Tolly frowned. “You can’t stay in Birmingham, Violet. No one here knows anything of a car accident. My Corvette is in pristine condition in the garage. You have bruises on your face and arms, and Beatrice is bound to see sooner or later. It’s also hard to explain where you are to our friends and associates. Better you should rest and recuperate during a visit back home.”

Violet said, “Would you bring me a piece of toast and some ice water, Tolly? I should eat something.”

“Of course, darling.” She noticed for the first time that Tolly locked the door on his way out. Violet wondered what he was telling Beatrice.

She slid out of bed and wobbled to her antique French vanity table, collapsing heavily on the gold velvet seat cushion. The mirror was a gilded Baroque affair that made Violet want to don a towering white wig every time she saw it. This morning, she regarded her reflection in the soft light filtering through the curtains and decided Tolly had done well; the right side of her face had a narrow trail of deep purple from the outer eye to her chin. It could easily have come from a steering wheel.

Alice Glenn gasped and grabbed her daughter’s face, then jerked her hands away. “Oh, honey, did I hurt you? I’m so sorry.”

“No, it’s okay,” Violet said. “The bruises have mostly healed. They just look awful.” She lifted her hand to her right cheek, now a widening abstract watercolor of green, yellow and maroon. “I have some make-up that helps. I just didn’t apply it yet today.” She shot a triumphant look at her husband, who smiled tightly and hugged his mother-in-law.

“Oh, honey, what were you thinking, driving that car? I barely trust myself to operate the Buick. I’m so grateful you weren’t injured worse than you were.”

“Well, it won’t happen again,” Violet said quietly. “I’ve learned my lesson.”

“Y’all come on to the kitchen. Lunch is already on the table, and your dad’s in there.”

Tolly said, “I’ll put Violet’s suitcase away and freshen up a bit. Don’t wait for me. I’m going to have to wolf down my food and run to the hospital. I have a surgery at three o’clock.”

“I thought you only operated in the morning,” Alice said.

“I used to. I’ve made some changes lately.” He offered Alice his charming doctor face, accented by his hand on her forearm and a soft pat or two.

Violet made her way to her father and hugged his neck from behind. “I’ve missed you, Daddy.”