The Darling Dahlias and the Poinsettia Puzzle by Susan Wittig Albert

Author:Susan Wittig Albert
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780996904063
Publisher: Persevero Press
Published: 2018-10-16T16:00:00+00:00

Mr. Moseley came in a little after ten, having driven down from the state capital at Montgomery. “It is cold out there,” he said, shrugging out of his navy blue overcoat and hanging it and his felt hat on the coat tree beside the office door. “The heater in the car isn’t working right, either. My feet are just about frozen. Is the coffee hot, Liz?”

“Coming up.” As always, Lizzy was glad to see him. His presence in the office made things feel . . . well, complete again. “I brought you a couple of Raylene’s doughnuts. They’re on your desk.”

“Ah, wonderful,” he said. “You take such good care of me, Liz. Makes me wonder why I ever leave Darling.” He smoothed back his dark brown hair. “The capital is a circus when the legislature is in session. So much political infighting going on, especially with Senator Long campaigning up a storm all across the South. You’d think the presidential election is tomorrow, instead of nearly two years away. Long is going to give the president a real test in thirty-six—if FDR runs again, that is.”

Lizzy was surprised. Mr. Moseley was well connected, politically, and usually knew what was going on. At Thanksgiving, he’d spent a day with FDR and some of his advisors at the Little White House, at Warm Springs, over in Georgia. “You think the president won’t run for a second term?” she asked.

“He says he won’t, although I’m not sure I believe him.” Mr. Moseley blew on his cold fingers and rubbed his hands together. “But enough of that political stuff. I’m glad to be back home in Darling, where nothing exciting ever happens.” He grinned. “Bring the coffee to my office, Liz. While I take care of Raylene’s doughnuts, you can fill me in—if there’s anything to tell, that is. As I say, this is Darling.”

Sitting across from Mr. Moseley with a cup of coffee in front of her and her steno notebook in her lap, Lizzy didn’t waste any time. She got right into the phone call from Mr. Price, the lawyer in Los Angeles, and the threat against Cupcake.

But she had only managed a few words when Mr. Moseley held up his hand. “You’re telling me that somebody is threatening to steal our Cupcake?” he asked incredulously. “I don’t believe it!”

“I’m afraid it’s true,” Lizzy said ruefully. “According to Violet, Neil Hudson—Mr. Price’s client—is Cupcake’s real father. Raylene thinks he’s planning to take her to Hollywood and try to get her into the movies.”

Mr. Moseley rolled his eyes. “Okay,” he said. “Take it from the top, Liz. Chronologically and in detail. Don’t leave anything out.”

He loosened his tie, lit his pipe, and smoked while Liz—who prided herself on her ability to tell a coherent story—recounted the whole thing, beginning with Cupcake’s birth in Memphis. She ended with Raylene’s report of Neil Hudson’s appearance at the dance recital, his amazement at the discovery of his daughter, and his plan for turning himself and Cupcake into a Hollywood dancing duo.

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