They all sat quietly until Charlie’s breathing was back to normal and his color was returning. He said, “She came out of nowhere. Everyone else was already in the judge’s room, but I stopped to use the toilet. She was screaming at me about her daughter’s interview question. When I said there was nothing I could do about it, she started to claw at me, like a cat out of hell.”
“How scary,” Skye said.
“I couldn’t do anything. I just froze. Men don’t hit women.”
“That was the olden days, Charlie,” May said. “If a crazy woman comes after you, it’s okay to smack her.”
“You should have seen her, May. I’ve never felt such hatred. Not even when I was in the war.”
“And all over a beauty contest,” May tsked.
When they got the news that Mrs. VanHorn had been taken to the police station and Zoe had been disqualified, May and Skye decided to skip the evening gown competition and leave as soon as they were sure Charlie was fully recovered. Skye tried to talk her godfather into coming with them, but he insisted he was okay and wasn’t going to ruin things for the other contestants. Abby said she would keep an eye on him and follow his car home.
As they walked through Jumer’s parking lot, May said, “Do you remember the pageant I entered you in when you were six?”
Skye shuddered. “Too well. I didn’t even make it through the first round. I decided then and there that since I couldn’t sing or dance and I wasn’t pretty, I might as well be dead.”
May stopped abruptly. “It wasn’t that you didn’t win. I took you out after the first round because you seemed so scared. You couldn’t even talk, you were so upset.”
“But I thought . . .” Skye trailed off, surprised into silence. The things you learn too late.
They’d almost reached the Bel Air when Skye spotted Abby’s silver Camaro. The bumper sticker read: SO FEW MEN. SO FEW WHO CAN AFFORD ME. The citizens of Scumble River didn’t mess around with vanity plates, at seventy-five dollars apiece, when bumper stickers cost less than a buck.
Skye watched her mother ease herself slowly into the Chevy, her movements a far cry from this morning when she had bounced into the car. The attack on Charlie had been hard on the older woman, and for once she looked all of her fifty-seven years.
May was asleep before Skye exited onto the highway.
She woke as they took the Scumble River exit. “Sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”
“That’s okay. It’s an easy drive. Are you hungry? You didn’t have much for lunch, and we seem to have missed supper.”
May nodded. “How about getting some ice cream?”
“Sounds good.”
A few minutes later Skye pulled into a local drive-in. She ordered her favorite—a marshmallow sundae. May opted for a banana split. As they ate, Skye contemplated telling her mother about Kent and her recent discovery.
Finally, she compromised. “I’m breaking up with Kent tomorrow night.”
“Good.”
Trust May to eulogize a six-month relationship in one word.
CHAPTER 19
Here, There, and Every Affair
After Mass Sunday morning Skye hurried toward her car while mentally listing everything she had to do that day.
“Skye, wait up.”
She paused. Simon was hurrying toward her. His Lexus was one spot over from her Bel Air in the church parking lot.
“We need to talk about the youth committee.”
“I thought maybe you were going to have me arrested again.”
“That business with the tox screen was not my fault,” he declared. “If I thought you were responsible, I wouldn’t have called the police. I would have handled it myself.”
Was that last sentence meant to be as sexy as it sounded? “Well, I guess that’s good to hear.”
“I didn’t mention your midnight escapade with the coffin, so I don’t know why Wally jumped to the conclusion you were the thief.”
“Thank you.” Skye felt her face grow warm. “I suppose I have pulled a couple of boneheaded capers, and I shouldn’t blame either of you for suspecting me.”
Simon slid his fingers up and down her bare arm. “You do go a little overboard once in a while.”
“Yeah, I get too involved sometimes.”
“I’ve been thinking about things, and caring too much isn’t the worst trait for a girlfriend to have.”
Skye’s face flamed at the word “girlfriend.” Was she ready to make up with Simon? What about Wally? She just wasn’t sure. What response would keep Simon interested, but not lead him on? “What a sweet thing to say.”
“Why don’t we get together sometime next week, and talk about the youth committee . . . and other things?” Simon’s voice dropped to a seductive tone on the last few words.
“That’d be great.” Skye was stunned by his change of attitude, and a little distrustful. What was he up to? Had he heard about Abby and Wally and felt sorry for her?
“How’s Friday?”
She slid into the car and closed the door. “Fine.”
He leaned into the Bel Air. “Six, okay?”
“Sure.”
“Good.” He placed a sweet kiss on her lips and strolled away.
Skye couldn’t believe how hard it had been to find someone to go to Meijer Superstore with her. Normally she would have gone alone, but she was still leery of the Bel Air and wanted someone along in case it quit running or she went in the ditch or something.
Trixie had her in-laws to entertain, and May was going with Jed to a farm auction. Charlie was still in Bloomington. When she’d called to check on him, he had said he was feeling fine, Priscilla VanHorn had been released by the police to her husband, and a girl from Clay Center had won the pageant title.
Skye finally telephoned Vince and was shocked to learn he was free. Skye looked over at her brother as they sped north on Interstate 55, and sighed. He was way too good-looking and charming to be wasting his life in Scumble River. His butterscotch-blond ponytail flew in the breeze, and his year-round tan enhanced the muscles on his forearms and thighs.
“Vince?” Skye asked.
“Mmm?” He adjusted his sunglasses and turned toward her.
“Why do you stay in Scumble River?”
He shrugged. “Why not?”
“Don’t you ever want to see what it might be like in a bigger pond?”
“Nah.” Vince leaned against the headrest. “See, Sis, you’re never satisfied. You always want more. I figure right now I’ve pretty much got everything I want.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. I own my own business. I date the most beautiful girls around, and I’ve got my family close by.”
Skye struggled to keep the big car between the lines. “And that’s enough for you?”
“What more could I want?”
“Maybe if you opened a salon in Chicago, you could do hair for the rich and famous.”
“And maybe I could spend a lot of money on rent to cut the hair of people that I wouldn’t like or be comfortable with.”
