"Think of it," Marla went on, "you could poison both of them."

"Wouldn't you just love that," I muttered.

"On second thought, maybe one death is enough for a while," said Marla. "Since the funeral's tomorrow, I guess our women's group won't meet tonight."

"I'm swamped," I said truthfully. "How about later in the month?"

"Don't know if I can wait that long. I need to order some cookies." I said, "Can we talk about it later? I'm awful busy right now." I wedged the phone between my chin and shoulder and scraped the last of the scone-shortcake batter out. It made a sucking noise before plopping on the sheet.

"The cookies can wait. My pantries are full, anyway. You're getting upset because we've been talking about you-know-who. Sorry."

"Not to worry," I said. "If I hadn't wanted a family so badly, I'd never have made the mistake of marrying him in the first place."

Marla sighed. "Oh God, think of Laura. She didn't even, have the chance to get married."

I checked inside the proofing box; the dill rolls had risen. I snapped the other oven button to Preheat.

I said, "I am thinking about it. I am thinking about her. I'm fixing all the food, aren't I?"

"Where's your housemate? What's her name, Patty Sue? Can't she help you? What about Arch? You going to draft him to serve?"

"Patty Sue will help tomorrow," I said. "She's at the doctor now. Korman senior. Arch is going to have to help. I hate to do that to him since he was so close to Laura. Plus the aunt decided to have this reception over at Laura's house, all the worse. Just a sec." I grunted. I was thrusting my free hand through my dry goods shelves. "Oh my God," I said, "I've let my supplies get too low, even if this is the slow season. I'm out of honey and sugar."

"No honey and no sugar," observed Marla. "You're not doing very well. And as Laura would have said, you're not acting too sweet either, Goldy. I'll call when you're in a better mood. Let me know how the affair goes." She suppressed a laugh. "Laura would think it was all a big joke, you know. She'd say, Man, this party is dead."

"Goodbye, Marla."

The front door swept open and let in a gust of aspen-sweet October air. Arch traipsed into the kitchen and threw his backpack onto one of the counters before heading for the refrigerator.

I said, "How'd it go today?" He groaned. "Terrible. As usual." He turned his small, earnest eleven-year-old face full of freckles and brown hair and tortoise-shell glasses to me.