Page 53 of Panty Dropper

“Scoot.” I looked up and saw Mrs. Beasley shooing me with the rolled-up newspaper that for some reason she always had in her hands. She used it to swat her hound dog when he got too “frisky” with the houseguests, and I guessed she also used it to threaten women in church.

“Hello, Mrs. Beasley.” I smiled and did as she asked, moving down the pew to make room for her.

“I told you, dear, it’s Mrs. B.” She sat down beside me and materialized a fan out of nowhere, which she began waving in rhythmic motion in front of her face. “I told the reverend that they needed to set the thermostat to seventy. He insists on keeping it at a boiling seventy-eight. He likes it so hot in here it makes me wonder who he’s really working for.” She pointed down to the ground. “Course, maybe he’s just tryin’ to avoid what happened at poor Earnest Trip’s funeral. I’d never seen so many bosom buttons popping out in my life.”

Bosom buttons?

I once again found myself holding in laughter as she turned her head and gave a pointed stare at the ladies she’d just threatened. Now I really wanted to turn around.

The atmosphere in the sanctuary shifted as a man walked in wearing a designer suit. I heard whispers all around me all asking the same questions.

“What’s he doing here?”

“I can’t believe he’s here?”

It took me a second to recognize that it was my boss, Jennings Abernathy. I still hadn’t met him face to face, but one of our interviews had been over Skype. From what Nadia had described, him showing up was the equivalent of a Montague showing up at a Capulet’s funeral.

“Oh, dear.” Mrs. B began moving her fan faster as she patted my leg. “Get your popcorn out, sweetie. It’s about to be a show.”

My eyes shot to Billy and when I saw the look on his face, I almost sprang from the wooden bench to rush to his side. I had to remind myself that his family’s rivalries were none of my business. Billy Comfort was none of my business.

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