Women of Washington Avenue by Linda Apple

Author:Linda Apple [Apple, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: women's fiction, contemporary
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2014-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

AVALEE

The Secret

What day is this?

Since leaving New York, I had asked myself that question every single morning. My days flowed from one into another and much to my surprise I liked it. Tyrannical urgency had given way to slow and steady. Things got done without self-imposed panic. My book was nearly finished, the business plan was coming along nicely, and Preston Gardens finally had a fresh, new focus. Dad would have been so proud. A pang of sadness washed over me. I missed him.

Mom called upstairs, “Avalee? The coffee is on. I’m getting ready for church.”

“Thanks, Mom.” I supposed I should go with her, but this morning I really wanted to stay home and have coffee with Jesus on the front porch. “I’ll be down in a minute.” Kicking the chenille bedspread off, I stood, stretched, and then peeked out the window to check the weather.

Molly Kate’s car wasn’t in the driveway?

Ugh, Molly Kate? Please don’t tell me you spent the night with a total stranger. But, on the other hand, what if she hadn’t? Oh Lord, what if he had hurt her? Or worse? I could just kill her for doing this. That is, if she wasn’t already dead.

I grabbed my cell and stabbed in her number.

“Hello?” Her voice sounded husky with sleep.

“Molly Kate! Where in heaven’s name are you?”

“What?” She yawned in my ear. “Wait a minute.” The rustle of sheets, the soft padding of slippers, and the door clicking confirmed my suspicions.

“You slept with him, didn’t you?”

“Calm down Avalee. And quit acting like my mother. I’m fifty-six, for heaven’s sake. And no. I didn’t sleep with him.”

“Where are you then?”

“I’m at his house, but in my own room.”

“Uh huh, then why did I hear you get out of bed and walk out?”

“You’d never make a private investigator.”

A toilet flushed. “Oh.”

“Sorry, but you deserved that. Anyway, we had a few drinks, and he didn’t want me to drive. I’ll be home this afternoon.”

The swarm of stinging bees eased in my chest. “Well, what happened? What’s he like?”

“I’ll tell all you gals when we get together tomorrow night for Martini Monday. That way I don’t have to keep repeating it. And you won’t believe in a million years what I have to tell you.”

A soft smack sounded over the phone. Molly Kate’s voice went up an octave. “Oh, you’re up.” Another smack.

For crying out loud. The last thing I wanted to hear was them making out.

Then she said, “Hey, I’ve got to go now. I’ll see you later.”

“But—” She hung up. She actually hung up on me. Right in my ear. Well, of all the nerve. And what was I not going to believe? Arrrrgh, darn you, Molly Kate.

Momma stepped in my room. “You going to church?”

“No, ma’am. Not this morning. I will next week, okay? I think I’ll meet with Jesus on the porch swing.”

“I’ve had many a discussion with him on the porch.” She furrowed her brow. “Honey, are you feeling all right?”

“Yes, ma’am. Why? “

“You look a little flushed.

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