Runny03 - Loose Lips Read Online Free PDF Page A

that something about Francis Chalfonte getting a big job in Washington with FDR and hiring Rillma Ryan?” Louise referred to Celeste’s handsome nephew, in his forties. Rillma had graduated from South Runnymede High the previous year. Celeste was overrun with nieces and nephews.
    “Big beans. Tell me.”
    “My lips are sealed.”
    “Not if I punch you in the mouth, they aren’t.”
    “Don’t be childish. Some things are best left unsaid. Besides, you’d blab it all over town and then what?”
    “You really want your ass kicked, don’t you?”
    “Don’t be vulgar, Julia, it’s unbecoming.” She sniffed, then said, “Give me the hat back.”
    “I will not.”
    “Then stop pestering me.”
    “I volunteered to share the hat. That’s more than you ever did.”
    “You only volunteered so you’d look good in front of your husband. You never would have done it otherwise. You can be very selfish sometimes.” She held up her gloved hand again. “But when the chips are down you’re the best.”
    “A Hunsenmeir trait.” Juts was determined to weasel Louise’s mission out of her. “I don’t remember McSherrystown being this far. I’m going to sleep.”
    “We’re almost there.”
    “A five-minute nap is better than nothing.”
    “Are you giving me back my hat?”
    “You don’t want me to take a nap?”
    “I want my hat back. After all, my arrangement with Celeste could affect
you.”
    “You can tell me if you’re successful with Diddy. If you aren’t then I won’t know what I’ve missed.” Julia cleverly shut her eyes.
    A slight twinge of worry rose in Louise’s breast. She had thought she had Julia where she wanted her. “It’s really a good deal.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Celeste wants us to succeed.”
    “Good. She can be our first customer.”
    “Ramelle dresses her hair.”
    “And everything else.” Juts opened her eyes. “Think people make love when they get old? Those two are pretty old.”
    “Women don’t really make love that way. They’re companions who kiss now and then.”
    “And a bear doesn’t shit in the woods.”
    “Will you stop being so
vulgar.
I’ve got to get in the right frame of mind to visit Diddy.”
    Juts warbled “Abide with Me” and then broke into “Holy, Holy, Holy.”
    “You’re a big help.”
    “I’m so glad.” Juts smiled like the Cheshire cat. “I hope Diddy isn’t even there—physically, I mean. She’s never been there mentally.”
    “Elizabeth’s scattered, I grant you that, but she’s smart where it counts. She’s taken over the academy now that Carlotta has gone to her reward. You can’t be but so dumb to do that, you know.”
    “I’d like my reward right here on earth.”
    “A camel will slip through the eye of a needle before a rich man will get into heaven.”
    “Written by some poor sod, I guarantee it.”
    “That is in the Bible!”
    “You aren’t the only person in the family who has read the Bible. I just don’t
believe
all of it, that’s the difference, and furthermore, I don’t want to get stuck with Diddy Van Dusen. She bores the living shit out of me.”
    “You’ll do as you are told.”
    “Oh, and who is telling me?”
    “Celeste.”
    “Wait a minute, Sister, this is your mission, not mine.”
    “I need you.”
    “I’m not doing one single thing. I’m here to keep you company. You and Celeste can cook up whatever you want. Leave me out of it.”
    “But you’ll benefit.”
    “I’m not listening to that horseface blabber on about the building program and the exercise program and the music program. Uh-uh.” She shook her head.
    “If I can convince Diddy to keep her stock shares in the Chalfonte business, Celeste promised to pay our store rent for one solid year. Now you have to help.”
    “What’s Diddy’s shares got to do with us?”
    Louise checked her lipstick in the rearview mirror, not a good idea as she ran off the road. “Whoops.” Confession of a confidence affirmed her importance. She