Ink and Shadows(Secret, Book, & Scone Society #4)(18)

Hester held up a copy of the newspaper. “Can you threaten the paper with some kind of legal action? Force them to print an apology? I mean, isn’t Olga’s article slanderous?”

Nora sighed. “Based on what I read online, I’d have no case because the article’s framed as an opinion piece. It’s presented as a conversation, not fact. The names of the businesses are never mentioned. Olga knew exactly how far she could push the envelope, and her article slyly plants seeds of doubt about Miracle Books, Soothe, and Red Bird. Is this veiled attack enough for these women? Or is this just the beginning of their campaign?”

“I know how we can find out,” Estella said, arching an elegant brow.

Nora sank into the chair next to her. “Don’t tell me that you’re planning to join their demented group.”

“You don’t look like the woman on their brochure,” June mumbled.

Estella let out a tinkling laugh. “I don’t stand a chance. One of the women would tell the others about all the men I’ve seduced—or that my daddy’s serving time for murder—and I’d be tossed out before the tea was poured.” She shrugged. “But I don’t need to go to them, because Connie’s coming to me. Tomorrow afternoon. For a cut and color. It didn’t dawn on me until we started talking because she’s in my books as C. Knapp, but when I heard her last name, it hit me.”

Hester grinned. “And women always talk to you when you’re doing their hair.”

“They sure do. They say things they wouldn’t say to anyone else.”

Nora was dubious. “But doesn’t it take a few appointments before people open up?”

“Usually,” Estella admitted. “But when Connie called to book an appointment, I was on the other line, so she left a voicemail saying that she wanted a cut and color that would make her look like a First Lady.”

Hester frowned. “First Lady? Why not the president?”

“That’s right, sister.” June reached out to fist-bump Hester.

Estella scooted to the edge of her chair, her eyes shining. “Don’t you see? Connie Knapp wants to lead. She wants to be in a position of power. Her husband is in charge of the church—at least until the senior pastor comes back—and Connie wants to be in charge of something too. That woman has plans, and I need to find out what they are.”

Nora tensed. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

Estella flicked her wrist. “Just listen to my idea. Tomorrow morning, you and I are going to have a very loud, very public argument at the Pink Lady.”

“That’ll just draw more negative attention to Nora,” Hester said. “If she’s yelling and smashing plates, it’ll make people uncomfortable and they might start avoiding Miracle Books.”

Nora passed her hands over her face. “That’s my worst nightmare.”

“I never said anything about breaking china,” protested Estella. “We just need to convince folks that we’ve had a falling-out. Then, during Connie’s color application, I’ll tell her that I had a fight with one of my best friends. While her color is processing, she can whip out her phone and verify my story. The texts will come flooding in, confirming our tiff, and by the time I’m doing her cut, she’ll be ready to talk. The only challenge is not giving her the Van Gogh treatment while she’s talking.”

Nora glanced around at her friends. “This is crazy, right? For starters, I can’t act. And what if we follow through with this whole charade and Connie doesn’t tell Estella a thing?”

Since no one could come up with an alternative, Nora reluctantly agreed to Estella’s plan.

“I’ll talk to Dominque,” said June. “Our knitting circle meets Wednesday night, and I’ll invite her over for supper beforehand. She and I need to hash this thing out.”

“We’re still meeting this weekend to talk about The Whisper Man, right?” Hester asked Nora. “I’ve been listening to it on audio and let me tell you, at five in the morning, in the dark bakery, that story is freaking me out. It’s the perfect creepy read for this time of year.”

Nora smiled. “Yes, we’re getting together. Our book club is the highlight of my week. Come on. Let’s go out the front.”

As the four women stood on the sidewalk, gazing at the display window, Hester turned to Nora and asked, “Have you thought about changing it?”

“This isn’t about a window display,” June answered before Nora could. “It’s about Nora’s freedom to sell all kinds of stories about all kinds of people. That’s what we see when we look at this window. That’s why it’s magical to us and threatening to others.”

“I never thought I’d wake up to an article implying that Cherokee art, pain-relieving CBD products, and a bookstore display window featuring novels about powerful women would be construed as immoral. To call this satanic is absurd.” She looked at Hester. “Honey, I didn’t start this fight, and I wish those women had never darkened my door. But look at the books. They’re worth the fight.”

“When Jasper read Fahrenheit 451 last year, he underlined specific passages,” Hester said in a hushed voice. “He showed me the one about the woman who stays inside her burning house because she won’t leave her books. I’ll never forget that scene because that woman reminds me of you, Nora. Even though you know what it’s like to be burned, I can still see you staying with your books.”