about his asthma. They planted the information in Darmus’s office to make it look like he was responsible.”
Naomi stared off into the distance. “It’s so strange not having Luther here. I’m glad I can step in until another minister gets here. I would hate for the congregation to fall apart.”
“I’m sorry.” Peggy took the girl’s hand. “I’m going on about his death and not even considering how terrible this has been for you.”
“I’ll be okay.” Naomi brought her gaze back to Peggy’s. “It’s just so lonely out here by myself. There’s not much to do during the week and too much to think about.”
“Never mind,” Peggy said. “As soon as we get done here, you’ll have to come back to Charlotte and stay with us. I insist!”
“But I couldn’t. I hardly know you.”
“I won’t take no for an answer. I have a very large house and plenty of room for you. It will be fine.”
Naomi glanced at Ranson and smiled slowly. “All right. Thank you. I’ll get a few things together while you look through Reverend Appleby’s office.”
“Nice girl,” Ranson said when she was gone. “I take it she was close to Luther?”
Peggy explained about Naomi in a whisper. “I’m glad she was here, or we might not have gotten in.”
Her father produced a tiny screwdriver from his pocket. “I think I could’ve gotten us in. I came prepared.”
“Just don’t tell me you brought your gun along again.”
“No.” He opened the door for her. “Your mother took it away and hid it. You know how she is.”
“More like me than I can believe?”
“Never mind.” He shut the door to the tiny office to the left side of the altar firmly behind them and locked it. “So what are we looking for?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know if there was time for Luther to have anything from Feed America. He was only interim director for a few days.” She sat down behind the desk and looked at some of the notes he left behind. It was hard to believe he was dead.
Sam called while they were sifting through Luther’s files and papers. He asked about the shipment of white roses that came in with the gardenias and a small magnolia tree. “This planting order says tomorrow, Peggy, but I won’t have time to get these in the ground.”
“I’m planting them. Remember we talked about my taking up some of the overflow from you and Keeley?”
“Not seriously! Let me hire someone. I can get a few dudes from day labor. They can—”
“I’ll be fine, Sam,” she assured him. “I’ve planted a few things in my life, and I’m not as old as you may think. It will work out.”
“Peggy—”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Fine! I won’t.”
The phone went dead in her hand.
“Something wrong?” Ranson looked up for an instant as he snooped through some file cabinets.
“Sam’s being temperamental. He doesn’t want me to hurt myself. He’s almost as bad as Paul!”
“Well, it’s nice that they care anyway. You could be out here all alone with no one caring about you.”
“Do you feel like that?”
“I think everyone does sometimes. When my mama and daddy died, I felt like the oldest man in the world. I wasn’t sure if I could keep going. Your mother pulled me through, like she always does. She reminded me I wasn’t here just for myself. Not just for you, either. We’re each here with a purpose, Margaret. I believe that more every year. It’s important to know that about yourself.”
“I think so, too,” she replied, glancing through whatever she could find on the small desk.
“Margaret Anne, I have something I need to talk with you about. I haven’t wanted to bring it up and ruin anybody’s good time, but—”
She looked up at the serious tone of her father’s voice. “What is it, Dad?” She stuffed some church documents back into the drawer she’d opened.
“Oh nothing much. Her father’s voice faltered.“Have you found anything?”
“No. Have you?”
“Nothing with the name Feed America on it.”
“What were you going to say about ruining everyone’s time?”
“I was going to say that I know your mother is going to talk to you about moving back down to Charleston with us.”
Peggy glanced at him, hearing something in his voice but not sure what it was. “Not again, Dad. I’m happy here. My life is here.”
“I know.” He shrugged. “But she’s your mother.”
“I know.” She paused. Something on the floor caught her eye. It was so small she almost wasn’t sure it was
