The Liar

“Oh, Miz Vi. Thank you, Miz Vi. I . . . I won’t come in if you’d rather I didn’t, Shelby.”

“I hope I can accept an apology the same as my grandmother.”

“I want to give one to your mama, too. She wasn’t here, but . . . I want to just the same.”

“She’s busy right now, but you can tell her later on.”

“Then I will.”

“It’s up to Crystal if she wants to do your hair for your wedding,” Viola added.

“Oh, Miz Vi. Oh, Crystal, would you? Losing you’s almost as bad as losing my fiancé. And I really do love him.”

“Of course I will. You made me real proud today, Jolene.”

On a sob, Jolene rushed over, flung herself at Crystal.

“There you are now. I’m going to take you back, get you a nice cold drink.”

“I was so scared to come in. I was so scared.”

“That just makes me even prouder.” Crystal beamed a smile at Viola, and led Jolene into the back.

“Dottie, get that shampoo done now. Show’s over.”

Shelby turned straight to her grandmother. “Granny, what happened at Griff’s?”

“What I said. Somebody went in there. He says, what I got he says,” she corrected, “is they went into his laptop computer. That’s all I know. You oughta ask him.”

“I will. I’ve got to get these lunch orders in.” She glanced toward the back. “Some of us have to get knocked hard to come back. I know how that is. This might be the making of her.”

“She’s a flighty one, and likely always will be. But I respect a well-given apology. You go on now, or those customers will be shouting us down for their lunch order. I ought to think about putting in a little café.”

It wouldn’t have surprised Shelby in the least. But for now, she dashed out.

She wanted to call Griff, but couldn’t spare the time as she rushed to Sid and Sadie, gathered up the orders, made a beeline for the Pizzateria, did the same. Loaded, she hurried back toward the salon.

And nearly slammed into a man studying one of the area maps.

“I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

He smiled down at her. “Neither was I. You’ve got a healthy appetite.”

It took her a moment, then she laughed. “Delivery service.”

“Then you must know the area.”

“Born and bred here, so, yes, I do. Are you lost?”

“Not exactly. I’m visiting the area for a few days. I wanted to try the Rendezvous Trail, hit Miller’s Waterfall, Bonnie Jean Overlook, Dob’s Creek. I came into town thinking I’d get a takeaway lunch, and I’ve gotten turned around.”

“I can help you with that.” She angled around to look at the map. “If you take this road, the one we’re on, straight out of town, go on past the big hotel and take the left fork. See that?”

“Yeah.” Peering down, he nodded slowly. “Okay.”

She guided him through, suggested Sid and Sadie for his packed lunch.

“I sure do appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome, and you enjoy your time here in the Ridge.”

“I will.”

When she hurried off again, he folded the map and slid it into his pocket, along with the keys he’d lifted neatly out of her purse.

21

At the end of the day, Shelby dumped her purse out for the second time.

“I swear they were in here. I always put them in this side pocket so I don’t have to hunt for them.”

“Crystal’s checking the back again,” Viola told her as she herself hunted under mani tables and around pedi chairs. “You ought to go look in the van again. You may have dropped them this morning.”

“All right, I will. But I can see myself tucking them in the pocket this morning. But I do it every time, so maybe I’m seeing another time.”

“I’ll call Sid and the Pizzateria again. You had such a bunch of bags, honey, you might’ve tipped them out while you were gathering them all up.”

“Thanks, Granny. I’ve got a spare key to the van at home, but it worries me to lose that set. It’s got keys to the van, to Mama’s, to the bar and grill, to here. If they don’t turn up, everybody’s going to have to change locks. I don’t know how I could’ve been so careless.”

She shoved her hair back as the phone on the counter with the contents of her purse rang. “It’s the Pizzateria. Hi, it’s Shelby. Did you— Oh, thank you! Yes, I’ll run right up and get them. Thanks so much.”

“Now you can stop worrying about people changing out their locks,” Vi said.

“It’s such a relief.” With it, the tight band around her chest loosened. “I must’ve dropped them picking up lunch, just like you said. Johnny said one of the waiters found them under the front counter. I guess I dropped them, and they got kicked under without anyone noticing. I’m sorry for all this trouble.”

“Don’t you worry. I’ll let the girls know.”

“I’m going to be late picking up Callie.” Shelby dumped everything back into her bag. She’d sort it out later. “I’m taking Jackson tomorrow—did I tell you? It’ll give Clay a full free day to visit with Gilly and the new baby, get the house ready for them to come home. He mentioned Jackson could use a haircut, so I’ll bring him and Callie in, if that’s all right.”

“I love seeing my babies. You come on in anytime. We’ll work them in—and maybe give Callie a princess mani if there’s time.”