The Obituary Society by Jessica L. Randall Read Free Book Online Page A

ahead as if she didn't notice.
    Gladys leaned over.  “If you won't do it, I'll get him for you.”  Lila whipped toward Gladys.  Her hands flew to stop the paddle. 
    “ Sixty-five dollars!”  Gladys's paddle shot up into the air.  Lila froze.  This wasn't happening .
    “ Saved by Grandma,” Eddie said.  “Any eligible young ladies out there going to fight Grandma for him?”
    “ Seventy,” a woman's voice called.
    “ Eighty,” Gladys shouted, tugging the paddle from Lila's grip.
    “ Do we have eighty-five?  Going once, going twice, sold, to Grandma Gladys.  You two have a splendid evening.  I suppose she'll have you making freezer jam.”
    “ Oh, he's not for me.”  Gladys placed a hand on Lila's shoulder. 
    A look of recognition crossed Max's mortified features and Lila covered her face. 
    Matilda batted Gladys with her paddle from behind.  “In a church, of all places,” she hissed.
    Lila turned her head as the sound of shoes clacked across the floor.  Asher Whiting strode to the front of the room, dressed in his sharp suit, his hair perfectly styled. 
    “If you don't mind, Eddie, I haven't had a date in awhile.”  He blessed the room with a wide, good-humored smile.  Several women grasped their paddles.  She wasn't sure, but she thought Asher winked at her.
    “ Certainly.  Let's start the bidding at fifty dollars.”
    Pastor Lucas raised his hands to his balding head.  He looked like he might cry.
    “Sixty dollars,” Susan Walters said.
    “ Seventy,” a voice behind Lila called.  Lila looked back, and Leona smiled and shrugged.  Matilda whacked her with her paddle.
    “ Eighty-five,” a brunette on the first row shouted.
    Betsy Barker grabbed Lila's hand and raised it, shouting, “Ninety,” so fast Lila hardly knew what was happening.
    “Ninety-five anyone?  Going once, going twice, sold to—,” Eddie gave his wife a confused look, then understanding dawned on his face,  “to Miss Lila Moore.  Congratulations.  Looks like you're going to get a fine welcome to Auburn.  Just not from any of the young ladies.  Hey, maybe we need to have you come up here.  What do you say?”
    Lila glowered at Betsy, then dropped her head.

Chapter 8
      Old Spice  
     
     
    “ Back behind the house?”  Ada's voice squeaked slightly and she paused, her hand in mid-air as she reached to put a clean breakfast plate in the cupboard.  
    “ Yeah,” Lila said, eying Ada curiously as she dried another plate and handed it to her.  “Since I own the property, I thought I should see what's on it.  All of it.”
    Ada put the plate away and closed the cupboard, then bustled over to the counter without looking at Lila.  She picked up a pile of mail and sifted through it.  “You don't want to go back there, dear.  That pond is dirty and stagnant.  There are leeches and all sorts of nasty—” 
    “But—”
    “ I meant to talk to you about Max.  I don't know what Gladys was thinking.  That boy's not the least bit interested in dating after what his wife put him through.  And so much of his time is devoted to that little girl.  She's a bit different, you know.  Needs a lot of attention.  I'm sorry to see you get thrown into the middle of that situation.  It could be very awkward.”
    “ Don't worry.  There's not going to be a date.  Did you say pond?”
    Ada patted her hair in a nervous way.  “Did I say—?” she twittered. 
    “How big is it?  That property must be larger than I thought.”
    Ada looked up, a steely glint in her eye.  “Stay away from there.  Please,” she added, but Lila knew it wasn't a request.  The silence between them was as thick as custard.
    A horn honked outside, and both of them jerked their heads toward it.  “Oh,” Ada said brightly.  “There's Betsy.  I certainly hope Goldie can fix what she did to my hair.  We'll be back in an hour or two.”
    Ada grabbed her purse and hurried out the kitchen door.  As soon as Lila heard