Isles. Perhaps she could take continuing education classes at Brunswick College or begin a new hobby. She could get back into church activities, even take up tennis once more, perhaps play with Dr. Jason Burkman again. No, that might not be a good idea since he’s a handsome bachelor. People might gossip. She was tempted to visit him professionally for a check-up to see what could be done about her crazy mood swings, but that might give him a bad impression of her. Until she got a grip on herself and her life and she waited a proper mourning period, she should avoid Dr. Burkman’s discerning blue eyes.
As she started to head back to the house, Cass heard a feminine voice calling out to her from down the long and winding street. She turned in that direction.
“Mrs. Grantham! Mrs. Grantham! Wait up for a minute!”
Two middle-aged women, dressed in fashionable casual outfits and coiffed perfectly, hurried toward her. Cass assumedwith a warm relief they were distant neighbors coming to offer their condolences and to extend offers of friendship.
The first woman said in a near breathless voice, “We heard about your husband’s accident and we were wondering what happened to him.”
Cass was taken aback. She had expected them to express their sympathies and to offer help. “I beg your pardon?”
The second woman said, “We read about Mr. Grantham’s accident in the newspapers and saw a report on the television, but it didn’t tell us much. What happened? Why are the police investigating it?”
Cass was outraged by the audacious women who were only interested in obtaining gossip they could share with their friends. “I haven’t the slightest idea; you’ll have to phone the police for answers to your…curious questions. If you’ll excuse me, I’m rather busy this morning.”
The presumptuous women looked as if she had insulted them by refusing to feed their greedy appetites. Cass half-turned to depart, but was halted when one touched her arm.
“Wait, Mrs. Grantham! Surely you have some idea why they’re—”
Her nerves raw, Cass interrupted. “I just lost my husband and my thoughts are elsewhere, so I haven’t read the newspapers or watched TV. I don’t have any inkling what those foolish reporters have said. Tom had a tragic accident and he’s dead; that’s all I know, so I can’t appease your curiosity. Good-bye.”
As she walked away, Cass heard the women whispering but could not make out what they said. She glanced up at a noise and saw a vehicle slow down while its occupants stared and pointed at her and her home as they chatted among themselves. She increased her pace to get out of their sight behind her house. She found Inez waiting for her on the stone patio.
“What’s wrong, ma’am? You look upset and pale. You’re shaking.”
Cass told the housekeeper about the two incidents.
“Just busybodies, ma’am; pay no attention to them.”
“Where are this week’s newspapers?”
“In the pantry in grocery sacks; I always save and recycle them.”
“Please bring them to me so I can learn what everybody else knows.”
“Are you sure you want to see them? There’s pictures of Mr. Grantham and his car in them. It’s an awful sight. Don’t hurt yourself that way.”
Cass prayed that no reporter had gotten hold of dirty facts about Tom and printed them. Had their private life been opened up to scrutiny, and did a scandal loom before her? “I have to know what’s being said about him and the accident,” she told the woman. “If we’ve become a subject of gossip, I need to know about it.”
“As you wish, ma’am. But before you start on them, do you want some herbal tea to settle your nerves or one of those pills from Doctor Hines?”
Merciful heavens, please don’t let the news be that bad! “Herbal tea is fine for now, Inez.” And I hope I don’t need anything stronger after I read them.
Before Inez reached the double French doors, Cass changed her mind. “On second
As she started to head back to the house, Cass heard a feminine voice calling out to her from down the long and winding street. She turned in that direction.
“Mrs. Grantham! Mrs. Grantham! Wait up for a minute!”
Two middle-aged women, dressed in fashionable casual outfits and coiffed perfectly, hurried toward her. Cass assumedwith a warm relief they were distant neighbors coming to offer their condolences and to extend offers of friendship.
The first woman said in a near breathless voice, “We heard about your husband’s accident and we were wondering what happened to him.”
Cass was taken aback. She had expected them to express their sympathies and to offer help. “I beg your pardon?”
The second woman said, “We read about Mr. Grantham’s accident in the newspapers and saw a report on the television, but it didn’t tell us much. What happened? Why are the police investigating it?”
Cass was outraged by the audacious women who were only interested in obtaining gossip they could share with their friends. “I haven’t the slightest idea; you’ll have to phone the police for answers to your…curious questions. If you’ll excuse me, I’m rather busy this morning.”
The presumptuous women looked as if she had insulted them by refusing to feed their greedy appetites. Cass half-turned to depart, but was halted when one touched her arm.
“Wait, Mrs. Grantham! Surely you have some idea why they’re—”
Her nerves raw, Cass interrupted. “I just lost my husband and my thoughts are elsewhere, so I haven’t read the newspapers or watched TV. I don’t have any inkling what those foolish reporters have said. Tom had a tragic accident and he’s dead; that’s all I know, so I can’t appease your curiosity. Good-bye.”
As she walked away, Cass heard the women whispering but could not make out what they said. She glanced up at a noise and saw a vehicle slow down while its occupants stared and pointed at her and her home as they chatted among themselves. She increased her pace to get out of their sight behind her house. She found Inez waiting for her on the stone patio.
“What’s wrong, ma’am? You look upset and pale. You’re shaking.”
Cass told the housekeeper about the two incidents.
“Just busybodies, ma’am; pay no attention to them.”
“Where are this week’s newspapers?”
“In the pantry in grocery sacks; I always save and recycle them.”
“Please bring them to me so I can learn what everybody else knows.”
“Are you sure you want to see them? There’s pictures of Mr. Grantham and his car in them. It’s an awful sight. Don’t hurt yourself that way.”
Cass prayed that no reporter had gotten hold of dirty facts about Tom and printed them. Had their private life been opened up to scrutiny, and did a scandal loom before her? “I have to know what’s being said about him and the accident,” she told the woman. “If we’ve become a subject of gossip, I need to know about it.”
“As you wish, ma’am. But before you start on them, do you want some herbal tea to settle your nerves or one of those pills from Doctor Hines?”
Merciful heavens, please don’t let the news be that bad! “Herbal tea is fine for now, Inez.” And I hope I don’t need anything stronger after I read them.
Before Inez reached the double French doors, Cass changed her mind. “On second
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