Miss Julia Inherits a Mess by Ann B. Ross

Author:Ann B. Ross
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2016-03-04T09:08:38+00:00

Chapter 27

My word, I thought as I returned to the library. It seemed that last will and testaments were to be my portion in life for some time to come. Etta Mae’s problem was easy enough to solve, but mine was still hanging over my head. I sighed at the stacks on the desk and wondered if I’d ever get through them.

And, I thought, I haven’t even gotten to the stacks of scrapbooks, photograph albums, and various boxes waiting on the shelf and in the back corner of Mattie’s guest room closet—the very things that Mr. Cobb was apparently so eager to see.

“Miss Julia?” Lillian stood in the door, a dishrag in her hand. “You an’ Mr. Sam got to be at that funeral in a little while, an’ you need to eat something ’fore you go.”

“Yes, and I have to get there early enough to see that it doesn’t descend into chaos.” I looked at her, noting that she was in a housedress that was nothing like her usual funeral attire, which would certainly have included a large hat. “I thought you were planning to go.”

“No’m, ’cause when it come down to it, I’m jus’ not up to it. And ladies be startin’ to bring trays an’ casseroles an’ so on for the reception. I need to be here to get things ready.”

“I’m sorry LuAnne sprang that reception on us—I didn’t know a thing about it. But we’ll have plenty of help. So if you want to go to the funeral, you can walk over with me or with Sam when he goes a little later. I’m sure Miss Mattie would appreciate it.” If she knew about it.

“No’m, I got to thinkin’ I jus’ didn’t know her all that good, an’ she didn’t know me, so I’d jus’ ruther stay here. ’Sides, I about had my fill of funerals, what with the trouble that come from Mr. Robert’s.”

“Oh, yes, I want to hear about that. What did he do?”

“Well, he died, like I tole you, so he didn’t do nothin’ ’cept leave a will. An’ that’s the trouble.”

“Don’t tell me!” I cried, simply as an expression, because as Lillian had had her fill of funerals, I’d about had mine of wills.

“I can’t right now, anyway,” Lillian said, turning toward the kitchen. “I got lunch ’bout ready, an’ I got to get the silver an’ china out ’fore them ladies start comin’ in. And you need to get dressed for Miss Mattie’s funeral. It gettin’ late.”

“Yes, I’ll do that right now.” With a lingering glance at the envelope that promised a win for Mattie, I went upstairs to prepare to lay her to rest.

_______

I’d had a vague intention of wearing a lightweight navy blue dress with long sleeves against the chill of the air-conditioned church. I had to rethink that. For one, Pastor Ledbetter seemed to think that the air-conditioning unit would be giving up the ghost any minute, and I didn’t want to suffer in the heat. And for

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