Law and Author by Erika Chase

didn’t realize you were contemplating doing that, sugar,” commented Teensy, her voice dripping Southern, a tone Lizzie knew meant Teensy had reached her saturation point. Next stop, speaking her mind.
    â€œWere you working?” Lizzie asked quickly.
    â€œSometimes. I didn’t have a permanent job, if that’s what you’re asking. I couldn’t find what suited me. My last job was as a server at a bar.” Darla drank some wine and looked pensive. “Mama wasn’t too happy about that, either.”
    â€œEvery mama wants what they think is best for their children,” Molly said.
    â€œI suppose. But not everyone can marry a rich banker, like my grandmamma. And as for my mama, she’s never even told me who my daddy is. The story always was that he hadto go out of town on business and died in a car accident before they could get married but I think that’s just another load of crap. She married Jack Lyman when I was three. What a loser. He did adopt me though and then, he took off, too.”
    Molly looked a bit shocked and Teensy said, “I think maybe I’ll have me some of that wine.” She stood and asked Lizzie if she wanted some. Lizzie shook her head and wondered what next to ask Darla. She was dying to ask about her argument with her mama but not with Molly around. Maybe she should offer to show Darla the maze and have a little talk out there.
    Before she could, Sally-Jo came bounding around the corner of the house. She looked surprised to see them there but before anyone could say anything, Sally-Jo explained, “I am so fed up, Molly. I just needed a sane person to talk to. If I don’t sort this out soon, I think I’m going to kill my mama.”

Chapter Nine

    No. I needed a plan. Well. Two plans.
    THE BUSY WOMAN’S GUIDE TO MURDER—
MARY JANE MAFFINI
    T eensy stopped as she came through the door. “I think you need a glass of wine, sugar. You just sit yourself right down and I’ll get it.” She turned and went back into the house.
    Sally-Jo looked around, a bit bewildered, and finally settled on Teensy’s chair. Lizzie knew that something was really wrong for Sally-Jo to take the chair she knew that Teensy always chose. The one with the view of the kitchen door. Of course, the comment about her mama had been a clue, also.
    â€œWhat’s happened?” Lizzie asked.
    Teensy came back and put a glass down in front of Sally-Jo. “I thought I might as well bring the whole bottle,” she said, holding it up for all to see. “And, here’s a glass for you, Lizzie in case you change your mind. This sounds like it’s going to be a heavy session.”
    Lizzie accepted a glass of wine this time but set it down, waiting to hear what Sally-Jo had to say.
    After downing half the glass, Sally-Jo took a deep breath and looked at her hands, clasped in front of her, on her lap. “Mama has put a deposit on that dress she so likes and has brought it home for me to try on as soon as I get down there next week.”
    â€œSounds like you’ll have a busy Easter break,” Teensy said.
    Sally-Jo nodded. “ I’ve told her two days was all the time I could take to visit, so I guess it’s my own fault. Again. But she’s really pushing me on this.” She finished the rest of her wine. “I really want it to be a wedding I’ll remember with happiness.” She sounded almost in tears.
    â€œWow, and I thought my mama was meddling,” Darla said with a low whistle.
    Lizzie shot her a glance hoping Darla would stop talking. She didn’t get the message.
    â€œLike, is she paying for this wedding or something? You’re working at a good job, aren’t you? Teachers must make big bucks, so you could pay for your own wedding, couldn’t you and then she couldn’t say a thing.”
    Sally-Jo shook her head sadly. “That’s not how it works. Jacob and I are paying for