Village Politics Can Be Murder by Jeanne M. Dams

Author:Jeanne M. Dams [Dams, Jeanne M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2024-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

Leaving Alan to pick up our clean clothes, I called Ruth, and was disappointed and a little annoyed to find that she shared Alan’s notion about the hazards I might encounter. ‘This might not be a such a great idea, Dorothy,’ she said doubtfully. ‘You could find yourself in a sticky situation.’

‘Oh, I don’t think so,’ I said lightly. ‘But if I do, I’ve been in sticky situations before. I’m sure I’ll be fine. My dear, I’ve been in a classroom with forty-two sixth-graders! Life can hold no more terror for me.’

That brought the laughter I’d hoped for, and she arranged for us to meet in the morning at the church. ‘Saturday’s the regular day for the altar guild. They call it something else here, but they have all the same duties as back home. As you can imagine, Saturday’s the busy day, getting ready for the Sunday services. We take the time to plan ahead, too, for the next week, and work out a schedule if someone has to miss her regular duty.

‘And then a lot of them are members of the WI, too, so you might get tips from them if they know someone in that group who might be able to tell you something.’

‘That all sounds good, only … will Sarah be there, do you think?’

‘I doubt it. It’s been less than a week, after all. If she is, of course, I’ll just take a couple of the women aside and ask if we could go out for tea afterward. I just hope you know what you’re doing!’

I didn’t, of course, but I tried to sound confident. ‘I’m sure I’ll be fine,’ I repeated, and clicked off.

‘So that’s a start at least,’ I said to Alan with a sigh after he’d returned from the launderette and I’d brought him up to speed. ‘Who knows if I’ll get anywhere, but women know a lot that men never know they know. If you follow me.’

Alan made an ambiguous noise.

‘Okay. Skip it. What are we going to do with the rest of today?’

‘Your wish is my command, my dear,’ replied Alan, ‘so long as it doesn’t involve anything too strenuous. My mind and body are both set at dead slow after all we’ve been doing of late.’

‘Would it be too strenuous to go visit Brian and Lilian? Not to ask questions or anything, but just as a gesture of kindness.’

‘If they want us, I think that would indeed be a kind thing to do. Shall I call, or will you?’

Lilian sounded very subdued on the phone with me, as if some of the hard edges had been rubbed off, and she was pleased at the idea of a visit. ‘Of course we’d like to see you. I’m planning Brian’s favourite meal; why don’t you join us?’

I hadn’t realized it was getting on toward dinner time. ‘Oh, we wouldn’t want to intrude. We could come later—’

‘No, now, if you will. It will be a pleasure. Please come!’

She sounded almost pleading. Which was absurd.

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