“But something will,” Betty muttered, stepping away and into the kitchen.
Maggie frowned.Whatdid she say?
“Is something wrong with her?” Jo Ellen asked Frank on a hushed whisper. “She seems…”
He shook his head. “It’s nothing for you two to worry about. But she does need that nap every day at three.”
“Then she shouldn’t have told us to come over,” Maggie said, bristling a little.
“She’d never say no to you two.” He pushed up, practically as wobbly as his wife. “And you know…life’s short. She didn’t know… Well, she wants to see all her friends before?—”
“Frank!” Betty called. “Where did you put my pills, honey?”
Beforewhat?
Once again, Maggie and Jo Ellen shared a look.
“We better go,” Jo Ellen said, picking up her glass and Maggie’s. “Just let us clean?—”
“No, no,” Frank insisted. “Give Betty a kiss goodbye and I’ll get her pills. But don’t leave. I want to talk to you privately. I need to ask you a favor.”
“Anything,” Jo Ellen gushed, worry contorting her features.
They gave Betty a kiss and Maggie could have sworn her old friend hugged her extra tight.
Was shedying?
The thought nearly made Maggie sway as she and Jo Ellen walked out into the bright afternoon sunshine to wait for Frank.
“Well, that didn’t go quite as planned,” Maggie said as they followed the walkway.
“She’s not well,” Jo Ellen agreed.
“I think we’re about to get some very bad news.” Maggie took Jo Ellen’s hand. “And I don’t want it.”
“Neither do I, but we need to be strong for Frank. Whatever he wants as a favor, we say yes.”
“Of course,” Maggie agreed.
Frank stepped out of the front door, the sunshine highlighting the deep creases in his face and the lack of healthy color.
Were they both sick?
He made his way down the steps and met them in the driveway.
“Is she okay?” Jo Ellen demanded again.
“She’s…got a dream.”
Maggie tipped her head. “Excuse me?”
“Her whole life, she’s had a dream,” he continued. “A silly thing, maybe, but she wants a car.”
“Acar?” Jo Ellen asked, her voice echoing the disbelief in Maggie’s head.
“I know, I know.” He stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “But I gotta do this for her, girls. All her life, she dreamed about a T-bird convertible—you know, like the song?”
What in the name of God was he talking about?
