“No one is going to come out in this weather and we don’t have anything until Ellie Mae at eleven thirty. We can talk as long as you want,” Mitzi said.

“That’s right, darlin’ girl.” Fanny Lou laid a hand on Jody’s arm. “Men are hard critters to understand. They seldom ever open up about their feelings because they think it’ll make them look like a sissy. Maybe Lyle is just going through a tough time at work, or perhaps he’s worried about whether the tomatoes are going to produce. They think about heavy stuff and things that don’t amount to a hill of beans all in the same second.”

“Was Oscar like that?” Jody asked.

“Of course he was. He was a man,” Fanny Lou answered.

Mitzi decided to change the subject. “Well, I hope it stops raining by this afternoon so the Harrison girls can come in for a couple of hours. Having them around might help all our moods.”

Jody looked around the room. “Where’s Paula?”

“She’s got a stomach bug. I told her to rest as long as she needs to,” Mitzi said.

“Lord, I hope I don’t get it. Men are worthless when the woman of the house is sick,” Jody said. “They turn into old, grouchy bears, and Lyle’s been hard enough to live with. Okay, enough bitchin’. I need to get back to work.” But she tarried awhile longer to have another half a cup of coffee.

“Now that business about menfolk is sure the truth,” Fanny Lou giggled. “We might need rain, but I sure wish it would stop. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment at nine thirty, and I really don’t like drivin’ in it. Well, would you look at that?”

As if on cue, the rain stopped, the clouds parted, and the sun shone brightly through the kitchen window. “If I’d known my wish was going to be granted, I would’ve wished that Paula would get well or maybe that my hair didn’t kink up when it rains.” Fanny Lou started for the door.

Folks say that the wife knows when something isn’t right, and Jody was proving it. But Mitzi sure hoped that the rumors were wrong. If they were true, Jody would be crushed.

“I’m probably worried for nothing anyway.”

“Yep,” Mitzi agreed.

Jody rinsed her cup and then headed out of the kitchen. Mitzi followed behind her, arguing with herself about whether to say anything at all to her friend.

Sleep on it. The voice in Mitzi’s head sounded just like her mother. Don’t rush into anything before you have all the facts and evidence.

Jody went right to the sewing machine and started working on a dress. Mitzi got out her sketch pad, erased a couple of lines, and then held it out at arm’s length to study it.