Thirteen Diamonds

them.
    After an eternity I got everything back into the folder and closed it. I crawled the few feet to the file cabinet and realized that it would take me too long to find the correct location for the folder in the drawer so I stuffed it into the front and pushed the drawer shut. What about my notes? I didn't have any pockets so I slid them down the front of my slacks.
    As I forced my creaky body to stand, two people entered the office.
    Carol Grant said, “Lillian, what are you doing here?”
    Albert said, “Mother, what in hell is going on?”

CHAPTER 10
     
    I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see Carol Grant's Mercedes when I arrived at Albert's farm for Sunday dinner. I should have expected that she would be the flavor of the week. It had become obvious the night before as they took turns chewing me out, their voices blending together in beautiful harmony.
    The only thing I could think of while they conducted their tirade was that it reminded me of the times I had bawled Albert out when, as a youngster he had done something naughty. Now the positions were reversed. I felt like a bad little girl.
    I had admitted to looking into Gerald's folder (Carol would have discovered that anyway since I had replaced it out of sequence and the contents were messed up) and contritely promised not to break into her office again, but I had not admitted to taking notes. I walked carefully so that the paper in my slacks wouldn't rustle. And after thinking about my disgrace during a sleepless night, I felt now that I should have put up a better defense.
    Sandra and Winston came out to greet me. I gave them both hugs and Sandra said, “Gogi, you must have been really bad last night. I've never seen Dad so upset. And you know that Carol Grant is here?”
    I nodded.
    “Dad told me before she came that if he and she weren't such good friends, Carol would kick you out of Silver Acres.”
    “So he's taking the credit for saving me, eh? I'd like to see her try it.”
    Sandra put a restraining hand on my arm. “If I may offer a word of advice, I think it would be a good idea if you were sweet to both of them.”
    I reluctantly agreed that she gave good counsel, although I didn't say so. We got my baked goods out of the car and walked toward the house.
    Sandra said, casually, “By the way, Mark called me yesterday.”
    “Mark?” The name sounded familiar. “Oh, you mean the guy at the bar. How did he get your number?”
    “Well, somewhere in our conversation I must have mentioned that I went to UNC because he looked me up in the alumni directory.”
    “Very enterprising. But of course you don't go out with bartenders.”
    Sandra had the decency to blush. “Gogi, he isn't just a bartender. But...but I did apologize to him for my behavior. And he did ask me out.”
    As we went into the house I put on my best smile and my humblest demeanor. I kissed Albert, shook hands with Carol and immediately busied myself helping with dinner. They made no mention of my sins of the night before.
    Albert and Carol acted as if they'd known each other for a long time, with intimate smiles and touches and shared little jokes. I liked Carol better than Maria, even if she did think I was a few bricks shy of a full load and a potential danger to the community. For one thing, she wore more clothes than Maria and kept her shirt buttoned.
    At dinner, I tried to appear witty and intelligent, and above all, rational. I complimented Carol on her management of Silver Acres and her choice of cars, since we both drove Mercedes. She, in turn, praised my rolls and my apple pie.
    And my dog, King. She said, “He's such a beautiful dog. And I wouldn't expect him to be so gentle.” King lay quietly near the dining table.
    “Oh, she has her urges. If I let her I'm sure she'd gobble up some of the bunnies at Silver Acres.”
    “You know, that's not a bad idea. Excuse my French, but those damn bunnies have been eating our plants. One of these days I'm going to declare open season on them.”
    “And I was going to ship all my rabbits over to Silver Acres,” Albert said, “thinking they'd have a good home there. Better they munch on your plants than my garden.”
    While she was eating a piece of my pie, Carol said, “Lillian, I've been talking to Albert about you.”
    Uh oh, I thought, here it comes.
    “Albert told me something about your life. You have led such an adventurous life, with all your travel and everything, it's no wonder you find Silver