A Ghostly Murder by Tonya Kappes Page A

she slipped in, shutting the door behind her. “We have a hundred ­people out there, and you two are in here playing poopsies?”
    â€œFunny.” I pushed my way past her and out the door.
    Poopsies was a make-­believe game our parents used to tell us to go play when they wanted to get rid of us and stop bugging them.
    â€œIt’s about time someone put Zula Fae in her place.” Mamie shuffled past me. I did my best to ignore Mamie, but she let out the most awful shriek. “Dixie!”
    Mamie ran off.
    Beulah Paige Bellefry and Pastor Brown stood in the doorway between the vestibule and the viewing room. She stood as pretty as a picture with her black skirt and jacket to match, along with a wide-­brimmed hat. The lace hung over the hat in front of Beulah’s face. Her pearls dripped around her neck and wrist.
    She lifted the veil once all eyes were on her.
    Pastor Brown was his usual pious self. The sleeves on his brown suit hit his wrists exactly at the too-­short line, and his pants hit above the ankle. I wasn’t sure why he never bought clothes to fit. His income couldn’t be much as the preacher of Sleepy Hollow Baptist Church. There hadn’t been any growth in the congregation or any additions to the building, but surely he could afford a suit.
    He gave a slight wave when his razor-­sharp blue eyes caught mine. I contained my giggle when Mary Anna moseyed over his way and pointed to his hair. She had been dying to get her hands in his coal-­black, greasy comb-over.
    I kept a close eye on Mamie Sue when she got a little close to Beulah. Beulah’s eye swiveled toward Mamie Sue, a dumbfounded look crossed Beulah’s face. For a second I thought Beulah felt Mamie Sue next to her.
    â€œDang. Someone’s been to the tanning bed and the plastic surgeon for those lashes.” Mamie reached out and touched Beulah Paige’s fake lashes.
    Beulah waved her hand in front of her face as if to swat a fly; little did she know it was Mamie Sue’s finger.
    â€œDixie?” Mamie’s eyes filled with tears. They darted between Beulah Paige and the lady standing behind Beulah, who I only assumed was Dixie. “Are you working for her ?” Mamie asked Dixie as if Dixie could hear her.
    Mamie Sue’s face drew from bad to worse. Her nose curled, and she took a big whiff from the casserole-­carrying case nestled in the crook of Dixie’s elbow.
    â€œIs that my secret chess pie recipe I smell?” Mamie Sue’s body stood rigid, her fist clenched. “Oh my God! Dixie!”
    â€œHello,” I greeted them. “I’ll take this.” I took the carrier from Dixie. “Mmm.” I took a nice long whiff. “Is this chess pie?”
    â€œWhy yes, it’s my secret recipe.” Beulah Paige stepped in front of Dixie. “Emma Lee, this is my new maid, Dixie Dunn. Dixie, Emma Lee.”
    â€œHer secret recipe my ass!” Mamie took a deep breath and plunged forward, sweeping right through Dixie.
    Dixie coughed something fierce. Pastor Brown put his large hand on Dixie’s back and asked her if she was okay. Dixie nodded.
    â€œLet me get you a drink.” I had Dixie follow me to the drink table.
    Charlotte Rae and Granny had emerged from the media room and were back at their posts behind the serving table.
    I handed Granny the chess pie so she could put it with the other desserts.
    â€œHere.” I handed Dixie a cup of Granny’s sweet tea. “I hope you are okay.”
    â€œI have no idea what got into me.” Dixie took some sips of tea. “It was like the wind was sucked right out of me.”
    I stood there getting a good look at Dixie Dunn. She had anthracite eyes and a mop of blond hair. She was definitely younger than I had anticipated Dixie to be. She couldn’t have been any more than midforties. She even dressed snappy in her indigo wrap dress, showing off a nice set of gams.
    Mamie Sue