“Ignore her,” Mitzi said. “If you say or do anything, she’ll have power over you. Pretend like she’s an ugly old mangy dog.”

Dixie’s giggle turned into a guffaw. “That’s the funniest picture I’ve had in my head in years. Now I’m going to laugh every time I see Gloria, and ‘dog’ is right because she is a bi-atch.”

“Dixie!” Graham said.

“Well, she is,” Tabby agreed with her sister. “She better keep away from me. I didn’t get to hit her, and we’re not on the Greenville school property. I might take her down,” Tabby said, and then frowned. “A woman is waving at y’all.”

Graham glanced in that direction and held up a hand. “That’s your mother’s cousin, Kayla. She came and spent some time with us right before you girls were born. Haven’t seen her since then.”

There was no doubt the woman was pregnant and due to deliver any day from the size of her baby bump, but it was the man walking behind her who caused the room to start spinning. Paula steadied herself on a cart that had been left empty in the aisle and hoped that she didn’t faint. With her luck she’d cause that cute little unicorn display to tumble, too, as she went down.

Jody nudged her with an elbow. “Are you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“I’m fine,” she answered. Right there, not six feet from her, was the father of her child, and he was acting like he’d never seen her. And his wife looked like she was a hell of a lot further along than six months.

Kayla laid a hand on Graham’s arm. “I haven’t seen you in years. I’d like you to meet my husband, Clinton, and this”—she laid her hand on her stomach—“is our second son. Maybe we’ll get a daughter next time.”

“Pleased to meet you, Clinton.” Graham stuck out a hand.

“No!” Jody whispered. “Is that . . .”

Paula nodded. “It is.”

Clinton shook hands with him. “Likewise. How do you know my wife?”

“I’m a cousin to his ex-wife, Rita,” Kayla answered. “She and I have been in this area to plan our grandmother’s funeral, and we’ve been going through her house, getting it all ready to sell. Congratulations on y’all going to give it another try when she gets a divorce. I always thought you made a cute couple.”