“What a sweet little doggie,” Jackie said.
Daniel was overcome with a violent coughing fit that I was sure was designed to mask uncontrollable laughter. I glared at him from over the top of Denny’s furry head.
“I hope you don’t mind, Elizabeth,” said Lauren. Mind? Mind what? That the family dog was trying to molest me?
“Not at all,” I mumbled. “It’s just that I usually get dinner and a movie first.” Daniel’s coughing grew louder.
“Denny hasn’t been himself today,” Lauren continued. “I think he senses the stress. There’s so much to arrange. I’ve been on the phone all morning. But at least I was able to get through to Jamie.”
“Jamie?” repeated Jackie, instantly on the alert for new information. “Who’s that?”
Clearly regretting her words, Lauren’s answer came a half beat slow. “Jamie is my son,” she said. She eyed Jackie distastefully, no doubt anticipating that this information would be all over town by nightfall.
“Why, I didn’t know you and Gerald had a son,” exclaimed Jackie. Polly had returned in time to hear Jackie’s words. She looked aghast.
“We don’t,” replied Lauren testily. “Jamie is my son from my previous marriage.”
“Oh, I see,” said Jackie. “How old is he?”
“He’s fourteen,” Lauren said briskly. She smoothed nonexistent wrinkles on her sleeve.
“Such a wonderful age,” Jackie said, oblivious to the fact that Lauren seemed not to share her enthusiasm for the conversation. “Does he live with his father, then?”
“No.”
“Really?” The little white flowers quivered like radar picking up a signal.
Lauren made no further comment, and Daniel said curtly, “Jamie has special needs. He lives in South Carolina.”
Jackie’s mouth made a silent O, but thankfully she said no more. If she was aware of Lauren’s animosity, she was doing an excellent job of hiding it. Mrs. Jenkins entered with the tea tray and the rest of us busied ourselves with pouring and trying to make small talk.
“Miserable day out,” said Daniel.
“Yes,” said Aunt Winnie. “They’re calling for more snow, I believe.”
“Yes, I heard that, too,” I said to Denny’s nose. I debated shoving him off me but decided I’d rather have him sitting on my lap than molesting my leg.
“Downtown was a complete mess,” said Polly, as she picked up the silver teapot. “The streets are treacherous. I’m supposed to visit Harriet up in Brighton later this week, but unless the roads improve, I’ll have to cancel.”
“You went downtown?” asked Lauren. “I didn’t know that. When?”
Polly concentrated on filling Jackie’s cup before answering. “I thought I told you. I was sure that I did. I went this morning. I needed cigarettes.” She handed Jackie her cup.
“Speaking of which,” said Daniel, “I’m out. Can I pinch one from you?”
“Oh,” said Polly, “that’s right. I forgot. I should have picked some up for you.”
“Could you two please not smoke in here?” said Lauren, with a sigh. “You know it triggers my migraines.”
Jackie abruptly set down her teacup, spilling the contents in the process. “Oh, dear,” she said as she tried to mop it up with her napkin, “what a klutz I am. I’m always making a mess of things. Only this morning, I broke one of Linnet’s china figurines. I don’t know how she puts up with me. I really am sorry, Lauren. I hope I haven’t ruined your lovely chair.” Jackie’s face was pinched and worried underneath her hat.
“It’s fine,” said Lauren stiffly. “Please, don’t worry about it.”
But the incident seemed to prey on Jackie’s mind and she was silent for the rest of the visit. As I watched her over the top of Denny’s immovable head, I felt a surge of sympathy for her. After all, she was a lonely old woman whose only excitement seemed gleaned from the lives of others. Still, I was grateful for her silence. For, in the words of Jane Austen, I was quite sure that it would pass. And, no doubt, more quickly than it should.
When the tea was finished, Aunt Winnie and I made our excuses to leave. They were readily accepted. Even Jackie was ready to go. After extricating myself from Denny, I went out into the foyer to see about our coats.
On the hall table lay a stack of mail. On the top was a large envelope from the State Department. It was addressed to Polly. I laid my hand on it, my fingers feeling the definite outline of a passport. It would seem that Polly was going to Oxford after all. The question was, did she make that decision despite Gerald’s protestations or because she knew they wouldn’t be an issue?
I had just stepped back from the table when Daniel appeared behind me. “It was good of you to come, Elizabeth,” he said into my ear.
“Well, we wanted to see if there was anything we could do.”
“I see.” He turned me to face him. With an impish smile, he took my hands in his. I willed them to neither sweat nor tremble. “And have you done everything you can do?” His face was so close to mine that I could see the faint laugh lines intertwined around his blue eyes.
I knew I was blushing, but I refused to let him turn me into a blithering idiot. “Daniel,” I said, “it’s been a long couple of days. I’m really tired and I’m not up for innuendos right now.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he said. “I’ve wanted to do this from the first moment I saw you. New Year’s resolutions and all that.” He bent down and kissed me.
He had just stepped back when Mrs. Jenkins appeared with our coats. Or maybe she appeared once he stepped back. I didn’t know and I didn’t care. I took my coat without interest. I was already quite warm.
Lauren, Polly, Jackie, and Aunt Winnie joined us in the foyer. We all said goodbye and walked outside. Jackie was still very quiet.
“Are you all right, Jackie?” asked Aunt Winnie, pulling her coat tightly around her.
“What?” Jackie answered distractedly. “Oh, yes. Yes, I’m fine. I just have a sudden headache, that’s all. Something doesn’t make sense. I need to sort it all out. I know the answer is there, I just can’t puzzle it out.”
Aunt Winnie and I waited politely for an explanation, but none was forthcoming. Instead, Jackie smiled at us and merely said, “Good afternoon, ladies. I will see you soon.”
Jackie’s car was a burgundy ’93 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Slapped over a dent on the back fender was a bumper sticker that read I BRAKE FOR PEOPLE. Once inside, Jackie gave us a little wave and slammed the door shut.
And with that, she left.
CHAPTER 11
General notions are generally wrong.
—LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU
WELL, THAT WAS … interesting,” I said to Aunt Winnie once we were inside her car.
“Which part?” she replied as she gunned the engine and sped down the driveway. I gripped the door handle. Aunt Winnie likes to drive fast. She says it makes her feel young again. Unfortunately, it has the opposite effect on me. Death never feels so close.
“All of it,” I said. “Remind me not to pay house calls with you anymore.”
“Oh, come on! I thought you and Denny made a charming couple.”
“You’re not nearly as funny as you think you are,” I said. The car careened out onto the main road. “Did I miss something?” I asked, craning my neck over my shoulder to peer behind us. “Is someone chasing us?”
Aunt Winnie laughed. “Don’t be such a worrywart! You need to live a little.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do,” I muttered, closing my eyes tightly as she sped up for the yellow light.
Health experts recommend elevating your pulse rate to achieve cardio fitness. By the time we skidded to a stop in the inn’s driveway, mine was so elevated I was sure I didn’t have to bother with any additional exercise for the day. Maybe even for the entire week.