teary myself. Then that high-priced foal over at Dolan's crashed a fence. Big laceration on her chest. And Patty has thrush."

Patty, a sweet school horse at Sally and Bob Taylors Mountain Hollow Farm, had taught two generations of people to ride.

Harry joined him. She wore a long skirt, sandals, and a crisp cotton blouse.

"I don't think I've seen you in a skirt since die day we were married."

"That long, huh?" She paused. "Now, Fair, you should have called me because I'm supposed to go to the Freelys' with Blair and—"

Fair held up his hand in the stop position. "We'll both take you."

"He may not take kindly to that notion."

He held up his hand again. "Leave him out of the loop for a minute. Do you take kindly to it?"

"If you both behave."

" How about this . "Tucker wagged her non-tail. " Mom's being escorted by the two best-looking men in the county. The phone lines will burn tonight ."

" BoomBoom's will burn the brightest ." Mrs. Murphy was now sitting next to Tucker.

"You'll be pleased to know that I called Blair on my way over, since I anticipated this."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"What if you'd said no? Then I'd lose a chance to see you, and in a skirt too."

Another vehicle came down the driveway. Tucker ran barking to the door. She stopped quickly. " Blair, in the Mercedes ."

Harry kissed the cat and dog and walked outside with Fair. They both got into Blair's Mercedes and drove off.

" How do you like that ? "Tucker watched the red taillights.

"/ like it a lot. It proves that Fair and Blair can both learn to get along and put Harrys interests first. That's what I care about. I want someone in Mom's life who makes her life easier. Love shouldn't feel like a job ."

29

Flowers, mostly pastels and whites, filled every room of the Freely house. Laura sat in the big wing chair by the living room fireplace. At moments she recognized people. Other times she lapsed into an anguished trance.

Dudley, subdued, greeted people at die door. He'd pulled himself together. A few people cold-shouldered Ned Tucker since they heard he'd taken Kerry McCray's case.

Thea, with the assistance of Mrs. Hogendobber, Mim, and Little Marilyn, accepted condolences, shared memories, made sure that people had something to eat and drink. Ottoline Gill, relishing her self-appointed position, led people to Laura and then quietly led them away toward the food table. Everything was well organized.

In the dining room, Market Shiflett kept replenishing the food supply at his own expense. Hogan had helped him secure his business loan. In the parlor, Aysha and Norman talked to people. From time to time Norman glanced at the front door. He looked miserable. Aysha looked appropriately sad.

Harry's arrival with the two men riveted people's attention until Kerry, released from the hospital that morning, arrived with Cynthia Cooper. At the door she greeted Dudley, who waved off Ottoline. He listened intently, then took Kerry directly to his mother. Ottoline was scandalized, and it showed. A hush fell over the room.

"Laura, I'm so terribly sorry."

Laura lifted her head in recognition. "Did you shoot my Hogan?"

"No. I know it looks bad, but I didn't. I admired and respected him. I would never have done anything so horrible. I'm here to offer my deepest sympathy."

You could have heard a pin drop.

Jim Sanburne took control of the situation. "Folks, we've got to reach out for the best in each other. We'll get through this, we'll celebrate Hogan's life by being more like him, and that's by helping other people."

"And by catching his killer!" Aysha glared directly at Kerry until Norman squeezed her upper arm—hard.

"Hear. Hear." Many in the room shared this sentiment.

As people gathered around Aysha, more people poured into the house. There was barely room to turn around. Norman slipped out. Kerry observed this and left, too, after saying good-bye to Laura. Cooper followed her at a discreet distance.

Norman was lighting a cigarette. He stood, forlorn, in the green expanse of the manicured lawn.

She slipped her arm dirough his, surprising him. "I must see you."

"Soon." He offered her a cigarette.

A car was heading toward them. He adroitly extricated diem from die approaching light. "Maybe we'd better walk away from the house."

As they walked off to the side yard, Kerry pleaded, "I can't live this way, Norman. Are you going to tell her or not?"

"Tell her what?"

"That you're leaving her."