A Little Learning by Jane Tesh

involved with the field landscape, I couldn’t believe it was almost midnight when Jerry came in to check on my progress.
    He stood in front of his portrait, chin in hand. “Well, the picture of me can hardly be improved upon. Have you decided on a third?”
    I’d spent the last thirty minutes agonizing between rust and gold on the leaves. “I don’t know. I’d like all three pictures to work together, but there isn’t a common theme.”
    “Leave mine out and do a third abstract landscape.”
    “I’m not sure there’s time. It’s already Tuesday morning.”
    “Come on to bed. You’ll have a better idea in the morning.”
    “I hope so,” I said.
    He grinned. “Meanwhile, I have some ideas.”
    “I’ll just bet you do.”
    ***
    I set my alarm clock for seven and managed to get up when it rang. I started another abstract and worked in my studio until about eight, when Jerry called up the stairs that breakfast was ready. He’d fixed bacon and eggs. I sat down to eat when the phone rang. He answered it and then handed it to me.
    “It’s Valerie Banner.”
    Valerie Banner sounded as if she were about sixteen years old. “Mrs. Fairweather? I’m Valerie Banner, reporter for the
Parkland Herald
. How are you this morning?”
    “Fine, thanks.”
    “I’d like to set up a time when we could meet so I could interview you for the paper. If we could do it today, I’d have the article ready for the Sunday edition.”
    “We can do it right now.”
    “Oh, but I’d like to get a photo. What’s your schedule like today? I could come to Celosia if that’s easier for you.”
    Besides going to Tori’s, I had my return appointment with Rachel’s art classes, and many more people to talk to. “Ms. Banner, I have limited time today.”
    “Could I meet you for lunch somewhere, then?”
    “I’ll probably be at Deely’s Burger World if you’re familiar with it.”
    “I’ll say! I love their cheeseburgers. I’ll meet you there around eleven thirty, if that’s okay. I won’t take but about twenty minutes.”
    I started to describe myself so we could find each other, but she interrupted.
    “Oh, I know what you look like. See you later.”
    I hung up. “She’s going to meet me at Deely’s.”
    Jerry put more bacon on my plate. “Did she say how you could recognize her? She sounded like a teenager.”
    “No, but she said she knows what I look like. I hope she’s not a pageant groupie. I really don’t want her story to have any sort of beauty queen angle.”
    “I don’t think Valerie was alive when you were Queen of Parkland.”
    I reached over to smack his shoulder. “Thanks a lot.”
    “You’ll have to ask her if she’s got a relative working in the newspaper business. Seems to me I’ve heard the name Banner before.” The phone rang again, and he answered it. “Good morning. Oh, hi, Sylvie. Any luck?” He listened for a few moments and then said, “What, this morning? Sure, come on. Yeah, I’ll be here, no problem. Okay, see you after a while.” He hung up. “Flossie Mae and Sylvie didn’t find the watch behind the door.”
    “I’m shocked.”
    “Sylvie seems to think a quick trip to the spirit world is in order.”
    “So they’re coming over right now?”
    “Just Sylvie. Flossie Mae has a hair appointment.” He put more eggs on his plate and sat down at the table.
    I took a sip of coffee. “Now would be the perfect time to come clean.”
    “We’ll see what the spirits have to say.”
    “Will the spirits be done by the time we’re expected at the chateau?”
    “I’m sure they will.”
    “Jerry, just tell her there’s no gold watch. It’ll save everybody a lot of trouble.”
    I thought I had him convinced until Sylvie arrived. “Oh, gosh, I’ve interrupted your breakfast,” she said.
    “Not at all,” Jerry said. “Come sit down and have some coffee. I can fix more bacon and eggs, if you like.”
    “No, thanks.” She pushed back her untidy long brown hair. “I know