by Molly Cannon
She didn’t even blink. “Lucky for you I’m here to make sure things are done the right way, mister.”
“Ha. That’s a good one. How in God’s name did we ever manage without you?” Straightening back to his full height, he turned to the job foreman. “Gil, I apologize for all the fuss, but what do you think?”
Gil scratched his chin like he hated to deliver bad news. “Well, you’re talking more money for a commercial-grade kitchen.”
Donny Joe took off his hat and slapped it on his thigh. “Great. More money’s exactly what we don’t have. Oh, wait. Did I say we? I meant me. It’s my money you’re so eager to spend, isn’t it, Etta?”
“Hold on a minute. It may not be as bad as you think,” Etta said. “I’ve looked at the plans, and I think with just a few simple changes we can turn it into a well-organized working space. If the kitchen can’t operate efficiently, nothing else in the B&B will, either. It’s the heart of the whole entire operation.”
“She has a point, Donny Joe,” Gil said. “I don’t mind hearing what she has to say. Why don’t we go inside so we can sit down and talk about it? Miz Hazel’s main concern was replacing the appliances and upgrading the countertops. It sounds like we need to address some different issues, though.”
Donny Joe could see he was outnumbered, but he wasn’t ready to cave just yet. “Before I agree to anything, I have a condition of my own.”
She crossed her arms across her chest and stuck out her chin. “I’m listening.”
“The construction of the swimming pool will proceed as scheduled and without argument the week after the Grand Opening.”
“But—” She tried to say something, but he held up his hand.
“Quiet, please. I’m not finished. One of the deluxe models, too, as indicated in the plans. No skimping. Kitchens may be your area of expertise, Etta, but swimming pools are mine. You can agree or forget about any changes to the kitchen.”
She started to argue. “I don’t see why a smaller pool—”
He cut her off. “I said no skimping.” He held his ground waiting.
She stared at him, considering his ultimatum. Then she stuck out her hand and said, “You drive a hard bargain, but okay.”
After they shook hands she turned and headed toward the house.
Donny Joe hurried after them. “Let’s try to remember the allotted budget, please.” Gil and Etta ignored him. They had their heads together talking ninety-to-nothing about prep areas and work triangles and other nonsense he didn’t give a flying fig about as they headed for the back door. Of course, Gil would endorse any plan that meant more money. Donny Joe shook his head, mumbled a few choice cuss words under his breath, and trailed along behind them. What a big honking surprise. The remodel was barely under way, and things were already more complicated with little Miss Etta Green sticking her nose where it didn’t belong.
Etta pumped the pedals of the old bicycle down toward Main Street, down toward the middle of downtown Everson. An unruly breeze blasted her eyes until they were red and watering. Her clothes flattened against her body, and her short hair swirled around in all directions as she bent headlong into the strong January wind. Her progress was slow, and she wouldn’t win any races, but it felt good to get away from all the chaos around Grammy’s house and everything involved with the blasted plans for the B&B.
But that was the problem. Everything was in chaos right now. Not just the B&B, but her job and Diego, and then there was the issue of Daphne and her rotten excuse for a mother. She’d left three more messages on Belle’s phone this morning. She’d better call back really soon because the longer they didn’t hear from her the more upset Daphne was going to get. Etta was no good with kids, and explaining why her mother had run off and left her was completely beyond her skill set.
On the other hand, cooking was something she completely understood. She thought Donny Joe might blow a gasket when she’d made such a fuss about the kitchen, but she’d been right, and once Gil had understood her concerns, he’d agreed to the changes. Donny Joe respected Gil’s opinion, so he’d reluctantly gone along, too. Reluctantly, suspiciously, and unenthusiastically. She wasn’t trying to cause trouble, but she didn’t think Donny Joe saw it that way. Making herself scarce had seemed like a good idea, so when she’d seen Grammy Hazel’s bicycle leaning against the garage she jumped on it and made her escape.
Beulah and Daphne had gone into town to buy some material for the stuffed animals they planned to make, and they were going to have lunch at the Rise-N-Shine Diner. If she hurried she’d be able to join them. She took a firm grasp of the handlebars, stood up on the pedals, and pedaled faster toward town.
Beulah’s VW bus was parked in front of the diner, so Etta got off the bike and leaned it against an old lamppost. She wondered if it was okay to leave it without a bike lock, but the diner had big plate glass windows, so she figured it would more than likely be safe enough while she was right inside. She had to remember this wasn’t the big city. In Chicago it would have been gone the moment she turned her back. Pulling open the diner’s front door she walked inside, spotting Beulah and Daphne in a back booth. The smell of grilling hamburgers and chili filled the air.
Daphne stuck her arm in the air and waved. “Hey, Aunt Etta.”
Etta walked over to the booth and sat down beside her niece. “Hey, yourself, Pumpkin. What kind of trouble have you two been getting into today?”
Beulah winked at Daphne. “This girl knows how to shop. We bought up every bit of stuffing we could find in this town. I’d say we have enough for a dozen stuffed dragons at least, don’t you?”
Daphne grinned. “Yes, ma’am. And they’ll each match the colors of a different room upstairs. Aunt Beulah said that’s where the guests will stay.”
Etta smiled at the young girl’s enthusiasm. At least for now she didn’t seem to be fretting over her mother, and she could thank Beulah for that. Her idea to keep her busy by giving her fun tasks involving the B&B had been brilliant, but she also knew Daphne wouldn’t be distracted for long. Belle needed to get her butt back to town pronto. “That sounds like a great plan. I got a good look at the rooms upstairs the other night. Have you seen them, Daphne? Cherry cobbler, banana pudding? I think I put on five pounds just setting foot inside them.”
Before Daphne could answer Bertie Harcourt, the owner of the diner, walked up to their table with a notepad in hand. “Y’all ready to order, Beulah?” Then she spotted Etta in the booth and said, “Well, well. I’m surprised to see you here, Etta.”
“Surprised? Why’s that, Miz Harcourt?”
“Why? Because Grover Millsap was just here saying you’d chained yourself to plumbing in the old kitchen of Hazel’s house. Said they might have to call the fire department, the sheriff, and maybe some bomb sniffing dogs to roust you out of there. He figured grief over your grandmother had more than likely unhinged you a bit. But look at you. Fit as a fiddle it seems to me.” Etta had spent a fair amount of time at the diner during her summer visits to Everson and knew Miz Harcourt was known for making sure no rumor was left unspread around town if she had any say in the matter.
She should have also remembered that even a hint of gossip traveled faster than the speed of light in Everson and trying to outrun it was useless. “Well, I’ll tell you, Miz Harcourt. There were a few little details regarding the kitchen that needed to be dealt with before the construction work got underway. I just needed a surefire way to get their attention. My goodness, I’m sure you know how stubborn men can be when they think they know best.”
That seemed to satisfy Bertie’s curiosity. She clucked her tongue and nodded in solidarity. “Amen, sister. I know exactly what you mean. I hope you set ’em all straight.”
Etta thought back to the less than pleased look on Donny Joe’s face and winced. So much for staying out of his hair. “I’m pretty sure they got the message.”
“So then, what can I get for you gals to eat? Today’s special is my old-fashioned meat loaf w
ith your choice of sides.”
After a few minutes of deliberating, they passed on the special and all ordered cheeseburgers and fries instead.
As soon as Bertie walked away, her grandmother’s lawyer Corbin Starling got up from a nearby table and walked over to their booth. “Good afternoon, ladies. I hope you’re enjoying this nice day we’re having.”
Etta raised her eyebrows and glanced outside where the wind still howled like the dickens. Every fresh, new gust had the window panes rattling in their casings.
Beulah smiled at her old friend. “Why, Corbin, we wore ourselves to a frazzle shopping all morning, so lunch here at the Rise-N-Shine was just the treat we needed.
“Miss Greene, I have the paperwork ready so you can get Daphne enrolled in school tomorrow.” He turned his attention to Daphne. “I think you’ll like Miss Lumpkins. I have a granddaughter in her class. Rose’s her name. I’ll tell her to look for you, okay?”
Daphne seemed to grow smaller the longer he talked. “What’s he talking about, Aunt Etta? I go to school in Houston. I don’t go to school here.”
Etta gave Daphne a quick hug and said, “I know, sweetie. Let me see what I can find out.” She took her napkin from her lap and stood. “Can we speak privately?” Grabbing Mr. Starling’s elbow, she steered him toward the front of the diner out of earshot. “I don’t want to have this discussion in front of my niece. She’s upset enough as it is.”
He seemed flustered by her reaction. “Oh dear. I assumed she knew.”
“What papers are you talking about, Mr. Starling?”
His face turned red, and he shot a quick peek over at Daphne. “I honestly didn’t mean to upset anyone. Last Friday your sister arranged to have Daphne’s school records transferred from her school in Houston to Everson.”
Now Etta remembered Belle mentioning that she planned to do that. She also remembered her saying she would stay in Everson to help until things with the house got settled. With her sudden departure all those plans could be tossed out the window. “She told me she was going to do that. But she’s out of town, and apparently she didn’t mention any of this to Daphne before she left. And I’m sorry, but what does this have to do with you?”
“She called my office this morning. She asked that I follow up in case you needed assistance getting her settled in school as soon as possible. I assumed she’d spoken to you as well.”
“Belle called you? Today? As in this morning?”
“Yes; she said she was out of the country, but hoped she could count on me for my help. She said it was high time Daphne experienced life in the place her dad hailed from.”
“Her dad? Oh my God. She said that?” Etta had always suspected Daphne’s father might be from Everson, but Belle would never reveal a single clue about the man. Until now. And Etta was learning it secondhand from a third party. She wouldn’t care except Daphne was the one caught in the middle of all this ridiculous intrigue.
He cleared his throat and said weakly, “She did, and I told her of course I would help in any way possible.”
“Well. Mr. Starling, we haven’t heard a word from her since she skipped town, and that poor child over there is feeling scared, and abandoned, and confused.”
“Oh, dear. And I just made things worse. I’m so sorry.” He looked stricken by the part he’d unwittingly played.
She felt sorry for the man. “It’s not your fault. We all manage to get swept up in Belle’s whirlwind. So, for now let’s smile and act friendly while I go over and try to put a good face on this for Daphne’s sake.”
“Miss Lumpkins really is a good teacher. Being in school, making some friends might help make things easier for Daphne.”
“Thank you, but if I murder my sister whenever she decides to show up, will you defend me?”
Mr. Starling frowned and shook his head, obviously still dismayed. “I don’t practice criminal law, but in this case I might make an exception.”
Chapter Nine
By the time Etta made it back to the booth, Daphne looked like she was going to cry. Etta wasn’t sure what to say. She couldn’t make promises Belle might not keep. She and Belle had both lived through a crazy, unreliable childhood, raised by parents more involved in their own drama, never considering the damage they did to their two daughters. They’d divorced and remarried three times, and that was just to each other. Two stepfathers and one stepmother had been thrown into the mix as well. Etta and Belle had learned early not to rely on their parents for much of anything. Etta had become the responsible one when she was still too young to cope with the pressure. Grammy Hazel had been the one person who’d anchored her in those stormy times. She wished with all her heart that she was here to tell her what to do now.
In a stricken voice Daphne said, “Aunt Etta, I really need to talk to my mom.”
“I know, sugar. Why don’t we go back to Donny Joe’s and see if we can find out what’s going on with school and whatnot. If she talked to Mr. Starling, I’m sure we’ll hear from her soon.”
Beulah left some cash on the table to cover the bill and they left the diner. “You can stash the bicycle in the back of the bus, Etta. Daphne, you hop in and put your seatbelt on.” They both did as they were told, all somber and silent. Beulah drove the old bus out of town, heading back to Donny Joe’s house. Joni Mitchell played on the radio singing about “a free man in Paris,” dampening the mood even more.
When they reached the house Donny Joe’s truck was in the driveway. It was early afternoon so Etta was surprised to see that he was home. But then again, she had no idea what it took to run a swimming pool business, especially in the dead of winter. They let themselves in and found him talking on the phone.
“Thanks, Corbin. We’ll be by to take care of it as soon as we can. I appreciate it. Bye.” He hung up and turned to face the women who’d just invaded his house again. “Hey that was Corbin Starling. He said he’ll have the partnership papers ready for us to look over tomorrow afternoon, Etta. He seemed to think you might not want to deal with him, though.”
“That’s fine.” His words barely registered. “Daphne—” The young girl ran down the hall toward the room she’d slept in without saying a word.
Donny Joe looked concerned. “What’s wrong? Is she okay?”
Etta sighed. “Not really.”
Beulah patted Etta on the arm. “Let me go check on her.”
“Okay, I’m going to try to reach Belle again.”
Donny Joe walked up and spoke in a soft voice. “I’m not trying to poke my nose in, but did something happen since this morning I should know about?”
“Apparently before she left last week Belle found time to enroll Daphne in school, but she didn’t bother to tell Daphne about it.”
“The poor kid. No wonder she’s upset.”
“I just wish Daphne had gotten the news in a different way. I mean there we were minding our own business eating lunch at the Rise-N-Shine when Mr. Starling came over and asked Daphne if she was excited about starting school tomorrow. You should have seen her face.”
“Damn. That’s why Corbin thought you’d be upset.”
“I’m not upset with him. Naturally, he thought we knew. Belle called him this morning asking for his help and naming me temporary guardian. While she was at it she told him it was time Daphne learned more about the town her dad hailed from.”
“So, Daphne’s father is from Everson?”
“I always had my suspicions, so I can’t say I’m really surprised.”
Beulah walked back into the living room. “She’s on her bed reading. She says she’s fine and doesn’t want to talk about it.”
Etta grabbed her phone and walked toward the back door. “Let me see if Belle is bothering to answer her phone yet.”
She walked outside and sat in a patio chair while punching in her sister’s number. It was probably the middle of the night in Paris. She didn’t care. In fact she hoped it was. The phone rang twice, and she nearly dropped it when her sister a
nswered on the third ring. “Hello? Etta, is that you?”
“Belle, I’m going to kill you. What in the world were you thinking?”
“I was going to call you. How’s Daphne doing?”
“How do you think your eight-year-old daughter is doing? She’s scared, she’s confused, and she can’t believe her mother left her in a strange town with relatives she hardly knows. And on top of that enrolled her in a new school without letting her know a thing about it. Why in the world didn’t you tell her? Other than that, she’s fine.”
“You’re not a stranger, Etta, but okay, I may have screwed up a little. Why don’t you let me talk to Daphne and explain everything? She’s always been an adaptable kid, and she’ll be fine once she understands.”
“She’s always had to be an adaptable kid with you as her mother. That doesn’t make it right. And before I let you talk to Daphne, I think you owe me a few explanations, too.”
“Etta—”
“You said you would be here so I could go home to Chicago. I have a restaurant to run, but of course that doesn’t matter. And the kitchen at Grammy’s house is being demolished and remodeled as we speak, so we all have to stay with Donny Joe. Plans had already been made for Beulah to stay with him, but he didn’t expect a little girl and the likes of me on top of that. So, you might say we’re all being adaptable. Because of you. But that doesn’t mean we like it.”
“I’m sorry, sis.”
“Don’t be sorry, just tell me when are you coming home?”
“Well, that’s just it.”
“Belle.” Etta had a bad feeling about where this conversation was going.
“Roger asked me to marry him. Isn’t that exciting?”
“What does that have to do with you coming home to your daughter?”
“We haven’t worked out the details, but he thought since we’re already in Paris we should treat it like a honeymoon, say two or three weeks at the most.”
