“Well, I am truly surprised,” I whispered as Mrs. Shaddix patted my passing elbow. Across the room a few old men surrounded Deanna, who was laughing and lapping up attention as the younger temptress. “This was very sweet of y’all.”

“I have ulterior motives,” he grinned and winked. “I intend to seduce you later and defile Violet’s entertainment room.” He twirled me around twice as the song changed to The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody”, then dipped me dramatically to applause from the entire room. “All the songs from here on are from these people’s courtin’ days,” he whispered. “We’ll dance to all of ‘em if you want to.”

“No,” I giggled, “I need to talk to my guests. Most of them have an early bedtime.”

When the song ended, Rick settled at a table in the middle of the room while I hugged and kissed everyone in sight.

“We’re so proud of you, Ronni,” they told me. “You have to come back and see us, even after you’re famous. Send us postcards from your book tour.” I cried each time I said goodbye.

By seven thirty most of my party had retired early to settle in and watch TV. Deanna and Sarah kissed my cheek and followed soon after. Mel Sobel asked me to walk him to his car. Rick nodded and said he’d wait.

Mel opened the passenger door of his Mercedes and extracted a small package. It was beautifully wrapped in floral print and fabric ribbon, topped with an ornate bow. “They said no gifts, but I want you to have this,” he said. “Go ahead, open it.” His eyes were twinkling.

Inside was a gold pendant necklace bearing a small book with an amethyst set in the center. The box bore the name of Birmingham’s fanciest jeweler.

“It’s so beautiful!” I was crying as I held it up to the fading daylight. “You shouldn’t have.”

“I wanted you to have it for the book tour. It’s a locket, so we’ll pick your favorite photo and have it placed inside. Here, let me put it on you.” I turned my back and felt him fasten the necklace, patting it into place.

“I can’t thank you enough, Mel. I will treasure this.”

“Good, Ronni. I treasure our friendship.” He clasped both my hands in his. “Listen, umm, could you take another minute or two and sit down with me? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

I nodded and he led me to a bench near the entrance to Fairfield’s lobby. We settled and Mel turned to face me.

“I’ve gone around and around for months with this, Ronni, not knowing if I should tell you. Violet didn’t really want me to, but she didn’t forbid it.”

My heart thudded. “Okay.”