Page 69 of Grounded
“Good. I might run over and see her after we get back.”
Prayer meeting lasted only an hour and was exactly what it was called. Church members sang, offered up prayer requests and prayed silently then out loud under the direction of Pastor Gillum. After they were dismissed, Annie dropped Beulah off at the house, seeing her inside, then drove over to Evelyn’s, since it was getting close to dusk.
“Come in,” Evelyn said, happy to see her.
“Is this a good time?” Annie asked.
“Of course! Jake and Cam are in Lexington and probably won’t be home for a couple more hours.”
“I came by the other day,” Annie said. “No one was home, so I used your computer to print out these pictures.” She handed them to Evelyn. “I need to enlarge one to see if we can make out the license plate letters. I could walk over tomorrow, but Stella Hawkins is coiled like a snake and I’m afraid the third time she might strike.”
“Of course. Anytime,” Evelyn said, reaching for the pictures in Annie’s hand while Annie booted up the computer. “Looks like she’s taken the curtains down in two of the windows. Beulah said she had them all covered before.”
Annie pulled the picture up on the computer screen. “I didn’t notice that before. Maybe it’s some kind of signal related to selling drugs.”
“You think its drug related? Why?” Evelyn took off her glasses and sat down.
“She’s put up some kind of sensor on the old oak next to the bridge. She was out of it when we took food, like she was high on something. And then the other day I went by the house on the way home from the cemetery, and I heard wailing coming from inside the house. I knocked on the door and the crying stopped. The second time I knocked she yelled for me to leave her alone.” Annie shrugged. “I don’t know what to think.”
“Now, let’s see if we can get that license number.” She adjusted the picture so the license number was in the center, and then enlarged until the letter and number combination was readable. “CJX 478. It’s an Illinois plate.” She pressed print.
“Can you stay for a cup of hot tea?” Evelyn asked. Annie was tired and wanted to go to bed, but she could tell Evelyn wanted to talk.
“Sure,” Annie said and sat down at the table.
Evelyn set the kettle on the gas burner and put out cups and saucers while the water heated.
“Jake’s been different since Camille got here,” Evelyn said. “Have you noticed it?”
“Not really, but I haven’t spent any time with him. What do you mean?”
“Oh, maybe I’m just imagining things. But he’s on eggshells,” Evelyn said. “I wonder if I should I say anything? Try to offer some counsel?” Evelyn poured hot water in the teapot and set out cups and saucers.
Annie thought back to that sunny afternoon in Rome, when Janice told her the story about her sister and the diamond earrings. It had upset her, and at the time she didn’t appreciate it, but it had planted a seed of doubt in her mind, and when the truth was revealed through that unexpected conversation with a woman on the airplane, she was ready to receive it. It had all worked to keep her from continuing a dead-end relationship.
After reflecting on her own experience, Annie answered Evelyn’s question: “Maybe. But you have to be careful. If he thinks you have doubts about Camille and they end up married, it could be a source of division.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. I wish Charlie were here. Men can talk about things differently. They can speak plainer to each other.”
“Jake respects your opinions. When the right time comes, you’ll know what to say, if anything.”
Chapter Thirty
Jake was outside, talking on his cell phone, when Annie pulled into the Wilders’ driveway. He smiled when he saw her, disconnected the phone and leaned in her window.
“Cam will be right out. I think it takes her longer to dress for girl outings than it does for a date with me.” He leaned in close to her. “Thanks for doing this. I was hoping you two could spend some time together.”
Annie shielded her eyes from the sun. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell her about all your secrets?”
Jake’s slow smile crept wide across his face. “I’m hoping you do.”
“Lindy is meeting us at the diner.”
“Good.”
“Hello!” Camille waved from the porch, bracelets jangling. Her light-blond hair rested against a black shirt with a scalloped neckline and jeans. Annie and Jake watched her as she came down the stairs as graceful as a cat, her bracelets clanging like bells.
Annie felt like a middle-aged frump next to Camille. What had happened to her fashion sense? Shopping was not her favorite pastime, and the ability to wear a uniform to work had allowed her to go for a long time without updating her wardrobe.
