Southern Comforts by Sandy Steen

Author:Sandy Steen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

6

SEATED AT THE KITCHEN table, Lily and Amelia exchanged glances when the back door opened, then slammed shut. Without turning around in her chair, Amelia said, “Good morning, Pauline. Would you like some coffee?”

“What I would like,” Pauline said, waving that morning’s edition of the Rosemont Register in her hand, “is an explanation from my niece.”

Lily looked up. “About what, Aunt Pauline?”

“About this.” She snapped open the newspaper and plopped it down on the table.

“Yes, that situation in Kosovo is getting worse by the—”

“Not that. This.” Pauline’s finger tapped the headline of one of the columns. “Your Mr. Stuart is giving with one hand and taking with the other.”

Lily picked up the paper, quickly scanning the article. She looked at her aunt. “This is just talking about Stuart Electronics.”

“What about them?” Amelia asked.

Pauline put her hands on her hips. “The company may be closing. That’s what.”

Amelia took the paper from Lily. “Oh, no.”

“Oh, yes. What do you think of Beau Stuart now? Didn’t I tell you he didn’t care one whit for the people in this town? He’s probably laughing up the sleeve of one of his thousand-dollar suits right this minute.”

“He doesn’t wear thousand-dollar suits,” Lily informed her.

“Well, you can bet he’s laughing. Half the people in this town are employed by Stuart Electronics and they’re all going to be out of a job.”

“There’s nothing in this article that says the plant is definitely closing,” Amelia said. “It states that the company is considering several options including revamping management.”

“That’s corporate double-talk for cutbacks and layoffs.”

Amelia shook her head. “Oh, I hope not. He seemed like a perfectly nice person when I met him a few days ago.”

“He is nice, Mother,” Lily assured her.

“Amelia Jackson Matthews, I’m appalled at your attitude. You’re beginning to sound like your daughter.”

“Now, Pauline.”

“Well, it’s true. The man donates a house and she thinks he’s some kind of wonderful do-gooder with no ulterior motives. And I tell you he wants to get even with the town for snubbing him as a kid. She needs to remember who she is. There’s been enough talk as it is.”

“She is right here. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk about me in the third person, Aunt Pauline. And for your information, Beau isn’t out for revenge, though Lord knows he’d be justified. And as for remembering who I am, it’s pretty damned hard to forget. Even if I tried, I’m sure you’d be right here to jog my memory.”

Pauline’s mouth dropped open. “You see what I mean? I wouldn’t stand for that kind of language if I were you, Amelia.”

“Lily, I think Aunt Pauline is only trying to point out that—”

“That we Matthews have to be careful, right?” She got up from the table, trembling with a combination of frustration and anger. “We can’t afford even a whiff of scandal…” At the stricken look on her mother’s face, Lily was instantly ashamed. “Oh, Mom. I’m sorry.”

“As you should be,” Pauline directed. “And since you seem to be on good enough terms with Mr.

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