“I just sharpened my shovel,” Adelaide said.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Dottie asked.

“In case there’s a need for a hole,” Adelaide said.

“Too much work,” Halcyon said. “Dump them in the bayou and let the gators do the work.”

Marina held up her hands. “No one is digging a hole or feeding gators. There are better solutions to my problems.”

“But not nearly as fun,” Adelaide said. “I’m making a new bed for roses. Just so you know.”

“I thought you planted roses last year,” Dottie said.

“The cats peed on them so they all died,” Adelaide said. “That makes it the perfect spot for Harold…he hates cats.”

“Nobody is killing Harold,” Marina said. “At least, not anyone in this room. If someone else takes a shot at him, then that’s another story.”

“That story might be worth a fresh bottle of wine to celebrate,” Adelaide said as she tipped the last of the wine into the vase.

Halcyon sighed. “As much as I hate to admit it, my sister is right. Marina’s already served time being married to Harold. No use in her serving more over his death.”

Dottie motioned to Adelaide and rose from her stool. She reached over and patted Marina on her arm. “This will all work out, honey. And if there’s anything I can do, you let me know. I can’t stand a cheater. I watched my father do it to my mother her whole life and I swore I wouldn’t tolerate it for one minute. You did right by leaving. And you’ll be the one to come out ahead in the end. I truly believe that.”

Everyone went stock-still and Marina stared. In the forty-eight years Marina had known her, Dottie had never revealed anything private. The fact that she’d shared such a personal thing about her mother was both surprising and touching. Marina wasn’t even sure what to say. She finally settled on “thank you.”

“Keep the vase,” Halcyon said to Adelaide as she hopped off her stool. “I can’t look at flowers in it knowing your lips were on it.”

Adelaide grinned. “Cool. Next time, I’ll drink out of your Waterford crystal.”

Feeling restless, Marina walked to the window and watched as the two women went up the driveway, still arguing. Halcyon closed the door and shook her head.

“It’s like Steel Magnolias filmed a follow-up right here in my kitchen,” Halcyon said.

“They are an unlikely duo,” Marina said. “But it’s nice that they tried to help me.”

She started to turn away, then noticed a man standing at the edge of Halcyon’s yard, looking toward the house. It was the same man she’d seen across the street from Harold’s house that morning.

“Come here,” Marina said, motioning to Halcyon. “Hurry.”

“Are they scrapping on my front lawn?”

Marina pointed. “Do you know that guy?”

Halcyon leaned forward and studied the man for several seconds, then finally shook her head. “Never seen him before.”

“I have. This morning across the street from Harold’s house. He was standing there, just like he is now. Not doing anything. Just standing.”