“Or the fourth,” Ida Belle pointed out.
“No fair counting,” I said.
“Then I won’t comment on the five pieces of bread you had,” Ida Belle said.
“Hey, I ran five miles this morning,” I argued. “What exercise did you have?”
“I cleaned out my pantry,” Gertie said. “Then I cooked.”
“I lifted up that bottle of whiskey and walked out to the street to get into Gertie’s car,” Ida Belle said. “I’ll exercise tonight. I’m just getting my muscles warmed up right now.”
“Your stomach muscles, maybe,” I said.
“The worst part is that even after all that whiskey, I’m still completely sober,” Gertie complained.
“The casserole and bread soaked it all up,” Ida Belle said.
I sat up a bit, trying to work up the desire to get completely upright. “We have to go talk to Florence.” Then an idea hit me. “Or maybe you two should go. She doesn’t really know me, but I’m going to guess she wouldn’t like me. She’ll probably be more willing to talk without me there.”
“She doesn’t like me, either,” Ida Belle said.
“You told her she looked like Grumpy Cat,” Gertie said.
“She does.”
I grinned. “Maybe Gertie should call her…ask a question about knitting. Give her some compliment on her work and then eventually get around to talking about Gail. That would be standard operating procedure here, right?”
Ida Belle looked over at Gertie. “She’s getting good at this.”
“You two just want to push this off on me,” Gertie said.
“So my idea isn’t a good one?” I asked.
“Hand me my phone,” Gertie grumbled.
I grabbed her phone off the coffee table and tossed it to her. She made the call and we proceeded to listen to one side of the conversation.
“Hi, Florence, this is Gertie. How are you doing…Yes, the humidity has been bothering my dry skin as well. Look, the reason I called was to ask about the pattern you used for the cap you made for the Spencer baby…Yes, the orange one. A cousin of mine who lives up north is expecting…I don’t know how people live in that cold, either… Maybe you’re right. They might all be a bit touched.”
Gertie rolled her eyes.
“I see. From the pattern website you used for the shawl. That’s excellent. I’ll print it out. Thank you so much. I really loved the way that cap turned out, and although I don’t approve of where my cousin lives, naturally, I figure her baby shouldn’t have to suffer with a cold head just because of his mother’s foolish choices.”
I looked over at Ida Belle and grinned. Gertie was really laying it on thick.
All of a sudden, Gertie’s eyes widened and she gave us a thumbs-up.
“Yes, of course. I’ll be happy to make a blanket for the charity drive. I’m surprised no one has contacted me already. Usually Gail did that…I suppose you’ve heard. Simply horrible. I can’t imagine…even with good locks and an alarm, I worry about such things. I don’t suppose the police have any idea who would want to hurt her. I haven’t a clue. Such a nice woman and a spotless reputation. So rare these days.”
There was a longer than usual pause as Gertie listened. I could hear Florence’s voice pick up in volume and speed but couldn’t make out what she was saying.
“Really? That’s most incredible. I would never have thought. No, of course things like this didn’t happen in our day. I suppose whoever told you was quite certain? And someone who gets things right—not like old Mrs. Wainwright who confuses everyone with brown hair. Oh! Yes, that makes all the difference. How distressing. I’ll pray for him, of course. Yes, thank you so much, Florence. You’ve been a lifesaver with the pattern.”
Gertie hung up the phone and looked at us, frowning.
“Well?” Ida Belle said. “Don’t drag it out, woman. Who told that old gasbag that Gail was having an affair?”
“Nolan,” Gertie said.
I sat upright. “What?”
Even Ida Belle looked surprised by that announcement.
Gertie nodded. “The same day Fortune met them at the general store, Florence said she overheard Nolan on his cell phone. He was behind the Catholic church during one of the clothes drives that Gail was assisting with. Florence went out to get some air and before she realized the conversation was private, she heard him say he feared his wife was having an affair.”
“Bull,” Ida Belle said. “She probably saw him outside on the phone and deliberately went out there to see what he was saying.”
“Probably,” Gertie agreed. “But that point aside, do we think she’s telling the truth?”
“I think so,” Ida Belle said. “Florence loves gossip, but she’s always careful to not be the one starting it. She wouldn’t stick her neck out as the creator unless she was sure of what she’d heard.”