Chapter 17

Billie June pulled the door closed, then tried the handle a second time to make sure it was locked. With Lynn and Loraine both being at the hospital, it had fallen to her to take charge.

She walked to her bright red Toyota SUV and climbed in. Adjusting the air-conditioning, she waited until a cool stream of air was blowing before shifting the truck into drive. She was headed home, anxious to tell her husband about being in charge for a third day.

She could do Lynn's job with one hand tied behind her back, she decided. Of course, Lynn had showed up and worked that morning. But she had left around ten in the morning and put Billie June in charge.

Her husband was impressed, she could see that. He was always joking about how dumb women were. Of course, to be fair to Teddy, the majority of men in the south that she knew were predisposed to that belief. She was even bringing paperwork home in Lynn's old briefcase to work on tonight. Not that she needed to, just to show him she was smarter that he thought. Maybe he would finally give her the respect she deserved.

She turned her truck in the direction of the supermarket. She was thinking about buying TV dinners to serve her family tonight. Teddy would be furious but her boys would love it. She could plead exhaustion. She been married to Teddy for ten-years and had never gotten away with serving TV dinners.

She would do it. She would serve him a TV dinner. Pulling into an empty space, she shifted into park and looked around the lot.

It was already full. Since it was after five, she was not surprised. Hopping out, she walked towards the store thinking about her husband's face when she served him TV dinners.

She grabbed a cart and headed down the frozen aisle. She paused to gaze around the dozens of glass freezer doors when she spotted Lynn, looking in the frozen juice section. She walked up and lightly bumped Lynn's cart. "How’s Loraine?"

Lynn grinned at her friend. "Grouchy as a bear. How did everything go?"

"Good." Billie June assured her. "I used your briefcase to bring some work home."

Lynn stared at Billie June confused. "There's no work to bring home.

" Billie June's face turned a bright red. "I know. I just wanted to impress Teddy."

Lynn grinned at the other woman. "That's funny, Billie June."

"You don’t think it’s wrong. God says pride goes before a fall." Billie June asked anxiously.

“I’m sure God did not have Teddy in mind when he said that. What are you doing in this section anyway? I thought Teddy wouldn't eat frozen food."

"Well, I'm giving him TV dinners tonight." Billie June declared, reaching in for a man's size meat loaf dinner.

Lynn patted Billie June on the back. "You're getting independent sugar. Teddy will hardly recognize you."

"What are you looking for?"

"I've got to pick up some frozen orange juice. Edgar likes to make his own juice."

"At least your man cooks." Billie June said enviously.

"Edgar does love to cook but I keep reminding you that Edgar grew up in Michigan. His mom is a devoted woman's libber."

Billie June placed her foot on the bottom of the basket and looked at her boss. "So, do you think Loraine leaned a lesson?"

"About investigating the murder?"

"Yes."

"Nooo, she's more determined then ever to find out who killed Warren Jones."

"The sheriff will probably arrest her then." Billie June said hopefully.

"Don't bet on it, my dear. I've always thought that Dwight has a soft spot in his heart for Loraine."

Billie June gasped and stared at Lynn. "He's married."

"So." Lynn said, and then glanced at her friend. "I forget how naive you are."

Billie June chewed her lip. "I’ll pray for his soul."

"You do that and while you're at it, pray for mine." Lynn chuckled.

Tears welled up in Billie June's eyes as she looked at Lynn. "You don't think he'll go to hell. The sheriff, I mean?"

Lynn walked over and gave her a hug. "Don't worry so much about other people, Billie June. Buy your husband a frozen dinner and I’ll see you in the morning."