Free Unknown by Unknown

running of so large a household was an arduous undertaking, and Rachel Coppage thought herself entitled to half an hour's rest each afternoon before she began preparations for supper for the seven of them. This was always a major business because the children were sometimes finicky -one wouldn't touch collard greens, another couldn't abide fish - and Larry himself almost gagged at the smell of baked sweet potatoes. And of course the baby had to be fed separately. The children, who were noisy enough at other times, seemed hardly to breathe between six-thirty and seven, when their mother's bedroom door was closed and locked. Even the baby slept peacefully in its wicker bassinet at the foot of the bed for that half hour, and after taking the phone off its hook, Larry sat in the den to read the Birmingham News front to back.
    When Rachel woke this early Wednesday evening, she rose from the bed, straightened the covers placidly and kissed the baby, which woke softly at the touch of its mother's lips. Then she sat before her dresser, and stared at herself in the mirror. This was not mere vanity, but a part of her routine which she considered absolutely necessary for waking up; for Rachel Coppage, it was the most delicious two minutes of the day.
    While she sat on the little wicker bench, with her hands folded in her lap, thinking only that she felt very pleasant indeed after her short nap, she noticed the necklace that Larry had brought back to her from the Howells'. He had laid it atop her jewellery case. She stared at it, still wondering what could have possessed Jo Howell to send it over to her. Usually when Rachel got a piece of jewellery as a gift, it was a rhinestone clip in the shape of a poodle or something like that; this piece seemed very stylish, but also very peculiar. She was almost positive she had never seen another like it.
    It occurred to Rachel suddenly that maybe it was really Sarah that had given it to her and that Larry had misunderstood. Rachel liked Sarah, but because Rachel couldn't stand Dean it had not been possible for the two women to become close. Sarah realised this and had not pushed the relationship. But why would Sarah send her a present out of the blue - unless it was to thank her for the two casseroles that she had carried over on the day after Dean got back from tlje Fort Rucca infirmary. It was the kind of thing that Rachel would have done for almost anybody in town, but maybe no one else had done it and Sarah felt grateful to her. Rachel felt better about the gift when she allowed herself to think that Sarah had sent it over. Rachel liked the necklace and wanted to keep it.
    She picked it up, and weighed it in her hand. It was heavier than she had remembered. It looked to be real gold, but that was impossible of course; the Howells didn't have money, and there was no reason for Rachel to think that even if they did have any they would be spending it on gifts for her. They ought to be buying themselves a car first, for instance.
    Rachel brought the chain close to her eyes, looking for the clasp, for it was very small and she had trouble locating it. It seemed just another two links, and she couldn't figure out at first how it worked: there was no pin or spring or screw. She touched it lightly with her finger, and to her great surprise, the catch - or whatever it was - flew open, and the necklace came apart in her hands. She lifted it around her neck, wondering how she was going to get it back together, when it suddenly snapped shut, just as mysteriously. Well, she said to herself, / sure do wish every
    piece of jewellery I had went on and came off this easy ...
    The pendant felt just a little heavier than was entirely comfortable over Rachel's breast but she considered, as she looked into the mirror, that it became her marvellously. She sighed, and thought the unexpected acquisition a very happy one. In the mirror she caught the reflection of the clock behind her, and realised that she was a