He glances around. “I’m sorry. Is there a lady somewhere?”
“Cash,” Maggie scolds, two flags of color flying in her cheeks. “Don’t mind him, Vee. You know he was born cantankerous.”
It kills me that Maggie has always tried to mollify Violet. I’d hoped with time and distance, she’d realize she isn’t responsible for what happened to her parents. I’d hoped Violet would see fit to let go of her anger and blame.
“Do you want to sit with us?” Maggie lays a hand on the extra chair at our table. “We have a couple of beignets left.”
“Oh, no.” Violet motions toward the far corner. “I have friends waiting.”
I glance over to see a group of women dressed in their Sunday finest. I recognize each of them from high school.
Maggie waves. But when she turns back to Violet, her expression is crestfallen. “You started up the Ladies Who Brunch Club again?”
“Now that Cheryl’s and Marlene’s babies are older, they can spare a couple of hours each Sunday. And Jessa’s design company is doing so well she was able to hire an assistant, so nowshehas more time on her hands.” Violet sighs dramatically. “Besides, we were alldyingwithout our weekly girl time.”
“Of course.” Maggie smiles. Again, I can see it’s a bit wobbly.
Violet blinks as if she’s surprised by Maggie’s hurt. “I would’ve invited you, Maggie, but you’re always so busy with the bar.”
“It’s true,” Maggie agrees.
“But apparently you’re not so busy today.” Violet glances from me to Cash.
“I took today off because…well, mainly because these two have come home. Can you believe it?”
“Mmm,” Violet hums. “And after years of ignoring you like you were nothing, you welcomed them back with open arms?”
That’s it. Courtesy be damned. I resume my seat.
Maggie pales and opens her mouth. Nothing comes out.
“As for you two…” Violet looks again from Cash to me. “Welcome home.” When she adds, “And thank you for your service,” I can’t tell if I hear sarcasm in her tone, or if I simply dislike her so much that I’m imagining the worst.
After she joins her Ladies Who Brunch, I shake my head. “She hasn’t changed a bit.”
“Still a first-class hag,” Cash agrees.
As always, Maggie is quick to defend her sister. “You can’t blame her.”
“Yes, we can,” Cash and I say in unison.
“No. Youcan’t. Our parents’ deaths devastated her, and—”
“Likeyouweren’t devastated?” I interject.
“Yeah, but it was harder on Vee. She was a daddy’s girl through and through, and Mom doted on her. Plus, Vee was about to start high school when they died, and if ever there’s a time in a girl’s life when she needs her folks, it’s then.”
“That doesn’t excuse her treating you like something stuck to the bottom of her shoe,” Cash grumbles.
“She doesn’t treat me like that. She treats me like…” Maggie shrugs. “I guess she treats me like a big sister treats an annoying little sister.”
I grab her hand. “Annoying? You?Never.”
As I hoped, that garners a smile. “I don’t annoyyoumaybe. We’ve always had so much in common. But me and Vee?” She shakes her head. “We’re oil and water.”
“You mean you’re sugar and she’s vinegar,” Cash says.
Maggie laughs. “No. Vee’s like…well, she’s like Aunt Bea. She wants to be important and do important things. She cares about being respected in this town and she doesn’t have time for folks who don’t feel the same. I’m more like Auntie June. I want to live the simple life. Good food, good fun, and a few good friends who’ll share both with me.”
