Mom was already bustling to the front door to let Tammy trot in.
“Hey, dere, Thin Ice! How’s de leg?” Tammy asked me as she flicked her frosted eighties feathered hairdo off one shoulder. “I brought a hot dish to make it better!”
Tammy lifted the casserole dish tucked away in a padded carry case with fabric handles.
“Hurts,” I said. “But it could’ve been worse.”
“Yeah, no, I can’t believe I saved the day!” Tammy gushed as she handed Mom the casserole.
“Thank you, Tammy,” Mom said. “We love your hot dishes.” Mom placed the dish on the kitchen island, even though she had no intention of eating it. Mom was lactose intolerant and Tammy always put extra handfuls of shredded cheese on top of every hot dish.
“Looks like someone needs a little TLC,” Tammy said, clucking her tongue as she examined my face. It was still swollen fromRusso’s punches. He tooklove hurtsto a whole other level. I had the bruises to show for it.
“Well, hope you both enjoy the cheesy potatoes, and just keep the casserole dish. Ted and I are hitting the road for Florida this afternoon. We’ve got to pack the RV,” Tammy declared.
“Already?” Mom asked, giving Tammy a hug. Tammy and Ted drove to Florida in the winter, and then came back to Lake Sanguis in the spring.
“It’s time.”
“You’re going to miss Allen Gordon’s funeral.”
Tammy shrugged. “Will anyone be going to that old codger’s funeral? You know he bought the no-kill animal shelter at the edge of town? He was going to raze it and put up another Gordon’s Frozen Custard. All those poor animals would have to be put to sleep!”
“I guess he treated animals no better than he treated people,” I said.
“I am sorry to miss the mayor’s funeral, though,” Tammy continued. “He was struck down in his prime. Such a tragedy.”
She eyed me. I eyed her back. I was sorry the mayor was dead, but that didn’t make him a good human.
“Well…” she said after a moment. “Teddy told me they won’t be filing any charges against you or Jude now.”
“Yeah.”
“If the police give you any trouble, he said to call.”
“Thanks, Tammy,” Mom said. “And thank you for intervening yesterday. We’re lucky you did.”
Tammy beamed, then looked at me. “So. Will you admit Lake Sanguis isn’t that bad, now is it?”
I had to admit Russo’s critical mistake was not understanding the nosiness of neighbors in small-town Wisconsin.
“Knock, knock,” said Jude, cracking open the front door.
He was wearing his best black zip-up sweater and a bow tie, his arm in a sling.
“Lake Sanguis isn’t that bad,” I agreed as Jude lifted his good arm in greeting.
“You know, I have a son who’s single and…” Tammy glanced again at my swollen, bruised face. “Well, maybe we want to let you heal a few days before I set you up?”
I wasn’t even listening at this point.
“Jude!” cried Mom, seeing him for the first time. She trotted over and gave him a big hug as he winced. “I made scones! Have one!”
Jude eyed the burnt balls of dough. “Thanks, Mama Jenny. I just ate.”
I limped over to him and gave him a hug, too.
“Ow,” he complained.
