A Fountain Filled With Blood

Amusement won out over amazement at the sheer brass of being asked to remove herself from a pew in her own church so that Landry could use it as an office. Clare slid out of the pew and wandered to the back of the church, where the great double doors were open to a warm breeze, the smell of roses, and the faint sound of children playing in the gazebo across the street. It seemed strange to be planning for winter at the delicious peak of summer. It also seemed strange to think of death in the middle of such a cornucopia of life. She thought of the old words from the graveside committal service, which she had always disliked for their fatalistic view: “In the midst of life we are in death.”

Behind her, Diana Berry and Lin-bai Tang had descended to the center aisle, exclaiming over the possibilities of sprays and ribbons and candelabra. Tang’s measuring tape snapped briskly as they made their plans. If the rest of the celebration was anything on the scale of the flowers, this would be the wedding of the century. Peggy Landry’s brother-in-law was either rolling in it or about to go broke. She wondered how much Landry had sunk into the development. Would she be ruined if the deal didn’t come off? What about the construction workers and everyone else employed by the project? She shook her head. Anything she might think was sheer speculation at this point. Maybe Ingraham’s partner would simply carry on without him. Of course, that begged the question of whether the construction at the location of the old quarry was indeed responsible for the rise in PCB levels.

She was suddenly struck by a thought. What if someone who wanted to stop the project knew that Peggy Landry and Ingraham’s partner were planning to proceed full steam ahead? Would the death of the president of BWI slow things down? Long enough for the DEP to address the environmental concerns and halt the development for a re-testing of the site? She reached up to her hair and twirled her ponytail into a bun, thinking furiously. She wished she had paid closer attention to the business end of her parents’ small aviation company. She might know more about what happens when a company’s principal owner dies.

“Reverend Clare? Is everything all right?” Diana Berry’s voice broke her concentration. Clare let her impromptu bun fall back into a ponytail and dropped her hands. “You look a little upset,” Diana continued.

“No, I’m fine. Just thinking.” The florist was standing next to the young woman, tucking the measuring tape back into her purse. Clare glanced toward Peggy Landry, who nodded and raised her hand, then said something into her cell phone. “All set?” Clare said. “Did you get everything you need?”

“Yes, thank you,” Lin-bai Tang said. “It’ll be a real pleasure working in your space.”

Peggy Landry finished up with her call and replaced the phone in her purse. She rose and joined them. “Sorry, everyone. Business before pleasure.”

Diana grinned. “Business is your pleasure, Aunt Peggy. I’m amazed I could tear you away today.”

“I have to run,” the florist announced, looking at her watch. “Diana, I’ll write up the plan and fax a copy to you and to your mother, along with the estimates.” She held out her hand to Clare. “Thank you again for letting us in on such short notice, Reverend Fergusson. Bye, all!” With a final swing of her heavy hair, she was gone.

Clare unclipped her key ring from a belt loop. “Are you two all set?” she asked.

“I am,” Diana said. “Next stop for me is the mall near Glens Falls. I’m checking out tablecloths and napkins for the reception.”

“Doesn’t the Stuyvesant Inn supply the linens?” Clare asked.

“Oh, of course. But you know how it is with a hotel or caterers. You can get any color you want, so long as it’s white. I’m going to have pale floral undercloths with a filmy overcloth caught up around the rim of the table with tiny clips of flowers. And solid napkins picking up one of the floral colors. Doesn’t it sound stunning?”

Clare thought it sounded criminally extravagant, but she held her tongue. “Mmm,” she said.

“Aunt Peggy, is Mal going to be able to pick you up?” Diana continued. “I don’t mind running you, but we’ll be all day trying to fit everything in.”

Her aunt pointed to her purse. “I called him. He’s on his way. He just got out of bed. You know Mal.”

Diana gave a look that said that she knew Mal very well. “All right. I’m off. But look, I’ve got my phone, so if he bails out on you for whatever reason, call me.” She shook hands with Clare. “Thanks again, Reverend Clare. I’m so glad I picked your church for the most important day of my life.”

She was through the door and halfway down the walk when Clare remembered, calling after her, “I need to see you two for more counseling sessions!” Diana waved in acknowledgment but did not pause. Clare sighed.

“Do engaged couples still have to do counseling?” Landry said. “I thought that went the way of ladies wearing hats in church. It’s not like they haven’t already done everything already.”