1 Bless Her Dead Little Heart by Miranda James

you.”
    Diesel chirped and then turned to sit with his back to her.
    Clementine chuckled. “Cats sure have a funny way of pouting, don’t they? My grandbaby Lawanna does the same thing.”
    “It’s so cute,” Dickce said. “Are there any of those oatmeal raisin cookies left?”
    “Should be, unless Miss An’gel got into them last night.” Clementine gestured toward the counter, where a cookie jar in the shape of a potbellied dog sat.
    “She didn’t, as far as I know.” Dickce walked over to pull off the lid and peer inside. Her sister had a weakness for Clementine’s cookies, but she had also been watching her weight lately. Dickce was pleased to see the jar was still nearly full.
    She found a serving tray and a paper doily, then arranged two dozen cookies on it. She noticed Diesel at her feet, gazing expectantly up at her. “No, sir, these are not for you. I think you’d better stay in the kitchen with Clementine so you won’t be begging.” She glanced at the housekeeper. “You don’t mind, do you?”
    Clementine smiled. “No, he’s fine here with me. Besides, he’s gonna be more interested in the fried c-h-i-c-k-e-n anyway.”
    Diesel warbled and transferred his attention to the housekeeper.
    Dickce laughed. “I have a feeling he knows how to spell.” She headed out the door and down the hall to the front parlor.
    She had neared the foot of the stairs when she heard a woman cry out from above her. Startled, she looked up the staircase in time to see Marla Stephens rolling down.

CHAPTER 7
    A n’gel found Maudine and Bernice in the front parlor near the fireplace when she ushered Benjy and Junior inside. Maudine had the Ming Dynasty goldfish vase upside down in her hands, peering at the bottom. “I’ll bet it’s a fake,” she told her sister in a waspish tone. “Or else they’re even richer than Mother has always claimed.”
    Bernice’s eyes widened when she caught sight of An’gel. She hissed at Maudine. “Put that down.”
    “Yes, please do put it back as it was.” An’gel strode forward, momentarily forgetting about Benjy and the tray he bore. Maudine grimaced but complied with her hostess’s request. Annoyed by her guest’s obnoxious comments, An’gel adjusted the position of the vase on the mantel until it met with her satisfaction, then stepped back. “When my great-grandfather purchased the vase in China on his honeymoon in 1853, he was assured that it was authentic. I have never had cause to doubt that, nor did the appraiser from Christie’s in New York twenty years ago.”
    Maudine appeared to wither under An’gel’s unyielding gaze. “I suppose you would know,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”
    Benjy cleared his throat. “Miss Ducote, where would you like me to put the tray?”
    An’gel, recalled to her duties, turned to smile at the young man. “Right over here.” She indicated a side table next to one of the sofas, and Benjy set the tray gently down.
    “Please help yourselves,” An’gel said. If Maudine wanted tea, she could darn well get it for herself.
    Benjy complied with alacrity and had nearly drained his glass by the time Maudine, Bernice, and Junior each claimed their own. An’gel gestured for him to refill his glass, and he thanked her.
    “Maudie, Bernie, what are you two doing here?” Wade Thurmond nodded at his half siblings as he joined them beside the tea tray. “I see you found your way inside the house, Benjy. Afternoon, Junior. Marla will be down in a minute.” He helped himself to iced tea.
    Benjy shrugged at his stepfather, and Junior nodded in response. An’gel noted with interest that, although Wade spoke to the other two men, his gaze remained fixed on his sisters.
    Maudine glared at Wade. “We came to assure ourselves that Mother is well. I can’t believe she would simply take off in the night like that and drive across the country away from her family.”
    “Yeah, well, Mama is unpredictable.” Wade stared into his glass. “I