The Liar

“It puts me in mind of my mama’s peonies. I forgot to say before, and my goodness haven’t you been busy in here, I heard you were singing on Fridays down at the bar and grill. I was sorry I couldn’t make it in to hear you, then I heard about what happened and wasn’t sorry I wasn’t there on Friday. I think I’d have had a heart attack or something finding out some woman got shot right outside.”

She patted a hand to her heart as if even now it was in danger.

“I heard you knew her, too, is that right?”

Shelby gave Melody a glance. “I know you consider Melody a reliable source of information—and that Melody’s confident you’ll push whatever buttons, turn whatever knobs she tells you to.”

“Why, Shelby, I was just asking—”

“What Melody told you to ask. The answer is no, I can’t say I knew her.”

“Your husband did,” Melody said. “But that’s right, he wasn’t your husband at all, was he?”

“Apparently not.”

“You must feel just awful, being deceived like that.” Jolene picked up the theme. “Why, I’d just about die if I’d lived with a man all those years, had a child with him, and found out he had another wife all along.”

“I’m still breathing. I guess I’m not as sensitive as you.”

She started to step back.

“You’re not doing anything important,” Melody began. “I’d like a glass of sparkling water, with ice.”

“I’ll get that for you,” Maybeline began, but Melody shot her a hard look. “You’re busy painting my toes. Shelby can get it, can’t you, Shelby?”

“I can. Would you like something, Jolene?”

Jolene had the grace to flush. “I wouldn’t mind some ice water, if it’s no trouble.”

“None at all.”

She turned, went to the back, into the tiny kitchen. She’d stew about it later, she promised herself, but for now, she’d get the damn water.

She brought out the glasses, handed one to Jolene.

“Thank you, Shelby.”

“You’re welcome.”

When she held out the glass to Melody, Melody knocked it with her hand so water sloshed over the rim.

“Now look what you did!”

“I’ll get you a towel.”

“These capri pants are silk, and now they’ve got water spots. What are you going to do about it?”

“I’m going to get you a towel.”

“You probably did it on purpose because I didn’t want the likes of you working in my store.”

“Your grandmother’s store, last I heard. And believe me, if I’d done it on purpose, I’d’ve poured the whole glass in your lap. Do you want that towel, Melody?”

“I don’t want anything from your kind.”

Shelby knew the place had gone quiet. Even the whirl of dryers had shut off. Every ear in the place was cocked. So she smiled. “Why, Melody, you’re just as spiteful and full of self-importance as you were back in high school. It must be a burden carrying all that around inside you. I’m sorry for you.”

“Sorry for me? Sorry for me?”

Melody flung the magazine away so it landed with a thwack on the floor. “You’re the one came crawling back to the Ridge with her tail between her legs. And what did you bring with you?”

Her voice pitched louder as temper rose in hot spots on her cheeks.

“I brought my daughter and not much else. You’re awful flushed, Melody. I think you need this water.”

“You don’t tell me what I need. I tell you. I’m the customer. You just work here, sweeping up. You don’t even have the marginal skills to polish nails or use a curling iron.”

“Marginal.” Shelby heard Maybeline breathe the word, saw out of the corner of her eye the longtime employee carefully cap the coral enamel with only half of Melody’s toes painted.

“Melody,” Jolene began, gnawing her lip at the stony stare on Maybeline’s face.

But Melody only slapped Jolene’s hand aside. “You’d better show some respect after where you’ve come from, and what’s gone on since you came back here? Whose fault is it some woman got shot right in our town Friday night?”

“I’d say the person who pulled the trigger’s at fault on that.”

“It wouldn’t have happened here if you weren’t here, and everybody knows it. Nobody decent around here wants you around. You’re the one who ran off with some criminal. And don’t tell me you thought you were married to him. Like as not you cheated people just like he did, and when he died and left you in a fix, back here you come with your bastard child.”

“Be careful there, Melody,” Shelby said as Jolene let out a shocked hiss. “Be real careful there.”

“I’ll say what I think, and what most everybody around here thinks, too. I’ll say what I like.”

“Not in here you won’t.” Viola stepped up, gripped Shelby’s arm hard, took the glass of water she still held—and had been about to heave—out of her hand. “I’ve just spared you from a soaking or worse, as I expect Shelby was about to do what I’d like to do myself, and that’s haul you up out of that chair and slap your head clean around, you rude, ugly-minded, pitiful girl.”

“You don’t dare speak to me that way! Just who do you think you are?”