A Tale of Deception

  DINNER THAT NIGHT was wonderful, with laughter and happiness readily shared among good friends, along with an abundance of delightful food. The coffee, hot and strong, was a delight to sip as they conversed, letting the good meal settle, before leaving the table.

  Ultimately, the ladies went to the kitchen to cleanup, while the children and Jim departed to the family room, the children to play with Mr. Fuzzy, the Ferguson’s jet-black Persian cat and Jim to watch the Seahawks and Raiders game, one he had looked forward to.

  The children found Mr. Fuzzy curled up in his bed, near the fireplace. In good humor, that some cats do possess, he allowed the children to pick him up and play with him.

  In the kitchen, Shelly was giggling with Ann about the funny antics of Tom, trying to be grownup and mature around Marty, while Emma helped load the dishwasher.

  Yet, in the back of her mind, Shelly knew she had news she needed to share with Ann, news of a job opportunity that might bring her some relief from her financial struggles, a good, part-time job if it worked out. But, it also might keep Ann away from work more often than she’d like.

  How I’d miss her! And I want to talk to her alone about it, too.

  After cleaning up, Emma excused herself to join the children, and the friends were left alone to chat.

  Still bantering about the children, Shelly tried to change the subject, “Ann, have you ever met Jim’s Aunt Faye?”

  “No, but I’ve heard about her, of course,” Ann answered, still giggling with merriment.

  “Well, she called today,” Shelly paused for a second, “You know… she’s Mrs. Drummond’s cook over on the lake? She called to tell me about Mrs. Abernathy, who has just resigned from her personal assistant job with Mrs. Drummond. Her father’s become ill and is in need of a care-giver, and she’s moved out to take care of him.”

  Ann looked puzzled.

  Shelly continued quickly, “Well, Mrs. Drummond and Faye were talking… and, well Faye is so close to us… she knows a little of your situation,” Shelly stated awkwardly, trying not to embarrass Ann. “And when we were talking today, after I got home from work, she asked about you…“

  Ann stood there with a blank look on her face.

  Shelly sighed, resigning herself to get it over with and told Ann the rest. “Ann, they’re offering you the job, part-time for now, I think, if you’re interested. Nessa Drummond is getting up in years and her health is failing. She needs someone to do her shopping for her, write her letters and just keeping her house running smoothly. It’s good, steady pay, and you could still work with me, once in a while, if you’re not too busy,” Shelly told her.

  Ann couldn’t answer.

  Shelly waited for her to say something.

  Ann thought, Leave here? Coeur d’Alene is an hour from here. Do I want to work so far from home? They aren’t doing this for charity, are they?

  The shock of it seemed to stymie her.

  But, you need a steady income of some sort, you fool, anything! Isn’t this what you’ve been praying for?

  Ann chided herself over her reaction to the offer.

  “This is so sudden, I don’t know what to say, Shell,” she finally responded. “Do you know what the pay is? How many hours will she need? Where does she live, exactly?” asked Ann all at once, with hope of financial rescue starting to form, while she gave a quick prayer to God, for direction and wisdom.

  “Here, let’s sit down and I’ll give you all the information I have. You’ll have to ask Aunt Faye and Mrs. Drummond for the rest,” Shelly offered, as the women sat down at the kitchen table and talked.

 

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