The Missing Book by Lois Gladys Leppard Page A

must have been in a hurry.” She went to the stove to check the contents of the coffeepot. It was full.
    â€œYes, he was. I’ll explain later,” Mr. Shaw said, nodding toward Mandie and Irene.
    Dr. Woodard’s visit was not mentioned again. The Shaws had breakfast and got ready to go to church.
    Though the day was cloudy and cold, almost everyone in the community came for the church service that morning. As the Shaws sat down, Mandie looked around for the Lesters. They weren’t there. Maybe they were just a little late. As the sermon progressed, she decided they were not coming.
    â€œTommy and his family are not here,” Irene whispered to Mandie.
    Mrs. Shaw, sitting on the other side of Irene, touched Irene’s shoulder and shook her head. The two girls straightened up and turned their attention to the preacher delivering the message.
    The sermon ran overtime. The tall clock in the corner softly chimed twelve, and the preacher continued until it struck half past. When the congregation rose to sing the closing hymn, Mandie took advantage of the noise to whisper to her sister again.
    â€œDid Tommy tell you they weren’t coming to church today?” she asked.
    Irene shook her head. “No, he said they would be here.”
    Mandie sang along with the crowd as she tried to figure out what had happened to the Lesters. She still didn’t know whether or not she and Irene would be allowed to go to Bryson City with them.
    As soon as the preacher said the benediction, the congregation began filing out of the church, chatting happily. Mandie also heard complaints here and there about the preacher going overtime, especially on such a cold, cloudy day.
    On the way home, Mandie listened for any conversation between her parents that might explain the Lesters’ absence, but their name was never mentioned.
    Later, during dinner, Mrs. Shaw finally spoke about the Lesters. As she passed the food around the table, she looked at the girls. “You girls won’t be going to Bryson City with the Lesters next weekend because they won’t be making the journey over there anytime soon.”
    â€œWhy, Mama?” Mandie asked.
    â€œHow do you know, Mama? They weren’t even in church today for you to talk to them about it,” Irene said.
    Mrs. Shaw looked over at Mr. Shaw. He didn’t say a word. She turned back to the girls. “Mrs. Lester has fallen ill.”
    â€œWhen did she get sick?” Mandie asked.
    â€œLast night,” Mrs. Shaw said. “Now finish up your food and let’s get the table cleared off.”
    Mandie remembered Dr.Woodard’s early-morning visit and decided he had been over at the Lesters’ and had come by to tell her father and mother that Mrs. Lester was ill. But why had he and her parents acted so mysterious about everything?
    Later in the day Dr. Woodard came by again, and this time Joe was with him. They came into the house, and Mrs. Shaw set out cake and coffee in the kitchen for the young people. Dr. Woodard and Mr. Shaw went on into the parlor.
    â€œNow, don’t eat too much of this cake or none of you will want any supper,” Mrs. Shaw said as she placed the cake in the middle of the table and uncovered it.
    Mandie and Irene got plates and cups from the cupboard.
    â€œThank you, Mrs. Shaw,” Joe said with a big grin as she sliced a piece for him.
    â€œAmanda, you and Irene get yours. I’m going in the parlor to sit with Dr. Woodard and your father,” Mrs. Shaw said as she left the room.
    â€œI suppose they don’t want any,” Mandie said as they filled their cups from the percolator on the stove.
    Joe cleared his throat. “They want to talk in there so we can’t hear what they say.”
    â€œThat’s what I was thinking too, Joe,” Mandie said, frowning. “You probably know your father came by this morning and my father went outside to sit in Dr. Woodard’s buggy to talk.