She walked halfway up the aisle and stopped, tire iron raised like a staff. All eyes followed her as she looked slowly around the church, pointing her arm like a weapon toward any woman under seventy. For a long moment, her gaze held on the soprano. The young woman cast her eyes down as she fidgeted with a barrette holding back her hair.
Finally, Emma Jean broke her stare, speaking again to the full congregation.
Im not going to rest until I find out which one of you is the adulteress who seduced my Jim, she said. And when I do, I may break one or two of Gods commandments myself.
Mama and I spun on our stools in Gladys Diner, listening to the mechanical hum of a plastic cylinder with six shelves of revolving pies. The scent of sizzling hamburgers wafted from the open kitchen behind the counter. More than half of the dozen tables in the restaurant were filled. A harried waitress rushed by. Barrel-sized tumblers of sweet tea crowded her tray, and her forehead glistened with sweat.
Ill be with yall just as soon as I can, she said.
Take your time, Mama said. Were in no hurry.
Wed headed to the diner after services at Abundant Hope. Once Emma Jean dropped her bombshell, Delilah hustled her out the door. Pastor Bob immediately took to the pulpit, and signaled the cameraman to start rolling again. Aiming a pious smile at the lens, he acted like thered been no interruption from an unhinged churchgoer, screaming about adultery and murder.
With a rich tenor he launched into Are You Washed in the Blood? and nodded to the choir to join in. I thought the hymn was a poor choice, given the circumstances.
Id jiggled my leg and tapped my fingers through at least half of his long sermon. Mama pinched my arm and promised me pie if I stopped squirming.
So I did. And here we were, reviewing Emma Jeans outburst as we waited to be served.
Who was that girl in the choir she kept staring at? I asked.
Mama had her churchgoing hat on the counter, looking for missing pansies. Thats Debbie, she said. Shes as sweet as a sugar beet, and she has an adorable boyfriend. He was the one with the long hair, playing guitar on the stage. I cant imagine Debbie cheating on him with someone like skinny ol Jim Albert.
You never know what some women find attractive. I didnt add,
just look at Sal
.
More likely, Emma Jean zeroed in because shes the prettiest girl at Abundant Hope. Being pretty is a curse, Mace. Mama patted her hair, preening like a beauty queen.
Ill keep that in mind.
With a squeak from her rubber-soled shoe, the waitress slid to a stop in front of us. She pulled an order pad from the pocket of a forest-green apron, then licked the dull tip of a pencil. Im busier than a horsetail in fly season, Rosalee. Did yall decide?
Charlene
, her name tag said. Thered been no Gladys at the restaurant since the namesake died, but the sign stayed as a memorial to the grande dame of Himmarshee dining.
Mama caressed the pie case like it was a lover. I know what I want. Her fingers traced the path of a butterscotch slice, rotating inside.
I ordered a hamburger and coffee. So did Mama. We each wanted pie. As Charlene hustled off, my eyes roamed the diner. It was all fake-wood paneling and country-themed knick-knacks. A butter-churn decorated one corner; a spinning wheel another.
Whos that sitting with Ruth Harris grandson? I whispered to Mama, as Charlene returned with our coffees. They look like refugees from a Metallica concert.
Whats a Metallica?
Theyre a heavy-metal never mind. I was just wondering how come he and the girl are dressed like that.
Mama answered in my ear. Ruth says thats the fashion among the teenagers these days. Black, black, and more black. Black hair, black fingernails, black clothes. She leaned way back on her stool and gave my own dark ensemble a meaningful look. They look like theyre going to a mortician convention.
I was gazing into the mirrored wall across the room, trying to convince myself I looked more sophisticated than mournful in black, when I saw Jeb Ennis walk through the door. A Western-style denim shirt covered his broad chest. The snap buttons gleamed like rare pearls. My hand flew to smooth my hair, knocking my coffee cup off the counter and right into my lap.
Ouch! Ouch, ouch! I yelped, hopping to my feet. Every head in the diner, including Jebs, swung my way.
Unlike the police station swill, this coffee was nice and hot. I clamped a hand over my mouth as I pictured red blisters bubbling like lava on my thighs.
Charlene, fetch my daughter some ice, Mama yelled. Shes drenched in coffee.
I wondered if it was possible to be any more embarrassed.
And hurry, honey. Mace might hurt herself again before you get here.
At least I had my answer about exponential embarrassment.
I watched in the mirror as Jeb pulled a white handkerchief out of his jeans pocket. He grabbed a glass of ice water off a table and dunked it in.
Here you go, Mace. Easing me back onto the stool, he tenderly placed the wet handkerchief over my lap. That should feel better.
He scooped a handful of ice from the pitcher Charlene held, and rubbed the cubes across the tops of my thighs.
Now my face felt hotter than the coffee burn.
I thanked Jeb and swiveled to the watching diners: Im fine, everybody, I announced. Thatll be my last performance of the night. Yall can go back to eating now.
Laughter lit the flecks of gold in Jebs green eyes. I think the patients gonna live. He bowed to the room, to scattered applause.
He placed his hat over his heart, and said in a lower voice, Mind if I join you, ladies?
Mama returned his smile with a dimpled grin and an adorable eyelash flutter.
I could practice in the mirror every day for a year, and never manage that flutter without looking like something was stuck in my eye. But when Mama does it, men swoon.
Mace, honey, move over a seat so itll be girl, boy, girl.
Ignoring her request, I slid my purse off the empty stool to my left. I patted the green-and-brown-striped plastic, giving him a wide smile. Yes, do sit down, Jeb. My voice was banana-pudding sweet.
Mama raised her eyebrows. Maybe you two young people would like to chat. Ill just go powder my nose.
As soon as she left, I wiped the smile from my face. Ive got a couple of questions for you.
Jeb cocked his head at me. Id been distracted by shiny shirt buttons and scalding coffee. But I hadnt forgotten what Id learned at the Booze n Breeze.
I had a nice little chat with somebody about your visits to Jim Albert at the drive-thru, I said as he sat down.
He gave me a puzzled frown. What are you talking about? Whod you talk to about me?
Im not going to say where I got the information. But it seems you two were a lot better-acquainted than you let on. Whyd you lie to me, Jeb?
His eyes darted to the counter. He lined up a napkin holder shaped like a horseshoe. He straightened a place mat with a red star for our little town above Lake Okeechobee on the map of Florida. Picking up a fork, he stared at it like the words he wanted might be written there.
I didnt lie, Mace. He finally looked into my eyes. I just left some things out. I hadnt seen you in years, and you ask me out of the blue did I know a man whod just been murdered. I did know him. But I really didnt want to get into how, especially standing in a parking lot with your sister firing dirty looks my way.
You could have said something, Jeb.
He pointed the fork at me. To get right down to it, I didnt think it was your damned business, Mace.
I batted his hand away, getting angry now. Not my business?
A trucker at the end of the counter glanced at us over the top of his menu. I lowered my voice. I suppose you didnt know the cops believed my mother killed Jim Albert. I suppose the news of her being jailed never reached that ranch of yours.
Surprise flickered across his face. It looked genuine.
Maddie and I were trying to find out who else might have had a reason to murder him. Then I hear how the two of you had a big fight.
Jeb clenched his jaw hard. Did you tell anybody else about that?
Not yet. I wanted to give you the chance to explain first.
My mind flashed back more than a decade, to the night Id caught Jeb with another girl at a popular lookout over the lake. Id given him the chance to explain then, too. I should have cracked his trucks windshield with Emma Jeans tire iron instead.
Im gonna tell you the truth, Mace. I borrowed some money from Albert. The man was bleeding me dry. We argued, yes. But I swear to you, I never laid a hand on him.
I heard different.
And Im saying I never hurt the man. His warm hazel eyes went cold. I dont know where you got that. Did that girl behind the counter tell you something?
No, I lied.
Well, whoever it was is wrong. And why would you believe them over me? Weve known each other since we were kids, Mace.
I thought about that long-ago night at Lake Okeechobee. Jeb had rushed after me, telling me Id misunderstood everything. The girl meant nothing. It was the first time hed even kissed her. It was a mistake. He begged me to forgive him.
I did, and found out later hed been seeing her on the side for five weeks.
Mace? he said again, jarring me back to the present.
I took my time before answering, looking around the restaurant. Mama had taken a seat with Ruth Harris grandson. She and the girlfriend-in-black were sharing a slice of butterscotch pie.
In a quiet voice, I said, You dont have the best track record with me for being truthful.
Jeb picked his hat up and stood. All you can see in me is that stupid twenty-something kid, cheating on you with another girl. I was a scoundrel, Mace. Im sorry I broke your heart; but that was a long time ago. Ive grown up. Ive changed.
He placed the hat on his head, and tapped the brim as he looked at me in the mirror. My regards to your mama. I think Ill skip dinner tonight. It seems Ive lost my appetite.
He started to walk away, then turned to whisper in my ear. Id appreciate it if you wouldnt go around spreading lies about me and Jim Albert.
What? I whispered back. Like you owed him money and now hes conveniently dead? Thats not a lie, Jeb. Thats a fact.
He straightened, staring at me for a long moment. His eyes looked just the same as the night Id accused him of cheating. Hurt. Bewildered. Angry that I could believe something so awful about him.
I couldnt help but remember how convincing Jeb had seemed back then. And all the while, hed been lying like a tobacco company bigwig testifying to Congress.
What in the name of Mike was all that about? Mama slid her coffee cup back onto the counter and climbed up on the stool in front of the hamburgers Charlene had finally delivered.
I dont want to talk about it. I stared straight ahead at the stainless steel wheel above the kitchen. So many white order slips were clipped up there, it looked like laundry day for a race of tiny people.
Mama reached over to straighten my bangs. Well, Im not surprised. You seem just about talked out after that scene with Jeb. What were you two whispering about, Mace? I could hear you all the way over to the table with Ruths grandson. The way you were hissing, it sounded like somebody stepped into a mess of snakes.
There was a snake, all right; and its name was Jeb Ennis.
Mama, did you know Jim Albert loaned money to people?
I didnt know too much about him, Mace. But what I had heard, I didnt like. Truth is, this whole marriage came up awfully fast. I dont believe they dated for more than a few months. And I always thought Emma Jean could do better. I think she sensed I disapproved of Jim, because we didnt talk much about him.