Chapter 12

Ruby woke early after a restless night and told herself it was because she was home alone once more. But that wasn’t the truth. She was still uneasy, which wasn’t like her. So after breakfast, she called the pastor to get permission to use the church as a drop-off point for the clothing drive, to which he readily agreed. Then she made a flyer on her laptop about the clothing drive for the Conroy family, adding clothes and shoe sizes. She chose a bold typeface in an easily readable font, printed out fifty copies, and put them in a folder along with a roll of Scotch tape to take with her.

The next thing was her grocery list. She went through the refrigerator and the pantry as she wrote what was missing, then added some extras to make a special lunch for her and Peanut at noon, then she headed to the Piggly Wiggly.

As soon as she got permission, her first flyer went up on their public bulletin board, and after doing her shopping, Ruby stopped at Granny’s to leave a flyer, and then at businesses along Main before she went to her salon.

She sailed in the back door with the folder and her tape dispenser and surprised the twins at work.

“I can’t stay,” she said. “I have groceries in the car. But I need to put one of these flyers on the front door, and then I’m going to leave the rest by the register for anyone to take.”

“What’s it for?” Vera asked.

“A clothing drive for a family in town. They lost everything when their house burned down.”

“I didn’t know about any fire,” Vesta said.

Both of the clients in their chairs were curious as well.

“Remember the boy who put out the flyer about his dog?”

“Yes! That was the cutest thing,” Vera said.

“As it turned out, it wasn’t all that humorous. They have been suffering great hardship since moving here, and we didn’t know. He was trying to earn money to feed his mother and little sister. Mabel Jean helped me shop for food yesterday, remember? Anyway…we’ve got most everything else covered for them except clothing. The sizes are on the flyer, and so is the drop-off point.”

She went up front, taped the flyer to the front door, and then left the others by the register.

“I plan on coming back to work in a couple more days. I think my hands are healed enough now.”

“I can shampoo for you for a while if that would help,” Mabel Jean said.

“And I might just take you up on that,” Ruby said. “So, got to go. I should get the food in the refrigerator. Call me if you need me,” she said, and went out the door.

* * *

Melissa Dean was up early as well, but from a little spurt of anticipation. As soon as the reading of the will was over, she was going to drop off the two job applications at the banks and then go home and pray for a miracle. She knew her landlord would let her slide for a month or so on rent until she could find a job, but she didn’t want to be one of those middle-aged women who suddenly found themselves homeless. The thought terrified her.

Still, she took pleasure in fixing her new hairstyle, putting on a little makeup, and then dressing in her new outfit.

It was the first time in years that she’d actually worn a dress, and she felt half naked because her legs were showing above her knees. She had good legs to go with her slender body, but it still felt strange. When it was nearing time, Melissa gave herself one last glance, and decided the blue long-sleeved sheath had been a good choice. Satisfied with the new look, she put on her coat, grabbed her things, and left the house.

* * *

Rachel had hot homemade cinnamon rolls coming out of the oven just as the sisters came downstairs for breakfast. They were dressed for their meeting and looked very well put-together and in good moods.

“Good morning, ladies. Please have a seat.”

They sat, appreciative of the hot coffee Bud was pouring into the delicate cups at their place settings.

“Good morning, ladies. Enjoy,” he said.

“Everything smells wonderful,” Wilma said.

Rachel beamed. She did take pride in what came out of her kitchen.

“Thank you,” she said. “The chafing dishes are on the sideboard. Please help yourself, and let me know if there’s anything else you need.”

Betsy was the first to jump up and serve herself a freshly baked cinnamon roll. She picked up a small crystal bowl filled with fresh fruit, added fluffy yellow scrambled eggs with crispy strips of sugar-cured bacon to her plate, and went back to their table.

Loretta was right behind her and turned her plate upside down to see what company had produced it.

“I love this china pattern,” she said, then filled her plate as well and carried it back to the table.

Wilma quickly joined her sisters, and they ate quietly for a few minutes until their immediate hunger had been sated. When they began their second cups of coffee, they started discussing the upcoming meeting.

“I wonder what the lawyer will be like,” Betsy said.

Loretta shrugged. “Can’t amount to much, seeing as how he practices law in such a dinky little town.”

“I think Blessings is charming,” Wilma said. “It feels like it would be a nice place to live.”

“Well, you’re not living here in Uncle Elmer’s house unless you want to buy us out,” Loretta snapped.

Wilma sighed. “It was a comment, Loretta. A simple comment. I have no intention of moving.”

“Oh. Well, just so you know,” Loretta said.

Betsy got up to get another cinnamon roll. “Anybody else want seconds on the cinnamon rolls?” she asked.

“I’ll have another,” Loretta said.

Wilma shook her head. “No, thank you.”

And the meal moved on until they were finished.

“We need to get our bags in the car and get moving,” Loretta said. “Don’t want to be late. Rachel, is there anything we need to sign to check out?” she asked.

“Just stop by the desk on your way out. I’ll have your final bills ready when you drop off your keys.”

“Will do,” Loretta said, and the trio got up together and left.

Rachel could hear them talking all the way up the stairs and then down the hall.

She cleared the table and was already at the desk when they came down with their bags, all except Loretta, who persisted in using the elevator to transport hers.

They gathered at the desk and handed over their keys.

“Do you want to leave the charge on the one credit card?” Rachel asked.

“No, we’ll each pay for our room,” Wilma said, knowing that her sisters would stick her with the bill if she didn’t speak up because she was the one who’d reserved the rooms.

Loretta and Betsy pulled out their own cards, and Rachel printed a bill for each of them.

“Have a safe journey home, and thank you for staying at the Blessings Bed and Breakfast.”

“You have a nice place,” Wilma said, and then they were gone.

Rachel went to clean off the sideboard and put the dining room back in order as the sisters drove off to find the law office of P. Nutt Butterman, Esquire.

* * *

Peanut was getting dressed for work, but all he could think about was how much he missed Ruby. He missed her spirit in his house, the sound of her voice, the hurried sound of her footsteps.

“But you’re having lunch with her, so get a grip,” he muttered as he stood in front of the mirror to put on his necktie.

Once he was satisfied with the knot, he put on his suit coat, glanced down to make sure his boots were shiny, and grabbed his briefcase on the way out the door.

Betty was already in the office when he got there. She handed him a stack of messages and a cup of coffee.

“Morning, Peanut. None of the messages are urgent except one. It’s on top.”

“Who’s it from?” he asked.

“Niles Holland.”

He frowned. “He knows better than to contact me. I’m representing his renter, not him. Please call him back and tell him that whatever he wants me to know comes through his lawyer,” Peanut said.

“Yes, sir,” Betty said. “I have everything laid out on your desk for your ten o’clock appointment and four chairs for the heirs. Will you need more than that?”

“No, just for the four women mentioned,” he said.

“I thought some of them might be bringing spouses.”

“I saw Elmer’s nieces at Granny’s last night, and they were alone. If we need more chairs, we’ll get them later.”

“Okay then,” she said.

Peanut took everything into his office and sat down to drink at least a half cup of his coffee before he was ready to face the day.

* * *

The sisters were the first to arrive at Peanut’s office and stopped at Betty’s desk.

“We’re here for the reading of our uncle’s will. Mr. Butterman is expecting us.”

“Yes, ma’am. One moment please.” She called Peanut’s intercom.“Mr. Mathis’s nieces are here.”

“What about Melissa?” he asked.

“Not yet,” Betty said.

“Okay. Send them in.”

Betty walked them to his door, knocked once, and then walked in with them behind her.

“Come in, ladies. Please have a seat.”

The sisters froze in the doorway. It was the good-looking man from the cafe. He was the lawyer?

“Ladies?” Peanut said, gesturing toward the empty chairs.

They stumbled over each other to get inside and take a seat.

“I’m Loretta Baird. This is my sister, Betsy Lowe, and our youngest sister, Wilma Smith.”

Peanut shook each of their hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Elmer was highly thought of here in Blessings. He will be missed.”

“Yes, yes,” Loretta said. “He was a dear man.”

Betsy and Wilma gave Loretta a look, which she chose to ignore.

Peanut returned to his seat. “We’ll start as soon as the other heir arrives.”

“What do you mean, other heir? We’re his only blood kin!” Loretta cried.

“Yes, ma’am, that you are. But blood kin do not automatically inherit. It is an individual’s privilege to name anyone he or she so chooses to inherit their worldly goods, as I’m sure you know,” he said.

Loretta’s neck was red, and the flush was spreading up her cheeks. Her eyes had narrowed to little more than slits, and her nostrils were flaring with every breath.

Betsy was stunned. She hadn’t seen this coming.

Wilma saw the look on Loretta’s face and said nothing.

There was another knock at the door.

The sisters turned in unison to see what they already viewed as their competition.

“Melissa is here,” Betty said, and stepped aside as Melissa Dean entered.

Peanut eyed her new look with appreciation, unaware of what brought it on.

“Good morning, Melissa. Have a seat. Now we’re ready to begin.”

Melissa slipped into the empty chair.

“Who’s she?” Loretta asked.

“I was about to introduce everyone, Mrs. Baird. Melissa Dean, these are Elmer’s nieces, Loretta Baird, Betsy Lowe, and Wilma Smith. They’re sisters. Ladies, this is Melissa Dean, the woman who has been looking after your uncle since the death of his wife, Cora, fourteen years ago. She has continued to maintain his property for him since his move to the nursing home, and has visited him weekly for the past four years. Melissa was with him when he passed.”

“My sympathies on your loss,” Melissa said. “He was the dearest man, and I will miss him.”

The sisters’ mouths opened, and then, wisely, they shut them without uttering a word.

“Nice to meet you,” Melissa added.

They blinked.

She sensed their hostility but didn’t let it bother her. They’d been notified when their Aunt Cora died, and she’d seen the hurt on Elmer’s face when they didn’t show. Even though they were related to Elmer, they meant nothing to Melissa.

Peanut opened the folder and began to read.

The first couple of pages were standard wording; the next page listed the entirety of Elmer’s holdings. As Peanut began reading them off, the sisters leaned forward, hanging on his every word.

He listed the house on four lots, a business called Mathis Dry Cleaners—still in operation and pulling in the income that had been paying for their uncle’s care—and a checking account and a savings account together worth nearly two hundred thousand dollars.

The sisters exhaled as one when Peanut finished, and leaned back with smiles on their faces.

Peanut paused.

“I now have a personal letter that I am to read to his nieces, should they happen to appear. Melissa, this does not include you, so bear with me.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, expecting little more than a nominal sum as Elmer’s way of a thank-you.

Peanut picked up a separate piece of paper.

“This is the original letter in Mr. Mathis’s handwriting. It was written fourteen years ago, the week after his wife’s death. I have a copy for each of you, along with a copy of the will.”

He cleared his throat and began.

“Loretta, Betsy, and Wilma. You are the daughters of my twin sister, Ella, whom I loved with all of my heart. She and my love, Cora, were the dearest women in my life.

“When Ella found out she was dying, she confided in me that she’d instructed each of you to be sure to see to my welfare, and that I should rest assured that if I outlived my Cora, I would not wind up old and alone.”

Wilma covered her face and started to weep, quietly but already suffering the guilt.

Betsy was ashen, and Loretta’s shocked expression appeared to have frozen on her face.

“To my dismay, you did not live up to your mother’s expectations, and when you ignored my dear Cora’s passing after being notified, I realized you were not capable of living up to my expectations either.

“Therefore, I am officially relieving you of your guilt, along with any claims you think you deserve with regards to my property. You are each awarded one dollar, and not another cent more.

“Elmer Lee Mathis”

Peanut laid the paper aside.

“It was signed in my presence, in front of four separate witnesses from Blessings, including his doctor, who can testify he was sound of mind and body at that time; his banker; his pastor; and the manager of his dry cleaners. My secretary, Betty Purejoy, notarized it, and it has been in my file ever since.”

He handed each of them an envelope. “Your copies are in there, along with your inheritance.”

Melissa Dean was in shock. She was already starting to shake when Peanut picked up the will once more.

“Now I’ll continue with the reading. ‘I bequeath everything I own, save the three dollars awarded to my thankless kin, to a most kind and faithful woman, Melissa Dean. Thank you for your years of kindness, care, and devotion. It has not gone unnoticed.’”

“Oh my God,” Melissa whispered.

Loretta shrieked. “We’ll fight this!”

Peanut arched an eyebrow. “Well, you’d just be wasting money, because there’s nothing to fight, Mrs. Baird. Mr. Mathis was of sound mind and body when he had me draw up this will. And unless you can show proof that his claims of neglect are untrue, you don’t have a leg to stand on.”

Wilma stood. “It’s true. We neglected him. We ignored our mother’s dying wish. We forgot he existed, and I’m ashamed that I did it. This dollar is more than I deserve.”

She walked out of the office and didn’t look back.

Betsy stood but was too ashamed to look up or speak and slunk out of the office to catch up with Wilma.

Loretta stood up. She was livid and unwilling to admit she’d gotten exactly what she deserved. When she took a step toward where Melissa was sitting, Peanut shot out of his chair. The tone of his voice was nothing short of furious.

“No, ma’am. I do not tolerate discord in this office. What happened to you has nothing to do with her. You dismissed an old man from your life, and that is on you.”

Loretta pivoted angrily and strode out of the office with her head up, shaking with rage.

But the minute she joined her sisters in the car, they shut her down.

“I won’t stand for this!” Loretta screamed as she jammed the key into the ignition.

“Shut up, Loretta! Shut the hell up!” Betsy shouted.

Loretta gasped. “But we—”

“We broke our vow to Mama. A vow we made on her deathbed,” Wilma shouted. “We got exactly what we deserved. If you aren’t calm enough to drive us home, then trade seats with me, because I have no intention of falling victim to bad behavior twice today. Now start the car and drive us home.”

The truth of their situation finally hit home. Chastened and ashamed, Loretta buckled her seat belt and drove out of Blessings in silence.

But there was one more woman still in Peanut’s office who was in shock. She hadn’t said a word since his announcement and was still reeling from the news.

Peanut sat down in the chair beside her and grinned. “Are you all right?”

Melissa nodded.

He chuckled. “Surprised you, didn’t he?”

She nodded again and burst into tears.

“I thought when Fred Bloomer let me go that I was in serious trouble, and all the while this was waiting for me,” Melissa said. “Elmer saved me, Peanut. He saved me for certain. I’ve never owned a house in my life. Couldn’t afford it. My old car is on its last legs, and now I have money in the bank. I have savings. I don’t have to turn in my job applications. I am a business owner. Oh my God, I wish I could tell Elmer how much this means to me.”

Peanut patted her on the shoulder.

“He already knows. It’s why he named you his sole heir. He admired your work ethic and determination, and he loved you like a daughter, but he always said you worked too hard for too little.”

Then Peanut gave her a handful of tissues.

“Now wipe your eyes and blow your nose. You need to go to the First State Bank. Herman Lewis knows you’re coming. There are papers for you to sign to access Elmer’s accounts, which will be transferred into your name. The people at the cleaner’s will be relieved to know their jobs are secure. And I have just one more thing to give you.”

“What’s that?” she asked.

“I know you already have a key to the house, but this key was Elmer’s. Now it’s yours.”

She recognized the old keychain with the tattered rabbit’s foot dangling beneath the key. When Peanut dropped it into her palm, she curled her fingers around it and pressed it against her chest.

“Oh good grief! That pitiful rabbit’s foot. I begged him for years to put what was left of that rabbit to rest. To bury it in the garden or something, but he would just shake his head and grin.”

“Well, now it’s yours, along with everything else. Welcome to your new life, Melissa.”

She got up and then threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Thank you!”

Peanut laughed. “Hey, I’m just the messenger. You can thank Elmer tonight when you say your prayers.”

“Oh I will. Sweet lord, so I will.”

She left the office, laughing.

Peanut sat down on the corner of his desk, grinning from ear to ear as Betty appeared in the doorway. “That was one of the good ones, wasn’t it?” she said.

“Yes, ma’am, it sure was.”

He glanced at his watch and then picked up the first message on the stack and handed it back to her. “I’ve got another hour of work before I go have lunch with Ruby, so time to start returning phone calls.”

“I called Mr. Holland. He wasn’t trying to influence you after all. He said he was withdrawing his lawsuit against May Temple, fixing everything that is broken, replacing what is worn out, and reimbursing her for the cost of what was stolen. He said he will also be paying your fees on her behalf, assuming she withdraws her countersuit against him. He said you can verify this through his lawyer.”

Peanut grinned. “Now that’s what I call good news. I’ll call his lawyer to verify, then call May and let her know. He’s probably coming to realize that May Temple’s countersuit against him is the one that’s going to hold up in court.”

Betty grinned.

“Today it’s good guys, two. Bad guys, zero.”

* * *

Melissa Dean felt like she was floating.

It was all she could do not to giggle as she sat at Herman Lewis’s desk at the bank signing papers.

Herman was happy for her and teased her gently when she handed back the last signed papers. “I suppose you won’t be turning in that job application now?”

She grinned. “No, sir. I think I’ll be devoting my time to running the dry cleaners.”

“I’m very happy for you,” Herman said. “Congratulations, and thank you for banking with us.”

Melissa got up, clutching a small pad of blank checks to tide her over until her printed checks and debit card arrived in the mail. She drove straight to the dry cleaners, waited until the customer at the counter paid and left with his cleaning, and then grabbed the clerk by the hands, smiling from ear to ear.

“Can you call everyone up front for just a second?”

“Yeah…sure, I guess,” he said. “What’s this about?”

“The new owner.”

“Oh God,” he muttered, and went to the back, returning moments later with the crew on duty. “This is all of us except Martin, who’s out sick.”

“I don’t know how to say this,” she said.

“Oh God, please don’t tell us we’re fired,” one woman said.

Melissa grinned. “To the contrary. Your jobs are secure, and the dry cleaners is staying open.”

“Oh thank God,” she said. “Who bought it?”

“No one bought it. Elmer named me his heir. I inherited it and his house. A couple of days ago, Fred Bloomer let me go. I got up this morning with very little money and no job, and now this has happened!”

They let out a whoop and cheers, both for themselves and for her, and crowded around her in relief.

Melissa kept laughing and talking and hugging them back. It lasted until the next customer came in to drop off some clothes. The fact that it was Fred Bloomer’s wife seemed like kismet.

She saw Melissa and flushed, but Melissa surprised her. “Welcome, Mrs. Bloomer. You are my first official customer.”

Mrs. Bloomer gasped. “What? What do you mean?”

“I learned this morning that Elmer Mathis named me his heir. I inherited his holdings, which includes the dry cleaners. Have a nice day.”

Her employees were still shouting congratulations as Melissa walked out the door.