Shadow of a Spout by Amanda Cooper Read Free Book Online Page A

for coffee.
    “Maybe so, but I think he’s having a fling with that teapot president’s wife.”
    “Nora Sommer?” Rose exclaimed. “Proof, Thelma? You can’t go around slinging accusations like that without proof.”
    “She was alone with him in his office! Saw it with my own eyes just now.”
    “That’s not
proof
,” Laverne said. “Doesn’t mean a thing. She helps her husband organize the convention every year, and so she has to talk to Bertie about seating arrangements, the daily tea, that kind of thing.”
    Thelma harrumphed and stood, shifting on her feet, an expression of pain on her lined face. “None so blind as they who will not see,” she intoned, with a priggish sniff. “And now I’m tired. Going to see if
that girl
is out of the bath yet so I can do my business in privacy.”
    Thunder rumbled, rattling the windows. Rose and Laverne exchanged a look after Thelma hobbled out of their room.
    “She was being shifty,” Laverne said.
    “That’s no change. I’ve known that woman for sixty-five years, since we were girls, and she’s always been shifty.”
    “I know, but still, it worries me. I don’t know what she’s done, but I sure hope it doesn’t come back to haunt us.”
    “Especially me,” Rose said. “I thought we were tolerably made up, but now I’m not so sure.”
    Laverne yawned and capped her moisturizer bottle. “I am plumb wore out!” she exclaimed, climbing into bed. “And there is no lovelier bed than one that I didn’t make, and for which I won’t be responsible tomorrow!”
    “Amen,” Rose said.
    “Don’t say ‘amen.’ I won’t be at church on Sunday, and I don’t like missing!”
    “Well, I’m sure the Lord will let you off a week, and
I’m glad you’re here,” Rose said.
    “Now, that is very sweet.”
    “Otherwise I’d be rooming with Thelma,” Rose added, with a chuckle.
    “You are just too
bad
! G’night, Rose.”
    “Good night, Laverne.”
    *   *   *
    R ose had been asleep, that she was sure of. But a commotion out in the hallway made her sit up with a start, for a moment forgetting where she was. Laverne’s moan of irritation reminded her.
    “Who is that making a racket?” her roommate mumbled.
    “I don’t know, but I’m going to tell them to pipe down!” Rose clambered out of bed, pushed her feet into mule slippers and shuffled to the door, beyond which she could hear voices raised in anger. She paused, but then decided she just
had
to know what was going on, a trait her Sophie called the snoop gene, which she had inherited.
    Laverne followed, hovering over her as she turned on the overhead light and threw open the door. Down the hallway near the elevator there was an altercation. Two shadowy figures were clutched together, swaying back and forth.
    “Get off me, you idiot!” one man grunted.
    “You’ve got no right,” the other howled. “You don’t deserve her!”
    “Orlando? Frank?” Rose had recognized the men in the dimly lit hallway. “What’s going on?”
    There was more grunting, and the sound of a scuffle, but the hallway was dim and they were a ways from the commotion. Just then the elevator doors opened and Bertie Handler hustled toward the two. He shrieked, “Frank Barlow, what the heck do you think you’re doing?”
    Others poked their heads out of doorways. Josh staggered sleepily out of his room and toward the fray, rubbing his eyes.
    “Josh, you go back; don’t get involved!” Rose said, worried the young fellow would get mixed up in the fracas. How would she explain to his mother that he went to a teapot-collecting convention and got beaten up?
    Walter’s stentorian voice came from the crack in his doorway. “What is going on? Stop this, this instant, before you awaken Nora!”
    Bertie had hold of the pastor and dragged him toward the elevator, as he said, “Go back to bed, everyone. Nothing to see here. Sorry about this, Orlando.” He grunted and struggled some. “Frank, you come with me or