Chapter Four

Kate awoke before dawn Monday morning and lay in the half light, listening to the birds calling the sun to rise. Paul breathed softly beside her, his hair tousled and a slight smile on his face.

Kate smiled, her heart flooded with tenderness. Their son, Andrew, was the spitting image of his father, and looking at Paul now reminded her of all the times when she’d gotten Andrew up and ready for school. How he’d hated it! Now, she knew, he often got up at four in the morning to go for a run before heading to work as a real-estate lawyer in Philadelphia. She chuckled softly and then glanced again at Paul, worried that she’d disturbed him. Quiet as a mouse, she crept out of bed.

A few minutes later, she padded softly into the kitchen and got the coffeepot going, making as little sound as possible. Then she sat in her rocking chair for her usual early morning time with God. The sun would be up in a few minutes, the birds were still chirping their hearts out, and there was a faint mist all along the ground in the backyard, swirling around the trees.

Kate opened her devotional book and read the Bible passage for the day: Proverbs 31:10–31. “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life...” She thought of Paul, and her mind raced back over all their years together, memory upon memory, from when they first met—how young they had been!—to now, with Paul, tousled hair and all, asleep in the bedroom. He had brought her nothing but good all the days of her life. She hoped she had done the same for him. She gets up while it is still dark...That was certainly true.

When the coffee was ready, Kate got up and poured herself a cup, looking out the kitchen window. This was the time of day she loved best, with the sun just breaking over the mountains. She settled back into her rocker and read some more. When she got to verse 26, “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue...,” Ada Blount leaped into her mind. For a moment, panic washed over her. Then Kate bent her head and prayed with all her heart for Ada, Emma, and everyone involved in the Faith Freezer Program, including herself. Lord, please, please help me speak with wisdom today.

When she had finished praying, Kate got up and did what she always did when she needed to sort her thoughts out: she turned on the oven and started baking.

“THOSE WERE DELICIOUS,” Paul said, finishing a fresh-baked apple-bran muffin.

“And they were good for you,” Kate responded, smiling.

“Which is the only reason you let me have three of them,” he retorted.

“That’s right,” Kate said. “I’m determined to keep you fit and healthy.”

“You do a wonderful job.”

She leaned over and kissed him. “Yes, as long as I can keep an eye on you. I know you sneak down to the Smokeshack and have ribs every chance you get.”

“Look at it as my way of helping the local economy thrive.” He finished the last of his coffee in his “World’s Best Preacher” mug and got up. “Well, I’d better get down to the church. Are you going to get a chance to work in your studio today?”

Kate sighed. “I don’t know. I have a couple of errands to run. It depends on how long they take.”

“And on who you meet. I know how easy it is to get sidetracked in a small town.” Paul smiled at her, his clear blue eyes twinkling. “I’m glad you went to visit Ada last week. How is she doing?”

“Oh, well. She thought I was someone named Marybeth at first. I think that was her first cousin. I’m not sure...But eventually she realized who I was.”

“Poor woman. And poor Emma.” Paul’s face clouded. “It’s hard to see someone you love slipping away like that. And sadly, it’s only going to get worse. But God is still with her, still loves her, no matter what.”

“Amen.” Kate looked over at the clock. “You’d better get a move on or Millie will be nagging you again. ‘Pastor Hanlon’s a wonderful man, but he’s always running late. I’ve told him and told him, but there it is,’” Kate said, mimicking the faithful church secretary.

Paul grimaced. “You’re almost too good at that. See you tonight, sweetheart,” he said, kissing her good-bye.

“Don’t be late,” Kate called. “I’m making pork chops.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Paul called back and went out the door to the garage.

Kate watched his blue Chevy pickup pull out of the garage and go down the road. Then she washed and dried the dishes, made the bed, put away the clothes Paul had left strewn around, and threw some towels in the washing machine, hoping she’d remember to put them in the dryer when she got back from her errands. Then she combed her hair and put on a dab of lipstick. She was wearing a white shirt and sage green twill pants, and she chose a rose-colored cotton cardigan to go with it, tying a light silk floral scarf around her neck for warmth. Later it would be warm enough that she wouldn’t need the sweater or the scarf, but Copper Mill was in the mountains, and even in summer the air could be cool in the early part of the day. Or at least it felt cool to a Texas girl.

Kate got in her black Honda Accord and backed out of the garage. She needed to stop at the Mercantile and see if she could find some red peppers to bake with feta cheese as a side dish. She also needed to get gas, and she really should go talk to Matt Lawson. She already knew which was going to be last on her list. As she approached the Bixby house, she saw Livvy’s car in the driveway. Kate had planned to stop by the house later, but since she was there, she decided to stop and talk to her friend.

Walking into the kitchen gave Kate a profound sense of déjà vu: there was Renee, leaning against the counter, Kisses in Renee’s tote in the corner, and Joe standing at the sink, washing his hands. But today Livvy was helping, the meals were already packed, and Amanda Bly, Martha Sinclair, and Betty Anderson, the proprietor of Betty’s Beauty Parlor, were piling them into boxes.

“Kate!” Livvy called out. “I didn’t know you were helping today.”

“Oh, I’m not. I just thought I’d pop in and see how everything’s going.”

Renee called out, “Well, I can tell you that some people were complaining about getting shorted on the lasagna Friday.”

“Well, they’re not getting shorted today,” Livvy said. “Turkey sandwiches and chicken soup.”

“Now that don’t make sense,” Joe Tucker said. “Why two fowls at one meal? And why not the same fowl? Chicken sandwiches and chicken soup, or turkey sandwiches and turkey soup. Why kill two birds for one meal?”

Renee gave him a look of amazement that was almost admiration. “It takes a special kind of mind to think of something like that,” she said. “Well, I’ve got to get going. I promised to take Mama for a little drive.” She picked up her bag and held Kisses up to her face. “How’s my Little Umpkins? Is my Little Umpkins hungry?” Then she looked up quickly. “Bridge this afternoon, Martha!”

“I know,” Martha replied. “At Agnes Kelly’s.”

“Bring canapés,” Renee reminded her, then left.

“You know,” Betty said, looking at Amanda’s hair, “I was thinking that a blue rinse would really set off your coloring. And maybe just a little shorter haircut?”

“She’d look like everybody else if you did that,” Martha exclaimed without thinking, as usual. Then she flushed and said, “Well, I mean that French knot is just so stylish.”

“If it was pink,” Joe said, surprising all of them, “it’d be like cotton candy.” Then he turned away and started piling dirty dishes in the sink as everyone stared at him.

“Thanks for the idea,” Amanda said, determinedly not looking at Joe. “But I’ve worn it this way for years, and I think I’ll keep it.”

“Oh, and it looks lovely,” Betty assured her. “I was just thinking that it would be so much easier to take care of...By the way,” she said, quickly changing the subject, “has anyone seen a ring? A small silver ring, set with turquoise? I can’t find it anywhere, and the last time I saw it was when I was working here last week. I took it off while I was washing the dishes.”

“I haven’t seen anything like that,” Amanda said.

“Nor me,” Joe said.

“Me neither,” said Martha.

“Nor have I,” Kate added, hoping her face didn’t betray the concern she felt. “But we’ll all keep an eye out for it.”

“Thanks,” Betty said. “It’s not very valuable, but it’s a pretty little thing, and I like it. Here, Amanda, I’ll take that out for you.”

“Thank you, dear,” Amanda said.

“Come by my place for some coffee after,” Martha urged Amanda as they walked out.

“That sounds lovely,” Amanda said.

Joe watched them go, his eyes fixed on Amanda. Kate and Livvy exchanged a glance.

“Well,” he said, turning back to the sink, “I reckon we’d best get on with the washing up.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it, Joe,” Livvy said. “You go on home, and I’ll clean up.”

“I feel guilty, always leaving the cleaning to someone else,” he replied. “I did KP in the army, same as everyone else, and I wash my own dishes at home, you know.”

“I’m sure you did. But there’s nothing to this. Go on,” Livvy urged.

“Okay, you win,” Joe said, holding his hands up in surrender. He winked, picked up his walking stick, and walked toward the door before he could get suckered back into helping.

“Knowing Joe, he’s probably off to read War and Peace or something.” Livvy laughed at Kate’s incredulous look. “Joe plays the hillbilly so well that most folks take him for an illiterate. But believe me, he’s one of the best-read men in Copper Mill. He’s in the library almost every day, and he’s not just there for the newspapers or the heat in winter. I’ve often wondered what he does with all that information. I guess he just likes to learn.”

Kate nodded. “Mmm.”

Livvy looked across at her friend and said, “Mm-hmm. What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“I know you, Kate Hanlon. And I saw your face when Betty asked about her ring. Something’s going on. That’s why I got Joe out of here. What is it?”

Kate sighed. “Can we have a cup of coffee?”

“Sure. Sit down, and I’ll serve some right up.”

Kate sat down and pulled off her sweater and scarf as Livvy heated two cups of coffee in the microwave.

“Now, tell me,” she said, setting a steaming mug in front of Kate.

Kate took a deep breath and told Livvy everything.

“And now, with Betty missing a ring, I can’t help but think maybe there is a thief among us,” Kate concluded.

Livvy shook her head. “I can’t believe that. The money’s serious, I agree. But the rest of it...I don’t know. People lose things all the time. It could all just be coincidence. And you know how it is when one thing piles up on top of another; it’s hard not to see it as something more sinister.”

“But what if it is something sinister?” Kate asked.

“Mmm. Well, one thing I do know. Joe Tucker would never be guilty of anything like that. He’s been an upstanding member of this community for fifty years. So that’s one volunteer in the Faith Freezer Program who’s in the clear,” Livvy assured Kate, who nodded. “I’ll ask around about who’s missing what. It’ll be a good excuse to get away from James’ band rehearsing for the summer concert series. ”

“James is playing?” Kate took a sip of her coffee, imagining Livvy’s teenage son onstage.

“He’s in a garage band.” Livvy rolled her eyes and sighed. “Bring earplugs. They’re not bad; just loud. And Danny is going to emcee. It’s a huge deal around here. Everyone participates. Even Old Man Parsons tells stories.”

“He does?”

“Old-timey ones. The kids love it. And there are bands and choral groups and duets and all kinds of stuff. Basically, everyone in town is there, either playing, singing, or applauding wildly.”

“Ah,” Kate said, raising her hand. “That will be my contribution. Wild applause.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to participate? I know there are a couple of groups...” Livvy eyed Kate thoughtfully.

“No,” Kate said firmly.

Livvy laughed. “All right. But keep it in mind.”

“I will,” Kate said blandly. She looked at her watch. “Well, I’ve got to get going. I have so many things to do today.”

“And I’ve got to get back to the library.” Livvy looked around at the soup pot, ladle, and other cooking utensils still waiting to be washed and dried and put away. “Oh dear.”

“Don’t worry about them,” Kate said. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Are you sure?”

Kate nodded.

Livvy reached over and gave Kate a quick hug. “Thank you. It’s all going to work out fine, you know.”

“I hope so.” Kate sighed. “Say a prayer.”

“I will,” Livvy said.

Kate cleaned up the kitchen as quickly as possible, then headed into town to take care of her errands.

THE BANK, officially the Mid-Cumberland Bank and Trust, Copper Mill Branch, was an imposing brick building with long narrow windows and large plate-glass doors that looked out on the Town Square. Since it was over a hundred years old, Kate always walked in expecting it to smell of old, dry books and furniture polish, but as always the dominating scent was that of rich, freshly brewed coffee. As she stopped at the little cart by the front doors and helped herself to a cup from the urn, she raised herself up on tiptoe but couldn’t see over the three-quarter cubicle walls that surrounded the offices of the bank manager, Melvin McKinney, and Matt Lawson.

The fact that Mr. McKinney hadn’t come running out to greet her was proof that he was either busy with a client or out. As for Matt, she’d find out about him in a minute. Evelyn or Georgia Cline, the two elderly twins who had been tellers at the bank since the dawn of time, would fill her in. She walked over to the tellers’ windows, and Georgia spotted her first.

“Mrs. Hanlon!” she called out. “What can I do for you today.”

“Just a small deposit,” Kate said, pulling out the check she’d received from a stained-glass order for a sun catcher. “How are you doing today?”

“Just fine,” Georgia said, processing the deposit. “Evelyn’s got a bit of a cold, but I’m making her gargle with hot salt water. That should fix her up.”

Kate suppressed a shudder.

Evelyn, whose red nose seemed even brighter against her white skin and blue-rinsed hair, scooted her stool over and said in a hoarse voice, “It’s not doing much good so far.”

“Well, that’s because you’re not doing it often enough.” Georgia sighed and handed Kate her receipt. “I swear, these young’uns.”

Kate raised an eyebrow.

“Evelyn’s five minutes younger than I am, and you’d think it was five years, considering how she carries on sometimes. So what’s new?”

“How about LuAnne Matthews’ truck,” Evelyn croaked. “Isn’t that something?”

“It is nice,” Kate said. “Are you thinking of buying a new car?”

“Not hardly,” Georgia replied.

Evelyn said scratchily, “It’s just that she didn’t finance it through us—”

Kate knew that by “us,” Evelyn meant the bank.

“Evelyn!” Georgia snapped. “That’s nobody’s business but hers.”

Evelyn ducked back to her side of the teller’s counter. “Sorry about that.”

Kate thought swiftly. These two women knew almost everything that went on in town, and they obviously seemed to know about any unusual financial transactions. So she decided to take a risk. “Does either of you know anything about someone who was going around town this winter—”

“A stranger?” Evelyn interrupted, gasping.

“I’m not sure,” Kate said. “He was running some sort of investment scam, and some people gave him money. Not cash, but checks written to cash. Large checks.”

“How large?” Georgia asked.

“A few thousand,” Kate said, watching their faces carefully.

Georgia shook her head. “Nothing like that crossed this counter.” She glanced at Evelyn, who shook her head.

“Nobody around here’s written a check to cash for more than fifty dollars. Well, maybe a hundred. And I haven’t seen any strangers, either,” Georgia said regretfully.

“Well, it was just a rumor. You know how those things get started. By the way,” Kate said lightly, hoping it sounded like she didn’t care all that much, “is Mr. Lawson in?”

“Oh, he’s back there...Don’t you dare sneeze all over me!”

Kate jumped, but then realized that Georgia was talking to her sister.

“No one’s with him,” Georgia said, turning back to Kate.

“He’s originally from Asheville, North Carolina, isn’t he?” Kate asked. “I was talking to his father Friday night.”

“Junius?” Evelyn asked.

Kate nodded.

“Such a wonderful man,” she croaked. “And what a good dancer!”

“And such a conversationalist,” Georgia added. Then she lowered her voice and said, “He must be so disappointed in his son.”

Kate looked at her quizzically.

“About as interesting as watching paint dry. But they do say he’s good at what he does.” Georgia shrugged. “Hard to believe, considering.”

“Considering what?” Kate asked, hoping God would forgive this wholesale dive into gossip.

“Well,” Evelyn chimed in with a hoarse whisper, “he had his own investment firm in Asheville, and somehow or other it went belly-up.”

“But he’s doing well here,” Georgia added.

“That’s good to know,” Kate said. “Would it be okay if I went back to see him for a minute?”

“You go right on back, Mrs. Hanlon,” Georgia said. “He’s not doing a thing he can’t stop for a minute.”

“Thank you,” Kate said and walked back to the office.

Matt’s door was open, and he was sitting straight up at his desk, looking at his laptop. His face looked more alert, more interested than Kate had ever seen it, she thought as she knocked on the doorjamb. She had to knock twice before he looked up. His face lost all its animation the minute he saw her.

“Matt? Could I speak to you for a few minutes?” Kate asked.

“Oh, of course,” he said without standing up.

He was wearing a brown suit with a white shirt and a beige tie. Kate had noticed that his outfits were always monochromatic.

“Come in.”

Kate walked in and shut the door behind her.

“How can I help you?” he asked as she sat down. “Investment questions?”

“In a way,” Kate said. She was holding her purse tightly on her lap, and she made herself set it down on the floor beside her. “I was visiting with Ada Blount on Friday, and she mentioned that someone has been stopping by talking investments with her—something about doubling her money.”

Matt didn’t say anything. He didn’t react. Instead, he simply looked not at Kate but at a point somewhere to one side of her head. Silence hung in the air like a dark cloud. Kate finally took a deep breath and continued, “Was it you?”

There was another shorter silence, then Matt asked, with almost no curiosity in his voice, “Did I specifically advise her?”

“Yes,” Kate replied, then waited.

Matt nodded. He thought for a moment and then said, “I don’t know anything about any investments Mrs. Blount might have made. But . . .”

The pause was so long, Kate couldn’t stand it. “But you’ve spoken to her about such matters?” she asked. His blank face made it impossible for her to guess what he was really thinking or feeling.

“Of course,” Matt replied. “I talk about investments with everyone. It’s my area of expertise, advising people regarding their assets and making suggestions for their future.”

“So you’ve been advising and making suggestions to everyone you deliver meals to?”

“Of course,” Matt said, his face showing an expression for the first time: faint surprise. There was another long pause, then he asked, “Did something happen with Mrs. Blount?”

“I’m not in a position to say,” Kate replied.

Matt thought for a moment, then said, “I did talk with Mrs. Blount, but I can assure you that I know nothing at all about her investments, and I never received any funds from her. And I assure you that in the future, I won’t discuss investments with any Faith Freezer client outside of my own office. Is that what you wanted?”

“Yes.” Kate sighed. What else could she say? She picked up her purse. “You will keep our conversation confidential?” she asked. “I wouldn’t want people to—”

“Anything discussed in this office is automatically confidential.” He said it as a statement of fact, not an assurance.

“Thank you.” Matt nodded. “If I can ever help you and Pastor Hanlon with any of your financial arrangements, please let me know. Here’s my card.”

Kate took the business card, puzzled and frustrated. She walked past the teller’s counter, waving good-bye to the Cline sisters, and went outside, where she took a long, deep breath. What was it about Matt that always left her feeling as if she had literally been talking to a brick wall? His stolidity, for one. That immobile face. All the little expressions that flitted across most people’s faces didn’t flit across his.

Kate got into her car and drove to the gas station. As she was pumping gas, still thinking about Matt, it occurred to her for the first time that only half of any conversation was the actual words. The rest was in the gestures, the tilt of the eyebrows, the quirk of the lips...and Matt had none of those. Kate wondered whether he understood all those gestures and expressions in others. If not, he was missing the best part of any conversation he had. It would be like being color blind or tone deaf, only Kate thought this would be far more difficult to deal with.

She paid for her gas and went back downtown to shop for groceries at the Mercantile. Since Kate and Paul had moved to town, Sam Gorman, the owner, had taken to stocking more exotic groceries, like goat cheese and blue corn chips, and a wider array of fresh vegetables. She remembered how happy she’d been when he’d begun to carry puff pastry in the freezer, and how many questions she’d had to answer about what to do with it.

She looked around the store for Sam, but he wasn’t there. Must be off having a cup of coffee at the diner, she thought as she made her way to the produce section.

She was happy to find both leeks and red peppers. After years of ignoring leeks as simply fat scallions, Kate had finally tried a chicken-and-leek soup that had been so delicious, Paul had raved about it for days. After that, she’d been more experimental, and that evening for dinner, she was going to try a recipe for braised leeks with lemons and chicken broth. The leeks along with baked red peppers and feta cheese, pork chops, and some whole-wheat dinner rolls would make a lovely meal.

She bagged up the leeks and peppers, shivering slightly in the chilly air. I should have brought my sweater. The image of her sweater hooked on the back of a chair in the Bixby-house kitchen leaped into her mind.

Arlene Jacobs, the part-time cashier, rang up Kate’s items, and Kate paid for her groceries. Then she returned to her car and headed back to the Bixby house to pick up her sweater.

As Kate got out of her car, she saw Martha Sinclair get in hers and drive off. At the same time, Junius came out the kitchen door. He saw her and shook his head.

“I wouldn’t go in there if I were you,” he said.

“Why not?” Kate asked.

Junius made a face. “Tell you the truth, bit of a cat fight.”

Kate walked past him and opened the kitchen door.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Amanda Bly exclaimed when Kate entered.

“Oh, don’t give me that,” Renee snapped. “Looking like butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth. You’re nothing but a man-chasing flirt, and you know it. You’re just the same as you were back in high school. Miss Amanda, Miss Popularity, Miss Priss—”

“Don’t tell me you’re still mad about homecoming—”

“Homecoming! How dare you speak to me about homecoming?” Renee spat.

Kate was amazed to see tears in Renee’s eyes and even more amazed to see Amanda blush fiery red.

“You knew about Charlie and me, and yet you stepped right in and—” Renee began.

“Ladies!” Kate interrupted, walking in between them. Both were quivering and flushed; Kate might have laughed if it wasn’t so sad. “What on earth are you two fighting about?”

“I’m not fighting,” Amanda managed to say, but Kate could see how upset she was. “Junius and I came by to drop off a box of containers—”

“And that’s another thing,” Renee launched forth again. “Who gave you a key to this place?”

“Martha let me in—”

“Yes, well, there’s been some mighty funny things going on around here. And no one is above suspicion.” Renee snatched up her tote, giving Kisses such an awful jerk that he whimpered. “Now look. On top of everything else, you’ve got Kisses all upset.”

She marched to the kitchen door and turned around. “A little more security around this place might not be a bad idea. And I can assure you, I’ll be keeping an eye on you.” Then she stomped out, slamming the door behind her.

The silence was deafening. “I’m so sorry,” Kate finally said.

“So am I.” Amanda looked as if she had a bad taste in her mouth. Then Kate realized that she was trying not to cry.

“It’s an old quarrel.”

“I’m sorry,” Kate repeated.

“Yes, well, no bones broken.” Amanda managed to smile, but it was shaky. “It’s just so...ridiculous. At our age!”

“Is it safe to come in now?” Junius poked his head through the door.

“Land sakes, yes,” Amanda said.

“You ready for me to take you home?” he asked.

Amanda nodded. “I’ll see you later, Kate.”

“Take care,” Kate replied.

With everyone gone, Kate took a deep breath. That scene had thoroughly upset her. She could only imagine what it had done to Amanda. To be railed at by a hysterical, obviously jealous woman. And, as Amanda had said, at their age. Kate sighed. “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?”

Renee had been sweet on someone named Charlie, and Amanda had stolen him from her, or at least Renee believed she had. It was so long ago, and yet the pain was still there, still unhealed. “A wounded spirit who can bear?” Poor Renee.

Kate picked up her sweater, still hooked on the back of the chair, and looked around for her silk scarf. It wasn’t there. She looked in the sleeves of her sweater, on the chair, on the floor, on the countertops, in the corners, in the cabinets, even in the refrigerator. Her silk scarf was gone.