"Where's Heather?"
"After the church sale, she went to a movie with Nancy's daughter."
"Oh, that's nice. Allison or Jessica?"
"The one who just got married."
"Jessica."
"Sure. Answer my question."
"What did they go see?"
Iris puts the teapot down.
"I don't know. Why aren't you answering me?"
Althea is quiet. She puts her bag on the table and removes her hat.
"You were supposed to be back from Dr. Van Austen's at one. I was worried."
"I'm sorry you were concerned. See, though? I'm fine." Althea smiles at the teapot. "This is very pretty. Did you pick this out?"
"Heather found it. Althea!" Iris has her hands on her hips and she stands in front of her sister.
When Iris is trying to hide something from her sister, she huffs and puffs and pretends offense. When Althea is trying to hide something from her sister, she changes the subject and is extra sweet. The tactics work on other people. They do not work on each other.
Iris's unfounded concern changed to irritation and now it is anger. She does something not done in this house. She curses.
"Althea Elizabeth Wight, where the hell were you?"
Not one of the greater swear words, but strong in a house where none are said at all.
Althea sighs. "I took the car to Heather's house and killed her husband."
Looking at Iris, it seems time has stopped. She does not blink, and even her breathing seems to pause.
She speaks a full minute later.
"You...you did?"
"Yes." Althea delicately removes her driving gloves and puts them in her bag.
"Oh." says Iris. "Well." She pulls up another chair and sits. She still does not blink.
Althea reaches out and gently takes her sister's hand. Her voice never changes in tone or urgency.
"She can come and stay with us now. Mrs. Herman's son said Calais Regional is hiring. She can live in Corydalis' room and leave that awful, smelly place and that awful parasite of a man and be really happy."
She might have been discussing the pretty teapot.
"Something had to be done, Iris. I think it's a service, don't you?"
Iris stares at her sister.
Then she blinks.
"They have neighbors..."
"There were no cars in the next driveway, and all of the shades were drawn. The other house is empty. It's a little, dead end dirt road, far from the main highway. You remember? Heather told us that when they moved there."
"I remember. Are you sure no one saw you?"
"No one, dear. Don't worry about that. It's Heather that matters. When do you think she'll be back? Not for a while?"
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