The Yellow Rose Beauty Shop (Cadillac, Texas #3)(58)

“You weren’t supposed to hear that, and I didn’t say it just like that,” Stella whispered.

Nancy cackled. “I don’t care how you said it, I’m using that line on Heather next chance that I get. When she tells me to go to hell, I’m tellin’ her that the devil won’t have me but he’s still got hopes for her sorry old hide.”

“Mama, you remind me of Ouiser in Steel Magnolias talkin’ like that.” Stella steered the subject away from Gene and the twins.

Piper mouthed, “Thank you.”

“I liked that movie so much that I bought it and watched it a dozen times in a week.” Nancy laughed.

“Changing the subject here. We’ve had all of that sorry bastard Gene that we can stomach for one day. What’s going on with the barbecue ball?” Charlotte asked.

“It’s comin’ right along. We’ve got to go to Violet’s this week to check out the barn and make suggestions about how to decorate it. It’s a barn”—she raised her voice and flapped her hands around—“it ain’t goin’ to change into a castle just because Heather points that ridiculous gold fingernail at the walls. If me and your dad weren’t doin’ the cookin’, I wouldn’t go out there.”

Piper’s first client arrived, so she got up and headed toward her station. She was glad it was Tuesday. Good hard work among good solid friends who dropped everything and ran to her side would keep her mind off that son of a bitch.

“How you doin’, Carlene?” she asked.

“I’m doin’ great, but my hair looks like crap and the church over in Luella is giving Alma Grace a wedding shower tonight and I want it to look nice. So give me the works.”

“When is the shower here in Cadillac?” Stella asked.

“Next Sunday afternoon. Aunt Tansy is having it out at her place. Y’all will get your invitations in the mail today, I’m sure. I hear they’re having some kind of praying deal at the church all afternoon. Is it at the same time as the shower?” Carlene asked.

Stella nodded. “The prayerathon will be all afternoon and I doubt that any of us will go to it. We’ll all be at the shower. Is Alma Grace getting the jitters yet? I can’t believe we’re having so many weddings before Christmas.”

“Oh, yes, she’s getting the jitters. Everyone I talk to says it’s normal. Hey, is Agnes going to be able to come to that ball they’re all planning? I heard she’s doing real good since the surgery, but hips do take a while on the elderly folks,” Carlene asked.

“I dropped in to see her early this morning and she says she’ll go if she has to use a wheelchair and that she’s wearing her overalls,” Nancy said.

“Hey, I just got an idea,” Carlene said. “I’m going to talk to Marty and have her bring a pair of overalls to Bless My Bloomers. We will fancy them all up and Agnes will love them. She’ll put enough bling on them to make everyone at the rehab place jealous.”

Nancy clapped her hands. “I love it. That’ll cheer Agnes right up. Lord, she’ll act like Elvis Presley. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if she doesn’t practice a lopsided grin in front of the mirrors.”

Stella popped a hip out, snarled one side of her nose, and said, “Thank you very much, Carlene.”

Piper laughed so hard that she dropped the hairbrush. “You sounded just like her and it wasn’t a bad impression of Elvis, either, especially if he had red hair. Maybe Carlene ought to make you some overalls to wear to the ball.”

Stella smiled. It would be good enough for Heather if she showed up at the ball in overalls, but she wanted to look beautiful for Jed, maybe in something like ivory lace.

Nancy started for the door. “Stella is not wearing overalls to the ball, not if I have anything to say about it. I’ll see you girls later. I’ve got to make a run to Sherman for cattle feed.”

“We’ll be right here if you’ve got time to run back by.” Piper nodded.

Carlene reached out and touched Piper on the arm. “Honey, I heard about Gene takin’ your boys for two weeks and how he did it. Alma Grace will be all for putting your name on the prayer list right along with Stella’s.”

“I’ll dye her hair purple and give her a spike hairdo if she does,” Piper declared.

Carlene slapped a hand over her mouth. “I would love to see that.”

“I wish you would put her name on the list. It’s lonely at the top,” Stella said.

Charlotte shook a comb in their direction. “Hey, I heard about Alma Grace’s prayers. Y’all might want to reconsider. I heard that she flat-out put one on Kitty Lovelle last year when she prayed for her.”

“Yep, that woman can sure do up a prayer right. She asked God to do everything but strike Kitty dead as a roadkill possum.” Carlene grinned.

“I may ask her to pray for Gene,” Charlotte said.

“Or for Heather,” Stella said.

Carlene lowered her voice. “Well, truth is, not even Alma Grace can stand Heather. She’s a self-righteous gold digger, according to my cousin.”

“Join the club. If she keeps putting down Cadillac and calling it names, she’s not going to have a single friend in town other than her aunt Violet and maybe Annabel,” Stella said.