“Full marks to Ernie for coming up with that. Sounds like y’all did find Margaret, or rather, Peggy. I’ll tell T.J. He’s still working on finding a marriage license for them. No luck on a birth certificate for Jenna Rae, either.”
“How does T.J. go about looking for these things, anyway? Are they all on the computer somewhere?”
“I’ll let him explain that to you, honey. I’m about to head home. I’ll pick up Juliet from her grandmother’s, and we’ll stop at the grocery store on the way home. Can you think of anything in particular we need? I’ll make a list.”
Wanda Nell thought for a moment before rattling off a short list of items. “Got ‘em,” Jack said. “Now here’s T.J.”
“Hey, Mama. So you were wondering how I go about finding marriage licenses and birth certificates?”
“Yes, I was. Aren’t they all on the computer now?”
“They probably are in most counties in the state, but the public can’t access them. You still have to write to the appropriate county and request the information. And of course it costs money.”
“That can take a while, can’t it?” Wanda Nell was dismayed at the thought.
“It can,” T.J. admitted. “But when you’re doing it for a lawyer, you can speed up the process a little. I just call the county clerk’s office in whatever county and work out something with someone in that office. I can usually get the information back in a day or two. In fact, I should be hearing back sometime today from the Forrest County clerk’s office, and Lamar County, too.”
“I see. Well, I hope they call back soon. I think we’ve found out Margaret’s name, though. Get Jack to tell you.”
“I will,” T.J. said. “Before you go, Mama, what about talking to Grandmama again? Jack said y’all are pretty certain she knows something about this.”
“We think she does. But from the way she reacted the other day, we’re a little worried about asking her again. It surely has to involve your grandfather, and she’s always been touchy where he’s concerned. She probably doesn’t want us raking up anything bad about him.”
“There’s probably plenty to rake up.” T.J. spoke wryly. “You ought to hear some of the stories I’ve heard since I’ve been working with Tuck.” He paused. “Let me talk to her, Mama. I’ll see what I can do.”
“If you think it won’t make her have a stroke or something.”
“It won’t,” T.J. said confidently. “She’s a lot stronger than she lets on. She’s pretty tough.”
“Okay. I got to get back to work. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye, Mama.” Wanda Nell tucked her cell phone in her pocket, deciding to keep it with her, just in case. Normally she left it in her purse, because Melvin wasn’t real happy about his waitresses getting personal calls during their shifts.
Back out front again, Wanda Nell got busy with the side work that had to be done before the evening regulars started drifting in around five or five-thirty. She had just finished refilling all the salt and pepper shakers when she looked up to see Mayrene coming in the front door.
Wanda Nell put away the canisters of salt and pepper she’d been using and went to greet her friend.
“Hey, girl,” Mayrene said, taking a seat at the counter near the cash register. “What’s been going on? Why weren’t y’all home last night?”
Wanda Nell grimaced. She hadn’t thought about calling Mayrene to let her know they wouldn’t be home last night. She apologized, explaining that they had been detained in Hattiesburg. “I can’t really tell you much more about it right now. I’ll have to fill you in later.”
Mayrene sighed. “Okay, but I’ll be about to bust from curiosity. How about a glass of tea? And you got any of that apple pie today?”
“There’s plenty of pie. Want a scoop of vanilla ice cream with it?”
“I sure do.”
Wanda Nell served her tea. “I’ll be right back with your pie.”
Mayrene had almost emptied her glass when Wanda Nell returned to set down a dessert plate with hot apple pie and ice cream in front of her. “Let me refill that.” Wanda Nell, turned to pick up the tea pitcher.
Mayrene had stuck the first forkful of pie and ice cream in her mouth, and the expression on her face made Wanda Nell smile.
“Pretty good, huh?” Wanda Nell asked, setting the pitcher on the counter.
Mayrene nodded, still chewing. After she swallowed, she said, “Like heaven on your tongue, girl. That’s the best apple pie I’ve ever tasted.”
“Glad you’re enjoying it.” Lately, Mayrene had been skimping on desserts, trying to shed a few pounds. But after her fights with Dixon Vance, maybe she had given up on that. Wanda Nell was about to ask her straight out when Mayrene spoke.
“And before you ask, I’m still seeing Dixon.” She stuck more pie and ice cream in her mouth, savoring it. “We had a long talk, and he’s real apologetic about everything.”
“You’re satisfied with that?”
“Yeah, I am. We talked about some stuff we never talked about before, and I flat out told him if he wanted me, he was pretty damn much going to have to take me the way I am. I’m not changing for any man, no matter how I feel about him. It just ain’t worth it, in the long run.”
“Good for you.” Wanda Nell had seen her friend go through some bad patches in the past, just because she had been trying to change her habits for the sake of a man. It had never worked out, and Wanda Nell was pleased to know Mayrene had finally come to this decision. “All I want is for you to be happy.”
Mayrene grinned. “Well, I got to find me something else to do these days, you being all lovey-dovey with Jack all the time.”
Wanda Nell blushed, and Mayrene cackled with laughter. “Girl, the way you blush, somebody’d think you’d never been married before.”
“Oh, stop it. Can I help it if Jack’s a lot more romantic than Bobby Ray ever thought about being?”
Mayrene laughed again, more quietly this time. “Jack is everything that jackass Bobby Ray never was, and you deserve the best, darling. You know that as well as I do.”
“Thank you.” Wanda Nell tried not to blush again. “You got a date tonight?”
Mayrene nodded, her mouth full of the last bit of pie and ice cream. After a moment she said, “Yeah, Dixon’s coming over for dinner after his shift.” She glanced at her watch. “Guess I’d better get a move on. I got to get by the grocery store and get cooking.” She grabbed her purse from the stool beside her and rifled through it, looking for her wallet. She pulled out some money and put it on the counter. “That cover it?”
Wanda Nell pushed back two of the bills. “It’s way more than enough, and you know it. How many times have I got to tell you, you’re not going to leave me a tip, girl?”
Mayrene shook her head as she stuck the two dollars back in her purse. “I swear, you try to be nice, but some people. . . .” She grinned. “Later, girl. You got to tell me everything.”
“I will,” Wanda Nell promised. “Now get on out of here, and let me get back to work.” Smiling, she took the money to the register and rang up Mayrene’s ticket.
Business was slow that evening, and Melvin sent them home at nine-thirty, saying he would close up on his own. Wanda Nell and Ruby accepted with gratitude. “I’ve got a test tomorrow, and I really need to study for it some more,” Ruby said as she and Wanda Nell walked out to their cars.
“Don’t stay up too late, now,” Wanda Nell said. “I know you’ll do just fine. You always do.”
Ruby’s face shone from Wanda Nell’s praise. “I sure hope so. Good night, Wanda Nell. Drive safely.”
“You, too, honey.”
The drive home was quiet, and she was looking forward to a little relaxation with Jack before bedtime. Jack met her at the door with a smile and a kiss.
He shut the door behind them and followed her into the kitchen. “Juliet’s already gone to bed. I think Belle and Miz Culpepper wore her out. Not that she seemed to mind. There sure aren’t many
girls her age who’d willingly spend that kind of time with two elderly women.”
“I know. I’m proud of her for it, but I do worry about it sometimes. She doesn’t have that many friends her age.”
“She’s selective,” Jack said, “and she doesn’t go for these little cliques so many girls have. She just ignores them.”
“Good for her.” Wanda Nell opened the refrigerator door and was peering in. “Did you get some orange juice?”
“I did. It’s there somewhere.”
“I found it.” Wanda Nell reached into the fridge. “Want some?”
“No, thanks.” Jack retrieved a glass from the cupboard and took the orange juice from her. “You sit, and I’ll serve. You’ve been on your feet, and I haven’t.”
Wanda Nell smiled up at him. She sipped at her juice while he replaced the carton in the fridge.
He sat down at the table, a big smile on his face. “I’ve got good news.”
“We could use some.” Wanda Nell rubbed the back of her neck with one hand. “What?”
“T.J. called a little while ago. He went by to see his grandmother this evening, and he had a little talk with her.”
“And?” Wanda Nell prompted him. He was teasing her.
“And,” Jack said, drawing out that one syllable, “she’s going to talk to us tomorrow morning. She wouldn’t tell T.J. what she knows, but there is something. We’ll find out in the morning.”
Twenty-four
During the night Jack had nightmares, and he woke Wanda Nell up twice, thrashing about in the bed. Both times she woke him as gently as she could, and they talked about his dreams until he was able to drop off to sleep again. The night before, at Miss Lyda’s, the first night after he had discovered Howell’s body, he had slept soundly. This night, however, he had very little restful sleep.
Wanda Nell and Jack awoke to a knock at their bedroom door. “Mama, are you awake?” Juliet called.
Jack stirred beside Wanda Nell. “What time is it?” he mumbled, pushing his tousled hair back from his forehead. He squinted at the bedside clock. It was almost nine.
Juliet called out again. “Mama? It’s almost nine o’clock. And y’all are supposed to go over to Grandmama’s house at ten.”
“We’re awake now, baby,” Wanda Nell called out. “We’ll be up in a minute. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll start breakfast.”
Both Wanda Nell and Jack were sitting up in bed. “That was one lousy night,” Jack said. “I’m sorry, love. I know you didn’t get much rest, either.”
“I’m okay. It’s you I’m worried about. Those awful dreams you were having.”
Jack shuddered. “Lord, I hope they go away soon. They were horrible.”
Wanda Nell leaned toward him and kissed him. “I know. I’m praying that they go away soon, but don’t you be worried about waking me up, honey.”
Jack offered a wan smile. “From your mouth to God’s ear, amen.” He yawned. “I guess I managed to get some sleep. I don’t feel as bad as I thought I would.”
“It was about four when I woke you the second time. You were asleep again by five, so you had a good four hours of uninterrupted sleep.”
“You, too, I hope.”
“I did. We’d better get a move on, though. Miz Culpepper will be testy with us if we’re late.”
Jack took a quick shower, shaved, and dressed in their bathroom while Wanda Nell took her shower in the bathroom she used to share with Juliet. By the time they were both done, Juliet had hot coffee, scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast on the table.
“Thank you, baby,” Wanda Nell said. “This was real sweet of you.” She hugged Juliet.
“It sure is,” Jack agreed, dropping a kiss on top of his stepdaughter’s head.
Juliet turned pink with pleasure. “I like cooking. I don’t mind.”
“Then let’s sit down and eat. I’m really hungry,” Jack said.
They enjoyed their breakfast, but Wanda Nell kept an eye on the time. They finished at nine-forty-three. “We’ll clean up later,” she said. “Just leave everything as it is. We don’t have time to bother with it now.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Juliet said. “But I can stay here and clean up if you like.”
“No, we want you to go with us.” Wanda Nell’s tone brooked no argument. She and Jack had discussed this last night. Until the case was solved, neither one of them felt comfortable leaving Juliet on her own.
The sky was dark with impending rain, and the heat was oppressive. “Looks like we’re in for some bad thunderstorms,” Wanda Nell said as Jack headed the car out of the trailer park.
“That’s what they said on the news this morning,” Juliet agreed. “I was listening to the radio when I first got up. It’s supposed to clear up by this evening.”
“Good,” Jack said. “Let’s just hope it blows through quickly and doesn’t do much damage while it’s here. I don’t like thunderstorms.”
Wanda Nell wasn’t too fond of them either, but she knew Jack had a particular dread of them. He had told her once that his mother had been terrified of storms, thanks to her own father, who had rushed them all into the storm cellar every time a cloud blew up. “My grandfather was the only man in the county who had a storm cellar,” Jack had said. “He grew up in Kansas, and he built one first thing when he moved to Mississippi. Mama told me she spent a lot of time in that cellar.”
Wanda Nell patted her husband’s arm, and he smiled sheepishly.
There was little traffic to slow them, and Jack pulled his car up in front of Mrs. Culpepper’s house on Main Street at three minutes to ten. Wanda Nell was pleased to see T.J.’s pickup parked in the driveway.
“Just in time,” Wanda Nell said. “And just in time to get inside ahead of the rain.” They could feel the change in the air as soon as they stepped out of the car.
Sure enough, the rain hit just as they reached the front door. Belle was there, waiting for them. “Y’all get on in here before you get wet. My goodness, we’re really going to have a storm today. Of course, it’s been so dry the past week or so, we surely can use some rain. The grass has been about to burn up in all this heat, and as for the state of the flower beds in the back yard—well, I just feel sorry for the flowers. They’re drooping like lost children.”
By this time, Wanda Nell, Jack, and Juliet were safely inside the house with the door shut behind them. Jack and Wanda Nell took turns giving Belle a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, and she beamed with pleasure.
“Y’all come on in the parlor,” she said. “T.J. and Lucretia are there, waiting for you. Juliet, I think maybe you and I should take ourselves off to the kitchen. What do you think? I pulled out one of my favorite cookbooks, and I found a recipe for some oatmeal raisin cookies that I’m just about having a fit to try.”
Juliet’s eyes lit up, Wanda Nell noticed with some surprise. She had really meant it earlier when she said she loved to cook. Belle did, too, and perhaps that explained why Juliet was willing to spend so much time here with her grandmother and Belle.
Jack had noticed, too. He shared a smile with Wanda Nell. “I think I’m going to let her start cooking more at home,” Wanda Nell confided in an undertone as they watched Juliet and Belle head for the kitchen.
“Good idea,” Jack said. “If it’s something she’s really getting into, we’ll have to encourage her.”
“Wanda Nell, don’t just stand out there, come on in here.” Mrs. Culpepper’s voice, more ill-tempered than Wanda Nell had heard it in a long time, reached them from the parlor.
“Yes, ma’am,” Wanda Nell called back. “We’re coming.”
“Morning, Mama, Jack.” T.J. stood to greet them.
“Morning, son.” Wanda Nell offered him a kiss.
After a nod to T.J., Jack went to stand in front of Mrs. Culpepper. “Good morning, Miz Culpepper. We didn’t mean to keep you waiting.” He smiled down at her, and Wanda Nell could see the old lady’s expression soften. Mrs. Culpepper had al
ways had a soft spot for a good-looking man, and she had taken to Jack surprisingly well.
“That’s quite all right, young man,” Mrs. Culpepper said in softer tones. “I know it was that fool Belle’s fault, anyway. We could hear her rattling on all the way in here. I can’t believe she took Juliet off to the kitchen.” She shook her head. “She’s bound and determined to turn that child into Betty Crocker, I do declare. And if she’s not careful, Belle will have Juliet as fat as she is.”
“It seems like Juliet’s really enjoying herself,” T.J. said, his tone mild. “And you always say a girl should know how to cook.”
Mrs. Culpepper sniffed. “That’s certainly true. Every girl should learn how. Juliet is a very good girl. In fact, she’s a very nice young lady.” She fixed Wanda Nell with a basilisk gaze. “I certainly wish I could say the same thing about Miranda.”
Though her first instinct when hearing remarks like this was to speak up for her daughter, Wanda Nell decided not to take offense at the remark. Besides, she reflected wryly, Mrs. Culpepper was right. Miranda had few, if any, domestic skills, though the good Lord knew Wanda Nell had tried hard enough to teach her.
“She’s learning more now that she’s married,” T.J. said, again calming the waters. “But you know Randa, she’s not in too big a hurry to learn.” He grinned. He loved his sister, and he seemed to understand and tolerate her better than anyone else. Except, perhaps, her new husband. Wanda Nell was thankful for that.
“Do sit down.” Mrs. Culpepper was starting to sound testy again. “I declare, I’m going to get a crick in my neck if I have to keep staring up at all of you.”
“Sorry, Grandmama,” T.J. said. “Jack, why don’t you and Mama sit here on the sofa by Grandmama, and I’ll take that chair over there.”
Wanda Nell and Jack complied with this suggestion, and once they were seated, Wanda Nell gazed with some apprehension at Mrs. Culpepper. The old lady seemed fine this morning, but Wanda Nell had to wonder how long she was going to be that way. She offered up a quick prayer.
“Now, Jack,” Mrs. Culpepper said, “I’m not going to beat around the bush any longer. I had a talk with T.J. last night, and he told me the whole story.” She paused for a moment, looking away. When she turned back to face Wanda Nell and Jack, her face was set in grim lines. “I can’t pretend I’m happy to be raking up all this terrible business, but it has to be done. That poor girl deserves at least that much.”
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