The Red Hat Society's Acting Their Age

by Regina Hale Sutherland

  “Okay.” He grabbed his coat from the back of a chair and walked across the bedroom without putting it on. Pausing beneath the doorway, he looked back at her, and she glimpsed the wounded look in his eyes before he cloaked it with anger. “Didn’t you have your yearly physical a couple of months ago, Lea?” Before she could answer, he left the room.

  Leanne closed her eyes. She heard the front door slam.

  An hour and a half later, she sat across the desk from her old friend Jay, partner in the Amarillo law firm of Roanoke and Wilde. Back in college, he had dated Leanne’s roommate, and they’d become friends in the process. In fact, their friendship had endured though she and her old roommate had stopped corresponding more than a decade ago.

  “Given the foster mother’s abuse,” Jay said, “I think a judge might be more inclined toward leniency.”

  Leanne looked up from the spiral notebook where she scribbled. “Even though it’s the girl’s third strike?”

  “Yeah. That is, if she can back up the abuse claim with evidence. Maybe a witness or two.” He leaned back, his expression curious. “So, you’re researching a novel? I never knew you were so creative.”

  She tilted her head and smiled. “A woman can’t tell all her secrets. Gotta keep a man guessing.”

  Jay chuckled. “You sure know how to do that.”

  “I’ve always been a closet writer.” Leanne shrugged, amazed and a little concerned that the lies slipped from her mouth so easily. “Maybe the book will never get published. It’s just something I want to try.” She laughed and closed the spiral. “You know . . . before the vision goes.”

  They both stood and Jay smiled across at her. “If only we could go back to the good old days, right?”

  “I don’t know.” She cocked a brow. “You look pretty suave with silver in your hair, Jay.”

  He blushed. “Suave, huh?”

  “Yeah.” She laughed. “Besides, I’m not sure I’d want to go back. I hit a lot of bumps getting to where I am now. I was too stupid to dodge them, you know?”

  He rounded the desk. “The parties were fun, though.”

  Not for her, but Leanne guessed she’d kept her feelings well hidden back then. She had hated all the excessive drinking in college. Not that she’d joined in on that part of the action.

  After leaving the office, Leanne headed for a coffee shop where she purchased an iced mocha and borrowed a phone book. She sat and searched the listings of every “Oberman” in Amarillo, hoping to find the number and address of Rachel’s classmate, the girl who, along with her mother, had witnessed Pam Underhill’s abuse. She wanted to call and set up a meeting. The directory listed only five “Obermans” and, when she studied the enclosed city map, Leanne narrowed her search to two addresses in the district close to Rachel’s school.

  Using her cell phone, she dialed the first number. The elderly man who answered said he was Lacy Oberman’s grandfather. “Paula’s my daughter,” he told her.

  Thinking that was easy enough, Leanne apologized for dialing the wrong number and hung up. The man had unwittingly provided Lacy’s mother’s first name. She scanned the listings again and found P. Oberman.

  No one answered when she called so Leanne left the coffee shop and made a trip by a school supply store to pick up some things for Rachel. Books, paper and pencils, items to keep the girl’s mind occupied by more than MTV while she was still out of school.

  Before leaving town, Leanne made a swing by the address listed in the phone directory for Paula Oberman, an apartment building within walking distance of Rachel’s school. Since nobody had picked up when she called, she didn’t expect an answer when she knocked at the door. And didn’t get one. Still, Leanne felt she’d made headway. Tonight, if Eddie wasn’t around, she’d call again.

  Halfway back to Muddy Creek, Leanne began to suspect someone followed her. Slowing her speed, she realized the blue Mazda sports car tailing her belonged to Eddie. She pulled into a rest stop twenty miles from home. A couple of minutes later, Eddie parked behind her. They climbed from their vehicles at the same time.

  Wind whipped hair into her eyes. Cars zipped by on the two-lane highway beside her. “What’s going on?” Leanne yelled. “Is something wrong?” She followed him to the nearest picnic table, ducking beneath the metal awning to escape the wind.

  “You tell me, Lea.” He jerked off his sunglasses. “Is something wrong?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You didn’t go to the doctor’s office.”

  Her stomach dipped. Not because she’d been caught, but because her husband had followed her. It struck her as ironic that she was upset at his lack of trust. After all, she was deceiving him. Just not in the way he suspected. “You followed me, Eddie?”

  A guilty look flashed across his face, but he quickly masked it with an accusatory frown. “Are you leaving me, Lea?”

  Her pulse throbbed so loud in her ears, she didn’t hear the wind anymore, the rush of passing vehicles. Leanne shook her head and stepped closer to him. “Why would you think that?”

  “You went by Jay’s office. Why? To ask about a divorce?”

  “Eddie—”

  “Then you stopped by the school supply store and an apartment building.”

  “And that says what to you?”

  He jammed his hands into his front pockets, shifted to stare at a windmill in a field across the road. “That maybe you got a job teaching again. In Amarillo. That you’re looking for a place to live.”

  “For God’s sake, Eddie. I’m your wife, for crying out loud. Couldn’t you have asked me if I’m planning to leave you?”

  “I’ve wanted to, but you won’t talk to me.”

  Leanne drew her lower lip between her teeth. What he said was true. “We’re okay, Eddie,” she said softly.

  “You don’t act like we’re okay.”

  She crossed her arms. “I don’t appreciate being stalked. By anyone, but most of all you.”

  “I’m not stalking you.”

  “What do you call it? If after twenty-eight years together, you feel like you have to keep tabs on me, maybe we aren’t okay.” She turned toward her car.

  Eddie grabbed her arm from behind, spun her around to face him again. “What am I supposed to think? It wouldn’t be the first time you walked out.”

  “Is that what this is about?”

  “You’re drawing inside yourself, just like before when you left me.”

  “I didn’t leave you. My leaving . . .”

  She turned to stare at the road, tried to steady her breathing. That one incident in their past had shaken Eddie to the core. Years ago, after she had decided she couldn’t take in a foster child, she had needed some space to get her head right. She hadn’t ever really dealt with losing their baby, so she took some time to do that.

  Leanne looked up into the sullen gray sky. “That was twenty years ago, Eddie. We’ve been over it and over it. I thought you understood.”

  “I thought I did, too, Lea. I thought we were both past it. But this feels like the same thing happening all over again. So apparently I don’t understand. I feel shut out. Why won’t you talk to me anymore?”

  Tears stung Leanne’s eyes. “I want to, Eddie, but you take everything so personally.”

  He shook his head. “What are you talking about?”

  “Something’s missing, Eddie. In our lives.” There, she’d said it. Leanne held her breath.

  “In our marriage, you mean. Why wouldn’t I take that personally?” He looked away. “It doesn’t get more personal than that.”

  “You’re twisting my words.” She touched his arm. “I knew you’d misunderstand and be hurt.”

  Eddie pulled back. “Why did you lie and say we’re okay?”

  “I’m not unhappy with you. I love you. But something’s not right. Don’t you feel it, too?”

  He wouldn’t look at her.

  “You still think I was making arrangements to leave you today, don’t you?” When h
e didn’t respond. Leanne turned and started for the car.

  He followed her. “Where are you going?”

  “I think we could use some time apart.” When she reached the car, she swallowed past the lump in her throat and climbed in. “I’ll be staying at Mia’s.”

  He caught the door before she closed it. “What do you want? An explanation for my behavior today? Why should I explain anything? You’re the one sneaking around.”

  “What I did in Amarillo had nothing to do with you.”

  Shoving his sunglasses on, Eddie stepped away from the car and crossed his arms.

  “Fine, then.” Leanne closed the door and reached for the key in the ignition. When the engine turned over, she took off, spraying gravel on his running shoes.

  Chapter 12

  Mia closed the cash register drawer then counted out a handful of change to her customer. “There you go, Betty. Enjoy the latte.”

  “I’m sure I will, Mia. You are coming to the Red Hat birthday luncheon for Mary Jane on Friday, aren’t you?”

  “I’ll try. To be honest, though, I’ve been so busy I forgot all about it. I haven’t been a very good member lately.”

  The hairdresser’s expression oozed with sympathy and encouragement. “You’ve had things on your mind the past year or so. I understand. But some socializing would do you good.”

  Mia felt smothered by Betty’s compassion. She reminded herself that the woman meant well. They all did. Everyone who, for the past year and a half, had murmured, how are you doing? You need anything? I’m here for you, honey.

  Betty sipped from her cup and asked in a half-whisper, “How’s Aggie?”

  “I’m fine,” Aggie said as she came through the swinging kitchen doors wearing her new flare-legged khakis, trim-fitting V-neck sweater and butter-soft leather boots. She carried a tray of Rachel’s dirt cups, which she took over to the table where the Coots sat. “On the house,” she said, setting the cups of pudding in front of them.

  The old men eyed the gummy worm topping with wary expressions.

  “Well, I’ve just been so worried about you,” Betty said.

  Aggie lifted her chin and asked, “For heaven’s sake, why? I couldn’t be better.”

  “Well, you certainly look fabulous. Why you’ve been hiding that drop-dead figure underneath baggy clothes all these years is a mystery to me. And your hair . . .” Betty pouted. “My feelings are a little hurt you didn’t come to me, but I have to admit that whoever colored it knew what they were doing. That shade of auburn is perfect for your complexion.”

  “That’s so nice of you to say.” Aggie bloomed with happiness beneath Betty’s shower of compliments. She touched a hand to her shimmering locks and said, “I have Leanne and Mia to thank for that.”

  And Rachel most of all, Mia thought, biting back a smile. Amazing what a healthy dose of admiration could do for a woman’s self-esteem. Mia loved the light that sparked in Aggie’s green eyes each time someone complimented her youthful new look. And every single person who had walked through the coffee shop door the past two days had done just that—praised Aggie’s appearance. The town was abuzz with talk of her makeover.

  Betty leaned in closer to the counter when Aggie walked behind it and said to her quietly, “Girl, your transformation is incredible, but that’s also what has me worried for you. There’s talk in town that Roy’s been . . .” When the shop fell silent, Betty did, too.

  Mia looked to the corner table where, only a moment before, the Coots had been guffawing and carrying on like a schoolyard full of adolescent boys. Now every eager eye peered in Aggie’s direction. Throats cleared. Coughs sounded. Tom Pellinger jabbed Henry Kroger with an elbow. Henry jabbed back.

  Two explosions of pink appeared high on Aggie’s cheekbones. She took her apron off the wall hook and put it on. “Roy’s been what, Betty?”

  The hairstylist glanced over her shoulder at George Humphrey, her father. No doubt the source of her gossip, considering how his bald head was as red as Aggie’s cheeks. Betty sipped her coffee and faced Aggie again. “You know I don’t pay attention to rumors.” When the bell over the door jingled and Eddie walked in, she added, “Speaking of which . . .”

  “Hey there, Ed,” Henry called out from the corner.

  Eddie nodded at the table of old men. “Mornin’.”

  “See you over at Joe Pat’s again tonight?” George asked as he slid a wry look at Tom Pellinger.

  “Maybe.” Eddie walked to the counter and looked from Aggie to Mia then back again. “Ladies.” He gave a low whistle as he took in Aggie’s appearance. “You’re looking spiffy, Ag. I almost didn’t recognize you.” He held up a hand. “Not that you didn’t look good before.”

  Aggie fluttered her lashes at him. “So you approve?”

  He smiled. “I sure do.”

  When he shifted his attention to Mia, she inwardly winced at the sight of his bloodshot eyes. Still, even exhaustion and worry didn’t detract from the high school quarterback machismo Eddie Chilton had never lost. At one time or another, every female in Muddy Creek had swooned over his swagger and moody James Dean eyes. And had cursed Leanne for taking him off the market.

  “Lea in back?” he asked, running a hand through his wavy dark hair.

  “She hasn’t come in yet,” Mia told him.

  “I expect she’s sleeping late this morning,” Aggie said. “Crying yourself to sleep at night will wear a person out.”

  “Aggie.” Mia frowned. If Leanne had shed a tear the night before, Mia hadn’t seen it.

  “Well, it will.” Aggie dipped her chin and peered over the top of her red glasses at Leanne’s husband. “You two kids have no business spending the night apart, mad at each other.”

  “That was her doing, not mine, Ag.” Eddie sounded like a little boy responding to a scolding from his mother. “She thinks we need time apart.”

  Aggie tsked. “Just apologize and put an end to this foolishness. It’s as simple as that.”

  “Apologize?” Eddie slapped a palm against the counter. “Shoot, if I will. For what?” He took the cup of coffee Mia handed him. “Lea’s the one acting crazy. I didn’t do anything.”

  Mia crossed her arms, pressed her lips together, and stared at him. He looked from her to Aggie, and found identical expressions on their faces.

  Chuckles drifted from the corner table. “You look to be outnumbered, son,” Tom said.

  Eddie glanced over at the group of men. “Whose side are y’all on, anyway?”

  “When you get to be our age, you’ll figure out it’s no use trying to stand your ground against a pack of females.”

  Shifting to look at Aggie, Eddie said, “Even if I wanted to apologize, I couldn’t. I stopped by Mia’s. Lea didn’t answer the door. She won’t answer the phone, either.”

  The bell jingled again and Cade walked in. Mia met his gaze as Eddie asked, “What’s she up to? And don’t say ‘nothing.’ I know better.”

  Betty slid into a table by the door and pretended not to listen. The Coots didn’t try to hide anything. They stared openly, as if watching the best show in town.

  Grabbing a damp towel, Mia wiped down the counter. “What’s wrong with everybody? I swear the whole town’s paranoid all the sudden.”

  Henry’s spoon clinked against his cup as he dipped into his pudding. He took a bite, his gaze never leaving the group at the counter. Choking, he reached for his coffee, took a drink, then sputtered, “What is this concoction?”

  “A dirt cup,” Aggie informed him. “With gummy worms on top.”

  “Do I look like a fish to you?” He wrinkled his nose. “What ever happened to the days when you only served pie and sweet rolls around here?”

  “A little variety’s a positive thing.” Aggie looked coy as she tilted her head and smiled at the men. “Don’t you know? It’s the spice of life.”

  Tom returned her smile with a flirtatious one of his own, and George muttered, “Maybe Roy’s right about his wife, after all.
”

  “What’s that?” Aggie blushed to the roots of her hair.

  The men drowned their snickering with coffee, avoiding Aggie’s humiliated eyes.

  Mia wanted to pop the fools with the tip of her wet towel. What were they talking about, anyway? And why on earth would they want to embarrass Aggie? So what if she was feeling the effects of her makeover, trying a few of Leanne’s flirty moves? That didn’t mean she was making a pass. Aggie remained the same innocent soul she had always been. Mia glared at the men. All it took was a woman jazzing up her appearance for people in town to start talking scandal.

  She shifted to Cade. “Coffee?”

  “Please.” He took his hat off and sat it on the counter. “While you’re pouring it, I’d like a word with Aggie.”

  “With me?” Aggie frowned.

  He nodded toward the kitchen. “In private, if you don’t mind.”

  Wringing her hands, Aggie started for the swinging doors, motioning for Cade to follow. “Is anything wrong?”

  He winked. “Nothing you can’t put a stop to pretty darn quick, I’m betting.”

  Cade leaned against the kitchen sink and cleared his throat. He admired Aggie Cobb and always had. He hated having to tell her something he knew would humiliate her. And he felt guilty. He was partly to blame for Roy’s recent bad behavior. They’d had their little talk a couple of days ago, and Cade had dropped plenty of hints that Aggie might be brewing up something other than coffee. Cade never guessed that Roy would take that to mean his wife was cheating on him.

  “For heaven’s sake, Cade, spit it out.” Aggie fidgeted with her apron tie. “Has something happened to Roy?”

  “No, Roy’s fine. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “Then what?”

  Cade sighed. “I hate to be the one to tell you, but Roy’s been all over town the past couple of days accusing men of . . .” He cleared his throat. “Of having an affair with you.”

  “What?” She touched her neck, staggered back against the stainless steel workstation. “That man . . . I didn’t think he’d go this far.”