NINE

“What are you doing, Betsy Ann? You look like a giraffe the way you’re craning your head.”

Betsy Ann dropped her gaze to the floor. “Sorry, Janie. George said he would like to join us for dinner. He’s going to help me house sit for Annie tonight.”

Janie’s eyebrows arched into her forehead. “Do you two need a chaperone?”

Betsy Ann swatted the air. “Oh, stop.”

Janie shrugged. “The way he keeps goo-gooing over you, I’m just asking.”

She raised her hands to her cheeks. “I really like him, too. A lot.”

Ethel leaned in. “Duh. It’s rather obvious.”

As if on cue, George arrived. He looked dapper in his navy walking shorts and pastel blue plaid shirt. He approached the ladies with a slight bow. “I hope this is not too informal?”

“Nah.” Ethel pushed the thought away. “Some of the men come in swimming trunks during the summer.”

“With shirts over them, mind you.” Janie pointed to the sign posted near the door.

“Shall we go in?” He bent his elbow and held it out for Betsy Ann to lace her arm through it. As they strolled toward the buffet line, she turned her head back toward her friends, a dreamy grin spreading across her face.

Janie gave her a little wave. “You have to admit. They are cute together.”

Ethel harrumphed. “Wedding by Christmas. Mark my words. We may be bridesmaids again.”

“At our age? Can widows do that?”

Ethel scrunched her mouth to one side. “Might be fun. Just don’t you dare catch her bouquet.”

The two shared a laugh and scooted forward in line to take a tray and eating utensils wrapped in a linen napkin.

As soon as they sat, Roseanne dashed over and handed off the keys to Annie’s apartment. “Your turn.” She gave George the once over. “Are we supposed to bring guests to dinner?”

“No one stated otherwise.” Betsy Ann laced her arm in his.

Roseanne cocked an eyebrow. “Anyway, the plants are watered. There’s a pitcher of peach iced tea in the fridge and some leftover Rocky Road in the freezer.”

Betsy Ann thought back to her breakfast binge. It would be a while before she downed ice cream again. At least another day or two. “Thanks. We’ll be fine tonight.”

“We?” She shot a glance at George. “All night?”

He gave Roseanne a sweet smile and a dip of his head. “I’d be a cad to let this lovely lady spend the evening alone and defenseless.” He took Betsy Ann’s hand in his. “Mark my word as a gentleman. Everything will remain above board.”

Betsy Ann nodded. “Yes, it will. In fact, I’m bringing three board games. Scrabble, Yahtzee, and Chinese Checkers.”

Ethel rolled her eyes.

Janie put her napkin to her mouth to muffle her laugh.

George kept his sweet smile across his lips and didn’t blink.

“Rob stayed with me, so I understand…I guess. When I told him the plans, his forehead reddened.” Roseanne lowered her voice to imitate her husband. “If you’re going along with this harebrained scheme, then I’m coming, too.”

George winked at Betsy Ann. “See?”

“I’ve got to dash. Remember, if you see a white van, call 9-1-1.” Roseanne pointed her finger at them before she sashayed out of the dining hall.

Betsy Ann gazed into her beau’s eyes. “Are you sure we should do this? A creepiness is crawling up my spine.”

He rubbed his hand over her arm. “Exactly why I’m coming with you, my dear.”

She shifted her focus to her two friends. “People won’t talk, will they?”

Ethel crossed her arms over her chest. “In this day and age?”

Janie snickered. “They’ll probably talk when they discover you didn’t end up between the sheets.”

“Let them. I have too much respect for this woman to tarnish her morals.” George rose from his chair and offered Betsy Ann his hand. “Shall we, my darling? It’s almost six.”

Her voice quivered. “I guess so.”

He leaned in to her ear. “All will be well. However, my sweet, I must warn you. Every round I win tonight means I get to steal a kiss.”

She blushed the color of the fake roses in the centerpiece bud vase.

Ethel stood. “’Night. Hope it’s an uneventful one.”

George grinned wider. “Well, perhaps not too uneventful.”

Janie stood. “Um, my cue to leave.”

He turned to Betsy Ann. “It appears my overt affections toward you are rubbing your friends the wrong way.”

She swished his comment away like a pesky mosquito buzzing her face. “They’re jealous.”

“We are not.” Janie smirked as she and Ethel grabbed their trays. Under her breath Janie added, “Very much.”

~*~

Janie sat up. The clock read ten forty-two. Evidently, she’d dozed off while watching the cop show. Now a late-night talk show host jabbered away. She yawned, clicked the remote, and frowned. Something woke her from her dream, and it had been a weird one. She dreamed she walked along the golf course licking a double ice cream cone. Chocolate almond topped by a scoop of sea salt caramel swirl. Mrs. Fluffy chased a butterfly. The air smelled fresh and the breeze felt cool. A white van stopped across Westwood Creek. Three men, dressed in black, exited. They crouched to the ground and leapt over the stream like super ninjas. One snatched the cone from her hand with a sinister sounding laugh. Another grabbed her cat. The third waved a knife at her throat.

“Wonder why I dreamed that, Mrs. Fluffy?” She dislodged the feline from her lap, pulled the lever on her recliner, and padded to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water. As she filled it from the tap, she gazed out her window.

Janie gasped.

The tumbler slipped from her hand and crashed into the sink, shattering upon impact. Her eyes followed a white van. It turned the corner into the shadows beyond the street lamp’s glow, headed in the direction of Sunrise Court.