Thirty and a Half Excuses by Denise Grover Swank Page A

you he was innocent?”
    I put my foot on the shovel and pushed it deep into the dirt, then twisted to glance up at him. “I just knew. And because I knew, it was the only right thing to do.”
    “I hear you know things.” He was behind me now, so close I’d elbow him if I put some effort into turning over the dirt.
    Icy dread slid through my veins.
    “How do you know things, Rose?” he said, pushing me with his words.
    Suddenly Bruce Wayne was next to me, picking up a shovel. “I’m ready to get back to work now.” He turned to Jonah. “It’s coming along, ain’t it?”
    Jonah smiled, but for the first time, it wasn’t genuine. “That it is,” he said, then turned around and went back into the church.
    What had Jonah Pruitt heard about me, and why was he so interested? Was he just another in a long line of preachers determined to rid me of my demon?
    “Are you okay, Miss Rose?” Bruce Wayne asked in a hushed tone.
    I released a nervous laugh. “Of course. Why are you asking?”
    “It looked like he was upsetting you.”
    Suddenly, I felt foolish. Everyone in town knew I’d helped free Bruce Wayne. Of course the reverend had been curious. “I’m fine. Men of the cloth just seem to find me lacking.”
    “Me too,” he said quietly before he pushed his shovel into the dirt.
    Bruce Wayne and I had more in common than being accused of murders we didn’t commit.
    I had planned to stay for the rest of the afternoon, until Violet needed to leave the store, but I was worried Jonah would come back and try to continue our conversation. What did he think he knew about me? I told Bruce Wayne to finish the east side, then show up early tomorrow to receive the flower shipment and start on the west. We’d tackle the short south and north sides on Saturday and Sunday afternoon if needed.
    Violet was surprised to see me when I walked through the door. “I thought you wanted to help with the planting.”
    “I did. But I changed my mind. They’re making good progress without me.”
    Violet took me at my word and turned her attention to some paperwork on the counter. I went outside to check on the flowers. To keep the plants in the flats looking lush and healthy, we had to water them multiple times a day. Watering them now seemed like a good time filler since I didn’t feel like telling Violet about my interaction with Jonah. If I hung around inside, she’d be able to tell something was eating at me, and she’d pry it out of me. I really needed advice on how to handle the situation, but Violet was the last person I wanted to talk to about it after our earlier interactions, and Joe was unavailable for who knew how long. Besides, I knew perfectly well what he’d say. Quit. But the money was too good to pass up, and Jonah hadn’t done anything bad. He just made me feel uncomfortable. I was probably being too sensitive.
    When I went inside, I leaned against the counter. “Vi, maybe you should go out to the church tomorrow to check on the progress.” If she went, I wouldn’t have to see Jonah.
    Her head lifted, surprise in her eyes. “Why?”
    “Well…it’s your name and reputation on the line too. Maybe you should give it your stamp of approval.”
    She laughed, pulling off her apron and washing her hands in the nearby sink. “I saw the plan you drew up. It was great. Why wouldn’t I like it?”
    How could she do that? How could she tear me down in one breath, and then build me up in the next?
    “You don’t want to see it at all?”
    She looked up and smiled. “I trust you. You’re really good at landscaping, so I’ll just see it when it’s done. You can surprise me.”
    I wanted to protest and tell her I refused to go back out, but then she’d want to know why.
    Violet grabbed her purse as a black sedan pulled into the parking lot. She put her hand on her chest and took several deep breaths. “Brody’s here.” Her skin was flushed, and she looked more excited than a person had a right to be about a