So that was the “company”; that was the purpose of this visit. The food, Catherine thought quickly, was an excuse to unearth interesting facts to relate at the beauty parlor.

“No,” said Catherine calmly. “No trouble.”

Against the stone wall of Catherine’s face, the little woman was visibly stymied.

“I guess Jimmy Galton has been mighty busy,” she said nervously.

“I imagine,” said Catherine.

The ensuing silence lasted a moment too long to be comfortable. Damned if I’ll break it, Catherine thought.

“Well, I’ve got to be getting back; I hope you enjoy that gumbo.”

And Mrs. Perkins trotted top-heavily to the front door, with Catherine again trailing behind.

“I got a post card from the Drummonds,” Mrs. Perkins said abruptly.

“Oh?”

“They’re in Florence, Italy. They’ll be back in another week,” Mrs. Perkins offered. “They’re having a wonderful time, they say.”

Catherine nodded.

“Well, I hope you enjoy the gumbo,” Mrs. Perkins repeated desperately.

“I’m sure I will.” She noticed that Molly Perkins did not offer the quick hug and kiss that was customary on food-bringing visits.

“Can’t let all your air conditioning run out the door!” Mrs. Perkins concluded with artificial gaiety.

And off she trotted with an anxious backward glance at Catherine, who remained in the doorway with her arms folded across her chest until the woman had gotten down the walkway and turned right to cross the street to her own house.

When Miss Molly had entered the mansion’s front door, Catherine slammed her own violently. “Talk talk talk,” she muttered. Miss Molly had come to spy and pry, to report on Catherine’s mental state and demeanor. And yet Catherine knew the pigeon-breasted little lady had also been genuinely worried about her well-being.

The phone rang as Catherine stood in the middle of the living room brooding over this duality in small-town life. She was bitterly sure the caller was not Randall: How could it be? That was who she wanted to talk to. She decided it was another sympathy call from some high school classmate she hadn’t seen in years.