“We’ll see to it they put as much on your gravestone,” said Miss Zula as she patted Harriet’s cheek. “‘Here lies Harriet. She had no idea it was so late.’”

“What was it, dear?” asked Miss Maddie, holding up her cheek in turn. “Those fractious boys of yours?”

“No,” said Harriet as she fell into a chair. “It was Tab.”

“How is dear Tab?” Maddie asked.

Harriet seemed to be considering an answer while she helped herself to eggs. Then she said in the languid way of a woman who has been praying for the same thing every day for many years without satisfaction, “Why, it would be best if Tab would just die.”

“Harriet,” said Caroline.

“What?” Harriet said. “It’s true. I mean it with all my heart.”

Rivera, unable to contain herself any longer, let out a burst of laughter.

Angie had eaten more than she meant to but found that she was oddly comfortable, given the events of the early morning and the fact that Caroline Rose was sitting across from her at the table. The conversation flowed along from the wayward ways of boys and men, to the new dress Junie Rose was having made for Caroline’s wedding, to the benefit auction at the church, to the cost of printing posters, which brought Rivera to the subject of the English department photocopier, and Patty-Cake Walker, who had given Tied to the Tracks a monthly allowance of twenty-five copies.

“Bring that to Rob’s attention,” said Caroline. “He’ll deal with Patty-Cake.”

“Patty-Cake and her copy machine,” said Miss Zula, her mouth pressing hard. “As proud as a dog with two tails.”

“More like a witch with a familiar,” said Harriet.

Miss Maddie said, “I swear, I’ve heard more stories. It’s just unnatural, a woman carrying on about a machine like that. I suppose if her Wayne hadn’t walked in front of that bus she’d have more important things to keep her busy.”

“She did hover over Wayne, but then he gave her reason enough,” Harriet agreed. “That reminds me. Patty-Cake has been after her nephew Win Walker to ask you out.”

Miss Maddie said, “That young man with the tattoo on his bald spot?”

“No,” said Miss Zula. “You’re thinking of Walker Winfield, who’s a deacon at Church of Christ. Win Walker goes to First Baptist.”

“Win Walker and Walker Winfield?” asked Angie.

“Double first cousins,” said Harriet. “Jean Winfield married Jackson Walker and they named their first son Winfield Walker. Then Jackson’s sister—Sue Ann Walker?—married Jean’s brother Joe Bob and they named their firstborn Walker Winfield. Except they don’t resemble each other, not one bit. Win got all the looks but all Walker got was religion. And a bald spot, which he went and got tattooed one time when he was struggling with the angel, I suppose.”