The Devine Doughnut Shop(20)

“Nope,” Audrey said without a moment’s hesitation.

“Then it will cost you. I only help friends for free,” Raelene told her. “I get ten dollars an hour for tutoring. I figure we can get you in good shape for about twenty dollars a day.”

“That will wipe out what I’ve saved from my allowance. I wanted to buy Crystal something nice for her birthday with that money.” Audrey gasped.

“Then flunk algebra and take it again.” Raelene shrugged and turned off the oven. “Your choice. You can either hire me and get a decent grade, or buy something for your friend and maybe not have enough credits to graduate. You do know that those two girls are using you and making fun of you behind your back.”

Sarah bit back a giggle. “If I was in your shoes, I’d pay Raelene.”

“Right up front, the end of each lesson,” Raelene said.

“Okay, okay!” Audrey agreed. “But you’re still not my friend. And Crystal and Kelsey are not using me or talking about me behind my back.”

“That’s fine by me, but now let’s talk about Macy.” Raelene turned away from Audrey. “Granny called what’s ailing Macy a sick headache. She had them pretty often, and I know what to do to help. I’ll watch over Macy and take care of her this afternoon. I’ve got some chamomile oil that I rubbed on Granny’s temples. That and a couple of over-the-counter pain pills seemed to work for her better than anything.”

“I’m sure she’d appreciate any help you can give her,” Sarah said and hoped that someday she’d have a daughter as kindhearted as Raelene.

“I’ll get the oil, then. I’ll need to do it every hour until she is feeling better.” Raelene disappeared down the hallway.

“We’d better get on to the shop,” Grace said.

“Why are you going now?” Audrey asked.

“Once a month we deep clean the kitchen. You never know when a health inspector might pop in,” Grace explained. “But you don’t have to be a part of this job. Work on your algebra. Be sure to pay Raelene. Since you created this problem, then you get to use your money.”

“I hate mopping floors, cleaning windows, wearing one of those dorky T-shirts, and everything about that shop, but I hate algebra even more,” Audrey griped, getting in the last word before hurrying off to her room.

Sarah waited until she and Grace were away from the house to bring up the subject. “How do you feel about Raelene charging Audrey for tutoring?”

“I’d rather my kid spend her money for that than buy a present for a girl that I’m almost positive is the guilty one for having either the cigarettes, booze, or maybe both at school,” Grace answered.

“Amen to that,” Sarah agreed. “And now what about Macy? I hate breaking her heart even worse than getting mine broken.”

“You didn’t break her heart,” Grace said. “Neal will be responsible for that all on his own. Just like Joel is responsible for his own bad behavior. It wasn’t your fault. I’m never letting either of you go out on a date again until we have a private detective check the man out, though.”

“You’ve got a PI on retainer?” Sarah teased.

Grace opened the shop’s back door and flipped on the lights in the kitchen. “Not yet, but I will have when y’all get over your broken hearts.”

“What about you? Are we supposed to have any man you date checked out?” Sarah got the cleaning supplies out of the utility room.

“You don’t have to worry about that for a few more years,” Grace answered. “All I have to do is introduce a guy to Audrey, and he won’t stop running until he reaches the ocean.”

“Hey, what’s going on?” An older woman with dyed red hair and enough wrinkles to prove her four-hundred-dollar face cream did not work, flung open the back door. “Audrey said y’all were down here cleaning up.”

“How was the cruise, Beezy?” Grace asked.

Beatrice Larson, better known in Devine as Beezy, had grown up with Sarah and Grace’s mama and had been her best friend. When their mother passed away, Beezy had stepped in to be a surrogate mother to them. They both left what they were doing and wrapped her up in a three-way hug.

“Lord, I’m glad you’re home,” Sarah said.

“Cruise was fun, but once is enough on a big old floating hotel.” Beezy sat down on a tall stool and frowned. “I can tell by both your faces that something isn’t right. I knew I shouldn’t have gone and left you. Where is Macy?”

Grace pulled out three coffee mugs. “She’s got one of her headaches. Raelene is helping take care of her.”

“Liz and Molly both had headaches like that,” Beezy said. “Raelene? Is that Hilda Andrews’s granddaughter? Why is she taking care of Macy?”

“We should start at the beginning,” Grace said as she put on a pot of coffee and sprayed foamy cleaner inside the ovens.

Sarah told her the story of Joel and about being at the motel and seeing Neal and Darla Jo while she emptied the refrigerator and wiped down all the shelves. “Grace and I have to tell Macy, don’t we?”

“Of course you have to tell her,” Beezy said and then poured each of them a cup of coffee. “It wouldn’t be right to keep it from her and let her fall into a life of misery with a cheating husband. I’ve said from the beginning there was something wrong with that man. He’s too perfect, with his chiseled cheekbones and his long, dark lashes and all that romantic tomfoolery. Macy fell in love too fast. If he’s trying to talk her into giving him power of attorney, he might be more than just a philanderer.”