False Pretenses (36 page)

CHAPTER 40

Two weeks later on a Wednesday morning, Zoe watched Savannah model the new black skirt and white blouse “uniform” for Hebert, Father Sam, and Tex.

“Sure looks classy,” Tex said. “When you said uniform, I envisioned something entirely different. Of course, the young lady modelin’ it would make anything look good.” He winked.

“Thank you very much.” Savannah curtsied. “I do like the idea of not having to spend money on different outfits for work, especially when this one is so cute.”

Zoe felt her cell phone vibrate and looked at the screen. She walked out of the dining room and into the alcove.

“Hello, Mrs. Woodmore.”

“Hello, Zoe. I hope I didn’t call too early. But I wanted to catch you first thing.”

“Not at all. We open at six. I’ve already put in a couple of hours. Pierce and I signed the repayment agreement papers your attorney dropped by and will be sending them back today.”

“Well, hon, it just so happens I have to make a trip down your way and thought if it was all right with you two, I’d stop by Zoe B’s this afternoon and pick them up myself. It’d save y’all the postage.”

“Sure, that’d be fine.”
Oh my heavens! She’s coming here!
“What time?”

“Around two-thirty? That should give you time to get through the busy lunch hour. Will that work?”

“Yes, perfectly. Do you need directions?”

“No, Julien can use the GPS.” There was a long pause, and the only sound was Adele’s breathing into the receiver. “How are you doing, hon? Ever since you called after your ordeal and asked if I could send the papers instead of your making a trip here, I’ve been wondering how things are. You know I’m praying that the Lord would help you get your marriage back on track.”

“He is. I won’t pretend there are no bumps. But in a strange sort of way, those terrifying encounters with the drug dealers have brought us closer. We both realize how close we came to losing each other.”

“Yes, indeed,” Adele said. “I read the articles you sent me several times. Made me shudder.”

There was a long moment of dead air. Had she lost the connection?

“Mrs. Woodmore, are you still there?”

“I’m here, hon. I just want to say how proud I am that you and Pierce are working things out—and that you told him the truth. I never felt good about going forward with our arrangement until he was fully apprised of the situation.”

“I know.” Zoe sighed. “I wish I could say that I told him before Cowen threatened me and left me no choice. But I did tell him
everything
.”

“Your life can only get better from here, hon. You did the right thing.”

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your attitude,” Zoe said. “You have every right to be furious with me. Instead you’ve showed me nothing but kindness.”

“Well, I’ve been on this earth more years than I’m willing to admit, and I’ve never once seen a grudge bring about positive results. I’ve forgiven you, Zoe. There’s nothing to be gained by dwelling on the past.”

“That’s so gracious of you. I’ll go tell Pierce you’re coming. I know he’d like to meet you.”

“I’d like that too. I’ll see you both around two-thirty.”

Zoe waited until the lunch crowd thinned out and then hurried to prepare a table for Mrs. Woodmore. She unfolded a red and gold fleur-de-lis print tablecloth, shook it, then spread it evenly across the table by the window, smoothing out the wrinkles. She set a vase of fresh flowers in the center.

She saw the kitchen door open, and Pierce came out, still wearing his apron and his chef’s hat.

“You’ll be happy to know that the lemonade bread pudding came out perfect today.”

“Oh, good.” Zoe put her hand to her heart. “Thanks for making it. It’s one of the recipes I created while I worked for Mrs. Woodmore. It was one of her favorites.”

“I know, babe. You’ve reminded me at least a dozen times. Why are you so nervous?”

“I just want everything to be perfect for her visit here.”

“Zoe …” Pierce walked over to her and tilted her chin. “Don’t make this into something it isn’t. Mrs. Woodmore is picking up a legal agreement that’s allowing us to pay back the value of the ring you stole. And will squeeze our budget for the next thirty months. This is not a social visit.”

“I still want it to be nice.”

“I do too. I just don’t want you to set yourself up for a big disappointment. This woman sounds wonderful. But somehow I don’t see us swapping life stories over dessert. This is a serious business arrangement, regardless of how gracious she is.”

Zoe sighed. “You’re right. I’m just so fond of her, and I realize how much I’ve missed her. For six years, she was the only family I had.”

“I understand that. I do. But you owe this woman a great deal of money. And right now, you need to keep your business hat on.” Pierce looked over her shoulder. “Take a deep breath, babe. I think that might be her now.”

Zoe turned around and saw a familiar silver Rolls Royce sitting out front with its flashers on. The chauffeur, dressed in a charcoal gray uniform, got out and walked around to the passenger side and opened the back door.

“That’s Julien,” Zoe said. “He was her chauffeur when I worked for her. I saw him when I drove to Alexandria.”

Julien helped Adele out of the backseat. She said something to him and then started walking toward the front door, a brown envelope tucked under her arm.

“Attractive lady,” Pierce said.

“Always.”

Adele was dressed in a powder blue skirt and jacket that complemented her snow-white hair. She wore sandals instead of pumps and took small steps instead of strides. But she was as classy as ever.

The bell on the front door jingled as Adele came inside. Through the window Zoe saw Julien drive away in the Rolls Royce, evoking double takes from several people on the sidewalk.

“Hello, hon.” Adele smiled with her eyes. She took Zoe’s hand and kissed her on the cheek. “You’re looking well.”

“Thanks. So are you.”

“And this must be Pierce.”

“Hello, Mrs. Woodmore.” Pierce took a step forward and shook Adele’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“I hear you are a marvelous chef.”

“Thanks.” The corners of Pierce’s mouth twitched. “Your source is undoubtedly partial. But I do enjoy it.”

“He made a surprise dessert for you,” Zoe said. “After we’re finished with business, maybe you can stay a while longer and enjoy it with us.”

“I’d like that.” Adele glanced around the dining room. “Charming.”

Zoe felt guilt jab her conscience. Was Adele thinking that it was the anniversary diamond Zoe stole from her that had made this place possible?

“Why don’t we walk to the office and take care of business,” Pierce said. “Then we can come back out here, and I’ll serve you dessert. Right this way.”

Zoe accompanied Adele and followed Pierce out of the dining room into the alcove and stopped at the office door. He put the key in the lock and pushed open the door, then flipped the light switch.

“Ladies first.”

Zoe filed in after Adele. “Let’s sit there at the table. Can I get you something to drink—a soft drink, juice, bottled water?”

“Nothing for me, hon.”

“I’m good,” Pierce said.

Pierce held out a chair for Adele and seated her, then joined Zoe on the other side of the table.

Adele set the letter-sized brown envelope on the table, the gold cross around her neck reflecting the fluorescent lights overhead, her blue eyes the kindness in her heart.

“Before y’all give me the contract”—Adele folded her hands—“there’s something I want to say. I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe that everything happens for a reason. Our Creator knows the plan He has for each of us, and somehow He makes it all come together in His perfect timing. He knew Shelby Sieger was going to steal my ring long before my sweet Alfred got the idea to have it made for our fiftieth anniversary. Everything I have belongs to the Lord. And whatever happens to any of it is His business.”

Adele looked into Zoe’s eyes. “I forgive you for taking the ring, Zoe, and for lying about it. That’s not to say I condone what you did. It was more hurtful than you’ll ever know. But like I said, whatever happens to anything the Lord has given me is His business. I do thank you for owning up to it and wanting to make it right. Legally, the time has passed for anyone to hold you accountable.”

“I can’t do anything about the pain I’ve caused you,” Zoe said. “But I really do want to pay back the money. We both do.”

“I know you do. But I’ve given a great deal of thought to our agreement and have decided
not
to go through with it.” Adele held up her palm. “Hear me out. It’s for your own good.”

Zoe’s heart sank. What was she talking about? How could she do this?

Adele slid the brown envelope across the table. “I think it’s important that you understand my reasoning. I didn’t decide this without a great deal of thought—and prayer. Open it, hon.”

Zoe opened the envelope and pulled out the contents, then perused the document. “This is the deed to our building. How did you get this?”

“Look at the other document.”

Zoe skipped to the next document, the words “Paid in full” stamped across the front. “What in the world…?”

Pierce put his arm around Zoe and took a closer look at the document she was holding. “These are the mortgage papers on this building.” His jaw dropped, and he looked over at Adele.

“Yes,” she said. “I paid it off—just before I came over here. The building is yours free and clear.”

Zoe stared at the papers. “But I stole from you. I lied to you. I don’t deserve this.”

“I didn’t expect you to deserve it, hon. It’s a gift. Actually it’ll help me to move forward too.”

Pierce nodded as if he knew what Adele meant. “It’s grace, Zoe.”

“Just like that?”

“
Especially
like that.” He looked over at Adele, his eyes glistening. “This is very generous—on every level.”

“Listen, hon. I’ve amassed a fortune in my lifetime. I’m not taking a cent of it with me into glory. It’s my pleasure to do this for you two.”

“It goes beyond the money.” Zoe looked into Adele’s eyes and saw complete and utter acceptance. “Saying thank you doesn’t seem like enough, but I don’t have words to express what I’m feeling.”

Adele took Pierce’s hand and joined it with Zoe’s. “A day will come when someone you know is in desperate need of grace. Remember how this moment feels and pass it on. Healing comes as much in the giving as in the receiving.”

No one said anything for half a minute.

Finally Adele rose to her feet. “That completes our business. Now I want to taste this surprise dessert. Do I get a hint?”

Zoe smiled, wiping the tears off her face. “Something I used to make for you with fresh lemons. It was your favorite.”

“Lemonade bread pudding?”

“Yes! You remembered.”

“How could I forget? It was so scrumptious.”

“Well, knowing Pierce, he probably added a little something to it and made it even better.”

Adele walked out into the hallway and locked arms with Pierce and Zoe and strolled through the alcove and into the dining room.

“Where would like me to sit?”

“Right here.” Zoe hurried over to the table by the window and held the chair. “This table is reserved for our special friends.”

“I’ll go get our dessert,” Pierce said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Zoe got Adele seated and situated at the table and then sat across from her, noting the gold cross that she had worn as long as Zoe had known her.

“Mrs. Woodmore, you’re close to God,” Zoe said. “I can tell.”

“Well of course, hon. He lives in my heart. I invited Him in and asked Him to run things. I’ve been much happier since.”

“That’s because you’re such a good person.”

Adele threw back her head and laughed. “Wrong.”

“I think you are.”

Adele’s face was suddenly bright pink. “There’s so much you don’t know about me. I haven’t always been agreeable, hon. I’ve said and done things I’m ashamed of and would be embarrassed for people to know. I suppose we all have.”