Free Rest in Peace by Frances Devine Page A

Jane took the back way to Cedar Chapel instead of the main highway.
    I had a pretty good idea why.
    As we drew near the private road that led up to Pennington House, Miss Jane slowed.
    “Jane, what are you doing?” Miss Georgina’s voice held an impatient whine.
    “Oh, I thought with Aggie in Caffee Springs for a while, maybe we could take a peek at Pennington House.”
    “Now, Miss Jane. You know Miss Aggie wants us to wait until the opening so we’ll be surprised.”
    “Oh, all right. But I think it’s silly. A hotel is a hotel. And a restaurant is a restaurant. What’s the big secret?’
    She sped up but looked longingly up the hill as we passed the road.
    When we got back to the lodge, Mabel met us at the kitchen door.
    “Bobby is bringing my little Sarah this weekend. I’m so excited.”
    “Wonderful. When will you bring her to meet us?” I smiled at the happiness in her eyes.
    “Bobby’s going to enroll her in school Monday, and she’ll ride the bus over here afterwards. Are you sure you don’t mind?” She tossed me a worried glance.
    “Of course I’m sure. It’ll be nice to have a child here.” I said it with more conviction than I actually felt. But the alternative was to lose Mabel, and that simply wouldn’t do.
    Miss Georgina and Miss Jane headed up to their rooms to nap. Buster followed at my side and nudged my hand as I headed for my office. “What is it, boy? Cabin fever?”
    Buster smiled. Okay, I know dogs don’t smile. But mine does.
    I reached down and scratched him behind the ear. “I could use a walk, too.”
    At the word “walk,” Buster raced back into the kitchen and began tugging at his leash. I grabbed it before he could pull the hook from the wall and snapped it to his collar.
    Hoping to avoid Mrs. Miller, I headed in the other direction toward the park. There was only a scattering of people there, and they waved and went about their own business. With Buster running beside me, I jogged around the half-mile track, then did another round.
    Breathing heavily, I flopped down on a bench. How did I get so out of shape? I used to run five miles every morning. Of course, that was past tense. Surprise struck me. It hadbeen nearly two years since I’d exercised on a regular basis. Occasionally the seniors and I visited the fitness center, but most of the time I spent the whole hour in the hot tub. Well, that would change. I didn’t really have time to go to the fitness center every day. Maybe I should buy a treadmill. Then I could jog when I had a half hour or so to spare.
    Of course, treadmills were expensive. I weighed the pros and cons. My health won.
    The afternoon sun warmed me, and I yawned. “C’mon, Buster. Can’t go to sleep on a park bench. It would be just like Bob Turner to arrest me.”
    Miss Aggie pulled into the garage at the same time we got back to the lodge. I waved, then took Buster to the fenced backyard and removed his leash.
    I followed Miss Aggie inside. “Did you enjoy your lunch with Mr. Riley?”
    “I guess.” She shoved past me and went upstairs.
    Now what was wrong with her? I hoped she wasn’t ill. I stood in the foyer, not sure what to do. Sometimes I had to walk on eggshells where Miss Aggie was concerned. I didn’t want to intrude, but if she was ill, I needed to know.
    I went upstairs and tapped on her door.
    “Come in.”
    The fragrance of Chanel No. 5 wafted to my nostrils as I entered the room. At one time, the only concession Miss Aggie made to her wealth. Boy, had that ever changed.
    She stood beside her bed, cramming piles of clothing in her suitcase. Silk blouses spilled over the sides, and a mink stole sprawled over the top of everything.
    “Miss Aggie, where are you going?”
    “I’m going to Jefferson City to stay with Simon for a while.” Her nephew, Simon, was Corky’s father.
    “Oh. Is anything wrong? You’re not worried about something, are you?” The last time she took off for Simon’s on the spur of the moment was