The Liar

“Thank you. Would you sit, too? I’ve just come from the police station. Melody has admitted to going to Arlo Kattery, to giving him money to cause you trouble, Shelby. I’m not sure she’d have admitted it this soon, but they had three people already who saw her driving up to his trailer in the holler. And though it pains me to say it, I wouldn’t get her a lawyer until she told the truth.”

Saying nothing, Viola just reached out, took Florence’s hand.

“I don’t know what she thought would happen, or why she’d do something so mean, so reckless. I don’t know why she’s always been so jealous of you, Shelby. When you were voted head cheerleader back in high school, she had hysterics, begged me to make a big donation to the athletic department if they’d take you down, put her up. And when you were Homecoming queen over her, she came home and cut her dress to ribbons.”

Florence sighed. “She’s angry most of the time, it seems. I’d hoped by putting her in charge of The Artful Ridge, having her live in the carriage house, she’d be happier, start being more responsible. But I know, I see now, I indulged her too much all along. And her mama did even more.

“She’s my grandchild, my first granddaughter, and I love her.”

“Of course you do.”

“I overlooked too much over the years, but I won’t overlook this. She caused someone true harm, and it could have been much worse. She did it for spite. She’ll pay a price for that spite. I have no right to ask, and none to expect, but she’s my granddaughter, so I will ask. The sheriff indicated, if you and Griffin Lott are amenable, if you agree, instead of going to jail . . .”

For the first time Florence’s hand shook, so she set the teacup down carefully in its saucer.

“She could serve six months in a rehabilitation center, a private one, where she would have therapy for her various issues. She would be required to work there—chores, I suppose. Cleaning, gardening, laundry, that sort of thing. Then, if deemed ready, she would serve another six months’ community service in a halfway house, with a year’s probation to follow that.

“I won’t pretend it’s prison,” Florence continued. “But she would be restricted, get therapy I feel she desperately needs, and be required to follow set rules. She would lose her freedom, and that’s a kind of prison. And if she refuses to abide by the terms, the rules, then she would face prison. Her mother will try to fight me on this, but her father . . . I’ve already spoken to my son-in-law. We spoke at some length, and he will back me on this.”

Steadier, Florence picked up her tea again. “It’s your granddaughter and mine, Vi. Who would have thought we’d come here?”

Once again Viola took her hand. “Life’s full of hard bumps and slick twists. We do the best we can to drive it, start to finish.”

“Some days, best isn’t near to good enough. You’ll want time to think about this, Shelby.”

“It’s not that . . . it’s Griff she hurt, or hurt through what Arlo did.”

“It’s you she meant to.”

“All I want, I swear to you, Mrs. Piedmont, is for her to leave me and mine alone. I have a child to think of. I have a life to try to rebuild with my little girl, and I just want Melody to leave us be. If Griffin’s all right with what you said, I would be. He’s the one who ended up being hurt, whatever she meant.”

“I’ll speak to him, and we’ll all abide by his decision. I’m sick at heart he was hurt this way, that someone in my family would have caused it. I wonder, Viola, if you know from Jackson how much damage there is to the boy’s truck.”

“What Jackson told me just a bit ago on the phone, it’s a loss.”

“Oh, Granny.”

“Well, most anything can be fixed, but Jack says it wouldn’t be fixed right enough, and expects the insurance company to agree and total it out.”

“I’ll make it right. You have my word on it.”

“I never had any doubt on that, Flo.”

“I know you’re both busy, and I thank you so much for taking this time, and for your understanding. For your kindness.”

“I’m going to walk you out,” Viola said, sliding an arm around Florence’s waist as they both rose. “And I’m going to give you a brochure so you can think about coming back for a nice hot stone massage or a Restore Youth Facial.”

Shelby heard Florence laugh as they walked out. “It’s a late hour for restoring youth, isn’t it, Viola?”

“It’s never too late an hour, Flo. Never too late an hour.”

•   •   •

IT SEEMED TO Shelby the best thing to do was keep her head down and take each day as it came. She’d been far too much front and center on the gossip stage since her return to the Ridge. Experience told her some other news or interest would come along soon enough.

She felt just fine being front and center Friday night, performing doo-wop and rock and fifties ballads. The crowd seemed to feel just fine about it, too, and nobody got shot.

And since Callie was having a sleepover at Granny’s, topping Friday night off in Griff’s bed felt even more than fine.