“Yes, sir.” He blushed. “But I want to keep it, so I can’t let the exam do me in.”
“When is it?”
“This afternoon, at one.” He scratched his bearded chin.
“I’ll send good vibes your way.” I chuckled. “Though I doubt you really need them.”
Justin grinned, and as I regarded him, I marveled at the changes in him over the past year. When he first moved in, the fall semester of the previous year, he had been shy, gawky, and unsure of himself. After a traumatic first semester he’d blossomed into a more outgoing, physically active, and confident young man. I was as proud of him as if he were one of my own.
Azalea set plates of scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon in front of Justin and me. She glared at me when she was done. “Don’t you be letting that woman back in this house. Miss Dottie like to rise up and haunt you. And I won’t set foot in here again.”
With that she whirled and stomped off into the utility room.
FOUR
Justin and I stared at each other. Diesel meowed several times, and I knew the tense atmosphere bothered him. He butted my thigh, and I scratched his head.
“Man, what’s up with her?” Justin kept his voice low. “I’ve never heard her use that tone before.” He shook his head. “Who’s she talking about anyway?”
I answered the last question first. “Vera Cassity.”
Justin’s expression turned sour. “Oh, her.” He had a sip of coffee.
“How do you know her?” Did everyone in Athena know and dislike the woman?
“Scholarship.” Justin shrugged. “She endowed one of the four-year scholarships I received. I’m grateful to her, because it really is a good one.”
“But?” I prompted when he fell silent.
“She wants a thank-you letter at the beginning and end of every semester. Plus, you have to tell her about the courses you’ve taken and how they have contributed to your growth as a mature, moral person.” He sighed. “I guess it’s really not that big a deal, but it takes up a lot of time. Because those letters sure aren’t short.”
“Does she actually read them?” I thought two detailed thank-you letters per semester excessive. The woman evidently needed massive sops to her ego.
“She sure does.” Justin laughed. “Because you always get a letter back, and she comments on things. So you don’t dare skimp on the details when you write to her.”
“That’s going way overboard on her part.” I grimaced. “I admire her for endowing scholarships, but requiring written proof of gratitude so frequently is just weird. Not to mention the bit about growth as a mature, moral person.”
“Well, yeah, it is weird.” Justin shrugged again. “But without that money I’d have to go to school part-time and work full-time probably.”
The more I found out about Vera the more fascinating—albeit distasteful—she became.
“But why does Miss Azalea hate her so much?” Justin forked some egg into his mouth.
I shrugged. “I haven’t the foggiest.” Had Azalea worked for Vera at some point? I couldn’t see Azalea tolerating Vera’s high-handed manner, but her reaction to Vera argued a more serious offense.
“She must have done something pretty awful.” Justin ate more. “I mean, Miss Azalea’s not exactly a warm and fuzzy person”—his eyes glinted with amusement—“but she doesn’t usually go around bad-mouthing anybody.”
I agreed. Azalea’s reaction implied deep animosity.
“Definitely a mystery.” I had a bite of bacon, and suddenly a paw tapped my thigh. I glanced down at Diesel. His gaze riveted on the bacon in my hand, he chirped. “You’re incorrigible.” I broke off a piece and fed it to him.
Justin laughed. “He does love bacon.”
“That he does.” I fed the cat another piece. “That’s all.” I held up my hand to show Diesel that it was empty.
He glared at me for a moment before he turned and walked over to Justin’s chair. His tail bristled with indignation.
“A couple of bites,” I told Justin. “No more.”
“Yes, sir.” He grinned as Diesel warbled for him. He broke off almost half a slice and fed it to the cat.
“Justin.” I shook my head. “That was more than a couple of bites.”
My boarder ducked his head briefly, but when he returned my gaze, he grinned. I suppressed a chuckle. I couldn’t be angry with him.
Justin popped the remainder of the bacon into his mouth and held his empty hands where Diesel could see them. Diesel knew what that signal meant, even if it annoyed him.
Tail once again in the air, Diesel marched out of the kitchen into the utility room. Justin and I shared a quiet laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Stewart Delacorte, my other boarder, entered the room like a diva coming onstage. Once he had our attention, he preened, striking in his black suit, white shirt, and crimson tie. “Well, what do you think? Am I not simply gorgeous this morning?”
“Why should today be different from any other day?” Justin flashed a grin at me. When Stewart first moved in, his assumed flamboyance had disconcerted the younger man. Now, however, Justin took Stewart in his stride, and the two had become friends.
Stewart blew a kiss. “You are too, too sweet.” He advanced to the table and rested his hands on the back of a chair. “I have a meeting with the president today, therefore the professional drag.” He grimaced. “I must have caffeine in my system if I’m going to listen to Mr. Prez blather on and on for an hour or two.” He wandered over to the counter and poured himself coffee. “Now, what were you two laughing about?”
“Diesel.” Justin and I replied in unison.
“How dare you laugh at that magnificent feline,” Stewart chided us in a mock-fierce tone. “Where is he, by the way?” He glanced around the room as he sipped his coffee.
Diesel chose that moment to stroll back into the kitchen. He spotted Stewart and made a beeline for him.
Stewart tried to hold the cat off, because he well knew Diesel intended to rub himself against his legs. “Darling kitty, I adore you, but I don’t want to have to de-hair myself.” He glanced over at me. “Why is it that they simply must get their hair on anything black?”
Diesel sat on his haunches and gazed up at Stewart. He warbled twice.
“I think he may be telling you his hair is special.” Justin laughed.
“It is.” Stewart flashed a grin. “But not on my best suit, and not when I have a command performance.” He kept a wary eye on the cat as he approached the table and took the chair to my right.
Justin glanced at his watch. He pushed back his chair. “Sorry, gotta get going. See y’all later.” He waved to Diesel as he trotted out of the room. Moments later I heard him run lightly up the stairs.
“Where’s Dante?” I turned to Stewart. Usually the dog made every step that Stewart made.
Dante was the toy poodle Stewart took over from my son, Sean, a few months before. Sean had rescued the poor little guy from an owner—Sean’s former girlfriend—who’d lost interest in him when she discovered he had no pedigree. Once Stewart and Dante set eyes on each other, though, it was love at first sight.
“Laura has him with her this morning. She promised to keep him occupied so I could sneak out of the house. He’s had his morning walkies.” He checked his watch. “I’ve got a few minutes before I need to head for campus.” He had a sip of coffee as he regarded me with a thoughtful expression. “Recovered from last night’s episode of Everybody Hates Vera?”
I couldn’t help laughing. Stewart was outrageous, but fun. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with a talent for getting on people’s nerves the way poor Vera does.”
“She’s had sixty-odd years to perfect her talent. Plus, she’s worked really hard at it.” Stewart grimaced. “Be thankful she’s not your godmother.”