“Oh, Mother,” Judith said with a laugh and another hug, “don’t be so hard on yourself. Mary Clare is a pill.”
“That’s no excuse for what I did,” Gertrude insisted. “I feel like I should give back the quarters. They came to three dollars.”
Judith patted her mother and stood up. “You probably sensed she was finessing. I’ll bet you’d have played that high card regardless.”
“Don’t mention ‘bet’ to me,” Gertrude snapped. “And then you do the same thing—cheat. I couldn’t believe it, even if it meant you’d lose to Knucklehead. I couldn’t go along. What was that all about anyway?”
Judith sighed. “It was a silly wager about the names you call Joe.”
Gertrude stuffed the handkerchief back into her sleeve. “So? He should be used to it.”
“He is,” Judith said. “It’s not a big deal. The winner gets to pick where we go on vacation.”
Gertrude looked worried. “You’re going away? Where?”
“I don’t know yet,” Judith said. “Not too far. Joe wants to fish.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“We haven’t decided,” Judith replied. “A week or so.”
Gertrude grew thoughtful. “The Rankerses are coming back from California in a couple of days, right?”
Judith nodded. “I’m sure Carl and Arlene will take wonderful care of you. They always do.”
“You bet,” said Gertrude, and bit her lip. “Forget I said that. No more bets. Arlene and Carl are fun. They treat me right.”
“I know,” Judith said, grateful as ever for her next-door neighbors. “Are you feeling any better?” she asked as Sweetums seemed to appear from nowhere and jumped up onto the back of Gertrude’s chair.
“Well…maybe.” She smiled faintly at Judith. “I guess it’s true. Confession’s good for the soul.”
Judith had no intention of admitting to Joe that she’d attempted to sway the wagering odds in her favor. But her husband had seldom been fooled by liars and cheats during his career as a police detective.
“Nice try,” he remarked as Judith entered the garage.
“It was…sort of a…joke,” Judith said lamely. “Besides, Mother’s been down in the dumps lately. I thought it might cheer her up.”
Joe chuckled. “You’re a wonderful liar, but I’m not buying it. I’m going to call Bill after I finish this corner of the garage. We need to firm up our plans ASAP.”
“So where are we going?” Judith asked, wondering why they’d kept a rusty old lawn mower that must have belonged to Grandpa Grover.
“It’s a secret,” Joe replied. “We want to surprise you and Renie.”
“Can I have a hint?”
Joe wiped his grease-stained hands on a rag. “No.”
“Oh, come on!” Judith begged. “Renie and I have to know something about our destination or we can’t pack the right clothes.”
Joe thought for a moment. “You get three questions.”
“Is there a beach?”
Joe nodded.
“Good. Ocean view?”
He nodded again.
“Quaint shops and restaurants close by?”
A third nod confirmed Judith’s hopes. “Great!” she exclaimed, and kissed her husband’s cheek. “How soon do we leave?”
Joe frowned slightly. “I’m not sure. A week, maybe two.” He shook a finger at her. “No more questions.”
“That’s fine,” Judith agreed. “I’m going inside to make sure all the guests have left and to check on Phyliss. I’ll be right back.”
But the first thing Judith did was to call Renie. It was well after ten o’clock, and her antimorning cousin should be up and fairly alert.
“It’s not a sinus infection,” Renie shouted into the phone. “It’s my damned pollen allergies. Stop fussing, Mom. I’m naked.”
“I hope you’re inside the house,” Judith said calmly.
“Of course…Coz? Oh,” Renie said with relief, “I thought you were Mom calling me for the third time already this morning to make sure I don’t have a terminal sinus infection. She woke me up the first time at nine. I wanted to sleep in longer than usual because I went to the opera with Madge Navarre last night. It was Verdi’s
“Sorry I bothered you. Do you want to get dressed?”
“I didn’t want to get undressed,” Renie responded. “I was cozy in bed in my nightgown, but when Mom called —and you know Bill, he never takes calls—I had to answer it because I’m always sure that one of our three children
