Read Online Vi Agra Falls by Mary Daheim - Free Book Online

today!”
    â€œToday?” Judith said, puzzled.
    â€œI meant to bring it yesterday,” Vivian explained, leaning against Joe, “but I didn’t have time. So I woke up early this morning, and here I am. I know, I’m usually one for sleeping in. I can’t believe it’s not even ten o’clock!”
    â€œAh…,” Joe began, gently trying to move away from Herself. “It’s ten o’clock at night .”
    Vivian looked startled. “It is? Hunh.” She stumbled a bit as she turned to look outside. “No wonder it’s so dark. I just thought it was one of those typical gloomy days in this part of the world.”
    â€œBe careful going home,” Judith said, starting to close the door.
    â€œHome.” Herself looked blank. “Oh, yes, home .” She giggled. “Show me the way to go…” Singing softly, she managed to go down the stairs and turn in the direction of the driveway.
    â€œGood Lord,” Judith murmured, locking the door. “I hope she’s relatively sober for her party tomorrow night.”
    Joe was admiring the magnum of champagne. “I’ll bet this bottle of bubbly cost at least five bills.”
    â€œAre you impressed?” Judith’s tone was caustic.
    â€œWhat?” Joe looked up from reading the label. “Well…it was thoughtful.”
    â€œI suppose,” Judith mumbled. She went back into the kitchen to empty the dishwasher.
    â€œI gather,” Joe said wryly as he set the magnum on the counter, “you don’t want to pop the top and have a toast?”
    â€œThe only thing I’d like to toast right now is Herself,” Judith retorted. “It’s been a long day. I’m tired. I’m too pooped to pop. Anything,” she added, darting her husband a pointed glance.
    â€œYou’re being petty,” Joe said, forced to raise his voice over the clatter of plates that his wife was stacking in the cupboard. “You don’t have anything to be jealous about.”
    Face frozen, Judith clamped her mouth shut. Joe regarded her with reproachful eyes. “Okay,” she finally admitted, “that’s probably true. But I still don’t like having Vivian around here all the time. I always sense trouble in the making.”
    â€œCome on, get real,” Joe said, exasperated. “I keep trying to tell you, stop fussing. Don’t look for trouble.”
    Judith grimaced. “I’ll try not to.”
    Joe’s expression softened. “Try harder,” he said, putting an arm around her waist.
    Looking into those magic green eyes, Judith managed a small smile. “Okay. I will. I’ll think of positive things, like”—her smile grew wider—“you.”
    But as they went upstairs to the third floor family quarters, Judith could have sworn she heard footsteps. Not real, not audible, not visible, but something tangible, as if trouble lurked in the shadows.

5
    S hould I get all gussied up?” Gertrude asked Judith late Monday afternoon. “Where’s my good dress? Did you find my rouge?”
    â€œYour good dress,” Judith said patiently, “is wool. It’s ninety-three degrees outside. Why don’t you wear that new housecoat Renie and Bill gave you for Christmas last year? You’ve never taken it out of the box.”
    Gertrude scowled. “I was saving it for something special—like my funeral. But I’ll bet Vivian’s going to put on a real good party. The housecoat’s in the bottom drawer of my bureau.”
    Dutifully, Judith went into the small bedroom next to the small living room and the even smaller kitchenette. The gift box wasn’t in the bottom drawer—or anywhere in the bureau. She finally found it under the bed. Collecting rouge, lipstick, and a pair of blue rhinestone earrings that would go well with the blue, green, and yellow floral housecoat, she asked her mother