The Deeds of the Deceitful

by Ellery Adams

  Ashley offered a nonapologetic shrug of a slim shoulder. “You’re missing the point. I am offering you and your friends a free weekend at a historic inn.”

  “Why my group?”

  “They’re perfect to assess the inn before the grand opening. Trish is in real estate. I’m sure she’s familiar with property staging. She can assess the decorating and ambiance. Savannah too. She’s an artist. Your banker friend Quinton is an amateur chef. Jake is a plumber and electrician. As a TV weatherman, Bryant is a celebrity in Richmond. He’s used to fine accommodations.” She raised her palms. “See what I mean? Who better to evaluate Atwood Inn from the rooms to the menu?”

  “You didn’t mention me,” Cooper said.

  “You’re organized and analytical, Cooper. Look how you run your division of Make It Work! You notice the details everyone else overlooks. Mindy is looking for honest feedback, and I believe the Sunrise Bible Study can provide that.”

  “Well, when you put it like that, I guess flattery will get you somewhere.”

  Ashley laughed and pushed her stylishly highlighted blonde locks behind her ears. “You’ll do it?”

  “I’ll run it by the Bible study on Sunday.”

  “That’s all I ask. Thank you.”

  The sound of a toddler’s laughter echoed from the baby monitor perched on the glass coffee table.

  “I hear my favorite niece,” Cooper said, eyes widening with delight. She’d been hoping for some Hannah time. There was nothing that took her mind off her troubles better than hugs from her chubby-cheeked niece with her freckled snub nose and ringlets of blonde hair. A dose of Hannah could brighten even the most overcast of days.

  Ashley’s gaze went to her watch. “Yes. Sounds like she’s up from her nap.”

  “May I go get her?”

  “Whoa.” Ashley put out a hand when Cooper began to stand. “Not yet. She’s learning to play quietly.”

  Cooper released a scoff. “That’s not any fun for Auntie Cooper.”

  “You’ll have plenty more fun soon. Trust me.” Ashley glanced around her huge living room.

  “What are you doing?” Cooper asked.

  “I don’t want to be overheard by the housekeeper.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s a secret.”

  “What is?” Cooper too glanced around before looking at her sister with confusion.

  “I’m pregnant!” Ashley’s eyes lit up.

  “You are?” Cooper blinked.

  Her sister frowned. “You’re supposed to say congratulations.”

  “I’m sorry. Congratulations! That’s wonderful. I’ll bet Lincoln is over the moon.”

  “He really is.”

  “I thought your doctor said it would be difficult for you to conceive with a bicornuate uterus and all.”

  “No, it simply means I have to take it easy so I don’t deliver prematurely.”

  Cooper glanced around. Easier than having a housekeeper, a gardener, a cook and a nanny? “Maybe you shouldn’t be planning Angela’s wedding then.”

  “Nonsense. You said you’d do the legwork, right? Then I can plan the wedding from the comfort of my couch.”

  “I guess that will work,” Cooper said. “When will my new niece or nephew arrive?”

  “Late January. Hannah will be twenty-five months old when this baby is born. That’s a nice space, right? You and I are two years apart and look how close we are.”

  Close, yes. And while they were both blondes, the Lee sisters were as different as could be. Not only because Ashley’s sun-kissed tresses came from a fancy salon, and Cooper’s wheat-colored hair was as God gifted her. But they were different in temperament and aspirations too. The one thing they both agreed on, however, was that family was everything.

  Cooper gazed longingly up the winding staircase toward the nursery. “It’s perfect,” she murmured.

  Ashley was pregnant. Wonderful news. Two children in the house for spinster Auntie Cooper to babysit.

  Chapter Two

  “A free weekend at an upscale inn. No-brainer.” Bryant Shelton shook his head. “I’m there.” He finished arranging desks in the Hope Street Church Christian Academy classroom where the Bible study group met.

  “All the Magnolia’s Marvels we can eat?” Quinton Enderly, a portly investment banker, patted his round abdomen and grinned. “I may have died and gone to heaven on earth.” He took a bite of one of the 7-Layer Bars that Cooper brought to Bible study today and smacked his lips. “Please tell Maggie, thank you for these treats. No doubt about it. They are marvels.”

  The unofficial leader of the group, Savannah Knapp, offered a serene smile. She carefully accepted the paper cup of coffee Jake placed in her hand before he sat down at the desk next to her. The legally blind folk artist smoothed her ebony hair and turned to the brawny master plumber and electrician. “What do you think of the opportunity, Jake?”

  “It’s always a good day when I don’t have to eat my own cooking.”

  “Jake, I keep telling you I’ll teach you how to cook,” Quinton said.

  “You were born with the cooking gene, and I was born with the fix-it gene. It’s safer if we leave it at that.” Jake turned to Cooper. “I’m happy to provide my professional opinion on the place. That structure is a historic landmark. I’d like to see the renovation results and take a look at the electric and plumbing.”

  “Then I guess we’re all in agreement,” Savannah said.

  “Except for Trish,” Cooper said. She stood and headed across the room to fill her coffee cup before they started their Sunday study of scripture.

  “Except for Trish, what?” The redheaded real estate agent popped into the church school classroom looking apologetic. “Sorry I’m late. I had a client who could only look at houses Sunday morning. I should have declined, but I’m still catching up on business since my . . . you know.”

  Cooper nodded. Trish had only recently started back to work full-time at Tyler Fine Properties since her battle with breast cancer and subsequent chemotherapy. The awful disease was now in remission, and her signature copper locks had grown long enough to touch her shoulders in an elegant blunt cut. Cooper assessed her friend’s business suit and fancy heels. Silver hoops dangled from her ears and matching bracelets graced her wrist. Trish would always be a slave to fashion, but she had changed so much since her diagnosis. The heavy makeup and shellacked hair were gone, replaced by a more natural look. It was as though her inner beauty now radiated outward.

  After Cooper quickly shared the morning’s discussion with Trish, the Realtor’s eyes rounded with excitement. “You had me at masseuse. I hope you all said yes. I know I could use a mini-vacay.”

  “It’s looking unanimous,” Cooper said as she added creamer to her cup.

  As the group continued to chatter, Trish sidled up to Cooper and leaned close. “Are you okay?”

  “Me?” Cooper froze mid-stir. “I’m fine.”

  “You were supposed to get married yesterday, sugar.” She put a hand on Cooper’s arm and released a dramatic sigh. “No woman is fine with that.”

  Unable to come up with a chipper response, Cooper mustered a weak smile. She was relieved when a moment later Savannah waved them to their seats.

  “What about church on Sunday?” the group leader asked.

  “We could have our Bible study on Sunday morning, along with breakfast at the inn,” Cooper said. “Afterward, we can check out and head to Hope Street Church in time for the late service.”

  “I like that idea,” Trish said.

  “What time is check-in?” Jake asked.

  “As soon as you’re free on Friday afternoon.” Cooper looked around at her friends. “What do you say?”

  “I’d say we’re all in agreement,” Savannah said. “Now, we better get started. Proverbs is a large book. We’re going to have to stay on schedule to complete this study.” She opened the companion guide on her desk.

  “I’m excited about this study,” Bryan
t said.

  “So am I,” Savannah replied. “After all, if there’s one thing we all need on a daily basis, its godly advice. Each day we face challenges that can only be navigated successfully with His guidance. I am so grateful that He makes His sound wisdom accessible to us through the Good Book. All we have to do is open its pages.”

  “I could use some practical marriage and love advice,” Quinton said.

  “You aren’t married,” Jake drawled.

  “My point exactly,” Quinton said with a grin.

  Cooper stared at him for a moment. Quinton always wore a mask of bravado, but in truth, he hadn’t mentioned dating at all since the woman he’d fallen head over heels for, a member of the congregation, left town for the mission field.

  “I’ve got some advice for you,” Bryant said. “Always remember that marriage and love are complementary but not exclusive. Love is a fickle emotion. Marriage is a choice.”

  At Bryant’s words, all heads turned to the man who held the dubious distinction of having multiple failed marriages in his past.

  “What?” Bryant asked, meeting their gazes. He grinned, showing off his dazzling whites. “Don’t look so surprised. This group has been together for a long time, and I’ve learned plenty from our studies.”

  “What have you learned, Bryant?” Savannah asked. Her tone was gentle and thoughtful, as always.

  “Marriage is a vocation. A calling and a commitment. It is not to be confused with the chemical reactions of love and . . .” He cleared his throat, as beneath his spray-on tan, his face flushed pink. “Lust.”

  “I agree,” Trish added. “Romance is a wonderful thing, but true love has nothing to do with pheromones. Love is that special person holding your hand and wiping your brow while you are throwing up after a particularly nasty round of chemotherapy. They don’t tell you that in those silly television commercials.”

  “Hear, hear,” said Savannah. “As you know, I have visual acuity issues, so I can tell you this with certainty. It isn’t about appearances.” She tapped her chest with a finger. “It’s about what’s in the heart, not what fuels the heart.”

  When Jake reached his big calloused hand to gently squeeze Savannah’s small paint-stained fingers, it was all Cooper could do not to sigh aloud. Theirs was a slow-moving relationship that seemed solid and committed, established on a foundation of faith and mutual respect. They were good friends first and foremost. Yet, she couldn’t help but notice how they brought out the best in each other.

  It was especially true of Jake. He had even taken to shaving his stubble and keeping his normally unkempt hair neat and trimmed. He was an attractive man, and Savannah had seen that all along, without actually seeing it with her eyes.

  For moments, Cooper was silent, thinking.

  Had she ever really known love or had she simply been in love with the idea of love?

  Though she had grown in spirit since she’d joined the Sunrise Bible Study several years ago, had she learned anything about relationships? Right now, the answer to that question was a big fat no. She sorely wished there was someone she could talk to about the subject, but she wasn’t ready to air her dirty laundry for all to analyze, even to these, her closest friends. No, she was far from ready to admit that she was a failure.

  Bryant cleared his throat, interrupting her musings.

  “I should tell you, there’s more.”

  Trish leaned forward in her chair, her eyes on the meteorologist.

  “I want you all to be the first to know,” he continued. “I’ve learned enough to consider that I’m ready to take a chance again.”

  Cooper offered a surprised gasp. Bryant and Jane, a single mother with two children, had been dating for longer than some of his marriages. “Bryant, really?”

  He nodded. “Everything is all planned. I’ve got a babysitter lined up, and I’ll pop the question in two weeks over dinner at Lemaire.”

  “Lemaire? Where is that?” Cooper asked.

  “At the Jefferson Hotel. Let me tell you, that place is amazing,” Quinton said. “The bank took the administrative staff there for Christmas last year. I had a dinner of pan-seared scallops and stuffed butternut squash followed by pumpkin spice cake. I’m still dreaming about that meal.”

  “Pricey, too,” Trish said.

  “It’s worth it and more when it’s the real deal,” Bryant said. “Besides, I can afford it. I’ve started doing the morning weather on the network’s affiliate radio station Monday through Friday. Did anyone hear me on Friday?”

  “I did,” Cooper said. “You were great.”

  “Thanks, Cooper.” He offered an affectionate smile.

  Cooper was genuinely happy for Bryant.

  As the excited chatter of her friends continued, Cooper fingered the pages of the book in her lap until she came to Proverbs.

  If her friend could find happiness after his troubled past, then perhaps there was hope for her. Like Bryant, she would access the wisdom in the chapters and trust that the good Lord would do his part.

  • • •

  “You seeing all right, Granddaughter?”

  “Hmm?” Cooper looked up and nearly dropped the chocolate syrup bottle right into her ice cream dish when her gaze met Grammy Lee’s across the Lee family kitchen table.

  “What are you looking at, Grammy?” Cooper inspected the front of her favorite Beatles T-shirt. “Did I drip on Paul and Ringo?”

  “Your eyes, Granddaughter. They look the same. One blue and one green.”

  Cooper sprinkled chopped nuts on the ice cream. “Why are you looking at my eyes?”

  Grammy reached down to absently pat the head of Popeye, her chubby one-eyed pug, who paced the kitchen hoping someone would toss food his way. Preferably bacon.

  “You know that cataract surgery I had last winter did wonders for me,” Grammy continued. She paused and smiled slowly. “I had no idea Frank was so handsome.”

  Cooper blinked, trying to follow the line of conversation and failing. What did Frank, the gentleman who volunteered with her grandmother at the Fifth Avenue Animal Shelter, have to do with anything?

  She turned to her father, Earl, for some insight, but his attention was focused on the oven, where her mother, Maggie, carefully removed a pan of golden brown cranberry and white chocolate scones from the oven.

  “That’s what I’m talking about,” Earl murmured.

  When her father reached over to grab one of the hot pastries, Maggie playfully slapped his hand. “This is a test batch.”

  “I’ll tell you if they pass my inspection,” he said.

  “They always pass your inspection,” she said. “Not once in the forty-five years since we met have you ever told me that you didn’t like something I baked.”

  Earl gave an exaggerated waggle of his eyebrows. “I’m no fool. What’s that saying about the hand that feeds you?”

  “I thought so.” Maggie laughed before she placed two scones on a small plate and offered them to her husband.

  “Excuse me,” Cooper finally said. “Could someone help me out here? Why is Grammy trying to tell me I need cataract surgery?”

  “I think your grandmother may be trying to make a point,” her mother said.

  “What point is that?” Cooper asked. She reached for the can of whipped cream and liberally swirled a mountain of fluff onto her vanilla ice cream, then sprinkled chocolate Jimmies on top.

  “You already live in an inn,” Grammy said. “Your mama and daddy are the innkeepers. Why do you need to pack up your stuff and go spend the night in a strange one?”

  Biting her lip, Cooper tried not to be offended. Grammy was known for her blatant and biting honesty. She put the lid on the whipped cream and took a deep breath and then froze.

  What could she say in response? There was a depressing parallel between the lovely inn on the outskirts of Richmond and the small apartment above her parents’ garage, where she lived rent-free. Both represented her directionless life.

  With a gla
nce between Cooper and Grammy, Maggie shook her head.

  “Cooper and her friends are assisting with the opening, Grammy. It’s like a job,” her mother said. “If all goes well, I’ll be making scones, tarts, and cookies for the Atwood Inn on a permanent basis. Nut-free, of course.”

  “Nut-free?” Cooper asked as she pulled a spoon from the kitchen drawer.

  “Yes, Loretta Atwood, the co-owner, has a nut allergy.” She shook her head. “That’s not a problem for me. Nuts or not, selling Magnolia’s Marvels to the inn still means more groceries in our house.”

  “Humph. If you say so,” Grammy muttered. “I thought Earl was retiring this year and you two were finally going on that cruise you always dreamed of.”

  “The timing isn’t right,” Earl said. “That cruise ship will still be there next year. By that time, we’ll have a bigger nest egg stashed away.” He looked to his wife, who nodded in agreement.

  “Magnolia’s Marvels needs a little more time, Grammy,” Maggie said.

  “If you say so,” Grammy said once again.

  Cooper turned to look first at her mother and then her father. They weren’t getting any younger, and as the head groundskeeper for one of Richmond’s private schools, her father performed physical labor that would exhaust a young man. But her mother was right. Her baking business was close to taking off. It was busy enough that she now rented a commercial kitchen space in town and rose at four in the morning every day except Sunday to bake three varieties of her famous Magnolia’s Marvels for local shops in the West End of Richmond. She’d even hired a part-time helper to prepare the bags with the gold foil stickers.

  Still, they deserved a cruise, and Cooper wished she could give it to them. Maybe after she climbed out of her mountain of debt from the canceled wedding.

  The sound of a car horn’s friendly toot had Grammy yanking the napkin from around her neck and standing up. “That’s Frank. Tootle-loo, family.”

  Cooper could only stare as her grandmother shuffled out the back door with a spring in her step that hadn’t been there before. “Is she still dating Frank?”

  Maggie stopped kneading the dough and turned to Cooper. “Dating? They’re not dating.”