[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

 Be that as it may, Eleanor returned severely.  It s still a real hardship
for some people. Take Eva Lou, for example The Bradys have only the one car.
Since it s a  ladies only event, Jim Bob isn t invited. You can hardly expect
him to drive Eva Lou all that way out to the golf course and then just hang
around in the parking lot waiting for the luncheon to get over.
It occurred to Joanna that Jim Bob Brady was entirely capable of fending for
himself, including walking into the res-taurant and ordering his own lunch.
Unfortunately, Eleanor Lathrop had her own particular take on the situation,
and she wasn t letting up.
 Couldn t you give Eva Lou a ride? Joanna asked.
 Me! Eleanor echoed.  Do you mean to say that I m not riding to the luncheon
with you? After all, you re the honored guest, and I am your mother.
 But 
 It never occurred to me that I wouldn t be riding with you. I ve already
made arrangements to have a tune-up on the Volare tomorrow morning. I m
Page 46
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
supposed to drop it off at the shop tomorrow morning at eight.
Joanna had started the conversation with the best of in-tentions. She had
been determined to give Eleanor the same benefit of the doubt that Joanna
wanted from Jenny. Within seconds, however, she could feel herself being
sucked back into all the old games.
 Mother, Joanna cautioned.  With everything that went on at the office
today, the department is going to be a zoo. I m not sure what time I ll be
able to get away.
 Well then, Eleanor sniffed.  If you can t take me, I guess I won t be able
to go at all.
 What about Margaret Turnbull? She s going, isn t she? Couldn t you ride out
with her?
 For goodness sake, Eleanor said.  She drove all the way up to Tucson
today, just to pick me up. Haven t we already inconvenienced her enough? Just
forget it. It won t kill me to miss it.
Joanna sighed. It was the same old story.Checkmate, she thought. Why couldn t
she get along with Eleanor the way she did with Eva Lou? Was it Eleanor s
fault or Joanna s?
 AII right, Joanna said, knuckling tinder the same way she always did.  Call
Eva Lou and have Jim Bob drop her off at your house. The luncheon doesn t
start until noon. I ll pick you both up at your house around eleven-thirty.
 Is that soon enough? Eleanor asked.  I d hate to be late. Wouldn t
eleven-fifteen be better?
Joanna closed her eyes.Give the woman an inch ... she thought.
 Eleven-thirty will be plenty of time, Mother, Joanna said, striving
mightily to keep her tone civil.  Since I m supposedly the guest of honor, I m
sure they won t start without us.
 I certainly hope not, Eleanor said.
 Good night, Mother.
But Eleanor Lathrop was just hitting her stride. She wasn nearly ready to
punch the  off switch.  Remind me to give you your presents tomorrow when I
see you. I brought wonderful little coat home for Jenny, and you ll never
believe what I got you. Guess.
 I can t. Tell me.
 Egg cups.
 Egg cups? Joanna asked.
 Marcie is such a wonderful housekeeper, Eleanor gushed.  And on Sundays,
she makes these wonderful break fasts with that expensive microwave bacon and
fresh squeezed orange juice and soft-boiled eggs in these marvelous little egg
cups, with tiny spoons and everything. Eating those breakfasts made me feel so
spoiled, like I was living in a book, an English novel with rashers of bacon
and all that. You ll love them, by the way. The egg cups, I mean.
Page 47
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
 I m sure I will, Mother, Joanna said, feeling virtuous for not pointing out
that neither she nor Jenny was particu-larly fond of soft-boiled eggs.  And
I ll remind you to give them to me. In the meantime, I m going to have to go.
I have several other calls to return.
 Isn t it after nine? Eleanor asked.  Are you sure it s all right to call
people back this late?
 I m sure it s all right, but the longer we talk, the later it gets, Joanna
returned.  Welcome back and good night, Mother. See you tomorrow.
 Good night, Joanna, Eleanor said.  See you at eleven-thirty sharp, but make
it earlier if you possibly can.
 Right, Joanna said, returning the handset to its cradle.  Will do.
She reached into the top drawer and pulled out the phone book. Marliss
Shackleford s number was listed under the in-itial M. Marliss herself answered
after only one ring.
 Sheriff Brady here, Joanna said.  Returning your call.
One of the things Joanna disliked about Marliss was the way the woman purred
into the phone.  Oh, Joanna, she breathed.  I m so glad you were able to get
back to me to-night. With all those goings-on about Dr. Buckwalter, I wasn t
sure you d manage it.
Wanting to keep the call on a strictly businesslike basis, Joanna tried to
pass the buck.  If you re calling about that, Marliss, you ll have to go
through Chief Deputy Montoya. He s the department s official public
information officer. It s best if all media inquiries are channeled through
him. He ll be back in the office at eight o clock in the morning ...
 Don t worry, Marliss said.  This has nothing whatever to do with the
Buckwalter case. I was calling you about some-thing else entirely.
 What? Joanna s question sounded blunt, but she let it stand. She was too
tired to do anything else.
 I was calling about Marianne Maculyea, Marliss said.
 Marianne, Joanna echoed.  What about her?
 I m worried about her, is all, Marliss said.  Several other people are as
well. Is everything all right between her and Jeff?
 Is everything all right? What kind of a question is that? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

  • zanotowane.pl
  • doc.pisz.pl
  • pdf.pisz.pl
  • szkla.opx.pl

    •