An old schoolteacher knows a liar when she sees one. And Betsy was lying. The plastic spoon shook; she let go of it.

“You’re sure?” I was leaving the door open if she wanted to tell me what was really worrying her.

“Yes.”

I reached across the table and took her hand, which was clenched into a fist.

“The cameo will show up.”

“I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”

Be careful what you wish for.

Chapter Ten

Chapter
Ten

Area code 206. The first thing I did when I got home was look in the telephone directory. Seattle? Virginia had gone to Seattle? Surely not. It must be the telephone number for a different Virginia. Not that Seattle wouldn’t be a lovely city to visit, but it was a long way from Columbus, Mississippi.

Did she have relatives out there that I hadn’t heard of? Friends?

Well, there was one way to find out.

I picked up the phone and dialed the number. It was answered by a recorded male voice informing me that I had reached the Gordon residence, that they were unable to answer the phone, and that if I would leave my name and number, they would return my call.

I hung up. Obviously a wrong number. I thumbtacked it to the kitchen bulletin board, though. Luke and Richard could pursue it if they wanted to.

Which reminded me. I dialed Sister’s number to see if she had heard from either of them.

Tiffany answered. Ms. Crane had gone shopping. At the Big, Bold, and Beautiful Shoppe, she thought, and no, ma’am, Mr. Nelson hadn’t called. A Sheriff Stuckey had, though, two times.

“Did he sound like it was an emergency?”

“Oh, no, ma’am. I think he just wanted to know if she got the flowers he sent her. I told him they were here but she hadn’t seen them yet. I told him they’re beautiful and I knew she would appreciate them.”

“What kind are they?”

“All different kinds. Lilies and tulips and daisies and stuff. Mostly purple. They’re beautiful.”

“Sounds like it.”

“The card says, ‘My heart leapt up, Virgil.’ Isn’t that sweet?”

“Leapt?”

“Like leaped, Mrs. Hollowell. That’s the way poets say leaped. Leapt.”

“Oh, okay. Well, tell Mary Alice to call me when she gets in. And have you heard from Debbie and the baby this afternoon?”

“Henry called and said they aren’t coming home until tomorrow. The baby has a little jaundice and they’re putting him under lights. Everything’s going to be fine, though.” She paused. “I heard the stress ball worked great.”

“Like a charm.”

I told her goodbye, hung up, and called Debbie. Everything really was okay. Brother just had a touch of jaundice. Nothing to worry about.

“Brother?”

Debbie giggled. “Well, Henry brought the twins over this morning, and that’s what they called him. Isn’t it cute?”