The River Widow by Ann Howard Creel

Author:Ann Howard Creel
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781503904699
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2018-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

After church on Sunday, Mabel seemed to be going to extra trouble for supper that night. She had pulled out her best Crooksville china, baked fresh bread, and was making an extra pie for dessert—one made with strawberries, the other custard. Adah then noticed that none of the Branches had changed out of their church attire. A guest or guests must be coming, Adah concluded. Building up courage, Adah offered once again to help Mabel in the kitchen.

“No, thanks,” Mabel replied as she pulled a pork roast out of the oven and started to baste it, not making eye contact with Adah.

The “thanks” part was new, and Mabel was moving around excitedly, as if anticipating something special.

“Are we having guests for supper?” Adah asked.

Mabel looked up at her warily. “You could say that.”

“Who’s coming?”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Mabel snapped. Then, changing her tone somewhat, she said, “Keep Daisy in her church dress, and don’t go letting her get dirty. We want her looking her best.”

Looking her best? Daisy? What did this guest or guests have to do with Daisy? As Adah had feared, so far there had been no lifting of her restrictions. She had not been allowed to take Daisy with her on her laundry rounds, not even to see the family with children Daisy could’ve played with. She and Daisy were like prisoners here, barely seen by others. So why did Daisy need to look good today? Instead of clarity, Adah had gained nothing but new questions. Who was the mystery guest? And what scheme was Mabel launching?

“I don’t want no trouble outa you today, you hear? Both you and the girl need to be on your best behavior,” Mabel said as she continued to flutter about the kitchen.

The thought of food curdled Adah’s stomach. She had to inhale deeply and let out her air slowly. Hoping to calm herself, she turned away and left, knowing she would receive no answers from Mabel.

Soon after, Jesse drove away in the sedan and returned about half an hour later. From an upstairs window, Adah watched him pull up, get out of the car, and go around to open the passenger-side door.

A woman stepped out. A tall woman who looked to be in her early thirties, wearing a severe dark-brown suit without jewelry or adornments, but having a stately and noble appearance. A memory of the woman suddenly floated to the surface of Adah’s mind. Esther Heiser, a former teacher and now the principal of the town’s elementary school. She was the district’s staff advisor and the only woman on the school board. She had visited the Branches’ church a time or two.

Adah couldn’t imagine why she was here. Daisy wasn’t old enough to start school.

Adah watched as Jesse led Esther to the front steps. She walked as upright as a flagpole, and Adah remembered her impression of the woman, that she seemed as allergic to smiling as the Branches did. She had a plain appearance with small birdlike eyes, a stern face, and her dull hair pulled back taut with combs.

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