It didn’t take her long to change clothing, dry her hair, and apply makeup. Then she made a pot of coffee and removed the doughnuts from the soggy bag.

“Hey, where’s everyone at?” Fanny Lou rushed in the door and set a dripping umbrella in the basket. “From heat to pouring-down rain. It’s true if you don’t like the weather in Texas, you can stick around for twenty minutes and watch it change.”

“Good morning to you, Granny.” Mitzi poured two cups of coffee and set them on the table.

“I see you bought doughnuts again. Bless your heart. I swear, if the pastry shop ever closes its doors, I’m selling the Taylor estate and moving to Greenville,” Fanny Lou declared. “So what did you think of Graham’s daughters? I heard that you ran into him in Walmart last night, too. Did you flirt?”

“Good Lord, Granny!”

“I’m sure Jesus is very good, but answer my questions.” Fanny Lou laid all the pastries out on a plate.

“It was love at first sight with his girls, and no, I didn’t flirt. How did you find out that I’d seen him at Walmart?”

Fanny Lou shrugged. “Honey, how often does someone as powerful as Graham Harrison move back to town? He’s divorced. He owns a Cadillac dealership. And he’s good-lookin’. So where’s Paula and Jody?” She sipped at the coffee.

“They haven’t made it in yet, which is unusual.”

“Good,” Fanny Lou said. “I’ve got news about Lyle, but it might just be gossip, so I don’t want to tell it in front of Jody.”

Every hair on Mitzi’s arms prickled. “Is it bad news? Is he sick and dying?”

“Nope, but he was seen with a young woman in a jewelry shop down in Greenville last week. I heard they were looking at rings,” Fanny Lou said.

“Maybe he was getting her take on a ring so that he could propose to Jody. I bet he wanted to keep it a surprise. That would be so romantic. He’s been in love with Jody since they were teenagers.” Mitzi hoped she was right and that Lyle wasn’t doing something stupid.

“It would be nice if that’s what it was,” Fanny Lou said. “But the person who saw them said he had his arm around the woman’s shoulders. Are you going to tell Jody?”

Mitzi shook her head. “Nope. It’s gossip for sure. She and Lyle are the same as married and have been for years.”

“‘Same as’ isn’t really married,” Fanny Lou said. “Maybe you should call those girls and see about them. If the rumors about Lyle are true, Jody might be killing him right now. Paula could be helping her dispose of the body.” She picked up a doughnut with maple icing.