Free A Peach of a Pair by Kim Boykin

us, or it has been for so long; this job won’t be easy. Emily can be vexing and confounding. Overbearing too, and those are her very best qualities.” Lurleen caught her breath but barely. “Sister has a jealous streak a mile wide, so believe me when I say she will make it her job to make you quit.”
    The girl stood extra straight and squared her shoulders. “I said I’d stay, and I meant it.”
    “You’re young and pretty, and I’m under no delusions that you’ll be here forever. But, if you’re going to take this job, I’ll ask one more promise. After I’m gone, I want you to stay with Emily for a while. She would never admit it, but Emily is going to need you.”
    “Of course, I’ll stay.” She nodded solemnly.
    “Just don’t leave the second I’m dead.”
    The girl’s head snapped back for a moment but her look said she had a sincere appreciation for Lurleen’s frankness, maybe even admiration. “I won’t. You have my word.”
    “All right then, you’re hired.”
    She looked surprised, shocked actually, which was a little disconcerting. Maybe Lurleen should have taken some more time, not hired the first person who walked through the door out of sheer desperation. But time was something Lurleen didn’t have.
    “Thank you. You won’t be sorry,” the girl promised.
    “I believe I won’t.”
    “When shall I start?” she asked.
    “Tomorrow morning, I suppose. Seven o’clock, if that’s all right with you. I can have Remmy send for your things if you like; of course I’ll cover the cost. Unless you want to go back to Columbia to fetch them yourself, say your good-b—” Lurleen’s breath was cut short. She closed her eyes and waited for the moment to pass. When she opened them, the girl was looking fearfully at her. “Don’t worry, Nettie Gilbert. I’m not dead yet. But listen to me, making this move sound so final.” Of course it was final. Death was final. “Columbia’s not so far, much closer than Alabama, that’s for sure.” Nettie didn’t laugh at Lurleen’s attempted humor.
    “Sending for my things would be lovely,” Nettie said, soundingrelieved that she wouldn’t have to go back to the college. “Then I can get right to work.”
    Lurleen had always loved puzzles, especially the walking, talking kind. And she took as much delight in knowing what made someone tick as she did the process of drawing them out. Odd, since Lurleen had been in her shell for so long, old long before her time. A crushing loss will do that, but that wasn’t what stole Lurleen’s youth. It was the anger she carried for so long, anger that didn’t go away when she started speaking to Emily again, that still resided in the hollow of her belly without a purpose. Carried so long, it was an immovable part of her.
    “That would indeed be lovely,” Lurleen said, looking forward to puzzling out Nettie Gilbert.
E MILY
    E mily developed her intimidating stare her first year of teaching, when she was stuck with a slow class full of hooligans. They were used to riding roughshod over everyone, much like Remmy Wilkes was accustomed to getting his fine way, but Emily could rein them in with a single look and have them shamefully contemplating their shoelaces in no time.
    But what did this pissant do? He just kept yammering, laughing like he was thoroughly entertained. Even crossed his arms to show he was unaffected by her look.
    “I believe it’s been a while, Miss Emily. Aren’t you about due for a checkup?” he asked.
    That did it.
    “Why Remmy Wilkes, it’s bad enough you practice your worthless medicine on my poor sister, while charging a pretty penny, I might add. But you have the gall to sit in my living room, drink my good tea, which I’m seeing now was a mistake to offer you, and drum up business? Well, I guess you have to pay for that fancy red car somehow,” Emily huffed.
    “Miss Emily, as much as you don’t want to believe it, I do care very much for you and for Miss Lurleen,” he