Free Peggy Dulle - Liza Wilcox 02 - Apple Pots and Funeral Plots by Peggy Dulle Page A

the door and then turned. “You might want to talk to Edith.”
    “Who’s Edith?”
    “She is Sally and James’s only daughter. I think Danielle spent quite a bit of time with her.”
    “That’s a good idea. Where would I find her?”
    “She’s our town librarian. You’ll find her at the library most days.”
    “Thanks, Joe.”
    “You’re welcome, Liza. Enjoy the rest of your dinner.”
    I let Joe out and then went back to my dinner. At least I had a new lead to follow tomorrow. Maybe Edith could shed some light on why Danielle came to Clainsworth.
    Just then my phone rang. It was Tom. Butterflies formed in my stomach and a wave of excitement ran over my body, just like it had the first time we’d met. What a wonderful way to end an evening - speaking to him.
    I lay down on the bed and pushed the button on my phone. “Hello, Tom.”
    “What the hell were you thinking, Liza!” He bellowed.

Chapter 9
     
    I sat up in bed and pushed the “end call” button on my phone. Nobody yells at me. How dare he? The butterflies in my stomach turned to rocks and I paced around the room. Four more times he called and I picked up the phone and ended the call. Then the phone in the room rang. I picked it up, heard Tom’s voice, and put the receiver back down, and went to take a long hot bath. I soaked for a long time soothing my ruffled nerves and seething emotions. I knew that he cared abou t me and I’m sure that he’d heard about my accident, but yelling never worked with me. My parents learned early that the more they yelled, the less I listened.
    Finally the water turned cold and I had to get out. I wrapped myself in one of the hotel’s white terry cloth towels and sat down on the bed. I’d answer the next call, and as politely as I could explain about the yelling thing. Communication was key in any relationship, so he might as well learn early what pushes my buttons. There was a knock at the door. Tom couldn’t have made it up here that fast, could he?
    I cracked the door open and saw Joe, grinning.
    “What?”
    He picked up a piece of paper and read it to me. “Could you please answer your phone? Tom promises not to yell anymore.” Joe laughed and looked up at me. “It’s getting late and he said he’d keep calling me if you don’t answer your phone.”
    “I’ll answer it next time he calls.”
    “Thanks, Liza.”
    I closed the door and went back to the bed. My phone rang immediately.
    “Hello.”
    “Okay, I’m sorry I yelled.” His voice was calm and his tone light.
    “I hope so. I don’t respond well to that.”
    “I figured that out after the sixth hang-up.”
    “It took six?”
    He laughed lightly, “I’m a slow learner.”
    “What’s the problem, Tom?”
    “Why didn’t you call me when you got into a major accident and totaled your car?” His tone elevated.
    My eyes went wide. “Are you yelling again?”
    “No,” he said calmly. “I was just worried about you.”
    “I’m fine. How did you know that I was in an accident?”
    Silence.
    “Tom?” The silence told me he was trying to think up a lie that I might buy. “The truth, Tom, how did you know?”
    “Okay, I put a flag on your car with the DMV. The local cops reported the accident and the DMV called me.”
    “Is that one of those extra bonuses of being a cop?”
    “It does come with some benefits.”
    “Does that mean if I got a speeding ticket, they would have informed you?”
    “Sure.”
    I suddenly felt angry. “How dare you keep tabs on me like that?”
    “Easy, Liza . Don’t get upset again. I could get the ticket fixed for you. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
    “Maybe.”
    “Let’s start this conversation again. Hi, Liza . I heard you were in a major auto accident. How are you feeling?”
    “Well, thanks for asking. I’m fine. I’ve got a few bruises and my body aches but I’m okay. And by the way, Shelby ’s okay, too.”
    “I didn’t even think about Shelby . I was just worried about you. Is she