The next day, Evelyn sat in Annie Mae’s living room while she waited for her friend to bring her a cup of tea. She didn’t want to be waited on and would have preferred to stay in the kitchen, but Annie Mae had scooted her out. Evelyn chose the chair by the large window. The woodwork was stained a dark mahogany to match the best pieces of furniture in the room. The tufted “ladies’” chair was upholstered in a wine-colored damask. In the kitchen, Annie Mae was talking to Rachel, her second-grader, who was in Colleen’s class. Now that the high school graduation problem was resolved, what could be done about the elementary students?
Annie Mae carried the tea and some shortbread cookies into the room. She would never have let her children eat in here, but Evelyn knew she loved serving friends in her “best” room.
The back door slammed shut, echoing through the hall between the kitchen and the living room. “Ma, I’m home.”
Annie Mae called to her son, “Frank, come greet our company in the living room.”
Evelyn admired the way Annie Mae tutored her children with manners—gently but with high expectations.
“Hello, Frank. I haven’t seen you since I drove you and your mother home last night.”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you for the ride.”
“How’s your job at the funeral home?”
“It’s been great. I really like being able to drive the hearse. Miz Glover, I’m glad to see you. I have a question. Did you see the cop who was standing with the captain when you arrived? Do you know his name?”
Evelyn caught Annie Mae’s eye. She looked worried.
“I’m not sure of it, Frank, but I think he owns that auto repair shop at the end of Highway 179. Why do you ask?”
“He just always seems to be around, watching me driving. His first name is Beau.”
Evelyn heard Annie Mae catch her teacup as it hit the saucer a bit too hard.
She looked at her son and said, “Frank, why are you asking about him? He’s the one who arrested you back in November. I saw his name on the paperwork when I signed you out.”
“Ma, did you see his last name?”
“Yes, it’s Harper. Are you in trouble with him?”
“No. He’s just always around, that’s all. I just wanted to know.”