Page 34 of Somewhere Without You
The cashierfinallyhanded over my change. “Katherine couldn’t make it,” I said, turning to face them.
“Couldn’t?Ordidn’t want to?”Georgia chuckled. My hands clenched tighter around the cart handle.“Oh, lighten up,”she sighed, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder.“I’m only joking.”
Alabama blinked, her brown eyes magnified behind her bottle-thick glasses.“Weheardabout Mae,”she mumbled, likesimplysaying her namewasa sin.“Sorry about your Gran.”
Georgia gave me a pitying smile.“Yes, soverysorry. What a tragedy.”
Something in her tone said shewasn’tsorry at all.
“Thanks,”I said, trying to squeeze past them, but Georgia stepped in front of me, blocking the way.
“Ifit makes youfeelany better, we host a prayer group on Thursday nights over at the church,”she said, her voice dripping with sugar.“We’dlove to add your Gran to our prayers. Youcouldcome too, ifyou’dlike.”
Now itwasmy turn to choke back a laugh. Gran hated church—and made no secret of it. She used to say religionwasthe most successful cult the worldhadeverknown.
“I appreciate the thought, but Gran’s dead. I don’t think she’s in much need of prayer anymore.”
Georgia’s bright expression faltered.“Well, Emily,thatmay be true—buteventhedearlydeparted can still use a few prayers.”Her gaze flicked down to the bottles of wine in my cart.“Some more than others, itseems.”
Of all the people Icould’ve run into, why did it have to be the Baker twins? Their dadwasthe town preacher, all fire and brimstone. Their mother, a beloved Sunday school teacher, loved Jesus in public, but in private she worshipped other spirits—namelyJack and Jim.
Alabama adjusted her glasses.“In caseyou change your mind,”she said, offering me a white pamphlet with a little black cross on the front.
I took it—not because I wanted to, but because Idesperatelyneeded this encounter to be over.
“Well, thishasbeen a lovely surprise, but Allie and I need togetgoing. We’re in charge of this year’s church potluck andthere’s still so much to do.” Georgia looped her arm through her sister’s. “Itwasreallygreatseeing you, Emily. We should catch up again soon.”
I stood still, watching as they disappeared through the first set of doors and out of sight.Oncetheyweregone, I stepped into the breezeway, slipping my buggy into place with the others. I gathered my bags, looping them over my armcarefully, when IheardAlabama’s voice drift in from outside.
“Do you think she’ll come?”she asked, her voice quiet and unsure.
I stood rooted to the spot. I didn’t want to listen, but I didn’t want them toseeme either.
“Of course she won’t,”Georgie replied.
“Thenwhy’d you invite her?”
“BecauseIwasbeing polite,”Georgia bit out, irritated.“I swear Allie, sometimes I wonder if the Lord forgot to give you a lick of sense, or if I’m the one being punished for it.”
“Daddy always says—”
“Daddy would invite the devil himself to supper if he thought it’dgethim somewhere,” Georgia said with a snort.“Honestly, it’s a blessingthatold woman’s gone.Thatfamily’s never brought anything but trouble. Iheardfrom Ruth, down at Betty’s Salon,thatKatherine ran off to California, andthenEmily followed her outthere, only to wind up married to one of the richest men in the country.”
Alabama cleared her throat.“Ifshe’s so rich, what’s she doing living back atthatrun-down farmhouse?”
Georgia gave a shrug.“Beats me.ButI didn’tseea ring on her finger, did you?”
“I wasn’t really look—”
“Oh shut up, Allie,” Georgia snapped, her voice sharpening. “Something’s off aboutthatwhole situation, andI’m gonna find out what.”
Twenty
Thescreendoorslammedshut behind me, echoing the rage boiling in my chest. Georgia’s words slithered back into my mind.
Thatfamily’s never brought anything but trouble.
I rolled my eyes.SuddenlyIwasn’tveryhungry anymore.
