Digging Up The Dirt

“Good afternoon,” she said. “This is An’gel Ducote. I would like to speak to Mr. Partridge if he’s available.” She put her hand over the mouthpiece to speak to her sister. “She’s gone to get him.”

Nearly a minute passed before An’gel heard Hadley’s voice on the other end. “An’gel, my dear, how are you and Dickce? I must apologize for disappearing on you like I did. I have to tell you, I was pretty unsettled by what we found this morning. I guess my manners went completely by the wayside as a result.”

“No need to apologize,” An’gel said. “We completely understand. It was quite a shock.”

“Yes, it was,” Hadley said. “I’m praying that who we found isn’t Callie.”

“We are, too,” An’gel replied. “I know things are still unsettled there, and Dickce and I would love to see you. Why don’t you come to dinner here tonight? Around seven?”

“Thank you, I’d like that very much,” Hadley said with what sounded like true gratitude. “I think it will do me good to be out of this house for a few hours.”

“I’m sure it will,” An’gel said. “We’ll see you at seven, then.” She ended the call and replaced the handset.

“I heard most of it,” Dickce said. “His voice came through clearly. I’m glad he’s coming. I hope we can get him to open up about why he really left Athena.”

“We can but try.” An’gel shrugged. “Lunch should be about ready. I’d better tell Clementine that we’ll be four for dinner tonight.”

Hadley rang the bell at seven that evening, and An’gel, who had been waiting nearby, admitted him. Hadley gave her a swift kiss on the cheek, and An’gel greeted him and took his jacket.

“Would you like something to drink before we go in to dinner?” An’gel laid the jacket across the back of the sofa in the parlor where Dickce greeted him and received her own brief kiss.

Hadley grinned. “I wouldn’t say no to a whisky and soda.”

“Coming right up.” An’gel moved to the liquor cabinet in the corner and prepared his drink. “Dickce, what would you like?”

“The same,” Dickce said.

“I’ll make it three.” An’gel smiled. Moments later the drinks were ready, and she handed her sister and Hadley theirs and then took up her own.

“May I propose a toast?” Hadley asked. “I know it’s usually the hostess’s prerogative.”

“Go right ahead,” An’gel said.

Hadley raised his glass. “To homecomings and good friends.”

An’gel and Dickce raised their glasses to his. “To homecomings and good friends,” they said in unison.

All three sipped their whisky. Hadley smiled appreciatively. “Let me guess,” he said. “Laphroaig.”

An’gel nodded. “Our favorite.”

“Mine, too.” Hadley drained his glass. “Thank you. That went down a treat, as my friends in England would say.”

“It always does.” Dickce giggled before she too drained hers.

“How about another one?” An’gel asked.

Hadley refused with a smile. “I have too great a fondness for it, so I try to limit myself.”

An’gel nodded. “That’s smart.” She set her glass on the tray on the liquor cabinet and did the same with the other two. “Let’s go in to dinner then.”

Hadley escorted An’gel into the dining room and pulled out her chair for her. Then he pulled out Dickce’s chair before he took his own seat at An’gel’s right hand.

“What a beautiful table,” Hadley said. “I feel honored.”

Clementine had set the table with exquisite taste, as always, An’gel thought. The housekeeper had used linens belonging to the sisters’ grandmother Ducote, and the silver was the wedding set their parents received. The table sported the best Wedgwood china and Waterford crystal they had. Clementine had obviously been determined to impress Hadley Partridge, and it seemed she had succeeded.

Benjy hurried into the dining room with a smiled apology and took his seat next to Dickce. “Good evening, Mr. Partridge. How are you?” he said after greeting the sisters. He exchanged pleasantries with Hadley, and then An’gel said grace.

When she finished the brief prayer, An’gel stood. “Everything is here on the sideboard. Hadley, please go first. Clementine has prepared a traditional Southern meal for us. Fried chicken, rice, homemade biscuits, cream gravy, sweet tea, and green beans.”

Hadley grinned. “I’ll enjoy every bite of it, I’m sure, although I’ll have to jog to Memphis and back tomorrow to make up for it.” He rose from the table with his plate and began to load it from the sideboard.

Soon all four diners returned to the table with full plates, and eating commenced. An’gel kept the conversation general, though she had plans a little later to hone in on Hadley’s life during his forty-year absence from Athena. She waited until Hadley was nearly finished with his second helping of biscuits and gravy before she introduced the subject.

“I’m glad to see that forty years away hasn’t affected your appetite for Southern food. I thought perhaps you had become too sophisticated for plain, down-home cooking.” She smiled to remove any sting from the words.