Cass told them. “The stores, as they call them, would be another marketing outlet. Eat some, take some home for the freezer.”
There was a rap on the front window, and Cass looked up to see Belle Outlaw Burrell waving and smiling on the other side of the glass. Cass felt the blood drain from her face, and Sunny looked as if she might bolt out the back door.
Chapter Twelve
Cass hadn’t felt such panic since she’d been called into the vice principal’s office when she was in the eighth grade. No way could she ignore Belle, but she could try her best to head off any problems. Talk about secrets biting you in the butt.
Jumping to her feet, she pasted on a bright smile, waved to Belle and hurried to the front door. She fumbled with the lock and finally got it open. Throwing her arms wide, she ran outside and wrapped her cousin in a big hug.
“For gosh sakes, don’t mention the Outlaw family,” Cass whispered in her ear. “We haven’t told Mother yet. Follow my lead. I’ll explain later.” She grabbed her hand and dragged her inside.
“Why are you closed?” Belle asked.
“We had a flood,” Cass said. “Look, everybody, it’s Belle Burrell. Belle, this is our mother, Gloria O’Connor, and our aunt, Minerva O’Connor. We call her Min. Belle is Sunny’s and my dear friend from Wimberley. She owns the newspaper there. Mother and Aunt Min just got in from France a couple of days ago. They rented a house there and have been having a grand time.”
“Welcome home,” Belle said. “I’m delighted to meet you.Sunny and Cass speak of you often. I dropped by for a visit and a bowl of chili, only to see the closed sign. Am I interrupting something?”
“Not at all,” Sunny said. “We’re just finishing up a meeting and starting to wash dishes.” Sunny explained the vandalism and the flooding.
“How absolutely terrible,” Belle said. “How can I help? I’m not much of a cook, but I can wash dishes.”
“The kitchen staff is arriving shortly, and they’ll see to the rest of the dishes, but thanks, Belle,” Cass said. “We plan to reopen on Monday.”
Belle turned on the charm and chatted with Gloria and Min about their trip. When she heard that Gloria was a painter, she said, “My mother-in-law is a painter, quite an excellent one. She has a gallery in Wimberley, The Firefly. You must come down sometime and visit. Do you paint, too, Min?”
“Oh, heavens no. I do needlework.”
“Don’t be modest, Aunt Min,” Sunny said. “Her needlework is exquisite. I’m so envious. I can barely sew on a button.”
“It was so delightful meeting you,” Belle said to the older women, “but I must be running along. I’m sure you must have a world of things to do before the reopening.”
Min cocked her head at Belle. “Have we met before? You look very familiar somehow.”
“No, I’m sure we’ve never met.”
“Humph,” Gloria said. “I should imagine she looks familiar. Look at her and look at your nieces. They could be sisters.”
“That must be it,” Min said.
“We’ve heard that before,” Cass said. “Strange, isn’t it? Belle, I’ll walk you out. I want to ask you something.” She hooked her arm through her cousin’s and practically dragged her out the door.
Once they were outside, Belle said, “I’m sorry I came at an awkward time. I didn’t dream they were back yet.”
“Not a problem. I’m sorry the situation was uncomfortable for you. We have to tell them about meeting the whole Outlaw family sooner or later, and your visit has given us the perfect opening. I’m glad they got to meet you.”
“I hope it turns out well. Oh, before I forget, Frank and Carrie are coming down next weekend, and Carrie said she wants to meet privately with you and Sunny. We’d love to have you join us in Wimberley on Sunday or, if that’s not possible, Carrie can come to Austin. I think she wanted to combine everything in one trip if possible.”
Curious about the odd request,
There was a rap on the front window, and Cass looked up to see Belle Outlaw Burrell waving and smiling on the other side of the glass. Cass felt the blood drain from her face, and Sunny looked as if she might bolt out the back door.
Chapter Twelve
Cass hadn’t felt such panic since she’d been called into the vice principal’s office when she was in the eighth grade. No way could she ignore Belle, but she could try her best to head off any problems. Talk about secrets biting you in the butt.
Jumping to her feet, she pasted on a bright smile, waved to Belle and hurried to the front door. She fumbled with the lock and finally got it open. Throwing her arms wide, she ran outside and wrapped her cousin in a big hug.
“For gosh sakes, don’t mention the Outlaw family,” Cass whispered in her ear. “We haven’t told Mother yet. Follow my lead. I’ll explain later.” She grabbed her hand and dragged her inside.
“Why are you closed?” Belle asked.
“We had a flood,” Cass said. “Look, everybody, it’s Belle Burrell. Belle, this is our mother, Gloria O’Connor, and our aunt, Minerva O’Connor. We call her Min. Belle is Sunny’s and my dear friend from Wimberley. She owns the newspaper there. Mother and Aunt Min just got in from France a couple of days ago. They rented a house there and have been having a grand time.”
“Welcome home,” Belle said. “I’m delighted to meet you.Sunny and Cass speak of you often. I dropped by for a visit and a bowl of chili, only to see the closed sign. Am I interrupting something?”
“Not at all,” Sunny said. “We’re just finishing up a meeting and starting to wash dishes.” Sunny explained the vandalism and the flooding.
“How absolutely terrible,” Belle said. “How can I help? I’m not much of a cook, but I can wash dishes.”
“The kitchen staff is arriving shortly, and they’ll see to the rest of the dishes, but thanks, Belle,” Cass said. “We plan to reopen on Monday.”
Belle turned on the charm and chatted with Gloria and Min about their trip. When she heard that Gloria was a painter, she said, “My mother-in-law is a painter, quite an excellent one. She has a gallery in Wimberley, The Firefly. You must come down sometime and visit. Do you paint, too, Min?”
“Oh, heavens no. I do needlework.”
“Don’t be modest, Aunt Min,” Sunny said. “Her needlework is exquisite. I’m so envious. I can barely sew on a button.”
“It was so delightful meeting you,” Belle said to the older women, “but I must be running along. I’m sure you must have a world of things to do before the reopening.”
Min cocked her head at Belle. “Have we met before? You look very familiar somehow.”
“No, I’m sure we’ve never met.”
“Humph,” Gloria said. “I should imagine she looks familiar. Look at her and look at your nieces. They could be sisters.”
“That must be it,” Min said.
“We’ve heard that before,” Cass said. “Strange, isn’t it? Belle, I’ll walk you out. I want to ask you something.” She hooked her arm through her cousin’s and practically dragged her out the door.
Once they were outside, Belle said, “I’m sorry I came at an awkward time. I didn’t dream they were back yet.”
“Not a problem. I’m sorry the situation was uncomfortable for you. We have to tell them about meeting the whole Outlaw family sooner or later, and your visit has given us the perfect opening. I’m glad they got to meet you.”
“I hope it turns out well. Oh, before I forget, Frank and Carrie are coming down next weekend, and Carrie said she wants to meet privately with you and Sunny. We’d love to have you join us in Wimberley on Sunday or, if that’s not possible, Carrie can come to Austin. I think she wanted to combine everything in one trip if possible.”
Curious about the odd request,
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