Read Online Bad Hair Day 4 - Body Wave by Nancy J. Cohen - Free Book Online Page A

old argument. Was this how servants were regarded, as inanimate pieces of furniture?

"Focusing on other things will take my mind off Kimberly," Stella went on, standing ramrod stiff. "Until that man is behind bars again, there's little else I can do!"

"Do you believe Kim's husband is guilty?" Marla blurted.

Stella glared at her. "Have you been listening to our conversation?"

_No, I'm just a doorpost._ "Miriam is getting agitated. I'm in charge of her health while I'm here."

"Then tend to your duties and keep out of our family affairs. Bye, Mother. I'll be back in time for dinner." Whirling on her heel, she marched out the door.

Marla noticed the butler, who swung the door wide for her, had stood by like a statue during their dialogue.

"Idiots, all of them," Miriam muttered.

"What's that?" Marla asked, wheeling Miriam toward the front door. She nodded at the butler as they breezed past. A car was just turning into the circular driveway. Marla wouldn't mind calling that shiny red Mercedes her own.

"There's Florence." Miriam leaned forward, waving.

"Would you like to walk over?" Marla assisted the old lady up from the chair and supported her as they staggered toward the elegantly dressed blonde who'd emerged from the car. Stella, midway to the garage, did an about-face and headed toward them.

"Well? Did Stanley give you the albums?" Stella asked her older sister. Seeing them side by side, Marla noted Florence was a couple inches taller and more svelte than her sibling. She wore an expensive ivory silk suit with matching heels. Pearl accessories completed her ensemble.

"No, he insisted on keeping them. I told you he wouldn't be agreeable." She turned a wary glance on Marla. "Who is this?"

"This is Miss Shore," Miriam said, leaning heavily on Marla's arm. "She's taking over for Agnes on Sundays."

"Mother, you shouldn't be outside. It's too cold for you."

"I felt she needed some fresh air," Marla cut in. "Maybe a trip to the mall would appeal to her. It would be less windy."

Both women looked horrified at the idea, making Marla wonder if either of them ever took their mother anywhere.

"How are we going to get those albums from Stan?" Stella asked her sister. "I'd hoped to start working on them tomorrow."

"Give it up, pie-face. Stan won't give us the time of day now that Kimberly is gone."

Miriam swayed. Marla threw an arm around her waist, but not before Stella shrieked, "She's falling!"

"I've got her," Marla said reassuringly, guiding Miriam to the wheelchair. Perhaps it was a mistake to push the old lady too soon. Her leg muscles must be weak from inactivity. Either that, or the conversation was disturbing her.

"I think Mrs. Pearl is upset by the recent tragedy," Marla said, hoping to gain information. "Losing a granddaughter is heartbreaking."

"Yeah? Mother wasn't so broken up when she screamed at Kimberly to leave the house and never to return," Stella snapped.

Florence sniffed. "That's because your daughter was so greedy. She couldn't wait for her share of Daddy's fortune. Not even Mother's allowance could satisfy her expensive tastes."

"She wanted a change from that neighborhood with all the _goyim._ You can't blame her for wanting to move up." "Not at the expense of her marriage."

Marla tried to fathom the dynamics of their conversation. Florence seemed to be attacking Kimberly's values while Stella was defending them. Why was the elderly aunt coming down so hard on the dead girl? Did it have anything to do with Florence having been in love with Kim's father?

She wheeled Miriam away to a discrete distance, on a slight rise where the driveway curved toward a tree-lined avenue leading to the obscured entrance beyond the woods. It was far enough that she wouldn't appear to be eavesdropping yet could still hear their faint voices.

"Morons," Miriam muttered. "The poor thing is gone. Why won't they let her rest in peace?"

Marla didn't respond, too intent on listening. Her