The Liar

“I do a fine job of it.” She poured two glasses of tea over ice, snipped some mint from the pot on her windowsill. “I don’t know when I’ve ever felt so good. Nothing like a brand-new baby. And I’ve got a master suite straight out of a magazine. I swear I’d’ve slept in that big tub last night if I could. I’ve got my own baby girl and hers home with me. My chicks are happy and home, my husband still takes me on dates. I’ve got everything I could want.”

She handed Shelby a glass, kissed her cheek. “Now you go get yours.”

“Get my what?”

“Your everything. I’d start that off by asking that clever and handsome young man out on a date. Then I’d go buy myself something pretty to wear on it.”

Shelby thought of her spreadsheet. “I’ve got plenty to wear.”

“Something new now and then perks a girl up. You work hard, Shelby. I know you’ve got bills, and I know you’ve been sitting there at that computer worrying about them. I raised you to be smart and responsible, but I’m telling you—” Ada Mae fisted her hands on her hips, just as her own mother was wont to do. “Your mama’s telling you to go out and buy yourself a new dress. Something you’re buying yourself with money you earned. See if that doesn’t lift you up some. And then let Griff lift you a little more. I’m going to have Suzannah bring Chelsea over later, and those girls are having themselves a slumber party here tonight. You do the same.”

“I should have a slumber party?”

After a hooting laugh, Ada Mae drank some tea. “That’s what we’ll call it in polite company. Go on, buy a dress, go over to the salon and get prettied up, and go take Griffin’s breath away.”

“You know I love you, Mama.”

“You’d better.”

“But I don’t think I tell you often enough what a wonderful woman you are. Even beyond Mama, Mama-in-law and Gamma.”

“Now, that’s just put the sprinkles on the icing of the chocolate cupcake of my day.” She gave Shelby a squeeze.

“Let me put things away. I wasn’t just paying bills, and I’m doing all right with that, so don’t worry. I was trying to figure things out, I guess, looking at pictures of my time with Richard. Trying to remember all the places we went, and when and why.”

“You sure did travel, so that’s something you have that can’t be taken away. I loved getting postcards or letters or e-mails from you when you were in those foreign places.”

“I don’t suppose you saved any of them.”

“For heaven’s sake, of course I did. I have them all in a box.”

“Mama, you are wonderful. Can I have them? I’ll give them back to you once I’ve looked through.”

“There on the shelf in my sitting room closet. Blue box with white tulips on it. It’s labeled.”

“Thank you, Mama.” She added another squeeze. “Thank you.”

•   •   •

SHE DID BUY A DRESS, just a simple summer dress the color of the mint her mother added to tea. And Ada Mae was right. It gave her incredible satisfaction to know she bought the dress with money she’d earned.

It only took a couple of questions to find out where Griff was working that day, and she found both him and Matt, sweaty and stripped to the waist (oh my!), building a deck on a house just outside the town proper.

“Hey.” Griff swiped at his face with an already damp bandanna. “Don’t touch me, I’m past disgusting. In fact, you ought to stay downwind.”

“I have brothers,” she said simply, and bent to greet the happy Snickers. “Congratulations, Matt. Consider yourself hugged.”

“Thanks. Emma Kate said you guys met in the park this morning, and you’re maid of honor. Meet the best man.”

“Well, Best Man, you and I have a lot of consulting to do. Meanwhile, I have a favor to ask.”

“Name it.” Griff grabbed a jug, gulped down straight from it whatever was inside.

“Mama’s got plans for the children, and I have some . . . research I want to do. I was wondering if I could do it at your place. I’d fix you dinner as payment for the quiet spot to work.”

“Sure. I get the best of that deal. I’ve been locking up since . . . so . . .” He dug in his pocket for his keys, pulled one off the ring. “This’ll get you in.”

“I really appreciate this. Matt, the four of us are going to need to get together soon. Weddings require considerable strategy. I know Miz Bitsy’s leading the charge on the engagement party—”

“Don’t scare me when I’m working with power tools.”

“We’ll handle Miz Bitsy,” Shelby assured him. “Emma Kate and I have been planning our weddings since we were ten. Of course, what she wants now may not include a silver princess carriage pulled by six white horses.”

“Really scaring me.”

“But, I have the basics, and I can help work Miz Bitsy around.”

“Will you put that in writing?” he asked, and took the jug from Griff. “Maybe in blood. I don’t care whose blood.”

“It’s a solemn promise. But I need to hear what you want, too. I’m awful good at coordinating things.”

“Emma Kate said the same. I’m counting on you.”

“You can, so we’ll get together soon, all right?”