The Darling Dahlias and the Eleven O'Clock Lady

“I’m sure it is, Verna, but I don’t see what that has to do with my coming to dinner.”


But Verna wasn’t listening. “You probably already know about the upgrade to the Jericho Road,” she went on enthusiastically, “and the new bridge that’s been built over Pine Mill Creek, to replace the one that was washed out a couple of years ago. But maybe you haven’t heard about the dam they’re thinking of constructing out there. Al says it could create a sixty-acre lake. He’s hoping that the CCC will build some boating and camping facilities, like the ones they built over at Sipsey River, and maybe even a lodge. Why, it might even become a state park!”

“Oh, really?” Lizzy murmured. “Mr. Duffy is such a cheerleader.” She was beginning to get the picture.

“Yes, really!” Verna waved her arms excitedly. “Just think what that would do for Cypress County, Liz! The lake would attract people from all over the state. And everybody would have to drive right through Darling to get there!” She dropped her arms. “Of course, this is all in the thinking stages now, but if it happens, it could change sleepy little Darling forever. It could catapult us into the future.”

Lizzy wanted to say that she liked sleepy little Darling pretty much the way it was, with its small-town heart planted, like a green and pleasant garden, in the past, not the future. But she was afraid that might sound selfish, especially when Verna was so excited about the possibilities. And maybe she was wishing for something that couldn’t be. Maybe a town and its citizens always had to look toward the future, with more people and more businesses and more roads and schools and everything else that went with it. Except, of course, in fiction. Maybe that was why she had set her novel in the past.

She smiled and said what any friend would say. “So you would like me to come to dinner and be sweet to the captain. Make him want to give Darling a lake and boating facilities and a lodge.”

“Exactly!” Verna exclaimed, beaming. “Al and I first met him at a town meeting a couple of weeks ago, when he came to report on some of the possibilities for land development that the CCC officials are considering. That’s when I thought of having him over for dinner—but Al didn’t tell me until this morning that he’s available for tonight. Al is going to bring a map of the county and some photographs, to give the captain an idea of the terrain around the new lake.”

“It doesn’t sound much like a double date,” Lizzy said with a little laugh. “It sounds more like a sales meeting—you and Al selling him on the beauties and benefits of Cypress County and the possibilities of a state park.”

Verna was unfazed. “Well, you might think of it like that, I suppose. The men are coming about seven. You’ll do me a very large favor and come, too? Pretty please?”

Lizzy nodded. “Yes, I’ll come. And I’ll be sweet as pie to your captain.” She narrowed her eyes. “But you are going to owe me, Verna.”

“Anything you say.” Verna looked vastly relieved. “Oh, and if you see your chance, you could mention that man you saw at the movie with Rona Jean. He might be able to tell us who it was, right off the bat.”

“Yes, Miss Marple,” Lizzy said. “Can I bring something for dinner? A salad, maybe? I have cucumbers in the garden and the last of the spring lettuce. Oh, and tomatoes.”

“Perfect. We’ll have chicken pot pie and fresh sweet corn, and Raylene has promised to save one of her famous lemon meringue pies for me.”

Lizzy grinned. “Well, gosh, Verna. With all that, you should be able to wrap the captain around your little finger.”

“No.” Verna returned the grin impishly. “Around your little finger.”





SEVEN


Sheriff Norris Learns a Few Facts of Life