family picnic that ended in a fistfight after Daddys brother Teddy got tossed into a jumbo-sized vat of potato salad.
Thanks for the warning, I said. Now, Ive got to call into work and explain why Im so late.
I already took care of that for you. Everything at the park is squared away. I talked to your boss. I caught her up about your accident, and told her how much you needed some time off. Rhonda said to go ahead and take what you need. She did mention something about a New Jersey woman with a panther, but I didnt catch all that.
I counted slowly to five. It didnt work. I wish you wouldnt do that, Maddie.
Do what?
Step into my life and take over.
Maddie looked wounded. I was just trying to help.
Well, its embarrassing. Ive already got one mother. And I can manage things fine on my own.
Maddie took a long look around my little house, with the dust on the kitchen countertops, my clothes in a heap where Id left them on the living room floor, and Paw-Paws old shotgun leaning against the wall in the hallway.
Hmmm. There was more meaning packed into that little sound and her cocked eyebrow than into a whole half-hour lecture.
I got defensive. Things arent normal right now, Maddie. Mamas been unjustly accused of murder. Someone may have tried to kill me last night. And we still dont know who murdered Jim Albert, and why they planned to let Mama take the blame for it.
Maddie dried off my beer glass. She examined it as she held it up to the light. Youre right, Mace.
I couldnt wait to tell Marty how quickly our older sister had given in. The hunt for water spots or a beer-foam mark on my glassware must have diverted her.
Anyway, lets not fuss at one another. This should be a happy day. Kenny wants to take all of us out to dinner to celebrate Mamas release.
Kenny is Maddies husband of nineteen years, who loves her beyond all reason.
That sounds great, Maddie. If Mamas up to it, of course.
When hasnt Mama been up to anything involving food?
Just then, Maddies cell phone rang. She walked directly to her purse, found the phone in a special pocket shed sewn inside, and answered without fumbling on the second ring. I hated my organized sister.
Maddie listened for a few moments and turned to me. Its Henry, Mace. He says theyve let Mama out early. Hes at the jail, helping her to sign some papers. But he has a court hearing in a few minutes. He cant give her a ride. She spoke into the phone again. Were way out at Maces, Henry. You know she lives out in the hardwood hammock with the wild creatures. Ill call Marty at work and ask her to go meet Mama. The librarys only a block from the jail.
We decided Marty would pick up Mama and wed all meet for lunch at Maddies.
You can borrow Pams car until the police finish up with yours, Mace. Your Jeep will probably need work after you get it dried out, Maddie said.
Maddies daughter, Pam, was a college freshman in California, studying film-making.
I finished my coffee, showered and dressed, and was ready to go before Maddie had put away the last of my dishes.
We were mostly quiet on the twenty-minute ride to Maddies. I was thinking about my close call in the canal, and about everything that had happened since Mama discovered Jim Alberts body in her trunk two nights before.
Hey, Maddie, I finally said. We were just coming up on the brick entryway to her neighborhood, with my sister driving fifteen mph under the speed limit, as usual. Is Pam still looking for a plot for her first movie?
Um-hmm, Maddie murmured, careful to focus her concentration on the right-hand turn shed made onto Whispering Pine Drive five hundred times before.
Tell her I have a good one. It starts with a college girls grandma who murders a man and stuffs his body in the trunk of her vintage convertible.
Not funny, Mace.
Lighten up, Maddie. The worst is behind us.
As we proceeded at a snails pace onto my sisters street, I
Thanks for the warning, I said. Now, Ive got to call into work and explain why Im so late.
I already took care of that for you. Everything at the park is squared away. I talked to your boss. I caught her up about your accident, and told her how much you needed some time off. Rhonda said to go ahead and take what you need. She did mention something about a New Jersey woman with a panther, but I didnt catch all that.
I counted slowly to five. It didnt work. I wish you wouldnt do that, Maddie.
Do what?
Step into my life and take over.
Maddie looked wounded. I was just trying to help.
Well, its embarrassing. Ive already got one mother. And I can manage things fine on my own.
Maddie took a long look around my little house, with the dust on the kitchen countertops, my clothes in a heap where Id left them on the living room floor, and Paw-Paws old shotgun leaning against the wall in the hallway.
Hmmm. There was more meaning packed into that little sound and her cocked eyebrow than into a whole half-hour lecture.
I got defensive. Things arent normal right now, Maddie. Mamas been unjustly accused of murder. Someone may have tried to kill me last night. And we still dont know who murdered Jim Albert, and why they planned to let Mama take the blame for it.
Maddie dried off my beer glass. She examined it as she held it up to the light. Youre right, Mace.
I couldnt wait to tell Marty how quickly our older sister had given in. The hunt for water spots or a beer-foam mark on my glassware must have diverted her.
Anyway, lets not fuss at one another. This should be a happy day. Kenny wants to take all of us out to dinner to celebrate Mamas release.
Kenny is Maddies husband of nineteen years, who loves her beyond all reason.
That sounds great, Maddie. If Mamas up to it, of course.
When hasnt Mama been up to anything involving food?
Just then, Maddies cell phone rang. She walked directly to her purse, found the phone in a special pocket shed sewn inside, and answered without fumbling on the second ring. I hated my organized sister.
Maddie listened for a few moments and turned to me. Its Henry, Mace. He says theyve let Mama out early. Hes at the jail, helping her to sign some papers. But he has a court hearing in a few minutes. He cant give her a ride. She spoke into the phone again. Were way out at Maces, Henry. You know she lives out in the hardwood hammock with the wild creatures. Ill call Marty at work and ask her to go meet Mama. The librarys only a block from the jail.
We decided Marty would pick up Mama and wed all meet for lunch at Maddies.
You can borrow Pams car until the police finish up with yours, Mace. Your Jeep will probably need work after you get it dried out, Maddie said.
Maddies daughter, Pam, was a college freshman in California, studying film-making.
I finished my coffee, showered and dressed, and was ready to go before Maddie had put away the last of my dishes.
We were mostly quiet on the twenty-minute ride to Maddies. I was thinking about my close call in the canal, and about everything that had happened since Mama discovered Jim Alberts body in her trunk two nights before.
Hey, Maddie, I finally said. We were just coming up on the brick entryway to her neighborhood, with my sister driving fifteen mph under the speed limit, as usual. Is Pam still looking for a plot for her first movie?
Um-hmm, Maddie murmured, careful to focus her concentration on the right-hand turn shed made onto Whispering Pine Drive five hundred times before.
Tell her I have a good one. It starts with a college girls grandma who murders a man and stuffs his body in the trunk of her vintage convertible.
Not funny, Mace.
Lighten up, Maddie. The worst is behind us.
As we proceeded at a snails pace onto my sisters street, I
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