The Liar

“I heard Bonnie Jo Farnsworth—that’s a cousin of Gilly’s sister’s husband—is getting a divorce from her husband. That’s Les Wickett, Shelby, who ran with Forrest some when they were boys. They haven’t been married two years, and have a baby not six months old. Had a big wedding at the hotel cost her daddy two arms and his left leg.”

“I remember Les a little. I’m sorry to hear he’s having troubles.”

“I heard trouble’s been brewing since before they cut the wedding cake.” Crystal, who owned a tumbling mane of streaky blond hair, gave a knowing wiggle of her eyebrows. “But I probably shouldn’t say.”

“Of course you should say.” Viola tied off the first braid, started on the second. “And in considerable detail.”

“Well, maybe you didn’t know that Bonnie Jo used to go around with Boyd Kattery.”

“Loretta Kattery’s middle boy. Those Kattery boys are rough customers. Forrest had a set-to with Arlo—the youngest of them—not long ago when Arlo got skunk drunk down to Shady’s and started a fight over a pool game. Arlo took a swing at Forrest when Forrest went in to break it up. You know Arlo, Shelby. Bony boy with straw-colored hair and a bad attitude. Drove a motorcycle, and tried to catch your eye.”

“I remember Arlo. He got suspended and sent off awhile for beating up on a boy half his size outside of school.”

“Boyd’s considerably worse, let me tell you.” As she talked, Crystal readied her station for the next customer. “And he and Bonnie Jo were always sneaking off, then they broke up when he got arrested for . . .”

She glanced at Callie, who was too busy admiring herself in the mirror to pay attention.

“For, ah, having certain illegal substances in his possession. Then Bonnie Jo took up with Les, and before you can click your heels they’re planning a wedding. You ask me, her daddy was so relieved she was marrying a nice boy and done with Boyd, he’d’ve paid double what that wedding cost. But Boyd got released right before the wedding, and there’s been some talk down in the holler he and Bonnie Jo have, well, taken up again, and now the two of them are off down to Florida, where he has cousins—she left that baby behind like it was leftover pizza or something. And it’s said the cousins make up some of the substances he was put away for.”

It was nearly as good as a massage and facial, just sitting there for twenty minutes, watching her granny create a princess do for her girl while Callie preened in the mirror. And listening to gossip that wasn’t about her.

Viola looped the braids into a crown, gathered the curls into a tail she fixed with a rose-trimmed band.

“Pretty. I’m pretty, Granny!”

“Yes, you are.” Viola bent down so their faces reflected together. “A girl should know when she’s pretty. But there’s a couple things I can think of right off more important.”

“What’s more?”

“Being smart. Are you smart, Callie Rose?”

“Mama says.”

“And she knows. Then there’s being kind. If you can be pretty and smart and kind, well, that’s what makes a real princess.”

She kissed Callie’s cheek, lifted her down. “If I didn’t have somebody coming in, I’d take you two girls out to lunch. Next time we’ll plan it.”

“Next time we’ll take you out to lunch.” Shelby settled Callie in her stroller. “Crystal, I’m thinking I should find some work. Do you know anybody who’s hiring?”

“Oh, let’s see now. Spring and summer they hire on extra a lot of places. I didn’t think you’d be after work, Shelby, not with the money you’d have from—”

She slapped a hand over her mouth, looked at Callie in distress. “I’m awful sorry. I don’t know why my mouth just runs out without being hitched up to my brain.”

“It’s all right. I just want to keep busy. You know how it is.”

“I know how it is to need to pay the bills, but if you want busy work, maybe over at The Artful Ridge. It’s got some class, and they do good business, especially once the tourists start coming in. Might be they could use another hostess at the big restaurant. They want good-lookers there. Oh, and Rendezvous Gardens—you know the landscape place? They always need help this time of year. That could be fun if you like plants and such.”

“Thanks. I’ll think about it. We’ve got to get to the food market. I’m making dinner for Mama and Daddy tonight. Granny, you and Grandpa should come. I’d love to make dinner for you.”

“I’d love to have you make dinner for me. I’ll tell Jackson.”

“It’s at six, but you could come a little early because I have to leave by about twenty after seven and meet Emma Kate.”

“Have you met Emma Kate’s boyfriend?” Crystal asked.

“Not yet.”

“She hooked a good one. Now the other—Griffin?” She patted a hand to her heart. “If I wasn’t engaged to be married for the second time in my life, I’d head straight in that direction. He’s got a swagger to him. I just love a man who’s got a swagger to him.”

“There’s your eleven-thirty just come in, Crystal.”

“I’ll bring her right back. It was nice talking to you, Shelby.” She gave Shelby a good, hard squeeze. “It’s really good to have you home.”

“It’s good to be home.”