When she came in, Alice smiled at her from behind the punch bowl.
“Where’ve you been? And where’d the police force go?”
“I think I’d better have some of that punch.” Annie picked up the cup Alice had just filled. “I need to cool off.”
“What’s going on?”
“Do I look feeble?”
Alice snickered. “What?”
“Helpless?”
“Annie—”
“Incompetent?”
“What are you talking about? I’d say you’ve had too much punch already, except the only thing in it is pineapple juice, sherbet, and ginger ale.”
“And where have you been, Annie?” Stella came up to the table with a covered casserole dish in both hands. “You missed Pastor Wallace’s presentation.”
“Oh, I’m sorry I did. Was he surprised?”
“He pretended well at least.”
Alice chuckled. “It’s nearly impossible to keep a secret around here.”
“I had to take care of some business with Chief Edwards,” Annie explained.
Stella lifted one silver eyebrow as she set the dish on the table. “About this Susan Morris still?”
“Sort of. It was another dead end.” Better to leave Roy and his adolescent antics out of the conversation for now. “I just wish I knew more about what she was feeling, what she was going through, right before she died.”
“Whatever it was,” Stella said, “she’s at peace now, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, well, I only wish I could be.” Annie sighed. “I just know there’s something more here than I’ve found out so far. But even talking to her fiancé hasn’t really gotten me anywhere.”
Stella pursed her lips and almost imperceptibly turned up her nose. “Archer Prescott.”
“He seems like a nice guy.”
“Self-absorbed, if you ask me.”
Annie bit her tongue. She wasn’t in the mood for Stella’s prickliness tonight.
“Why do you say that?” Alice asked.
“Because he is.”
“Maybe he’s changed since you saw him last. How long has it been?” Annie managed a bit of a smile. “Maybe he’s grown up a little after this long.”
Stella didn’t look convinced. “I don’t know why he’s got that whole company by himself, anyway. I always thought his brothers knew more about the business than he did, but I guess Jason thought otherwise.”
“Jason?”
“Jason Prescott was a friend of mine and my husband’s. He and his three boys—Archer, Scott, and Donny—ran the company until he died. But he left the business to Archer. Something about Scott and Donny needing to make it on their own, I think. You never could tell with Jason.”
“Well, Archer Prescott seems to have done well.” Annie set out a few clean cups. “These days, just about everybody owns something made by JFP.”
“Yes, it’s grown some since it was just a regional company. I guess a lot of men throw themselves into their work after a tragedy. But I heard he’s married now. I don’t know anything about her, but they have two or three children, I believe.”
“Yes, he mentioned he had a wife,” Annie said. “I’m glad.”
“He has his brothers, too, but I don’t think they’re close. Not after their father passed on.” Stella smiled fondly. “I always liked Scott and Donny. They were such polite boys.”
Alice glanced at Annie. “What about Archer?”
“He’s been very polite when I’ve talked to him,” Annie said.
“Too polite, if you ask me.” Stella shook her head. “I always told my husband he was just too polite. There’s something sneaky about people who are too polite.”
Annie couldn’t help laughing. Leave it to Stella to remember something like that after more than twenty years.
Their conversation was interrupted by a tap on the microphone. Pastor Wallace smiled from behind the podium.
“If I may have your attention once more, I’d like to ask God’s blessing on this delicious-smelling food before it gets cold.”
There was a brief bit of shuffling as heads were bowed and eyes were closed, and then there was quiet. Pastor Wallace’s rich voice rolled over the room, speaking words of thanksgiving and blessing and love that were balm to Annie’s roiling emotions. When the amen was spoken and echoed by those around her, Annie lifted her head and caught Ian, at the next table, looking her way.
He quickly averted his eyes, but she could see the uncertainty in them. Hurt, too, if she was honest. He hadn’t deserved being snapped at.