offered. “He’s what, sixty-five or so?”
“Sixty-four,” June grumbled.
“Then maybe it’s the money. Maybe his law firm isn’t doing as well as it used to.”
“That’s not it, not with the client load he’s had lately.”
Mimi cleared her throat. “Ah, I don’t know quite how to say this, but do you think it’s possible that he’s having an affair?”
“I don’t think so,” June answered.
There was a brief moment of silence as Charlotte finished the last few feet of the hardwood floor near the doorway to the hall.
“But I suppose anything’s possible,” June continued. “Hmm, maybe I should have listened to my mother when she warned me about marrying him. She said that he was too old for me and had too much baggage. She also told me that any man who would cheat on one wife would cheat on another one too. But, silly me, I thought love would conquer all.”
In the entrance hall, Charlotte put the lid on the wax and placed it and the cloth she’d used inside her supply carrier. She glanced in the direction of the kitchen. She’d intended on taking her lunch break after waxing the parlor. Normally, when she worked she preferred to eat her lunch outside when the weather was nice, but if it was hot, she always sat in the client’s kitchen and read a bit while she ate.
“Not silly,” Charlotte heard Mimi say. “And stop being so hard on yourself. Do what I do. Go get a massage, and then treat yourself to a facial and a new hair style.”
Since Charlotte had no desire to brave the heat, she decided to just keep working for the time being and hope that June didn’t stay too much longer. She picked up the stack of sheets and her supply carrier and trudged up the stairs.
“Try out that new place that just opened on Magazine,” she heard Mimi tell June. The women’s voices faded, and June’s reply was inaudible once Charlotte reached the second floor.
A few minutes later, Charlotte was smoothing down the comforter on the bed in the master bedroom when Mimi walked into the room. “I was beginning to think that June was never going to leave, poor thing. I hated to do it, but I finally had to tell her that I had plans for lunch.”
The only thing that Charlotte could think to say was, “She seems like a nice lady.”
“Oh, she is, and I love her dearly—we’ve been friends for almost ten years now—but June is one of those women who are never satisfied no matter what they have.” Mimi waved a dismissing hand. “But never mind all that. I’m sure you must be starving by now. I know I am. Why don’t you go ahead and take your lunch break? I need to get a quick shower, and then I have a luncheon date. But I’ll be back before it’s time for you to leave,” she added.
Charlotte smiled. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.”
It was almost three-thirty on the dot when Mimi returned from her luncheon date. Charlotte was loading her vacuum cleaner and supply carrier into the back of the van when Mimi drove past her, waved, then turned the corner leading to her driveway. If nothing else, her new employer was punctual, Charlotte thought, as she slammed the door to the van. It was a trait that Charlotte admired and adhered to herself.
By the time Charlotte finished putting her things away, Mimi was already waiting for her in the kitchen. “Would you like to inspect everything before I leave?” Charlotte asked.
Mimi shook her head. “Heavens, no. I’m sure everything is just fine. But I would like to ask if you’d mind staying late on Friday. A group I belong to—the HHS—is meeting here Friday afternoon.
“Is that the Horticulture Heritage Society?”
Mimi smiled. “You’ve heard of it?”
Charlotte nodded. “It’s a garden club that specializes in the propagation and preservation of heritage plants, isn’t it? At least that’s what the write-up in the Picayune said.”
“Well it’s good to know that someone actually read that article. And you’re right. That’s exactly what we do.”
“I always try to attend the annual spring and fall charity sales each year,” Charlotte said. “I’ve picked up some really nice plants in the past and always look forward to it.” Charlotte laughed. “But then I should have guessed that you would be involved.” She spread her hands out as if to encompass the house and grounds. “You have such beautiful landscaping and so many lovely plants inside and out.”
Mimi beamed. “Why, thank you. I don’t really like to brag about it, but I actually founded the HHS.” She momentarily averted her eyes as if embarrassed by the admission. Then, she glanced back at Charlotte. “Guess that’s what I just did, though, didn’t I? Brag about it, I mean.” She laughed and waved a dismissive hand. “Anyway, we’re having a meeting on Friday afternoon. It starts at two, so do you think you’ll be finished cleaning by then?”
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Charlotte answered. “Today took a little longer because I waxed the floors, but I won’t be waxing every week.”
“Good. I really could use some help during the meeting. We’re electing officers, but we also have to decide on a charity to sponsor for our fall event.” She paused, her brow wrinkled, and then she said, “I have to confess that I’m a bit nervous about this particular meeting. For the first time in the almost ten years that I’ve been president, there’s actually someone running against me.” Her expression turned fierce. “I still can’t believe it. And after all the time and money I’ve spent.” She shook her head and sighed. “In any case, I’ve got a really bad feeling that I’m going to need all the help and support that I can get.”
Chapter 3
Fifteen women showed up for the HHS meeting at Mimi’s house on Friday afternoon. Charlotte knew there were fifteen because, at Mimi’s request, she’d been instructed to greet each one of them at the door and escort them to the front parlor.
With the arrival of each member, it quickly became obvious that the women had been there before and already knew their way to the parlor. Greeting Mimi’s guests at the front door was one thing, but personally escorting each one into the parlor was an unnecessary and pretentious gesture at best, simply a way, Charlotte realized, for Mimi to show off her new maid.
By the time she had escorted the last two women into the parlor, her face ached from maintaining a smile, and the decibel level in the parlor had risen sharply.
The noise reminded Charlotte of a swarm of bees, each trying to outbuzz the other. Buzzing bees was a fitting description, she decided, as she placed cups and saucers on the buffet in the dining room for the refreshment break. After all, the HHS was an organization for the propagation and preservation of heritage plants, and bees helped propagate plants, didn’t they?
Snickering at her private little joke, Charlotte checked the silver coffee urn, made a mental note that it could use a good cleaning and polishing, and then arranged the crystal wine glasses that she’d set out earlier on the buffet. Charlotte held up one of the delicate, paper-thin glasses to the light. The pattern of the crystal was one that she recognized as being very old and rare…and very expensive.
Carefully placing the wine glass back on the buffet, she
