Vi Agra Falls by Mary Daheim Page A

“It’s just the kind of stunt Herself would pull. Maybe she can’t carry it off. Zoning and permits and all that stuff. I’m not sure their property is zoned for multifamily dwellings.”
    â€œI had to apply for a permit when I opened the B&B,” Judith said. “I got it,” she added glumly.
    â€œA condo’s a different matter,” Renie responded, “especially if the neighbors put up a fuss. You’re going to have to band together. It sounds as if they’re as upset as you are.”
    â€œThey are,” Judith assured her cousin. “Arlene was at her most combative, and everybody else in the cul-de-sac probably would’ve joined her if Billy hadn’t backed off.”
    â€œThat’s good,” Renie declared. “You’ve got momentum. March on City Hall tomorrow. Launch whatever’s the best offensive. Maybe you should start with the Heraldsgate Hill Community Association.”
    â€œGood idea,” Judith said. “Now I’m going to have another shot of Glenlivet and try to relax. Talk to you tomorrow.”
    Thirty minutes later, Judith was still on the sofa, having fallen asleep after downing her second drink of the evening. She was awakened by Joe, calling her name from what sounded like the dining room.
    â€œWha’?” Her body jerked at the sound of his voice. Disoriented, she tried to sit up. “Joe?” she finally said after he’d repeated her name a couple of times.
    â€œThere you are,” he said, looking sheepish as he entered the living room. “Are you still mad at me?”
    Judith held her head. “I don’t know. I feel groggy.”
    He sat down next to her on the sofa. “Go to bed. You’re beat. It’s after nine o’clock. I did our share of cleanup from the potluck. Your glass bowl’s in the dishwasher.”
    Judith yawned and stretched. “No. I should stay up at leastuntil ten, when we officially lock the doors.” She paused, suddenly aware that except for the ticking of the grandfather clock, there was an absence of noise in or out of the house. “What happened to that awful music? Did Arlene actually break up the big party?”
    â€œNot exactly,” Joe said, wincing. “The band played for a little while after…after you left, but by that time some of Vivian’s partygoers were kind of sloshed. The stripper that Billy hired refused to…perform. Then everybody started arguing and some fights broke out and the band stopped playing and all the musicians decided to take advantage of the free booze and…well, Vivian passed out, so Billy carried her into the house and more fights broke out because, I guess, Billy didn’t come back to pay the band and everything got out of hand and somebody called the cops. Gabe Porter, I think. By the time the patrol car got here, everybody had pretty much left. That’s when Ted Ericson and Naomi Stein decided to press charges for disturbing the peace and littering private property.” He winced again. “I’m afraid that side of the cul-de-sac is kind of a mess, but none of our gang will touch it with a ten-foot pole.”
    â€œOh, good grief!” Judith was wide awake now. “A stripper! What next? No, don’t tell me. It’s bad enough already, especially since our guests will have to come back to the B&B through a disaster area!”
    â€œThat couple from Anchorage didn’t seem to mind,” Joe remarked. “They grabbed a couple of bottles from the bar and went off to the park up the street. I gave them directions on how to get there.”
    â€œWhat! You know it’s illegal to drink alcohol in a public park! Are you crazy?”
    â€œProbably.” Joe sighed. “It’s been that kind of evening.”
    Judith couldn’t argue. “Yes,” she said, and tried to curb her anger. It was pointless to keep berating Joe. She needed support,