Down Home and Deadly

didn’t say much. Just that she was eating with Elliott today because they had some things to discuss , and that Zac would bring the girls and come for lunch and basketball as usual. Now you know as much as I do.”
    “How did she look?”
    Mama glanced around the auditorium then back at me with a frown. “What do you mean, ‘H ow did she look? ’ She looked normal.”
    “Did she seem excited? Nervous? Happy? Or all of the above?”
    “Jenna, you’re a darling girl , and I love you very much, but you’re slightly batty sometimes. Actually, she told me over the phone last night. But when she slipped into church a few minutes late this morning, she looked normal. That’s the best I can do.”
    “I inherited my battiness from someone,” I said with a cheeky grin. “Either I got it from you or you married a batty man. Take your choice.” I patted her shoulder.
    Without cracking a smile, she retorted, “You got it from your dad’s great - uncle Jed. He was crazy as a Bessie bug.”
    I stared at her , and she started laughing. I joined her. The origin of my “battiness” might be in question. But there was no doubt where I got my sense of humor.
    *****
    “Carly? It’s Jenna. Call me when you get a chance.” I hated leaving a message, but I was dying of curiosity. Me and the cat. I patted Neuro, who stretched and yawned before returning to licking her paw.
    Okay. Just me.
    The phone rang , and I snatched it up. “Hello?”
    “Jenna? What’s wrong?” Carly sounded groggy as if she’d just awakened. I glanced at the clock. Nope. It was ten o’clock on Sunday night. Not too late to call.
    “Nothing’s wrong. At least, nothing’s wrong with me. Is something wrong with you?” I was babbling. “I mean, we missed you at lunch. M ama said you were with Elliott.” Suggestive pause.
    Silence on the other end of the line.
    “Is he still there?”
    “No.”
    “You want to talk?” Sometimes being blunt is the only way to find out what you want to know.
    Silence. Then a hesitant, “If you do.”
    “I can be at your house in . . . ” I decided I was decent in my sweats and a T-shirt, “ . . . ten minutes.” Who cared how I looked? My sister might have just gotten engaged. I had to know.
    “Why?” Carly sounded bewildered.
    “So you can tell me whatever it is you can’t tell me on the phone.”
    “Jenna, what in the world is wrong with you? You’re acting as crazy as —”
    “Daddy’s great - uncle Jed, I know. Mama’s already told me.”
    “I must be dreaming.” Carly had progressed—or regressed—from bewildered to completely befuddled. However, when she opened the door for me ten minutes later, she looked so normal that I had second thoughts about my engagement theory.
    “Let’s keep it low. The kids have school tomorrow, you know. They need their sleep. Besides . . . ” She glanced around as if expecting a twin to pop up from behind the couch. “I don’t want them to know about this right now.”
    That concerned face was not the face of a newly engaged woman. “Car, what’s going on?”
    She looked over her shoulder at the kids’ rooms. “I can’t really talk about it.”
    Suddenly , I remembered our conversation the day we played checkers on the porch. “Is this about Travis?” I mouthed.
    She nodded and turned away. “But I don’t know anything for sure. I should know everything in a few days , and I’ll tell you then.”
    I knew she wouldn’t lie to me , so no doubt she didn’t know anything for sure . But the conversation I’d overheard on our trip to Jonesboro told me that she knew something she wasn’t telling me. And unless I was mistaken, her eyes were red-rimmed. Short of whining and begging her to tell me, I had no choice but to give her a hug. “Fine. Tell me when you find out . . . for sure.”
    “I will,” she said and guided me smoothly to the door. No doubt before I lost the tenuous hold I had on my curiosity.
    *****
    “Pass the popcorn.” I nudged Alex. We were watching one of my favorite movies, Princess Bride .
    “As you wish.” Alex handed me the nearly empty bowl.
    I elbowed him in the ribs. “Oh, that was cute.” The movie had just come to the part where Grandpa explained that every time Westley said , “ As you wish , ” to Buttercup , what he really meant was “ I love you . ”
    “I really do love you. You know that , don’t you?” Alex turned toward me.
    “ If you really loved me , you would tell your boss that you’re