Read Online The Obituary Society by Jessica L. Randall - Free Book Online Page B

Auburn.  It seemed that the old farmers around here worked, in heat or extreme cold, until the day they died. 
    A story Lila had heard from Ada flashed through her mind, of a farmer who had died of natural causes while plowing his field.  His wife had driven by and seen his tractor making graceful, repetitive circles.  Around and around.  The image was beautiful in a way. 
    She checked herself.  If she didn’t watch it she would be a member of the society within weeks.  Perhaps she was one of those awkward types too, come to think of it.  Maybe that would explain why she and Max could never seem to have a normal conversation. 
    Lila blocked the door.  “Where is Juniper today?”
    “Sleepover,” he answered.  “With an actual friend.  Apparently this one doesn’t mind being told what to do.”
    “ You must be proud.”  She smiled, then paused, tilting her head toward the door.  “Hey, today’s not a good day—in there.  Oven troubles.”
    “ Okay.”  He nodded as if he fully understood.
    “ But could you—I've been thinking it over, and I don't think lending me your shoes counts as a date.”
    “ Sorry?”
    “ Yeah, are you available, say, now?”
    “ S-sure.  What did you have in mind?”
    “ I have to make an emergency trip to the grocery store.”
    “ Oh.”  His mouth turned down slightly.  “And that counts as a date?”   
    “ It's just, I don’t want to drive that beast through town again.”
    “ I fully support that decision,” Max said.  Lila handed him the keys, and he looked down at them.  “We could take my truck.”
    “ If you don't mind . . . it might help if I watched you.  This may come as a surprise, but it's been a very long time since I drove a stick, and I have a feeling there's no escaping this old beast.  Our fates are intertwined.”
    He shrugged.  “Okay.  I just hope Owen's is open.”
    They climbed into the truck and slammed the heavy doors.  Dust hung in the air and settled on the old vinyl seats.  For a long minute they sat in silence, listening to the loud rumble of the engine and the crackle of the driveway.  Then Max leaned forward, his fingers fumbling with the radio dial until it settled on Lynard Skynard.  She wouldn't have known except that he asked her if it was okay.
    “ Ada's lost without her oven.”  Lila raised her voice to compensate for the loud engine.  “I told her I'd make something for the bake sale without actually baking.”    
    The bake sale is serious business around here.”  Max's tone suggested this was territory he knew well.  “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?  I mean, these women can smell “store-bought” goods from a mile away .  My grandma's that way too.”
    “ That seems to be an offensive term around here.  It won’t exactly be store-bought,” she said, tipping up her chin and turning toward the window.  She stared at the flags that hung from every lamp post along main street.  “I'm going to buy some of the ingredients, but Ada’s strawberries are home grown.  Does that count for something?”  Her confidence was waning, and she was beginning to sound desperate.  “I have to pull this off.”
    They parked at Owen's Grocery and Lila nearly fell out of the truck.  She flew into the store, Max striding along behind her, his hands in his pockets. 
    Okay, a friend of mine used to make this strawberry dessert.  You just chop the strawberries up and add Cool-Whip, then put it in a crust and freeze it.”  Her hands made the chopping and mixing actions as she spoke.  She was talking to herself more than anything, but she caught a look of doubt on Max’s face she didn’t care for. 
    “If I hurry, it could freeze by the time the booth's up, right?”
    She found the coolers at the back, opened a glass case, and grabbed a tub of Cool-Whip.  Max grabbed her arm with a curious sense of urgency, as if she were about to pull the red wire instead of the green.  She froze,