Small Town Rumors(11)

“Hmm.” Lettie pursed her lips. “So why didn’t you have a housekeeper up there in New York?”

“Percy was never pleased with the way they cleaned.”

“Was?” Lettie asked.

“Been divorced for over a year.”

“Oh, really?” Lettie cocked her head to one side.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Me and my sister, Nadine, lost our housekeeper a couple of weeks ago. The lady that worked for us cleaned for me on Friday and Nadine on Thursday. You interested?”

Charlotte would probably go into cardiac arrest if Jennie Sue became nothing more than a maid for her archenemies. But hey, it was a job, and Jennie Sue damn sure knew how to clean a house so well that it would pass judgment in the courts of heaven.

“I might be interested if you could point me in the direction of an apartment or a rental house of some kind that wouldn’t be too expensive,” Jennie Sue answered.

“I got an apartment over my garage. It’s pretty small, but it’ll work for a single person. I’d be willing to rent it to you furnished. You’ll clean for me on Friday each week, but the last week in the month, you won’t get paid. That’ll be your rent,” Lettie said.

Jennie Sue could imagine Charlotte throwing whatever she could get her hands on at the wall when one of the Belles called her with that bit of news. Even if she was angry with her mother over trying to mold her into another Wilshire woman, she couldn’t do that to her mother—or could she? How else would she be independent?

She picked up a piece of crisp bacon with her fingers and took a bite while she thought about the offer. It was a job that she could do. It was a place for her to live. She didn’t have to live in a shelter or sleep on a park bench. However, her mother would never speak to her again, and the rumors would be so hot that they might burn down the whole town of Bloom.

Elaine arrived with Lettie’s pancakes and set them in front of her. “Sorry it took so long. Got a phone call, so the first ones I made were too brown. I wouldn’t even take those things home to feed to the kids’ hound dogs.”

“Thanks,” Lettie said and then turned her attention back to Jennie Sue. “I hated to see her husband die, but it’s the best thing that ever happened to her mama. The woman was fairly well wastin’ away after Elaine’s daddy died. Now she keeps Elaine’s kids, and she’s got a brand-new lease on life.”

A surge of jealousy shot through Jennie Sue.

Lettie lowered her voice. “Elaine’s doin’ a good job of runnin’ the café and raisin’ them boys.” Lettie glanced out the window and frowned. “Sweet Jesus! There’s Amos. Sometimes I think that man is stalkin’ me.”

Amos pushed his way into the café and dragged up a chair to Lettie and Jennie Sue’s table without being invited.

“Hey, Millie, bring me a plate just like Lettie’s,” he yelled across the empty café.

“Will do. Coffee?” she asked.

“Yep, black as sin and strong as Hercules.” He grinned. “Now, what are you ladies discussing?”

“Jennie Sue needs a job, and me and my sister need a housekeeper. She’s thinkin’ about working for me on Friday and Nadine on Thursday. Says she knows how to clean houses since her husband was a neat freak.”

“That so? Well, if you work for them two days a week, I could offer you three days at the bookstore. I’m gettin’ too old to work two jobs. Our little library is volunteer and stocked by donation, so I keep it open in the afternoons and work in my bookstore in the mornin’s. If I had someone to help me out three days a week, I could keep the store open and have a little time off for myself. It’ll only be part-time and minimum wage, but you can read all the books you want for free,” Amos said.

“Can I move into the garage apartment today?” Jennie Sue asked.

“It’s empty and waiting for you,” Lettie said. “But you got to know, Nadine and me are picky. We hate dust and we like our sheets dried on the line when it’s not rainin’.”

“No problem. I’ll take both jobs,” Jennie Sue said.

Lettie tapped her finger on the table. “Let’s see—tomorrow is Wednesday, but that’s the Fourth of July. Why don’t you just move in today and get all settled tomorrow, and then you can start work the next day at Nadine’s place?”

“Y’all know this is only temporary. I’ll start putting out résumés for a job using my business degree and be gone by September or October at the latest. Both y’all all right with that?” Jennie Sue asked.

Lettie cut into the tall stack of pancakes and shoved a forkful in her mouth. “That’ll give us more time to find someone permanent.”

“I’m fine with it.” Amos stuck out his hand. “We got a deal?”

Jennie Sue hesitated, thinking about Charlotte again. She had no desire to cause her mother pain and misery, but she also didn’t want to live in a shelter or a dirt-cheap motel while she hunted for a job. She slowly reached across her plate and shook hands with Amos.

“I’ll be there bright and early on Monday morning,” she said.

“Great!” Amos wiggled in his chair like a little boy. “I’ll even throw in lunch on the days that you work for me as a benefit.”