There was a moment of silence, then Thelma said, "It wasn't really me who saw you. It was a woman from the church who knew you when you were still going to church."
Another criticism. Two in a row.
"I've written it down in my date book. I'll meet you there."
Jane immediately called Shelley hack.
"You've finally decided on what you're wearing to the fake wedding?"
"No. Nothing like that. I just had an unpleasant call from Thelma."
"Aren't all Thelma's conversations unpleasant?"
"Yes, but this one has me worried. She's up to something that's sure to be really nasty. Let's go to a restaurant for lunch," Jane suggested.
They'd made sure to sit far away from the other diners so they wouldn't be overheard. Jane repeated what Thelma said.
"Dress well!" Shelley exclaimed. Then she sat back a bit from the table, thinking. "I don't buy the story about the church lady seeing you."
"Neither do I."
"A private detective?"
"Exactly what I guessed,"Jane said. "But why?" "Just general snooping?"
"Thelma doesn't spend money out of sheer curiosity."
"Trying to find out something bad about you?"
"I assume so. But what good would it do her? I'm not aware of doing anything absurd or illegal in a restaurant or anywhere else in public. What's she hoping to learn about my private life?" Jane mused.
"I guess you'll have to show up to find out. Jane, she's up to no good, that's for sure. By the way, you need to make a decision soon about what you are wearing for the fake wedding. Have you invited Thelma to either or both?"
"Informally. I told her there would be a civil ceremonyand another in a church or hotel. I didn't explain why, but said she would be welcome to come to either or both." "And she said?"
"That she'd think about it when I sent her a proper invitation."
"I wish I could be a fly on the wall," Shelley said. "Call me the moment your luncheon with Thelma is over."
Jane made a point of being early to arrive at the restaurant so she could choose a table where they could eat and speak in privacy. Jane was wearing a black skirt, hose, and heels and a bright yellow short-sleeved summer sweater. She went to wait at the bar and smoke one of her rare cigarettes to fortify herself. She'd already put it out, paid for her drink and the tip, when Thelma marched in the door.
The waiter showed them to the corner booth. Thelma was dressed in her old-fashioned best, clutching a big purse and a maroon leather folder, which she put down next to her chair.
"It's been a long time since we've seen each other," she said accusingly.
"Only a month ago," Jane reminded her. "I had you and Ted, Dixie, and their darling little girls for Todd's birthday."
Thelma frowned. "So silly of them to take on those Chinese babies. How can they pretend they gave birth to them?"
"I doubt they're pretending any such thing,"Jane said.
Ted, Jane's much younger brother-in-law, and his wife, Dixie, had been trying to have babies ever since Jane's kids were in grade school and never managed it. Jane admired them for finally, almost middle-aged, going to China to bring those pretty little sisters home with them. Jane thought they were adorable. Naturally this got Thelma's goat. Chinese granddaughters had never been among her priorities. They weren't "like us" she'd said at the birthday party in front of everyone. "They have straight black hair and funny-looking eyes."
Jane, fuming over the memory, studied her menu.
Thelma said, "I see you've already bought a drink."
"It's just a mild Chianti. I won't get falling-down drunk, if that was what you're implying."
Thelma glared at her. "I'll just have coffee."
The waiter then took their food orders. Jane asked for a simple shrimp salad. Thelma ordered a chicken pot pie. The restaurant was famous for their pot pies done with real puff pastry and delicious vegetables and interesting spices.
"While we eat, I'll come to the point,"Thelma said picking up the leather folder and bringing out a document.
Thelma's copy of Steve's will. What on earth was she up to? Jane wondered.
Thelma handed it over. "Take a look at this."
"I don't need to,"Jane said. "I have my own copy in my lockbox at the bank."
"Look through it anyway," Thelma ordered.
Stapled to the back page was a typed notice of anamendment saying, "Should Jane remarry, this contract becomes null and void." There was Steve's signature below it, and two church ladies' signatures as witnesses.
Jane's first impulse was to laugh at Thelma's incompetence, but she said quietly, "That's not anything like Steve's signature. You wrote it. You are a forger. And this is typed on that fake handwriting typewriter I gave you years ago. I'm going to audit the company books. If you dare try to enforce this, I'll take you to court and you'll either go to jail or be laughed out of court as a demented old woman and a forger. That's a crime."
Jane fished in her purse and threw down a twenty-dollar bill and a five. "This will pay for my lunch with a good tip. You can take my salad home to eat yourself."
Jane rose and walked out of the restaurant without looking back.
"NO!" Shelley exclaimed.
She put her head down on her kitchen table, half laughing, half enraged.
"Yes. A forged addendum to Steve's will. I threatened to take her to court and hire an auditor to go over her books. I need to call Ted and warn him about this. I don't want him to think I distrust him."
Shelley sat back up. "Can you conduct an audit?" "Why not?"
"I think you'd have to get a court order or something. You're not a partner."
"But I am. I'm listed in the real will as `his third share in perpetuity should he predecease me per stirpes should we have children.'"
"What's per stirpes?"
"By natural birth, as opposed to adoption. We didn't even have children when this was written. Nor did he plan to die before me. I threatened Thelma with going to jail for forgery."