Part 7 (1/2)
Lenore was still laughing when the show ended.
Chapter 8.
Tuesday, October 23 Lenore was still cackling on Jane's TV screen when three cell phones erupted. Ted's phone barked, Jane's rang like an old-school phone, and Josie's played ”Here Comes the Bride.” All three phone owners retreated into separate corners to answer.
Josie recognized her caller's number: Alyce, her best friend and matron of honor.
”I saw that horrible television show,” Alyce said. ”It's wrong. I know it's wrong. Ted would never do that.”
Josie could practically see Alyce, her creamy skin flushed with indignation and her pale hair floating about her face.
”Every word is a lie,” Josie said.
”I knew it,” Alyce said. Josie's friend was as generous as her build, and a good listener.
”Molly Ann Deaver is insane,” Josie said, ”but Channel Seven loved her abandoned-bride act.”
”Fletch the Lech sure bought it,” Alyce said. ”But I expected that.”
”You know Judge Fletcher Hornsby?” Josie asked.
”My husband does,” Alyce said. ”So does the rest of the legal community. That old publicity hound. No, he's a real hound. They call him Fletch the Lech because he drools over every pretty face in his courtroom. Women lawyers dress like nuns to avoid that nasty old man. So far, he's managed to dodge any serious complaints, but the bar a.s.sociation is watching him.”
”He was definitely watching Molly,” Josie said. ”She's been stalking Ted.”
”Poor Ted,” Alyce said. ”I figured it had to be something like that. I don't trust that station. I got sucked in while I was channel surfing. First I saw Fletch, then the bride. I know her sister, Emily.”
”Of course you do,” Josie said. St. Louis was the kind of big small town where everyone was connected.
”She lives in my subdivision,” Alyce said.
No wonder the fake bride wore a big rock and rode in a rented Bentley, Josie thought. If her sister lived in the Estates at Wood Winds, there was money in that family. Alyce's subdivision was a pricey gated ghetto in West County.
”Is Emily as crazy as her sister?” Josie asked.
”No, she's super sane,” Alyce said. ”She snagged a primo Wood Winds committee-the Thanksgiving food bank fundraiser. She and my friend Connie will be selling crafts at the Blue Rose Tearoom tomorrow.”
”I'm going there for brunch with Mom and Lenore,” Josie said. ”We're discussing the wedding. At least, I hope it's a discussion. Mom and Lenore didn't hit it off the first time they talked.”
”I saw your pistol-packing mother-in-law on TV,” Alyce said. ”Is that what she's like?”
”She's forceful,” Josie said, ”but better-looking in person.” She mentally patted herself on the back for her diplomacy. If Ted hadn't been in the same room, she would have been blunter.
But Josie couldn't fool her best friend. ”Ted nearby, Josie?” Alyce asked.
”Yes.”
”Thought so,” Alyce said. ”At least your mother-in-law will live twelve hundred miles away in Florida.”
”That's right,” Josie said carefully.
”You can't talk, can you?” Alyce said.
”You know me too well,” Josie said. ”I'll be sure to buy something tomorrow.” She clicked off her phone, relieved someone saw the real situation.
”How bad was your call?” Ted asked her.
”It was good,” Josie said. ”That was Alyce and she didn't believe Channel Seven's report. Who'd you talk to?”
”My partner, Chris,” Ted said. ”After the judge cut her loose, Molly headed straight for the clinic again. She flounced in, still wearing her wedding dress, and demanded Bella. Didn't even say thank you. She picked up her dog and left. Our clients stared and a Rottweiler growled at her.”
”I wish he'd bitten her,” Josie said. ”What's Chris hearing from your clients?”
”Reaction is mixed so far,” Ted said. ”Two women canceled their appointments. They said they didn't want to deal with a hound like me. Six women requested me-and only me-to examine their pets at their homes. Chris said I wasn't making house calls this week.”
”Amelia was right,” Josie said. ”The controversy has made you more attractive.”
”Notorious,” Ted said. ”That's not the same. I don't like it. I'm an animal doctor, not a dog.”
Amelia giggled.
”Alyce says the judge is known as Fletch the Lech,” Josie said. ”He's the real hound.”
”Well, that explains something,” Ted said. ”That judge-”
The rest of his sentence was drowned out by Jane's shouting. ”Ted's a good man and I'm proud to have him as my son-in-law. That's right, proud! That crazy Molly Deaver lied through her teeth. We're lucky to have him, AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT, YOU CAN LOSE MY NUMBER, ESTELLE!”
Jane punched her phone off extra hard. ”The nerve of that woman!” she said. ”And she irons the altar cloths, too!”
She hugged Ted again. ”This will blow over,” Jane said. ”Too many people know you're a good man and a good doctor. I hope you'll stay for dinner.”
”I should have Josie take me to my car,” Ted said.
”You should eat,” Jane said. ”I've got homemade beef stew in the freezer. Dinner will be ready as soon as I make a salad. Amelia, set the table for four, please.”
”Mom's right,” Josie said. ”You need a good meal.”
”Please stay, Ted,” Amelia said.
”Well, I can't refuse three ladies,” he said, and grinned at Amelia.
At dinner, Jane heaped Ted's plate with her savory stew, thick with beef, carrots, and potatoes. Ted speared a beef chunk and pushed it around his plate. Josie waited for him to eat it, but he abandoned it and stuck his fork in a potato hunk.