Vi Agra Falls by Mary Daheim Read Free Book Online Page B

social hour. All was quiet. “What are you going to do about the Buss reservation?”
    Judith pondered her options. “I don’t like turning awayguests, no matter who they are. You’re right—it’s a perfectly logical request.”
    â€œAnd you are always perfectly logical,” Joe said, kissing his wife’s cheek.
    â€œI’ll warn them that they can’t stay past Thursday night,” Judith said, as much to herself as to Joe. “I’ll do it now.”
    An hour later when Judith checked her email, Marva Lou Buss had responded: “Confirm Monday, Aug. 9 through Thursday, Aug. 12. Please advise convenient location for weekend of Friday the 13th.”
    â€œFriday the thirteenth,” Judith murmured. “I don’t like that, either.”

4
    J udith was sweeping up dead leaves from under the camellia bush at the corner of the house early Wednesday afternoon and praying for rain when Herself, wearing a glittering gold lamé kimono, came outside to get the mail. Setting her broom aside, Judith hurried across the cul-de-sac.
    â€œJoe and I have been trying to talk to you,” she said, making an effort to put on her friendliest smile. “We heard you bought Mrs. Swanson’s house. Are you expanding?”
    Herself uttered a throaty laugh. “Expanding? How quaint!”
    â€œWell…” Judith paused, mesmerized by the sun glinting off of all that gold lamé and platinum curls. “I assume that with adjoining properties, you might want to add on to your original house.”
    Clutching a thick batch of mail to her bosom, Vivian regarded Judith with amusement. “That would be the case with some people. But Billy and I have other plans.” She winked. “Check your own mail, Judith. You’ll find an invitation to our coming-out party next week. All of the neighbors in the cul-de-sac are invited. It’ll be very exciting.” With a flip of gold folds, Herself went back inside.
    â€œI don’t like this,” Judith declared to Joe after he got home around five, and she showed him the gold-edged invitation.
    Joe looked bemused. “There’s a lot of things you don’t seem to like these days. This seems like a perfectly ordinary neighborhood bash to me. Six-thirty Monday evening, which happens to coincide with the annual citywide Block Watch get-togethers. Have you talked to Carl and Arlene? They usually host it, since he’s our neighborhood captain.”
    â€œThey’re still on the other side of the mountains at that time-share their daughter, Cathy, owns,” Judith replied, sounding cross. “If it’s hot here, it must be a hundred degrees on the lake over there. For all I know, they’ve melted. Besides, Carl dropped the flyers off last week. I’ve already notified the guests who’ll be staying here that night about how the city puts out sawhorses to partially block off the areas where the potlucks are being held.”
    Joe waved the Busses’ invitation at Judith. “This isn’t a potluck. It says food and beverages provided.”
    â€œHerself had better clear this with Arlene and Carl,” Judith snapped. “We’ve been doing the Block Watch thing for years.”
    â€œMaybe it’s a party to welcome Billy’s brother and his wife,” Joe said, putting the invitation on the kitchen counter.
    Judith clapped a hand to her cheek. “Oh! I forgot that’s when the other Busses get here!”
    A woman’s voice called out from the back porch. “Judith? Joe?”
    Judith glanced down the hall that led from the kitchen. Naomi Stein was standing at the screen door.
    â€œCome in,” Judith called to her neighbor. “I see you’re back from California.”
    â€œLast night,” Naomi said, a worried expression on her usually serene face and Vivian’s invitation in her hand. “What’sgoing on around here? Did Mrs.