“Tea, maybe,” said Gran.
“Nothing for me,” said Odelia, who didn’t want to inconvenience Jason or his family.
“What kind of tea do you prefer?” asked Jason, getting up.
“Anything you’ve got,” said Gran. “But if you have herbal tea, that would be great.”
“Be right back,” he said with a smile, and was off like a rabbit, only to return moments later with an apologetic expression on his face. “Tea will be a few moments.”
“That’s fine,” said Odelia. “The reason we’re here is because I’m actually a reporter, and I’m writing an article on Soul Science.”
“Only this is going to be a very positive article,” said Vesta, casting a pointed look at her granddaughter. “Isn’t that right, Odelia?”
“Yes, a very positive article,” she dutifully confirmed.
“You’re a reporter?” asked Jason, suddenly nervous. “I-I didn’t know that.”
“She’s a very honest and conscientious reporter,” Gran clarified. “Not one of them overly critical ones who like to twist your words and invent a lot of stuff you never said.”
“Yeah, I don’t go in for that sort of thing,” said Odelia.
“Okay,” said Jason, now wringing his hands. “So… what is it you want to know?”
“Well, Soul Science is pretty new,” said Odelia. “And people are wondering where it suddenly came from, and what Master Omar’s intentions are. In general I think people simply want to understand.”
“Okay. Um…”
“Maybe you can start by telling us how you got involved with Soul Science?”
“Oh, well, um…” He glanced from Odelia to Vesta, and swallowed convulsively. “So, um… Are you going to print everything I tell you? Is that how this works?”
“Look, if you want, we can conduct this entire interview off the record,” said Odelia, who sensed sales resistance. “In which case I’ll simply use whatever you tell me as background information, and your name will never be mentioned, nor will the fact that you talked to me today.”
This seemed to please the young man, for he visibly relaxed. “I would like that. Not that I have something to hide or anything. It’s just that…” He glanced at the door, and said, “Please excuse me for a moment.” And was gone again.
“Nervous type, isn’t he?” said Gran. “He moves so fast he’s like a blur.”
“There’s a story here, Gran,” said Odelia. “I can feel it.”
“Do you think they’ve got chocolate? I would kill for a piece of chocolate right now. I skipped dinner, thinking Omar was going to splurge on me, and now I’m starving.”
“Wait until we’re home,” Odelia suggested. “We’re guests. We can’t ask for food.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Jason walked in and she said, “You don’t happen to have any chocolate, do you? I’m diabetic and if I don’t get my sugar levels up I might die.”
Odelia rolled her eyes. Looked like Gran was herself again.
Finally plied with tea and refreshments, the interview could proceed.
“I’ll tell you the truth, but only if you promise not to print anything about this in your newspaper,” said Jason.
“I promise,” said Odelia.
“And I’m keeping you to that,” said Gran, munching on a delicious-looking praline.
“I’m an addict,” said Jason with a deep sigh. “Alcohol. I joined Alcoholics Anonymous at Father Reilly’s and one of the people present introduced me to Soul Science.”
“Recruited straight from Father Reilly’s flock, huh?” said Gran, grinning. “I’ll bet he didn’t like that. Joining the competition.”
“It wasn’t like that. Father Reilly doesn’t even know about any of this. I just… I needed something more than the twelve-step program and Soul Science offered me just that. It gave me a group of like-minded people that I can now call my friends. Master Omar knows all about my past, and he supports me one hundred percent.”
“What do think about Jaqlyn Jones?” asked Odelia, and watched Jason’s face cloud over.
“Um… he’s one of our most prominent members. Hard-working. Great recruiter.”
“Do you also consider him your friend?” asked Odelia, probing gently.
“No. Well, yes…” He coughed. “Honestly? Jaqlyn is not my favorite person in the world. I used to sit at Master Omar’s table before Jaqlyn joined the church. In fact I used to be Omar’s principal apostle, so to speak. Only Jaqlyn took over that role and pretty much pushed me out.”
“Must have been tough on you,” said Odelia.
“It still is. I’ve been relegated to a role in the background, and I’m still adjusting.”
“Jaqlyn Jones is scum,” said Gran, picking another praline from the tray.
“I wouldn’t go so far as that,” said Jason. “But he has a manipulative streak. He knows just what to say and how and when to say it, and he likes to bask in the limelight.”
“These pralines are great,” said Gran, smacking her lips. “Got any more?”
Immediately Jason jumped up. “One sec,” he said, and was gone again.
“Gran! You can’t eat these people’s food! It’s not okay!”
“Why not? It’s great food. Besides, I need it for my diabetes.”
“You don’t have diabetes!”
“I don’t? Are you sure?”
Suddenly the door flew open and Jason’s grandmother appeared. She didn’t look happy. “Who do you think you are, coming in here and eating my favorite pralines?!”
“They’re good,” Gran confirmed. “You’ve got great taste, old biddy.”
She hadn’t struck the right note. The old lady shook her fist. “You cultists are all the same. A bunch of smarmy bloodsuckers. Well I’m here to tell you that the Blowhard restaurant is closed for business! Get out, you freeloading old bat! Out!”
“Mom!” Jason’s mother cried. “You can’t treat our guests like that!”
“They’re not guests, they’re cultists! Get lost, ye Satan’s spawn—out of my house!”
“Who are you calling Satan’s spawn, you crazy old cow?” said Gran, now also on her feet and going toe to toe with the other woman.
“You’re the crazy old cow, you crazy old hag!”
“Who are you calling a crazy old hag, you crazy old crone?!”
“You’re the crazy old crone, you crazy old pest!”
“Who are you calling a crazy old pest, you—”
Odelia had the feeling this could go on for a little while, so she took her grandmother’s arm, and said, “Come on, Gran. We’re leaving.”
“You ate all my pralines!” Gam-Gam cried, noticing the little pile of shiny empty wrappers. “Those were my pralines!”
“I’m diabetic, what’s your excuse!” said Gran.
“Come on,” said Odelia, and forcibly took her grandmother’s arm and steered her toward the corridor. “Thank you for your hospitality, Jason. I’m sorry about the pralines.”
They were already out on the street, on their way to the car, when Odelia suddenly remembered that her cats were still inside. But she needn’t have worried: as she turned back, the front door opened and Max and Dooley came scampering out the front door, as if ejected by force. They both seemed well-pleased and brimming with Jason’s food.
Odelia shook her head. How extremely embarrassing.
And she hadn’t even learned anything new.
Chapter 24
The day had finally arrived: Jaqlyn and Francine Jones’s garden party was upon us and the turnout was impressive. Of course Odelia was there, in her capacity both as a Hampton Covian but also as a reporter fulfilling her promise to cover both Jaqlyn Jones and Soul Science in a series of future articles. But the rest of the Poole clan had also decided to put in an appearance, which from Tex’s side was with some reluctance.