“Richardson,” I corrected.
“Oh yes, Richardson.” Her tone grew arch. “It's unbelievable, what you’ve been up to! Some people will do anything for attention.” Her smile would have frightened any jury, and could probably cause someone in the witness box to faint.
I felt Bob draw in breath to speak, but I squeezed his hand and he waited.
“I was with Humphrey, you remember, Louisa, Roger’s senior partner, when we saw you on the news. You looked like you’d just rolled down a muddy hillside.”
“I had,” I said.
“I told Humphrey thank heavens Roger isn’t here. He would die all over again to see his wife looking like that on national television. Really, Louisa, if I were you I would sue them for—”
“Doris,” I said. She swept on.
“—sue them for broadcasting film of you looking like that! Everyone agreed that—”
I tried again. “Doris!”
“—well, it was natural for you to have let yourself go after you lost Roger. I mean, his death was traumatic in so many ways, no doubt it just sent you off the deep end, but—”
“DORIS!” Shouting finally had the desired effect; she was silenced. Heads snapped around to stare at us all along Maple Street, and Jack rose to put his front paws on my leg. “It’s okay, Jack,” I assured him, and gave Bob a smile before looking at Doris again.
“Good morning, Doris. Yes, it is a beautiful day, and how nice that you were able to come back to Willow Falls and do some more shopping. I know that all the merchants on Maple Street are thrilled to have your business, except, of course, for the proprietress of OKay Antiques. I happen to know that she would not let you through the door.” I gave her a warm smile.
“Well!” she bridled, but I held up a hand to stop her.
“Yes, it is hard to believe what happened,” I swept on, “and Roger would certainly have hated seeing me on the news. But I hated seeing him in real life and anyway he’s dead, so my notoriety is no problem. And you have to admit mine pales in comparison to his.”
“Louisa!” she gasped.
Interrupting her gave me a heady sense of joy. I could feel Bob shaking with silent laughter. “Doris, the past couple of weeks have taught me a lot about myself, things I might never have known otherwise.” I took a moment to look her up and down. “One thing really stands out in my mind, though. Something I wish I'd known years ago.”
I gathered up Emily Ann’s leash in preparation for continuing down the street. She stood, noble, graceful, with Jack at her side, short and silly and perpetually wagging his tail. Doris glanced at them before meeting my eyes.
“Yes? What is it that you’ve learned?” Her voice was less strident than I'd ever heard it before.
I smiled at her, lifted my chin, and took the first step down Maple Street.
“I bite.”
THE END
About the author:
I wrote and illustrated my first book at the age of nine. It was about wild horses. I have had a long career as a children’s librarian, and look forward to just as many years as a novelist.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Sleeping Dogs Lie. I've completed three books in the Willow Falls series—In Dogs We Trust will be out soon.
I live in California and Oregon with my storyteller husband Steven, dogs Lizzie and Edward, and cats Noll Baxter and Mrs. Wilberforce. Visit my author site at SaturdayBooks.com
On Saturday mornings I pursue my avocation of thrifting in my green convertible. Follow my adventures as the Queen of Fifty Cents at queenoffiftycents.blogspot.com/