Free Thirty-One and a Half Regrets by Denise Grover Swank

.”
    I left her standing in the middle of the shop, pale-faced and in obvious shock, but for once I didn’t care. And if that didn’t make me wicked, I wasn’t sure what would.
    Neely Kate was sitting at my potting table, her eyes as big as quarters. “Did that just happen?” she whispered.
    I had invited her the night before, but with all the commotion, I hadn’t seen her sneak in. My legs started to quiver as I nodded.
    She hopped off the stool and grabbed my arm. “Let’s go out and get some fresh air.”
    I let her pull me out the back door and Muffy followed us. I leaned against the brick wall, reminded of the night of Momma’s visitation when Joe and I had ducked out to escape the stares of the people who were certain that I’d bashed in my mother’s head and then hid the rolling pin in the folds of my skirt.
    “Thanks for coming early, Neely Kate. You didn’t have to.”
    “And miss that confrontation? That was the best thing I’ve seen in…well, ever .”
    Muffy lay on the concrete next to my feet, looking up at me in confusion.
    “It was horrible.” I squeezed my eyes, hoping all the mean, vile things I’d just said would somehow disappear. “I’ve never talked to anyone that way.”
    She grabbed my arm. “Well, then that was a long time coming, wasn’t it? Besides, what about all the ugly things she said to you? She was much more hateful than you would ever even consider being. How can you work with her every day?”
    “I’m not with her every day. I’m usually out at the job sites.”
    “Well, there you have it. You can just stay away from the shop,” she teased, but my heart ached.
    Spewing my anger had made me feel good temporarily, but now I felt hollow and sick to my stomach. “What am I going to do?” I turned to Neely Kate, her bright blue eyes gazing at me while her long blonde curls blew in the wind behind her. “I should apologize.”
    Her eyes flew open. “No, you will not! Are you really sorry you told her how you felt?”
    “Well, no. But I am sorry I was so hateful. I regret that part.”
    “I suspect that’s the only language Violet Beauregard understands.”
    I sighed. “It still doesn’t make it right.”
    “I suppose.” She was silent for several seconds. “I heard about Daniel Crocker getting out.”
    “Yeah, I’m surprised so many people are out front waiting for this press conference with a hardened criminal on the loose.”
    She stepped away from the wall. “You don’t know, do you?”
    “Know what?”
    She turned to look at me, studying my face. “A good portion of Henryetta supports Daniel Crocker. He provided a lot of jobs that disappeared after he was arrested. Some people are happy he escaped. They think he’s innocent and that it was all a setup. You may have seen his evil side, but he was an excellent schmoozer and an even better liar. Heck, people loved him so much that I suspect he would have been the next mayor if he’d decided to run.”
    “You’re kidding.” But I wasn’t too surprised when I stopped to think about it. Thomas had pretty much told me the same thing, only he’d added that a lot of people blamed his arrest on me.
    “I wish I was.” She sighed and pressed her back to the wall again. “Aren’t you worried?”
    “It makes me nervous knowing he’s on the loose, but Mason says the state police think he’s in Louisiana.” I paused. “Mason is taking this afternoon off from work to come to the press conference and spend the rest of the day with me.”
    “Aww…”
    I shook my head, but I couldn’t stop my grin.
    “Will you just date the guy already?”
    “I can’t, Neely Kate. Not yet.”
    “I’m an old married woman now. I need to live vicariously though you.”
    I laughed and bumped into her arm. “Yeah, you’re about to hit your four-month anniversary. That’s like forever .”
    “When time does Joe show up?”
    “I don’t know.” My chest tightened and my heart sped up. “I think right before