My sister and I looked at each other. It was a good question.
We would have gotten the answer, too, if Marty hadnt chosen exactly that moment to pull up in front of Maddies house. She was beeping her horn like Himmarshee High had just won the homecoming game. And there was Mama, grinning and waving from Martys front seat.
Its kind of hard to pretend you dont see Big Sal Provenza. But Mama was doing her best.
Rosalee, I just want to talk to you, Sal begged, placing his palms on the rolled up window on the passenger side of Martys car.
Mama climbed out of her seat, pushed around Sal with a withering glance, and then immediately turned a big smile on Maddie and me. Girls, Im so happy to see yall. I thought Id never get out of that place. Oh, my Lord, the food. And then a visit from that talky Pastor Bob Dixon. And those horrible cots. Mace, you saw those inmate smocks. Remind me never to wear orange again.
Please, Rosalee. Sal ran his hands through his hair, messing up his careful styling. I can explain everything. I just cant do it right now.
She didnt say a word to Sal. The look she gave him said enough. Then she turned to us again, grinning as she squinted in the sun. She was like a swivel-headed doll with two expressions: ecstatic for us; furious for Sal.
I cant wait to have some real food, girls. Maddie, I hope you have something good in your fridge. You and Kenny arent still on that low-cholesterol kick, are you?
Sal tried again. Rosie, honey
Enough! Mama cut him off. Then she glared at him for a full ten seconds.
Sal seemed to shrink in his Big-and-Tall-Man ensemble as the moments passed.
The tense silence was making Marty uncomfortable. She shot an apologetic glance at Sal, then stooped to pick a stem of juniper from the driveway border. Maddie, with her arm around Mamas shoulders, bored a hole through Sal with her own version of laser vision. Watching the two of them staring at Sal, I could see now where Maddie had inherited
The Glare
.
Finally, Mama spoke: I know you want to talk to me, Sally. Im not ready to listen. That detective told me you lied to me about Jim Albert. I dont know what all else you lied about. I dont know whether I trust you anymore. I do know that right now, Im as mad at you as a wasp with a ruint nest.
But Rosalee
Mama put up a hand. Now, why dont you climb back into that gaudy car of yours and give me some time to visit with my girls? I may cool down some, and we can talk later. Or maybe I wont. Youll just have to wait and see.
I had to credit Mamas finesse. Though I did question how a woman who drives a turquoise convertible the size of a cruise ship could call someone elses car gaudy.
She turned her back on him. Cmon, girls, lets go inside.
Maddies hands were at her hips, the better to stare down Sal. Mama looped one arm around Maddies elbow. Marty dropped the juniper and took Mamas other arm. Then the three of them trooped off toward the house.
Sal and I looked at each other over the hood of his car.
Well, youre in some deep shit now, I said.
I cant believe Ive lost her, Mace. Shes my whole world. Wold. Sal leaned his elbows on the roof of his car and dropped his head into his hands. What am I going to do?
You could start by telling her the truth.
He rocked his head from side to side, his crowning glory a complete fright now. I cant do that, Mace. Misery filled his voice. I cant talk about the murder victim; cant discuss how I knew Jimmy Albrizio. Dont you think I would if I could? Id do anything to get Rosie back.
Sal might be macho, but love was bringing him to emotional meltdown. As big as that man was, if he started crying I feared a flood.
Well, what about me, then? I changed the subject. What about how I was run off the road into what could have been my grave? Can you talk about that?
He raised his head. I had absolutely nothing to do with that, Mace. His tone was honest, not evasive. His eyes met mine and held there, no darting about. Either he was telling the truth or he was an Olympic-caliber liar.
Its just that Id have never been out there on that lonesome road if not for you, Sal.
And Im sorry about that. But I explained about the phone call.
Not completely. You never said who called you with a story so terrifying that you ran out and left me swinging in the wind. You could have left me a message at the pro shop.
The junior Don Juan flashed into my mind. He had a message for me all right; but it wasnt from Sal.
I told you I wasnt in my right mind when I left there, Mace. I was frantic.
So, who called?
When Sal told me whod scared him off our meeting, I just about fell down and cracked my one good knee.
___
Opening Maddies front door, I smelled cold fried chicken. Mama was laughing.
Whats so funny? I said, limping into the gleaming kitchen. The place was so clean, you could perform surgery on Maddies stainless-steel countertops.
I was just telling your sisters what my neighbor Alice said about taking care of Teensy for the last two days. That dog can get into more trouble than The smile died on Mamas lips. Cmere and let me take a closer look at you, Mace. She hunted in her purse for the glasses she was too vain to wear. What happened to your forehead? Why are you hobbling?
Maddie shot me a panicked look. Mace hurt herself at the park, Mama.
Thats right, Marty echoed quickly. At work.
We werent going to reveal that someonepossibly Mamas recently departed former true lovehad forced me off the road into a canal.
Actually, it was after work, I improvised, slowly closing the distance to the table. Maddie pulled out a chair for me. You remember that crazy New Jersey lady I told you about, Mama? The one who moved to the country, even though shes scared of anything that slithers, creeps, or flies?
She nodded, a frown on her face. I sat down and let her brush away my bangs to examine my head.
Well, last night, I crawled into her attic after a possum. The crazy thing jumped right out at me. It startled me, was all. I slipped and hit my head on a rafter. Then I took a spill and smacked my knee pretty good.
It scares me how easily I can lie. But I figure if the Lord knows Mama, he must know that a little deception is for the best.
She sighed with relief, resting her hand on my cheek. Is that all, Mace? A trapping mishap? Youll be fine.
I heard Marty let out the breath shed been holding. Crisis averted.
Now, tell me about this beautiful haircut. Mama lifted my thick hair, watching it fall. Maddie says you actually sat still for DVora. Lucky for you that girls better with the scissors than she is with peroxide.
Her fingers went to her own ruined hair, sending platinum strands with gray roots onto Maddies glass-topped table. Lips pressed into a disapproving line, Maddie swept the hairs into a napkin, held it by two fingers, and dropped it in the garbage.
I saw that disgusted look. Mama slathered butter on a piece of white bread. The bones of two chicken legs already littered her plate. I cant believe I endured fifteen hours of difficult labor to bring Maddie into the world, yet a couple of hairs off my poor head gives her fits.
Ive got news. I cut short the oft-told story of Maddies painful delivery. Youll never believe what Sal just told me.
I dont want to talk about that man. Done with her bread, Mama was delicately licking butter off her fingertips.
Dont you want to know why he rushed over to the jail last night, frantic? I asked.
I didnt know he was frantic, and I wouldnt care anyway. Donnie Bailey came back to my cell and asked if I wanted to see him, and I told him absolutely not. Donnie didnt say why Sally was there.
He came because Emma Jean Valentine called him up and told him youd had a heart attack.
Close your mouth, Maddie, I said. Youre gonna draw flies.
Its so rare I get the chance to surprise my older sister. I was taking full advantage.
Emma Jean told Sal I had a heart attack? Mama lifted a fork load of banana cream pie to her mouth. Im healthy as a hog, girls. What was she thinking?
Thats what we need to find out, Maddie said, handing our mother a napkin to wipe meringue off her chin. This isnt the first time Emma Jeans name has arisen since you found the body in your trunk, Mama. I, for one, would like to know why.
Marty darted in like a sparrow after a crumb, snatching the half-bite of pie crust Mama left on the plate. You cant suspect Emma Jean of anything bad, Maddie, she said. Shes so nice.
Maddie and I looked at each other.
Even nice people can have guilty secrets, Marty, I said.
I repeated what Emma Jean told DVora, that she was mad enough to kill over Jim Alberts cheating.
Funny she never told me he was cheating, Mama said. She was likely embarrassed, planning that big wedding and all. Emma Jeans life has had some real heartache, girls.
Maddie snorted.
Dont be mean, Maddie. The poor woman lost her little boy; and theres no heartbreak like that. He ran away when he was just thirteen. They never did find him, neither. It just about tore Emma Jean up. She and the boys father divorced. She just couldnt get over the loss.
How sad. A tear rolled down Martys perfect cheek. Poor Emma Jean.
You might have noticed that picture on Emma Jeans desk at the police department, Mama continued. That was her son.
All of us were silent, even Maddie. She got up to return the sweet tea pitcher to the refrigerator.
I finally said, Emma Jeans not the only one with a secret, Mama. Your man-of-mystery boyfriend has been at the top of our list of possible murder suspects.
I ticked off on my fingers everything we knewor suspectedabout Sal: his criminal ties to Jim Albert; his evasiveness; the fact he had access to Mamas car trunk. The only thing I didnt mention was his possible role in my crash, since we didnt want to scare her.
I dont know, girls. Mama opened the refrigerator and took out the pitcher Maddie had just put away. Its true Sallys lied to me. But I just cant believe hes a killer. Ive always been a good judge of character.
Thats true, Marty said, using a napkin to sop some tea Mama spilled on the floor.
Please! Maddie said. The woman has had four husbands. How good a character judge can she be? She wiped Mamas fingerprints off the door of her stainless-steel fridge.
Now, Maddie, you know thats not fair. Mama took a swallow of sugared tea. Only that second one was what youd call a failure as a human being. And I blame that on me still being in shock over your daddys dying. The last two were good men, just bad matches.
Mama was right. One of those exes still lives in Himmarshee, and brings carnations and chocolates every year on her birthday.
Marty changed the subject. Speaking of men, did Mace tell you she saw Jeb Ennis the other day?
Talk about a suspect, Maddie muttered.
I hadnt told my sisters what the liquor store clerk said about Jeb. For some reason, I felt protective of him. I wanted to talk to him first before I told about his temper and Jim Albert.
That boy sure knew how to handle a horse, Mama said dreamily. I liked him.
Proving my point, Maddie said. Jeb Ennis broke your daughters heart. Id say his character leaves something to be desired.
Mama got up to clear her plate. Sometimes its nobodys fault when a romance fails, Maddie. Jeb was wild and free; Mace is cautious and careful. She was in college; he was in rodeo. Those buckle bunnies on the circuit wouldnt leave him be. Maybe it was good man, bad match.