Juli wanted to say it—I was the help. You might recognize me more easily if I were wearing my little white cap and black skirt. She was ready to throw the truth out for Amanda’s inspection and be done with it. She had nothing to hide.
“My ring was stolen at that party. It was my mother’s and I hate to think I’ve lost it forever.”
Amanda’s remark dashed her like ice water. Innocence wasn’t enough armor.
“I heard. It’s terrible. Perhaps it will turn up yet.” Maia stood back and pointed. “What do you think? These two would look good over the console.”
“You have a good eye for such things. I trust you absolutely.”
Juli watched Maia’s apple-cheeked, dimpled smile. Didn’t Maia feel deceptive? Less than honest?
Amanda spoke up. “I’ll have the contractor hang them. You’re a dear to have brought them out to me. I’m sorry to rush, but I have to be at the airport in an hour. The car should be here soon.”
Back in Maia’s car, Juli said, “We should’ve told her.”
“Told her what? I was hoping for a closer look at the house so I’m kind of disappointed. Amanda’s personality kind of grates, doesn’t it?”
“We should’ve told her where she’d seen me, as a server at the Hammonds’ party.”
“Why? I didn’t not tell her. I jumped to the next step and told her you were Ben’s wife. Nothing else is her business.”
They rode in silence for a few minutes, southbound on Rt. 70 until the Barlow house was well behind them.
Maia continued, “Amanda Barlow is a gossip of the highest order. Giving her grist for her gossip mill is the same as encouraging her. You wouldn’t give whiskey to an alcoholic, would you? Or drugs to an addict?”
“No.”
“Well, then.”
“It doesn’t feel right.” A tiny lie here and there. Little white lies. Who did they hurt? She’d told a bunch of them herself, so she could hardly fault Maia. “Maia, do you think I had something to do with the loss of her ring? Is that why you spoke up?”
The long pause nearly killed her.
“Juli. Why would you ask me that?” Maia’s voice was small.
“Then why—”
“Why did I cut you off when you were about to tell Amanda you were working at the party? Because I didn’t want Amanda Barlow speculating about you, the marriage, maybe even about what happened to her ring all over creation to anyone who’d listen. And plenty of ears would be thrilled to listen and pass it along.”
“I don’t have anything to hide.”
Maia groaned. “If I thought you had anything to do with the theft, or any other crime—well, I know you didn’t because I know.”
“You know because you know.”
Maia giggled. “Impeccable logic.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know.” She reached over and touched Juli’s hand.
“Thanks. Maia, keep your eyes on the road, please?”
****
By the time Juli had stopped at the grocery store and returned home, twilight reigned.
Juli stood in the darkened living room, silence close around her.
“Ben?”
The first sharp edge of panic touched her. It was too early for him to have gone upstairs to bed. She dropped the grocery bag and her purse on the floor and headed toward the stairs, then saw a silhouetted shadow on the porch. Juli approached the window, but didn’t go outside immediately. His head was held low and his shoulders curved inward. He sat, unmoving, with one hand up to cover his face. The grief in his posture gripped her heart and tears welled in her eyes.
Had Frankie come back despite Luke’s warning? Had something else happened?
Ben didn’t look up when Juli walked out the door, nor when she stopped in front of him, so she didn’t speak, but pulled the empty rocker closer to his. The runners scraped against the porch floor. Ben dropped his hand from his face.
“Juli.”
She sat in the rocker, rested her arm on the smooth wooden arm rest and reached her hand across to grasp his. “Ben,” she answered. This was an abrupt change from this afternoon. Juli was wary and afraid. “What’s up? Didn’t Luke come over? Is something wrong?”
Ben stared straight ahead for a few minutes. When he spoke, his voice was low and grave, heavily laden with regret. “Luke drove me to the doctor.”
Juli was afraid to ask for more. She couldn’t find the words that would ease the heart of his sadness. “To the hospital in Morehead?” Where his oncologist had his offices, but she left that part unspoken.
Ben cleared his throat and nodded, yes. “Early on,” he gave a rueful laugh, “he suggested some experimental treatments. Clinical trials. I didn’t want to be a guinea pig. I felt well enough. I accepted death. I wasn’t in a hurry to die, but I wanted to die well, if that makes any sense. Or, I thought I was okay with it. Honestly, I don’t think I accepted what he told me, that the end was inevitable and not far away. I felt so good, Juli. Tired, yes, but I was recovering from an illness, so that was understandable. Then I met you and knew I was lonely. I asked you to share these last weeks with me. And now….”