[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
If you ll come this way, Sheriff Brady, I can take you directly to your
place.
As soon as Myron led the way into the dining room, Mar-ianne Maculyea came
hurrying to meet them. Thank good-ness you re here, she said. Until your
mother and Eva Lou showed up, I was afraid you weren t going to make it. I ve
just been drafted into introducing you. Come on. You re seated right next to
me.
What happened to Marliss Shackleford? I thought doing the introduction was
her job.
So did I, Marianne answered. Maybe she s sick. All I know is, she isn t
here. Linda Kimball, the women s club president, asked me to pinch-hit.
After their telephoned confrontation the night before, Joanna couldn t help
being grateful that Marliss wasn t do-ing the introductory honors. With no
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love lost between the two women, there was no telling what Marliss might have
said.
A waitress bearing two loaded salad plates stood waiting for Joanna and
Marianne to slip into their places. As she sat, Joanna was pleasantly
surprised to see her mother smiling in Joanna s direction from two tables
away. Eleanor Lathrop s glass of house while wine was raised in a salute.
Using her water glass, Joanna returned the favor.
Linda Kimball leaned her stout frame in Joanna s direction. I hope you don t
mind that there wasn t room at the table for both your mother and your
mother-in-law. I did find a place where they could he together.
That s fine, Joanna said. I m sure they appreciate It.
And how are things out at the sheriff s department this morning? Linda
asked. Hopping, I presume.
You could say that, Joanna said with a nod. That why we re so late, as a
matter of fact.
Don t worry about it, Linda said. Most of the ladies have never been here
before. The social hour gave them all chance to explore. I think even
nondrinkers like me were getting a kick out of prowling around. Makes me feel
like somebody dropped me somewhere smack in the middle of the Cotswolds.
When Linda turned away to speak to the person seated on her left, Joanna had
an opportunity to study her surroundings. The room was lovely, and spacious
enough to hold the ten or so tables of twelve without seeming the least bit
crowded. Dark walls and wood, as well as indirect lighting concealed behind
deep-profiled cove molding near the ceiling gave the place an elegant
ambience. If the food came close to matching the atmosphere, it was little
wonder that the Rob Roy had emerged as the dining place of choice in Cochise
County.
Linda stood up and tapped her water glass with a spoon calling them to
attention. Good afternoon, ladies, she said with a smile. Please stand for
the invocation. Reverand Maculyea?
With the invocation and flag salute over, the luncheon began in earnest. In
years past, Joanna would have been almost sick at the prospect of standing up
later and giving a speech. Fortunately, running for sheriff had cured her of
all fear of public speaking. She was able to enjoy the food and to chat with
her table companions without succumbing to a case of nerves.
Have you heard anything more from Jeff? Joanna asked during a moment of
relative privacy.
A cloud seemed to pass over Marianne s face. Nothing, she said. Not a
word. The board advanced the money he said he needed. I wired it to him
yesterday afternoon, but at this point I have no way of knowing whether or not
he re-ceived it.
Don t worry, Joanna said. It probably arrived there right on time. If it
didn t and he really needed the money, he would have called by now.
Marianne nodded, but still she looked troubled. The problem is, spending
that money now is going to leave us strapped later on. I can t imagine what
Jeff was thinking when he asked me to come up with that much more. When he
gets back, he may have to go to work just to help keep us afloat. Who ll take
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
care of the baby?
You ll work it out, Joanna told her. It s not the end of the world. Lots
of kids grow up with two working parents.
But that s not how weplanned it, Marianne argued.
Marianne Maculyea always appeared to be so calm and poised and completely
all-knowing. It startled Joanna to re-alize that she already possessed
intimate knowledge of something her friend and pastor was just beginning to
learn.
Welcome to parenthood, Mari, Joanna said with a reassuring smile.
It salways full of surprises. Now when can I schedule the baby shower?
Not until they re home, Marianne insisted. I keep worrying that it we do
anything beforehand, something will go wrong and the whole thing will fall
apart.
Just then Linda Kimball rose to her feet and once again called the group to
attention. Ladies today we have as our guest the newly elected Sheriff of
Cochise County, Joanna Brady. I believe Sheriff Brady will be honoring us with
a few remarks a state-of-the-county talk, if you will, rather like the
President s state of the union.
Unfortunately our first vice president, Marliss Shackleford, is ill today.
Substituting for her and making both the Introduction and the official
presentation will be our second vice president, the Reverend Marianne
Maculyea.
Before Marianne stood up, she reached down beside her chair and picked up a
paper-wrapped parcel. As you may suspect, I was asked to do this introduction
just a few minutes ago. It s a pleasure, however, since Joanna Brady and I
have been friends for years. We met in seventh grade at Lowell School, longer
ago than either one of us wants to remember. Not only is Joanna a good friend,
she s also one of the most resilient people I know. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl rafalstec.xlx.pl
If you ll come this way, Sheriff Brady, I can take you directly to your
place.
As soon as Myron led the way into the dining room, Mar-ianne Maculyea came
hurrying to meet them. Thank good-ness you re here, she said. Until your
mother and Eva Lou showed up, I was afraid you weren t going to make it. I ve
just been drafted into introducing you. Come on. You re seated right next to
me.
What happened to Marliss Shackleford? I thought doing the introduction was
her job.
So did I, Marianne answered. Maybe she s sick. All I know is, she isn t
here. Linda Kimball, the women s club president, asked me to pinch-hit.
After their telephoned confrontation the night before, Joanna couldn t help
being grateful that Marliss wasn t do-ing the introductory honors. With no
Page 62
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
love lost between the two women, there was no telling what Marliss might have
said.
A waitress bearing two loaded salad plates stood waiting for Joanna and
Marianne to slip into their places. As she sat, Joanna was pleasantly
surprised to see her mother smiling in Joanna s direction from two tables
away. Eleanor Lathrop s glass of house while wine was raised in a salute.
Using her water glass, Joanna returned the favor.
Linda Kimball leaned her stout frame in Joanna s direction. I hope you don t
mind that there wasn t room at the table for both your mother and your
mother-in-law. I did find a place where they could he together.
That s fine, Joanna said. I m sure they appreciate It.
And how are things out at the sheriff s department this morning? Linda
asked. Hopping, I presume.
You could say that, Joanna said with a nod. That why we re so late, as a
matter of fact.
Don t worry about it, Linda said. Most of the ladies have never been here
before. The social hour gave them all chance to explore. I think even
nondrinkers like me were getting a kick out of prowling around. Makes me feel
like somebody dropped me somewhere smack in the middle of the Cotswolds.
When Linda turned away to speak to the person seated on her left, Joanna had
an opportunity to study her surroundings. The room was lovely, and spacious
enough to hold the ten or so tables of twelve without seeming the least bit
crowded. Dark walls and wood, as well as indirect lighting concealed behind
deep-profiled cove molding near the ceiling gave the place an elegant
ambience. If the food came close to matching the atmosphere, it was little
wonder that the Rob Roy had emerged as the dining place of choice in Cochise
County.
Linda stood up and tapped her water glass with a spoon calling them to
attention. Good afternoon, ladies, she said with a smile. Please stand for
the invocation. Reverand Maculyea?
With the invocation and flag salute over, the luncheon began in earnest. In
years past, Joanna would have been almost sick at the prospect of standing up
later and giving a speech. Fortunately, running for sheriff had cured her of
all fear of public speaking. She was able to enjoy the food and to chat with
her table companions without succumbing to a case of nerves.
Have you heard anything more from Jeff? Joanna asked during a moment of
relative privacy.
A cloud seemed to pass over Marianne s face. Nothing, she said. Not a
word. The board advanced the money he said he needed. I wired it to him
yesterday afternoon, but at this point I have no way of knowing whether or not
he re-ceived it.
Don t worry, Joanna said. It probably arrived there right on time. If it
didn t and he really needed the money, he would have called by now.
Marianne nodded, but still she looked troubled. The problem is, spending
that money now is going to leave us strapped later on. I can t imagine what
Jeff was thinking when he asked me to come up with that much more. When he
gets back, he may have to go to work just to help keep us afloat. Who ll take
Page 63
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
care of the baby?
You ll work it out, Joanna told her. It s not the end of the world. Lots
of kids grow up with two working parents.
But that s not how weplanned it, Marianne argued.
Marianne Maculyea always appeared to be so calm and poised and completely
all-knowing. It startled Joanna to re-alize that she already possessed
intimate knowledge of something her friend and pastor was just beginning to
learn.
Welcome to parenthood, Mari, Joanna said with a reassuring smile.
It salways full of surprises. Now when can I schedule the baby shower?
Not until they re home, Marianne insisted. I keep worrying that it we do
anything beforehand, something will go wrong and the whole thing will fall
apart.
Just then Linda Kimball rose to her feet and once again called the group to
attention. Ladies today we have as our guest the newly elected Sheriff of
Cochise County, Joanna Brady. I believe Sheriff Brady will be honoring us with
a few remarks a state-of-the-county talk, if you will, rather like the
President s state of the union.
Unfortunately our first vice president, Marliss Shackleford, is ill today.
Substituting for her and making both the Introduction and the official
presentation will be our second vice president, the Reverend Marianne
Maculyea.
Before Marianne stood up, she reached down beside her chair and picked up a
paper-wrapped parcel. As you may suspect, I was asked to do this introduction
just a few minutes ago. It s a pleasure, however, since Joanna Brady and I
have been friends for years. We met in seventh grade at Lowell School, longer
ago than either one of us wants to remember. Not only is Joanna a good friend,
she s also one of the most resilient people I know. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]