Urleen scowled. “What does social media have to do with anyone breaking up?”
“You know, maybe she posted a nudie picture and Shane didn’t like what he saw.” Norma Ray dropped her voice. “Maybe she has a mole on her bottom or zits on her boobs. Who knows.”
I bit back a laugh. Oh Lord, what these women didn’t say.
Malene poked the air with her finger. “There’s one definite way to find out if they broke up.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
When she spoke, her words were laced with mystery. “The gossip line will tell us. All we have to do is start the gossip line phone tree and we’ll know the truth in minutes.”
Malene put down her quilting and rose. I lifted my hand to stop her. “That’s okay. You don’t have to do the gossip line, at least not for me. Why don’t I just go on my, er, date, or whatever it is, and find out what he wants.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Malene winked. “But I’ll still start the gossip line.”
I groaned. “Can you do me a favor andnotstart that until after I leave?”
“Fine by me,” she said.
I glanced at my watch. “Oh, would you look at that. I need to stop by Architectural Scavengers.” Rising, I shouldered my purse. “I promised Sadie that I’d check out their light fixtures for Dooley Hutto’s barn.”
Malene pulled a face.
“What?” I said. “What’d I say?”
“It’s notwhatyou said,” Urleen answered, “it’swho.You were talking about Sadie.”
I threaded my fingers through my hair. “What is your deal with her, Malene?”
“Oh, it’s not just her deal,” Norma Ray corrected. “It’s all our deals. None of us like her. She’s as bad as her mother.”
Her mother? “Why?”
The three women exchanged a quick look before Malene spoke. “Don’t you go worrying about other people’s business now, Clementine. You’ve got enough on your hands with that handsome Shane asking you out.”
“‘Don’t go worrying about other people’s business’?”I repeated, dumbfounded. “That’s all y’all do.”
“Well, we’re old so we have a right,” Urleen replied. “When you get to be our age, you can dally in other folks’ affairs as well. Until then, it would be best if you just stuck to what you know—yourself.”
“So you’re not going to tell me,” I said.
Malene shook her head. “Some things are better left not talked about.”
I stared at them a moment, wondering if it was worth it to press the issue. Deciding that it wasn’t, I stretched and rose. “All right, then. Y’all keep your secrets.”
As I started to walk out the door, Malene’s voice stopped me in my tracks. “Clementine?”
“Yes?” I asked.
“Thank you for the peaches, and figuring that I’d see you pretty soon, I brought your next few days of breakfasts.”
My ears pricked up at that. I never, and I mean never, turned down one of Malene’s desserts. Yes, I ate dessert for breakfast—sue me.
“What’s that?” I asked.
Malene’s eyes twinkled with delight. “Coca-Cola cake.”
I know my jaw hit the floor. “With homemade icing?”
