Sour Grapes

first time Savannah could almost see a tiny bit of a paunch going on beneath that middy blouse of hers.
    “I’m in agony,” Ryan said from his chaise. “Savannah, I’ve never eaten so much in my life. You’re a delightful sadist.”
    “Sadomasochist, you mean,” she said, holding her own tummy. “I put away more than any of you. Remember, I have to taste everything... several times... at each stage of cooking just to make sure I’m getting it right.”
    “You got it right,” Dirk said. “You got it so right. You’re my kind o’ woman.”
    “One who gives you free food and does half of your work for you?”
    “Exactly.” He stopped cranking for a moment and looked over at her driveway. “By the way, where are those new wheels I bought you? I wanted the guys here to see ‘em.”
    Savannah laughed and shook her head. She was never going to hear the end of the tire saga. The fine city fathers had decided they didn’t owe her a new set, because she shouldn’t have been “interfering” with a police pursuit at the time hers were ruined. She was lucky that they didn’t sue or prosecute her ... or so they said.
    So, Dirk the Tightwad of the Ages had forked over the big bucks from his own pocket. Savannah didn’t feel too guilty. Long ago she had decided that he was probably independently wealthy since he had a fulltime job and seldom spent a single cent on anything. He could afford it.
    And they were nice ones—a new set of radial red-walls, just like she had asked for. “ They’re underneath my sister right now,” she said. “Atlanta drove to Hollywood to do her backup singing gig for Dixie Lynn today. She left before I was even out of bed and should be home anytime. I can’t wait to hear how it went. Thanks a million, John, for arranging it for her.”
    John groaned and nodded, but he kept his eyes closed. ‘You’re welcome. It was my pleasure.”
    “And I have to thank you guys, too, for those referrals in Georgia,” she said. “I’m setting up appointments for Atlanta to go to as soon as she gets home—a counselor who specializes in eating disorders and a support group, too.”
    “Do you think she’ll stick with it?” Tammy asked. “I hope so. She’s seen Angela twice this week, and she’s getting past the idea that it’s a shameful thing to talk to a pro. One step at a time.”
    “She’s lucky she has you for a sister,” Tammy said, giving Savannah an affectionate smile.
    “I’m lucky to have her. I have to tell you, guys, if it wasn’t for my little sister smacking Catherine Villa with her guitar, I honestly don’t think I’d be here right now. That gal was going to kill me... then and there... no doubt about it.”
    “Well, she’s gonna get hers,” Dirk said. “That busted leg ain’t settin’ right, I heard, and she’s gonna have to have it operated on. Not to mention the charges against her.”
    “I understand,” Ryan said, “that they’re cutting a deal for Anthony Villa, that he’ll probably receive a light sentence and be back with his sons and vineyard in a few years.”
    “That’s right.” Dirk lifted the lid of the churn and looked inside. “Did you hear? The results of the tests are back. The chemical used to kill Barbie was an insecticide, like we thought. A bug bomb called, Pests No More. Appropriate, huh?”
    “Be nice,” Savannah warned him. He dipped his finger in the ice cream and she swatted his hand.
    “And here’s the clincher,” he added. “The baby wasn’t even Anthony’s after all. Trent Gorton was the father.”
    “So, Barbie had the Villas dancing on strings for nothing.” Savannah shook her head. “Do you think we’ll get Catherine for Francie’s death?”
    “Yeah, I think between you and Atlanta testifying to what she said when she came after you... it’ll be enough. You Reid gals are pretty convincing with those big blue eyes and that sweet Southern drawl. You’re so deceptively innocent-looking.”
    She batted her lashes and deepened her dimples. “Why, thank you, kind sir. Want some more ice cream?”
    “Do bears—?”
    “Here.” She shoved a bowl at him.
    The purr of a well-tuned motor caught their attention as Savannah’s Mustang pulled into her driveway.
    “Oh, good!” Savannah exclaimed as her sister climbed out of the car and walked over to the patio where they were. “Atlanta’s back! She must be so excited... on cloud nine... her dream come true... a—”
    “It sucked! It so-o-o