“Supposed to be,” Wanda Nell replied. “So if anything happens and you get scared, you just yell, you hear?”
Juliet nodded. “Don’t worry, Mama.”
Wanda Nell leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. “Y’all be good, and call me if you need anything. And you better be in bed and sound asleep when I get home.”
“Even on a Friday night?” Juliet asked.
“Even on a Friday night,” Wanda Nell said, smiling. “We all need some rest.” She grabbed her purse and car keys and headed for the door. “Tell Miranda and Lavon I said ‘bye’.”
Juliet’s “Bye, Mama,” floated out the door after her. Wanda Nell rolled her eyes in annoyance when she saw the inside of her car. Every time Miranda used it, she left it a mess. Sighing, Wanda Nell pushed aside candy bar wrappers and empty Coke cans and set her purse on the passenger seat. She’d make Miranda clean the car out tomorrow.
Ten minutes later she parked her car at the Kountry Kitchen. She wasn’t looking forward to working there tonight. A lot of folks ate there on Friday night, and most of them would be curious. She was hoping she could keep from having to answer a lot of questions, because she didn’t want to discuss her business with customers any more than she had to.
Steeling herself, she grabbed her purse, and her clothes for her shift later at Budget Mart, locked her car, then headed for the front door of the restaurant. No point in sneaking in the back way. She might as well go right on in the front and get it over with.
At four-fifteen in the afternoon, the Kountry Kitchen wasn’t very busy, but when Wanda Nell stepped inside and let the door swing shut behind her, every head in the place turned to look at her.
For a moment, nobody said a word. Fayetta Sutton stood behind the counter, coffeepot in hand, staring at Wanda Nell like somebody had dropped dog poop on the floor. Wanda Nell paid her no mind. She could handle Fayetta. It was the customers she was worried about. What if they didn’t want her waiting on their tables?
“Hey, Wanda Nell,” called one of her regulars, a guy named Pete Jones who worked out at the John Deere place on the highway. “How you doin’?”
The buzz of conversation started again, and Wanda Nell walked over to Pete with a grateful smile. “Thanks for asking, Pete,” she said, pausing by the table. “I’m doing okay, I guess.”
Pete grinned up at her, his chubby, genial face showing his concern. “Don’t let any of these old buzzards give you a hard time. Anybody’s known you for more than five minutes knows you didn’t have nothing to do with what happened to Bobby Ray.” He raised his voice slightly. “And there isn’t nobody here who can make me believe you did.”
Wanda Nell smiled her thanks at him as several other voices called out greetings. Acknowledging each of them briefly, Wanda Nell made her way around the counter and into the kitchen. She waved at the cook and the dishwasher as she went by, on her way to the small room where the staff kept their personal belongings during their shifts.
Back in the kitchen, she ran into her boss, Melvin Arbuckle, an unlit cigarette dangling from his lip. “Hey, Wanda Nell, how you doing?” He took her arm. “Come on with me while I have a smoke. Fayetta can handle it for a minute.”
“Okay, Melvin,” she said as she followed him down the hall. “I’m doing okay. I’m sorry about having to miss my shift last night.”
Melvin opened the back door and stepped outside. He finished lighting his cigarette before he spoke again. “It was pretty quiet here last night, and Fayetta made plenty extra without you here. So she wasn’t too mad, I guess.” Smoke streamed from his mouth as he spoke.
Wanda Nell didn’t say anything. She didn’t care whether Fayetta had been mad or not.
“Anything you need, Wanda Nell?” Melvin asked. “I mean, are you gonna need a lawyer? You know somebody you can call?’ He tapped ash from his cigarette onto the ground.
“I’m fine right now, Melvin,” she said. “I don’t think I need a lawyer, but if I do, my friend Mayrene has a cousin who works for one.” For the moment, she couldn’t remember the man’s name. “According to her—Blanche, I mean— Mayrene’s cousin, he’s pretty sharp.”
“That’s good,” Melvin said. “But if you don’t need no lawyer, then stay away from ’em long as you can.” He laughed bitterly. “I don’t know one I’d recommend, but if you need any help, you let me know, you hear?”
“Thanks, Melvin,” she said, touched by his concern. “I appreciate that. But as soon as that fool Elmer Lee Johnson gets over his idea I killed Bobby Ray, I’ll be okay.”
Melvin shook his head. “Elmer Lee is one stubborn sumbitch. You be careful about getting crossways of him.”
He frowned. “But wasn’t your daddy and the sheriff good buddies once upon a time?”
“Yeah, they were,” Wanda Nell said. “And I guess the sheriff ’ll keep Elmer Lee from getting too carried away.” It was her turn to laugh bitterly. “I got a good alibi for practically the whole dang night, but Elmer Lee don’t want to believe me. But he’ll have to, in the end.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Melvin said. He took one last drag from his cigarette, then flipped the butt onto the pavement. “Come on, then, let’s get to work.”
“Okay,” Wanda Nell said. “Lemme make a quick phone call, and I’ll be right out.”
Melvin nodded. “Just make it snappy.” He grinned. “You don’t want Fayetta getting any meaner’n she already is.”
Wanda Nell grimaced. “She better watch her mouth tonight, that’s all I got to say.”
Melvin laughed as he strode down the hall away from her. Wanda Nell stepped into the storeroom and retrieved her cell phone from her purse. She turned it on and waited. When it was ready, she punched the speed dial.
After a couple of rings, Roberta at the beauty salon answered. “Hey, Roberta,” Wanda Nell said, “it’s Wanda Nell again. Mayrene busy?”
“Hey, girl,” Roberta said. “No, she’s just about done and ready to leave. Hang on.”
Moments later, Mayrene’s voice came on the line. “I was just about to call you, Wanda Nell.”
“Yeah, I was gonna ask you if you’d mind keeping an eye on the girls and Lavon tonight,” Wanda Nell said. “That sheriff’s department man’ll be outside, but I’d feel better if I knew you was watching out for ’em, too.”
Mayrene chuckled. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m not planning on going out tonight. Don’t you worry, honey.
I’ll go over and keep ’em company for a while tonight. And I’ll take my shotgun with me.”
“I don’t know if you need a shotgun,” Wanda Nell said. Mayrene and her love of guns made Wanda Nell uneasy sometimes.
Mayrene laughed again. “Don’t worry, honey. I ain’t gonna shoot anybody, not unless it’s one of them jerks that broke into your trailer. Now, listen, don’t you wanna know why I was gonna call you?”
“Oh, yeah,” Wanda Nell said. She’d been in such a hurry she hadn’t really paid attention to Mayrene. “What was it?”
“I can’t swear to it, mind,” Mayrene said, her voice dropping lower, like she didn’t want anyone at the salon to overhear her, “but I think I saw T.J. this afternoon.”
“Where?” Wanda Nell demanded. “Where’d you see him?” Her chest tightened as she waited for an answer. Something surely must be wrong, otherwise T.J. would’ve come to see her by now.
“It was about lunchtime, or thereabouts,” Mayrene said. “I stepped out for a minute, I was gonna go ’cross the street to the Stop ’n Rob for a Coca-Cola. Dum machine here is broke, and they’re taking their own sweet time a’comin’ to fix it.” She gave a disgusted snort into the phone, and Wanda Nell was about ready to speak up and tell her to forget the dang Coke machine, when Mayrene continued.
“Anyways, I was coming back across the street, just minding my own business, I’ll have you know, and this dum fool in an ol’ pickup near about knocked me on my you-know-what.”
“Were you hurt?” Wanda Nell asked quickly.
“Naw, honey, not a scratch on me.” Mayrene laughed. “Lucky I saw ’em coming just in time, and I hopped back outta the way. And I tell you I was so mad, I started hollering and a’ shaking my fist after the fool driving that oF pile of junk, not that he ever even turned his head. But darned if the other guy in the truck didn’t turn around and look at me through the back window for a second.”
“And you think that was T.J.?” Wanda Nell asked.
“Sure looked like him,” Mayrene replied. “Though you know I ain’t seen much of him for a couple years, at least.” She sighed into the phone. “It was only a quick look, mind you, ’cause they was gone real fast. That ol’ boy driving that truck, he wasn’t gonna hang around and let me give ’im what for.”
“Did you know the truck?”
“Looked kinda familiar,” Mayrene said, after a moment’s thought. “But then it was a Ford like every guy in Tullahoma County drives. Mud all over it, and what wasn’t covered in mud was gray.”
Wanda Nell sighed into the phone. “I don’t know. Could’ve been T.J., I guess, with one of his old friends. You know Jackie Pinnix?”
“Yeah,” Mayrene said. “One of my cousins married his oldest sister. It mighta been Jackie. I don’t know what he drives.”
Wanda Nell became aware that someone was standing be-hind her, patting a foot on the concrete floor. And that foot didn’t sound too happy. She turned around.
Fayetta Sutton glared at her. “What’re you doing back here gabbing away on the phone, Wanda Nell? I been here since eleven o’clock this morning without no break, and I’m tired of waiting for you to get your sorry self in there and get to work. I need to be getting on home.”
“I gotta go,” Wanda Nell said quickly into the phone, then shut it off and stuck it in her purse. “Just hang on a dang minute, Fayetta. That was important, and I sure don’t appreciate you coming up on me like that.”
Fayetta drew herself up all haughty and glared at Wanda Nell. If she don't watch it, Wanda Nell thought, that makeup's gonna crack and fall off right here on the floor.
“Well, Miss Wanda Nell High-and-Mighty, don’t you be using that tone of voice with me. I was the one covering for you last night down here, and seems to me like you oughta be thanking me.”
Wanda Nell held on to her temper hard as she could. “I reckon you made out okay, Fayetta, without me here to get all the big tips.”
Fayetta made a growling sound low in her throat, like a cat about to lash out. Wanda Nell took a step back, then could’ve kicked herself, the way Fayetta grinned at her.
“I reckon I’ll be getting lots of tips when they haul you off to jail for killing Bobby Ray,” Fayetta said, smirking. “You ain’t gonna look too good behind bars.”
“Go to hell,” Wanda Nell said, then pushed her way past the still-gloating Fayetta. If she didn’t walk away now, she’d either say something or, worse, do something she’d have cause to regret.
Fayetta’s laugh followed her down the short hall to the kitchen, and Wanda Nell’s face was set in grim lines when she pushed through the door into the front of the restaurant.
“Whoa, there, Wanda Nell,” Pete Jones said. He stood near the cash register where Melvin was making change out of the drawer. “Who got ahold of you? You look like you’re ready to chew up a tree and spit out toothpicks.”
Wanda Nell forced herself to laugh and relax. “I’m okay, Pete,” she said. “Just thinking too hard about everything, I guess.”
Pete grinned at her, and Wanda Nell flashed him a big smile. Pete’s eyes widened slightly, and Wanda Nell turned quickly away. Last thing she needed right now was Pete Jones thinking she was interested in him. He’d already been married three times.
For the next couple of hours Wanda Nell did her best to smile and chat and serve her customers like nothing was wrong. Thoughts of TJ. and what he could be doing lay heavy on her mind as she worked. She had to dodge a few questions that were downright nosy, but she turned them off in a way she hoped wouldn’t cause too much offense. Though, for being as danged insensitive as some of them were, she ought to have told several of them where to get off. Melvin wouldn’t take too kindly to that, so she kept her comments to herself.
She hated being rude, unless there was no other way out, and, besides, she needed good tips. The good Lord only knew whether she was going to have to hire a lawyer at some point, and she didn’t want to be beholden to Melvin or anybody else if she could help it.
Fayetta had run home for two hours to get her kids settled in for the night with her mother, and Wanda Nell enjoyed the break. Fayetta was like a little black cloud following her around, and she was sick of rain.
At six, the other weekend waitress came on, and Wanda Nell was glad to see her. Ruby Gamer was a tall, plain girl about twenty years old, with a sunny disposition that never wavered. She paid no mind at all to Fayetta and her always trying to start some kind of mess. Wanda Nell enjoyed working with Ruby.
“Hey, Wanda Nell,” Ruby said, pausing to give Wanda Nell a big hug. “How’re you doing? I heard about what happened.”
“I’m doing fine, Ruby,” Wanda Nell said, touched by the real concern in Ruby’s face. “Don’t you worry about me, but I sure appreciate you asking.” She smiled, and Ruby smiled back. “Now, how’s school?”
Ruby was taking classes at the local junior college. She wanted to be a nurse, and since she didn’t have any family to speak of, she was working two jobs to pay her way through school. Wanda Nell always did her best to encourage Ruby, and the younger woman seemed to appreciate Wanda Nell’s interest.
“Okay,” Ruby said, “though I got a coupla big tests coming up that are just eating my lunch.” She shook her head dolefully.
Far as Wanda Nell knew, Ruby hadn’t made anything but A’s ever since she started junior college, but Ruby was always acting like she was going to fail. “Yeah, I just bet they are,” Wanda Nell said, laughing. “Like you’ve ever failed a test in your whole life.”
Ruby dimpled. “Well, I guess they aren’t going to be that bad.” She was looking over Wanda Nell’s shoulder, and her eyes widened slightly. “Now, don’t turn around, Wanda Nell,” she said, dropping her voice a little, “but there’s a real nice-looking man just come in, and he sure is trying hard not to stare at you.”
Wanda Nell felt the back of her neck prickle. “Oh, really?” she said. “You ever seen this guy before?”
“I don’t think so,” Ruby said, “but I sure wouldn’t mind seeing him more often. He’s cute, even if he is a bit too old for me.” She dimpled again, then turned away to take an order.
As casually as she could Wanda Nell turned around. Jack Pemberton was about three feet away from her. Startled, she took a step back.
“Evening, Mrs. Culpepper,” Jack Pemberton said, halting suddenly. “How are you?” He watched her for a moment, then his gaze dropped to his shoes.
“Evening, Mr. Pemberton,” Wanda Nell said, trying to keep her voice from squeaking. “I’m just fine. Can I get you a table?”
Pemberton looked up at her again, a shy smile coming and going on his face. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, “as long as it’s one of your tables.”
“I think I can arrange that,” Wanda Nell said, smiling briefly back at him. “Come on with me.”
She led him into the back dining room and got him situated. At the moment, he was the only person seated back there, but before long the restaurant would start filling up. “Can I get you something to drink?
“Some water and iced tea, please,” Pemberton responded.
“Be right back,” Wanda Nell promised.
In the front room, she prepared the glasses of tea and water, then grabbed a menu. She glanced at the board over the cash register to see what specials Melvin had decided on for tonight. Nodding at one table, who indicated their glasses needed refilling, she hurried back to Jack Pemberton.
“Here you go,” she said, setting down his two glasses and offering him a menu. She rattled o
ff the specials, and Jack Pemberton regarded her solemnly.
“How’s the chicken fried steak?” he asked.
“Best in the county,” Wanda Nell promised.
“Then I’ll have that, with the cream gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans. And cornbread.”
“Coming right up.” Wanda Nell jotted his order on her pad, took back the menu, and started to walk away.
“Mrs. Culpepper,” Pemberton said, his voice hesitant.
Wanda Nell turned back to look at him.
“Um, I’m glad you’re doing okay,” he said, then his eyes fell, as if something on the table was really fascinating.
“Thank you,” Wanda Nell said. “I appreciate that.” She cleared her throat. “I’ll be back soon with your food.”
She didn’t wait for a response. She was trying to figure Jack Pemberton out. Was he interested in her? Or was he just showing concern for the mother of one of his students?
He was a bit on the shy side, Wanda Nell decided as she handed in his order to the kitchen. That sure made a pleasant change from the last couple of guys Wanda Nell had gone out with. Roaming hands and wandering eyes, the both of them. Kept on trying to feel her up, and at the same time looking over any other woman that walked by. Wanda Nell had had enough of that when she was married. And that was the end of them.
But Jack Pemberton was a different kettle of fish, Wanda Nell figured. She was willing to bet he wasn’t that type, and she could sure enjoy going out with a man who acted like a gentleman.
Then she stopped herself. You are getting way ahead of yourself, girl, she scolded herself. Acting like some man-hungry woman that ain’t had a man in way too long. Which was partly the truth, she decided ruefully. It had been way too long, but that particular itch could just wait a while longer to get scratched. She had no business thinking about dating anybody, with the mess she was in right now.
She’d better start paying attention to her tables, or she wasn’t going to be getting any tips tonight. The restaurant was filling up with the usual Friday night crowd, and soon she was too busy to think much about Jack Pemberton.
Flamingo Fatale (A Trailer Park Mystery Book 1) Page 10