The Obituary Society (18 page)

“
Well, let me know if you think of anything.”  His furrowed brow and kind expression made her eyes water.  She looked away and nodded. 

“
In the meantime be careful, and don't confront Mr. Whiting if he shows up.  Just call me immediately.”

She thanked him, and he left her alone on the porch.  She sat for several minutes, staring off into the wheat field across the street.  It reminded her of the evening she sat with Asher watching the sunset colors melt over the ripening stalks.  She remembered how angry he was when she'd turned him down, and wondered if that might have had anything to do with what he did.

Lila took a big breath and straightened.  She was looking at things the wrong way.   Maybe she wasn't meant to come here to find a sense of belonging or direction for her life.  It was time for her to learn that people who looked like friends couldn't always be trusted, and people didn't always mean the things they said or did.  She was on her own. 

Perhaps she should have listened to what she'd been told ever since she came here —leave the past alone.  It was time to focus on the present and future.  All Lila wanted was to leave this town behind her, and as soon as that house was out of her hands, she would. 

She knew one thing:  nothing could be left for Ada to manage.  Asher was crazy enough to believe that there was something valuable hidden in that house.  He wanted it so badly he was willing to let Lila die to get it if necessary.  He wanted it so badly he might have killed Clint.

Chapter 24

Deep Fried Chocolate Milk

The next morning Ada pulled the pillow off Lila's head and golden light flooded across her face.  She moaned and rolled to her side to shut it out.

“Lila, you slept in.  You've been acting strange ever since the sheriff stopped by.  After the pies were done you came up here and I haven't heard a peep out of you.  You even missed dinner.  You must be starving.”  Ada sat on the edge of Lila's bed.  “Is there something you haven't told me?  Are you sick?”  She pressed a soft palm against Lila's forehead. 

“
I told you.  The sheriff just wanted to know if we'd seen Asher.  And he said if we saw him to call immediately.”

Ada frowned.  “That's strange isn't it?  What do they want with Asher?  Do they think something's happened to him?”

“I think he's gotten into some kind of trouble.”  Lila wanted to make sure Ada was aware that Asher might be dangerous, but she didn't want the Society ladies on the job.  If they found out he was responsible for her concussion, who knows what they would do.  Besides, it was kind of nice having a bit of information that the Society ladies didn't have . . . yet.

She felt a twinge of shame for having been angry at Ada the other night, and for the self-pity she'd been wallowing in.  She'd been acting as if the whole town was out to get her.  Regardless of the mess they'd gotten her into, or what they were hiding, Ada and her friends had been loyal.  She smiled as she thought of them whacking Carl with their purses, and sat up to face Ada. 

“I'm sorry.  I wasn't feeling so good last night.  But I'm fine now.”

“
Good.”  Ada patted her hand and stood.  “I was hoping you'd help me with a few things.  It might freeze tonight, and we should gather the rest of the tomatoes or at least throw a sheet over them.  The Harvest Festival starts at two.  ”

Lila bit her lip to keep a groan from escaping.  She'd forgotten about the festival, and wasn't sure her improved attitude was enough to cover her attendance.  She could fake sickness, but the urgent look on Ada's face made it clear it was important to her.  It was the last event they would attend together before Lila left.

“Okay, just let me get dressed.”

Ada bustled out of the room and  Lila shuffled to her closet.  She cast a sorry look at the summer dresses in her closet and pulled on her jeans.  She hadn't anticipated being here when fall came, but Leona had given her one of her hand-painted sweaters.  It wasn't really Lila's style, but there was something graceful and unreserved about the painting, and it was so soft on the inside.  As for shoes, she only had the ragged tennis shoes.  Flip-flops were what she resented giving up most at the summer's end.  

Lila joined Ada downstairs for scrambled eggs and toast, then Ada went to the living room and produced Gourdon.  “I have to put the finishing touches on him.  There's heavy whipping cream in the fridge.  Would you whip it up for the caramel pie?”

Lila looked quickly away from the disturbing gourd-man.  “Sure.” 

She poured the cream into the bowl and beat it, just as she'd seen Ada and Max do it.  Then she slowly added the powdered sugar and beat it again, until soft peaks formed when she raised the beaters.

She spent the rest of the morning taking orders from Ada.  They crunched through the remains of the garden to the tomato plants, and spread sheets down to protect them from the coming frost.  She plunged into every task, hoping it would keep her mind away from Asher.  When she thought back to the fear and pain of that night, she was horrified to think that someone pretending to care about her could have been responsible.  Knowing he was out there somewhere frightened her, but she told herself to put it behind her so she could focus on getting through the next few days.

When Gourdon had passed inspection and Ada's hair was fixed and sprayed they had a light lunch. Then they laid the pies out on the kitchen counter.

The golden lattice-top crust on the apple pies had a subtle shine.  Ada had shown her how to cut and lay out the strips.  As she looked at the filling in the caramel pies she remembered Ada's instructions to brown the sugar almost to the verge of burning it before thickening it, taking care not to create lumps.  It seemed to Lila that this kind of perfection would require not only instruction but a magic touch.

The next challenge was to load them safely in the truck.  Lila had pleaded with her to call Gladys and ask for a ride, but Ada said she'd promised Lou she'd bring the truck so he could take a look at it.  She wasn't sure there would be room in Gladys's car anyway, with the four of them plus Gourdon and all the carefully packed baked goods.

They placed the pies in the bottom of two fruit boxes, which they put in the back of the truck along with the scarecrow.

“Where is this party?  The city park?” Lila asked, sliding into the driver's seat. 

“
No, it's at Rob Carter's farm.”

Lila turned the key and put The Beast in reverse, then pressed the stiff gas pedal too firmly.

“Whoa, dear!” Ada stretched her arms out to keep  from hitting the dash.  “Take it easy or the pies will be a mess by the time we get there.”

Lila winced.  “Sorry.”

Ada guided her to the farm and they parked in a big dirt lot. 

Lila stared, wide-eyed.  “Is that a ferris wheel?”

“Oh, yes.  They started doing that a couple of years back.  Eddie Barker's cousin rents them out in Omaha, for parties and used car lots and such.  It's costly to get it here, but the festival is a big deal for us.  We do our own competitions and everything.  Some people go to the county fair, but it's a long drive, and it's crowded.  So we do our own thing.  People get really excited about the gourd competition, and the pies.”

As they got out of the truck, Lila tried to ignore the tightness in her chest, and the unsettled feeling in her stomach.  She couldn't shake the feeling that there was a face hiding among the crowd, with his eyes fixed on her.

She helped bring the pies to a long table, where Matilda and Leona stood admiring the refreshments.  There were pumpkin pies, cinnamon rolls with thick icing, candied apples that glistened deep red, and apple cider.

“
Those pies look delicious, Ada,” Leona said.  “Are you entering them?”

“
I'm going to enter the apple this year,” she answered.  “What about you?”

“
Oh, you know we don't do the pie competition,” Matilda said.  “But make sure you take a look at our giant pumpkin.  I think it's a winner.”

Leona's eyes lit up when she noticed Lila wearing her shirt.  “I knew that one was for you as soon as I painted it!”  Leona gave her a squeeze and Lila was glad she'd worn it.

Looking around her, the feeling of dread and the desire to be elsewhere dissipated.  The large barn was draped with strands of lights and the Old Hodger's Bluegrass Band were tuning their instruments.  Kids waited impatiently as carnival games were set up.  In the distance, men piled wood for a gigantic bonfire.  It was hard to believe there could be evil in an atmosphere filled with so much joy and excitement.  She forced herself not to look for Asher's face among the crowd. 

“
Do you want me to get Gourdon out of the truck?” Lila asked.

“
No, I'll get him.  But would you mind taking one of those apple pies to the competition table?”

“
Sure.”

As Ada walked away Lila spotted Elmer Green hanging a sheet for the fish pond, and a wicked idea occurred to her.  Without taking a moment to allow good sense to set in and spoil things, Lila picked up a caramel pie along with the apple. 

Lila strode over to Elmer.  “Hello, Elmer.  You're looking sharp today.”

“
Thank you kindly.  I picked up a new pair of overalls at Auburn Implement.”  He glanced at her hair.  “I like that style.  It suits you.”

“
Thanks.  I wanted to tell you that I installed a couple of new lights in the house.  I really appreciate you taking the time to teach me.”

“
My pleasure.”  Elmer eyed the pies.  “Can I ask where you're taking those delicious looking pies?  I suppose Ada cooked them up.”

“
Well, it's your lucky day.  Ada asked me to bring this caramel pie right over to you.” 

Elmer paused, watching her face tentatively, but his blue eyes lit up.

“It's true.”  Lila handed him the pie.  His rough hands received it as if it were a delicate treasure.  

“
You know, Ada's kitchen faucet has sure been giving her trouble.  Do you know of anyone who might know what to do about that?”

A smile spread across Elmer's face.  “I'd be right happy to stop by and take a look at it.”

“That would be wonderful.  You might talk to her about it.  She's around here somewhere.”

“
I certainly will.”  Elmer looked into the crowd, then back at Lila.  “You have a wonderful time tonight, young lady.”

“
You too,” she said, grinning.  She watched Elmer walk away.  It was her last shot at doing something good here.  As long as stubborn old Ada didn't attack the sweet man when he thanked her for the pie.  Lila crossed her fingers.

She brought the apple pie to the table of pastries awaiting judgment.  Each one had a label:  lemon meringue, peach, pecan, coconut cream.  She filled out a form and a label for Ada's apple pie.

Lila spotted the area devoted to gourd creations nearby.  A row of the most amazing jack o' lanterns she'd ever seen lined the walkway.  They led to a display of carved and painted gourd vases and bird feeders.  She waved at Ada, who'd just finished tying Gourdon onto a pole.  Lila stared at two other gourd scarecrows flanking him.  Apparently Gourdon wasn't the only frightening gourd-man creation.

Shuffling up to Ada, Lila took a deep breath.  “I just said hello to Elmer.”

Ada eyed her warily.  “Glad to hear you remembered your manners.”

“
He loved the caramel pie you baked him.”

“
I what?”  She tightened her lips.  The look Ada gave her was as sour as rhubarb pie minus the sugar.             

“
He seemed happy enough to burst,” she blurted.  “And besides, I mentioned the kitchen faucet.”  Lila looked down at her feet.  “I'll be gone soon, or I'd try to do it myself.”

Lila looked up with large, watery eyes.  She made an effort to keep from smiling when she saw Ada's edge had melted.

Ada bit her lower lip.  “It's alright, dear.  Don't look that way.  I suppose I could use help with a few things.  Being proud has its drawbacks.”  She put her arm around Lila.  “It runs in the family, you know.  Don't let it make all your decisions.”

Lila sighed in relief.  “I'll keep that in mind.  Want to see the giant pumpkins?”

“Of course.  They're back this way.”

They walked among the grotesquely shaped giants.  They ranged in color from pale to a deep red-orange.  Some slumped on the ground as if someone had deflated them with a pin, or like they were humongous slugs about to slide away.  Finally they found the one marked “Bell”.  Matilda and Leona were right; it was definitely among the largest, and it had a nice, round shape. 

They found Betsy and Gladys inspecting the competition pies.

“
What did you bring this year, Betsy?” Ada asked.

“
I brought peach.  I found peaches this year that were absolutely divine.  They'll be tough to beat if I say so myself.”

Ada stood taller.  “It does look tasty.  But the apples from my tree are always perfect for baking, and the crust turned out exceptionally well.”

They began critiquing the other pies on the table, and Lila took her opportunity to slip away.  She smiled when she spotted Doug with his fryer.  She was hoping she'd get to see him before she left.

“
Lila,” he called, his blue eyes lighting up.  “You back for another fried-food adventure?”

“
Depends.  You frying up any oysters today?”
“Naw, not for this event.”

“
Good.”  She laughed.

“
The Fall Festival is the day I offer a new creation.  Today:  shepherd's pie wrapped in dough and fried.”

“
Shepherd's pie?”

“
You know:  roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, and corn.  You haven't come by the diner enough, Lila.”

“
I'm sorry.  That sounds interesting.”

“
That's the idea.”  Doug's eyes turned to someone standing beside Lila, and he broke out into a grin.  “Here she is, with my annual frying challenge.”

Lila turned to see Juniper staring down Doug and holding a bag.  With the hint of a smile, she opened it.

Lila realized that if Juniper was there Max must be close, and Erica too.  She wanted to slink back into the crowd, but curiosity got the best of her.

Juniper pulled out a pack of Starburst candy.  Doug raised his eyebrows and the corners of his mouth turned down as he nodded.  He battered a few pieces and dropped them in the basket.  A moment later they were ready.