“Including shower? Forty-five minutes, maybe.”

“Okay, then get that done by five and then I’ll come to get you in a dress.”

“It’s going to take an hour to get me in a dress?”

“Potentially. Just get everything else done beforehand. It’s hard to breathe well in the spandex, and sometimes it hurts a little to lift your arms.”

“It sounds like you’re going to give me a heart attack.”

Halcyon shook her head. “We’re going to give him a heart attack.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Adelaide banged on Dottie’s door, tapping her foot as she waited for an answer. It was too early for house calls, but when it was an emergency, basic Southern manners didn’t apply. And this was definitely an emergency. When Dottie finally opened the door, she peered out at Adelaide with a frown.

“What on earth are you doing banging on my door before nine o’clock in the morning?” Dottie asked.

“You know you’ve been up since five. Can’t sleep late with an old bladder.”

Dottie closed her eyes and sighed. “That is beside the point. Get inside before the neighbors see you standing there all disheveled.”

“What are you talking about?” Adelaide said as she walked inside and followed Dottie back to the kitchen. “I just took these out of the dryer.”

“Really? And when did the dryer cycle finish?”

Adelaide shrugged. “Yesterday maybe. Monday. I don’t know.”

Dottie waved at the breakfast table. “I just made a fresh pot of coffee and cinnamon rolls. I assume you’re interested?”

“Hot damn! I came at the right time.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t planned,” Dottie said as she sat the tray of cinnamon rolls on the table then poured two cups of coffee. “So to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”

Adelaide stuffed half a cinnamon roll into her mouth. “I need a favor,” she said as she chewed.

“That’s both intriguing and frightening.”

“I know. That’s why I’m here. Are you invited to that charity shindig at the LeDoux’s?”

“Of course. I’m one of their biggest contributors. Preston never misses an opportunity to attempt to kiss my butt. He thinks, incorrectly of course, that he can convince me to support him in his bid for mayor.”

“Ha! You’d vote for me before you’d vote for Preston.”

“Unfortunate and also true.”

“Are you going alone?”

“I’m not going at all. I never do.”

“I need you to go this year and take a plus-one.”

“Given that this isn’t my scheduled week for resurrecting my dead husband, I’m not certain how I’d manage a date.”

“Don’t give me that. You could have a date. You keep yourself up.”

“I keep myself up for me. I don’t want a relationship with a man. That part of my life is over. Once you’ve had a great one, no one else would ever measure up.”

Adelaide nodded. “I can see that.”

Dottie studied her for a bit. “You actually mean that.”

“Of course I do. William was one of the rare good ones. I don’t like most people and even fewer men, but William was an exception. You picked well, Dottie. I don’t blame you for quitting while you’re ahead.”