Thirty and a Half Excuses
Page 21

I hadn’t worn it since.
I was done with letting people make me feel worthless. Sure it had happened in the sixth grade and Theresa Hopper didn’t even live in Henryetta anymore, but the necklace would be a reminder to stand my ground.
I lifted the chain and fastened it around my neck.
Rose Gardner was done backing down.
Chapter Seven
When I got to the nursery the next morning, Violet was waiting with her hand on her hip. “You didn’t think to call me about getting attacked? Again.”
I started to ask her how she knew, then stopped. Of course, it was big news, and Henryetta was a small town. It would have been more surprising if Violet hadn’t heard.
I waved my hand as I tossed my purse behind the counter. “It was nothing. Mason thinks someone heard that poor Miss Dorothy died and tried to break in to steal her jewelry.”
Violet’s father-in-law showed up just as she was about to give me a tongue-lashing. Giving me the evil eye—which just about screamed We’re not done talking about this—she turned to him with a smile.
“Thanks for letting us borrow your truck, Gary. If you want to take my car, I’ll switch with you later today.
“Don’t be silly, Violet. You’re like a daughter to Shelia and me. We’re so proud of what you and Rose have done,” Gary told her with tears in his eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on in that fool boy’s head, but I hope he doesn’t think we’re gonna turn our backs on you.”
Violet teared up as she threw her arms around his neck, and her voice broke as she held onto him for several seconds. “Thank you.”
I wasn’t sure what Mike’s parents knew, but as far as I could tell, there was plenty of blame to go round. I wasn’t happy that Mike had left Violet, but I’d also seen the misery she’d put him through with years of belittling and badgering. Still, to be fair to Violet, he’d just about squashed any thoughts she’d ever had of being anything more than a wife and a mother.
As we began to slide the flats of flowers on the pickup bed, we quickly realized it was going to take more than one trip. Gary drove the first load to the church, and I followed him in my car. After we set the first batch on the sidewalk, Gary returned to the nursery while I unpacked my gardening tools from the trunk of my car.
Violet and I had inherited our love for flowers and gardening from our father. We’d spent most of the warm weather months of our childhood outside planting, weeding, and pruning. Later, I realized it was my father’s escape from my mother’s razor-edged tongue. But as a child, spending time outside with my father was where I found most of my happiness. Since I still lived in my parents’ house, my shed was full of shovels, rakes, pruning shears, and any other tools we might need.
While I waited for Gary to return, I called Neely Kate. I had several minutes to kill, and other than a few minutes we’d seen each other at the grand opening, I hadn’t talked to her in over a week. I knew she’d be at the courthouse, but she hated her job so much she always answered, welcoming the distraction.
She answered on the second ring. “I was just about to call you. I heard about your incident last night.”
“Is there anyone in Henryetta who hasn’t?”
“Doubtful. You can tell me all about it at lunch this afternoon.”
I groaned. “Oh no. I forgot. I can’t. We got a big order to plant flowers and prune the landscape at the New Living Hope Revival Church.” I eyed the church entrance. Jonah’s car wasn’t in the parking lot, but I was still keeping an eye out for him. He made me nervous, and I didn’t want to be caught alone with him.
“I thought you just sold the flowers. I didn’t know y’all did the plantin’ too.”
“We didn’t plan on it, but that was the only way to get this job, and it’s a big one. This is more money than we’d expected to make in a month.”
“Well that makes sense, I guess, but are you planting ‘em all yourself?”
“No, I hired David Moore and Bruce Wayne Decker to help. They should be here any minute.”
She paused. “The stoners?”
I sighed, starting to doubt the wisdom of my plan. “I was desperate.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
My gaze focused on the front doors of the church. I could feel Rhonda’s eyes staring me down through the office window. I suspected she was gathering the rocks for my stoning later.
“So tell me about last night.”
I told her everything, including the bit about the St. Jude’s necklace they’d found in Miss Dorothy’s backyard.
“Huh.”
“What? You know something?”
“Well, maybe. Maybe not. My grandma was close friends with Miss Laura. Several days after the funeral her daughters got together to start cleaning out the house. But they noticed all her jewelry was missing as well as a few silver pieces. They called Grandma to see if she knew what Miss Laura had done with her things. She didn’t have a clue. She suggested they call the police, but they told her they had a cousin who’d been hanging around Miss Laura, taking advantage of her kindness. They suspected she’d just given the jewelry to her, especially since there wasn’t any sign of a break-in.”
“We have to tell Mason.”
“Nuh uh,” Neely Kate groaned. “I ain’t gettin’ involved.”
“Neely Kate!”
“It’s a coincidence, Rose. I suspect Miss Laura’s niece stole the jewelry or convinced her aunt to give it to her. Everyone knows she’s addicted to meth. Which brings us back to your new employees.”