20
Everyone was up early. Dom came to collect our bags and load us into the limo. No word from Loren or from Neal nor Nelle. They were all probably deep into what to do next. Reputations as well as personal freedoms were on the line.
I wanted to ask what charges were filed, but Hattie gave no indication of letting us in on that information. I phoned Tom to let him know that we would be on the evening flight into Atlanta. Clara had spoken with Derek and I imagine that Suzy and Tony touched base. Amy and Dom were talking quietly in the corner. At least, she had made a new friend even if he did live on the other side of the U.S.
A few hours later we were back at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Sam was there with the limo to stash our luggage and pour five weary ladies into the vehicle. It was quite a different scenario than we imagined. To simplify things, Sam took all of us back to Golden Palms which served as headquarters for the Thursday Club.
Tom and Tony met us there and we had a lot to say to them. No one was in a particular hurry to get home, but we were anxious to see our significant others. We stashed our luggage and sat down to talk about our days in Vegas.
“I want to thank you Tom for your words of wisdom and for praying for me these last few days,” Hattie began.
I must have looked stunned as I knew nothing of this conversation.
“You’ve been talking to Tom?” I asked.
“Every day. He’s been my hand of guidance through this entire fiasco. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had him to support me,” she continued.
“Especially the scripture memorization you suggested. Psalm 91 has been my mantra.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust.
When you explained the part about the fowler’s snare and the feathers and wings, it gave me peace and I said the first two verses over and over when all the madness gave me no peace.
I love that God says that he loves me and he will rescue and protect me because I acknowledge Him. The last part is my favorite:
Because he loves me, says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.’
My eyes filled with tears and I was never prouder of Hattie or of my husband. He had been a comfort to someone that I hold dear. My heart was bursting with love. Suzy and Tony held hands and listened to our conversation. Amy and Clara were as astounded as I was.
“You didn’t think I could get through this without my pastor, did you?” Hattie responded.
“Well, I didn’t think. I didn’t know. . . it never occurred,” I blustered not knowing whether to answer or not. Tom smiled at my awkwardness.
“She swore me to secrecy,” Tom said in his defense. “Hey that’s I do. It’s my job you know dear.”
I had an abundance of feelings running through me but the most overwhelming one was pride. Hattie had turned to Tom to see her through the disaster with Loren and the disaster with Nelle. She did just what she should do. Why didn’t I suggest it? But then I didn’t have to.
“Hattie. I am so glad Tom was able to help with all of that. And, I respect your privacy and am so glad that I didn’t pry or try to help. You knew what you needed and you did it,” I said.
“Well when you’re ninety-something you learn a few things,” Hattie said and laughed.
“Phone call for Hattie Sewell,” came over the loud speaker. Hattie handed Amy her tote and headed for the administrative offices of Golden Palms.
While Hattie took her phone call, Suzy, Tony, and Tom went over the final details for their wedding. It was only a few days away and shopping for dresses was first order of the day tomorrow. Suzy put in some special orders at Macys and it was in. Flowers, catering, music, and accommodations were all final.
Hattie returned to the rec room with a smile and tear rimmed eyes.
“It was Loren. He’s been given leniency due to special circumstances and retains his emeritus position. We don’t know about Nelle yet but Neal feels she may get a light sentence, community service, and a fine if we’re lucky. But the best news is the Loren is planning to move to Georgia as soon as he gets his affairs in order. Maybe he’ll even be here for the wedding,” she said.
Hattie’s smile was something we had longed to see for a few days now and it was more than welcome.
“I know I would like to get home and unpack. A lot has happened in a short time and I am worn out. How about you?” I looked at the others.
They agreed. We collected our bags from storage and headed out.
“Will you be okay?” I asked Hattie.
“Of course. Howard’s picking me up later and boy have I got a lot to tell him,” she replied.
“Will you tell him about Loren?” Clara teased.
“In time, my dear. In time,” she replied with a twinkle in her eye.
21
The big day finally arrived. All was in readiness. Miss Eileen’s Catering Service was once again working miracles at Houdini’s Restaurant. Bushels of roses decorated the chapel. The women were secluded in a side room surveying each other in our sophisticated black dresses and adorned with strings of pearls and matching earrings.
My dress was tea length with lace sleeves. Clara wore a spaghetti strap number. Hattie’s attire consisted of evening pants and a lacy sequined blouse with whimsy to match. The ushers made sure Hattie was in her place at the front of the chapel before the music interlude began.
Suzy opted to skip a rehearsal so everyone was a bit nervous, everyone it seemed but her. The processional was short with me, Clara, and Hattie each holding a single red rose with trailing ribbons. Amy followed in a black satin gown embedded with pearls.
Tom looked his dapper best in a tuxedo with a tiny red rosebud. Tony beamed as he escorted Suzy down the aisle. Their children gave a collective sigh of approval and relief that this day had finally come. Derek was in the crowd but I didn’t spot William. I was hoping that he might show up.
Howard Saunders, Hattie’s latest beau, sat on a front row so that he could assist in escorting Hattie once the ceremony concluded. I wondered just how much Hattie has revealed about our Las Vegas trip. Howard arranged the staff of the Somewhere Bar to manage the beverage service at Houdini’s. Hattie’s contacts never cease to amaze me.
Neal didn’t make the wedding. He was still in Nevada with Nelle working out the terms of her conviction. Fortunately, Nelle got a lenient judge plus a sympathetic jury for her trial. It looked like she would get a light sentence after all.
Suzy appeared in cloud of lace and pearls. She looked stunning in a Vera Wang vintage creation. The ecru lace and simple jewel neckline was perfect. The dress accented her best features but the glow definitely came from inside. Her bouquet was a cluster of red roses. It was a perfect setting for their renewed love.
The ceremony was brief. With vows and rings exchanged, the final kiss, and some photo ops, the wedding party were whisked off to the reception. Limos waited outside for the happy couple and the bridal party. Howard followed in his van containing Hattie and gifts to be opened at Houdini’s.
When Hattie and Howard entered Houdini’s, Loren and Dom were already seated but they rose to greet them. Amy went straight to Dom and they embraced. I hadn’t seen any sign of affection until then. Maybe she was up for a long distance romance.
Loren kissed Hattie’s hand and looked Howard up and down. Introductions all around then Howard excused himself to touch base with his staff and bar manager.
“Is the investigation over?” Hattie asked quietly all the while nodding and smiling at those who were entering the restaurant.
“Not quite, but I think I will be okay after all. I made a clean breast of everything
. The ones who railroaded me into falsifying the records confessed. I will have to pay a stiff fine and some other reparations, but finally it will all be over. And thank God, I can have a clear conscience once more.”
“Yes, a clear conscience is something I’ve spoken to Pastor Tom about many times. By the way, have you met him?” Hattie said.
She signaled for me and Tom to join them. I held off because I sensed a serious conversation about to take place.
“Are you still thinking of moving south?” she asked.
“In the not too distant future,” Loren replied. “Will that be a problem for you or for . . . Howard?”
“Certainly not! And I have a lot of friends for you to meet at Golden Palms as well as at First Church.”
“Glad to hear it. I put my place up for sale and depending on that I could be here as early as the fall – just in time for Thanksgiving and all the great holidays. I’ve missed seeing actually having seasons where the leaves change,” Loren continued.
“Well you will get plenty of that in Georgia, plus the Fall Festival, the Winter Carnival, the Christmas Brunch, Senior Prom and a hundred other things that the golden age community hosts. You’ll probably see more of us than you’ll care to not to mention the hubbub that goes on continually.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Loren said. “I’ve had a quiet life much too long.”
Loren reached for Hattie’s hand. He kissed it and asked, “Will you at least think about marrying me?”
“Yes I will . . . think about it. Like our southern heroine said, ‘tomorrow is another day’,” Hattie winked at me and motioned us over. She knew that I had overheard Loren’s proposal.
Poor man! Loren had no idea what he was asking. Putting a ring on Hattie’s hand was a major decision. He was not only getting Hattie and her antics, but he would be joining up with the Thursday Club who protected our own. Did a man of his age and background have the stamina to take all that on? Maybe he should wait a few months and talk this over with Tony or perhaps get counseling from Tom.
Who knows? Perhaps Tom will be performing another wedding in the near future. Or as I observed Dom and Amy, maybe two.
Only time would tell.
The End
MURDER ON THE MARQUEE
A Thursday Club Mystery, book 5
By Sheila Hudson
Copyright 2016 Take Me Away Books, a division of Winged Publications
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the authors.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the authors’ imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.
1
What I needed was a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia© ice cream. What I had was a room full of people clamoring to play the lead in Athena’s annual production of Arsenic and Old Lace.
This classic comedy was chosen at the end of the last production two years ago when the former minister’s wife, Miss I Can No Nothing Wrong, was the Director. At the time, Matilda did not plan to move on, but God however had other plans for her, and apparently for me, since I inherited her legacy when Tom became minister at First Church.
My agenda for semi-retirement was simple. I would write an occasional blog, knit, take a class at community college, and attend one Bible study a year. That all changed when I met Clara, Amy, Suzy, and Hattie who disguise themselves as the Thursday Club.
The moment they accepted me into their embrace, our adventures began. The first took place only a short time after Tom and I moved into the parsonage.
We had shared everything from a funeral for a cat casualty to uncovering smugglers on a pleasure cruise. If that’s not enough for one lifetime, our spiritual retreat to the monastery also led to other adventures and arrests. When our club came into the picture everyone did a step back. Oh did I mention the incident at the shark tank? Another score for us but I don’t think Mandalay Cape will take our reservations.
My husband, Tom, has grown weary of the Thursday Club antics, but he admitted that directing a community play for charity was innocent enough. An incorrect hypothesis, since the Thursday Club seems to attract bad guys like lint on a little black dress.
I am still in awe as to how I got roped into something I know nothing about – namely directing a neighborhood production. But since the proceeds go to charity, it was a battle I knew I’d lose. Nevertheless, when my name was announced as the director of this year’s performance at the Town Hall meeting, I disguised my amazement and stepped up with grace and dignity. And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you. In private, I made my Thursday Club sisters swear that they would be involved at every step of the way. I was not going to take on this project alone. That was yesterday. Today was the first day of casting and here I am praying for a way out.
“I should portray Abby,” Amy pointed out. After all, I have more experience having actually written plays.”
Before I could respond, Suzy pointed out, “No. You are best suited to play Martha. She’s the quiet one who comes up with good ideas. Just like with us.”
“I had my eye on that role,” Clara interrupts. “That part was written for me. Don’t you always say that I’m the Voice of reason?”
Hattie observed from her scooter. She was swathed in a purple outfit complete with matching turban enveloping her silver locks. When Hattie is quiet, it is cause for worry. She had a cross stitch sampler in her lap and looked very matronly. If I didn’t know better, I would say that she looked innocent, but underneath her angelic repose lurked mischief.
And now I understand why everyone in the entertainment business drinks.
Using my best ‘listen to me right now’ voice, I began the auditions.
“Would everyone who is auditioning for Abby Brewster please gather in the right corner? And likewise, those who would like to audition for Martha Brewster go to the left corner?”
“What if we want to audition for both the Brewster sisters?”
“Life is a decision,” I responded and picked up the director’s clipboard. I felt like Noah with a leak in the Ark. Please God send me someone to deal with this.
“What about the rest of us?” came a voice from the crowd.
“The only auditions I will hold today are for the Brewster sisters. Auditions for the male leads - Teddy, Mortimer, and Jonathan Brewster – will be held on Monday.”
Over the weekend, I will silently pray to have a stroke – not a bad one – just an incapacitating something. Please God.
“Would all of you please pick up the handouts with the character descriptions and sample lines from my assistant. Oh wait! I don’t have an assistant. I’ll just put them here on the table. Please study them and be prepared to run lines with another cast member. 10:00 a.m. Monday. Thank you everyone.”
With not a little hubbub from the crowd, the two corners filled and the male contingency grudgingly filed out with their partial scripts in hand. At least I made a showing of looking like I knew what I was doing. Thankfully this production was only held every other year. If I’m still here in two years I will beg or bribe someone to do it for me.
Auditions for the Brewster sisters could have taken first place in a bloopers contest. The Ledbetter sisters, Blanche and Leona , were hilarious. Blanche forgot her reading glasses and borrowed Hattie’s trifocals which didn’t help at all. Leona wouldn’t know an emotion if it bite her on the hiney. Suzy read for the part of Martha. I could tell her heart wasn’t in it. Amy read for Abby but she was on the weepy side having just opened a letter from William, the guy who jilted her after a shipboard romance. No one dared ask what the letter contained; that would open up an
other can of worms.
Miss Merle Swaine and Mr. Tremaine , longtime pillars of First Church, watched the auditions with interest. I asked if they intended to audition for roles, but they declined. I think this was an outing for their entertainment only. However, Miss Merle was persuaded to help with costumes, but only if Mr. Tremaine was supervised and couldn’t escape to do mischief.
Clara seemed the reasonable choice for the quiet sister, Martha, but I didn’t have a strong candidate for someone to portray Abby, the most vocal sister and the lead female role. A lot of the action of the play depended on Abby and of course, Mortimer. I had both older and younger ladies try out for her part, but somehow they lacked the pizzazz that Abby’s character required. What I needed was a feminine strength harnessed under a genteel mystique.
I ran through my check list and realized that Hattie Sewell hadn’t tried out for either part. I approached her with caution much like stalking big game.
“Hattie dear,” I said with some hesitation. “Have you considered auditioning for one of the parts in the play?”
“I considered it but my memory isn’t good and there are a lot of lines to memorize,” Hattie replied in a manner I’d never seen in all of our time together. Was it false humility? As far as memory, Hattie was as sharp as a twenty year old. Did she want me to beg her? She seemed very preoccupied with something on her mind.
“It’s true that the part calls for a lot of dialogue, but we have prompters and cue cards to help you,” I answered.
“At ninety years of age, my energy levels are not so high and I have requirements” she replied back with that coquettish grin that only Hattie could muster. And there it was she wanted me to make a big deal of selecting her.
“If that isn’t a bunch of hogwash I don’t know what is. Miss Meryl, and practically every resident of Golden Palms is at work making costumes, painting sets, preparing lunches, and helping out in a myriad of ways. If you don’t take a role, what were you planning on doing?”
Thursday Club Mysteries: All 7 stories Page 22