“Did I hear y’all mention Susan over at the Magnolia Books and Antiques down on the square?” Velma wiped her hands on her apron, and struck a pose.
“Do you know her?” Dee Dee asked.
“Yep. She comes in here now and again. She always treats me like I’m some second-class citizen. Sure, she has money and is dressed in them nice clothes, but that don’t make her any better than the rest of us. She puts her pants on the same as we do. Anyway, I’ve heard she’s about to lose her antique store.”
She glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was listening and leaned in conspiratorially. “As a matter of fact, I’ve seen her and Jacob Wallace in here more than once. Lookin’ all goo-goo eyed at each other.”
Susan and Jacob as a couple was definitely an interesting twist. This information could take the investigation in a different direction. “Really? Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. I’ve lived here all my life and know most everyone from around here. A good number of people who work down on the square eat here.” She looked at me indignantly.
“That’s good news, Trix. Maybe she killed Jacob and we can get Doc off the detective’s hit list.”
“Yeah, ain’t that great, Trixie,” Nana said.
I kicked Dee Dee’s shin under the table, I wasn’t sure if Velma would tell Susan about our snooping. I had to put a sock in Nana and Dee Dee’s mouths.
“Ouch, what did you do that for?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. It was an accident.”
“Sure it was.” Dee Dee reached under the table and rubbed her ankle.
“Thank you, Velma. We’ll holler if we need anything else.” I hoped she’d take the hint and leave.
“Hmph. I’ll be back to check on ya.” She turned on her heels and left us to our delightful bounty. We bowed our heads and said a little prayer of thanks. I dug into my food like I’d never eat again. The helpings didn’t look so big after all.
We enjoyed silence the next few minutes while we wolfed down our chow. Ruth’s home cooking was some of the best I’d ever eaten in a restaurant. No wonder they ran out of meatloaf.
I laid the crumpled napkin on the table and patted my stomach. “Ladies, I feel like a stuffed turkey on Thanksgiving morning.”
“Me, too,” Dee Dee agreed.
“Well, I didn’t have much of an appetite after all.” Nana’s plate sat empty on the table. I’d hate to see her when she was hungry.
“Ladies, y’all ready for your check?” Velma laid the ticket face down on the Formica. “I don’t know what you want to speak to that ole’ Susan Gray about, but I’m sure she and that Wallace fellow was up to no good.”
I was sure they were, too. “Thank you, Velma. And you tell Ruth the food was to die for.” Oops, maybe not the best choice of words.
“Yes, me too,” Nana said. “Some of the best vittles I’ve ever eaten.”
“Well, y’all come back now. Ya hear?” Velma laughed and slapped her leg.
It was a little after two in the afternoon, so we headed over to the Gone with the Wind Museum. We could go pick out our dresses, and then have enough time to go back to Dora’s and take a quick nap.
Before Dee Dee could reapply her lipstick, we pulled onto the historic Marietta Square once again. Now familiar, with all of the trips we’d made downtown, the rain had stopped and the sun shone bright as a hundred watt light bulb. The air smelled fresh, and several tourists had already ventured out, enjoying the cooler air in the park, located in the middle of the square. Some window shopped as they walked along the sidewalks.
We parked and made our way over the railroad tracks. Nana kept up like a trooper. She talked a mile a minute about being Scarlett.
“Oh, I can’t wait to get my dress,” Nana said. “I’ll look just like Scarlett. You wait and see.”
“Well. I rather fancied myself being Scarlett.” Dee Dee patted her head with the palm of her hand as if patting her curls.
“Okay, girls. Let’s not get into a cat-fight. You can both be Scarlett. Once the ladies put on their dresses for the evening, all of them will probably feel a little like Scarlett.” I had to admit, I was getting excited. I’ve always wanted to dress up in a beautiful ball-gown.
We walked into the Gone with the Wind Museum. The building appeared deserted at first. “Hello, may I help you?” An attractive, middle- aged lady greeted us.
“Yes. We want to rent gowns for the museum fund-raiser they’re having tonight.” Her eyebrows rose to her widow’s peak.
“Oh, my. You’ve come at a most inopportune time. The dresses have been picked over, but we may have something left.” She motioned for us to follow her through the hallway and back into a side room. “I’m afraid this is all we have. I’ll try my best to fit you with something.”
I picked up a velvet, maroon dress I thought would fit me. I ran my fingers over the soft material.
“By the way, I’m Susan Gray. I volunteer at the museum and I’m helping out today. We’ve had a last minute run on dresses.” Her gaze swept over all of us. “You’d think people wouldn’t wait to the last minute.”
I literally dropped the dress I held. “Oh, I’m so sorry. Did you say your name was Susan Gray? Do you own the Magnolia Books and Antiques Store?”
“Yes, I do. How did you know?” The tone of her voice reflected her wariness.
“Uh, Doc. Doc Pennington told us you’re on the board of the history museum.” I picked the dress up from the floor. I wanted to try it on. “I’m Trixie Montgomery and I write for “Georgia by the Way”.
“Yes, I’m familiar with the magazine. We have some copies in the bookstore.”
“This is my friend and assistant, Dee Dee Lamont.” I’d called her my assistant so often; I’d begun to believe it. I placed my hand on Nana’s shoulder. “This is my great aunt, we just call her Nana.”
“Well, we need to get you ladies fitted if you plan to attend tonight.” She pulled out several dresses and held them up to Nana. Most of them would swallow her whole. She told us to wait and after a few minutes she returned with a sure-fire replica of Scarlett’s gown. Nana’s eyes lit up like a ten-carat diamond.
“We’ve just received this dress. The mayor’s wife was going to wear it, but she changed her mind. I see no reason why we can’t use it. She handed the dress to Nana. “Would you like to try this on, ma’am?” What a silly question. I don’t believe Sherman’s troops could’ve stopped Nana. She grabbed the dress from Susan’s hands quicker than a dog on a biscuit.
Now, for Dee Dee. After several more attempts we found one Dee Dee liked. I wasn’t sure it would zip up, but I wasn’t going to bring it to her attention.
“Dee Dee, why don’t you go help Nana, and I’ll wait here?” I wanted to question Susan alone.
Dee Dee didn’t take the hint. “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun if we all try them on at the same time,” she suggested.
I winked at Dee Dee, trying to grab her attention.
“Trix, is something in your eye?” Dee Dee asked. “You do seem to have a problem with that. Maybe you need to get your eyes checked.”
“Let me see. I’ll get it out.” Ever helpful Nana got right up in my face. I feared she would stick her finger in my eye and try to pluck out what wasn’t there. I popped up over Nana’s head and glared at Dee Dee.
“Please take Nana with you and I’ll follow in a minute.” She finally took the hint and off they went to try on their outfits.
“Susan, do you mind if I ask you a few questions for an article I’m working on about the Marietta History Museum?”
She jumped at the chance to share her expertise. I asked a few benign questions at first and she answered them willingly. Then I loaded for bear. “Susan, is it true you had an affair with Jacob Wallace?”
“Who are you, and what do you really want?” Susan’s eyes bore straight through me.