Maggie was up to her elbows in dirt, planting primroses when Polly Chase rolled up and got out of her car.

“Maggie? Honey, is that you?” Polly click-clacked up the front walk. The woman was a sight to see. She was not even five feet tall but that was the only thing small about her. A head of heavily lacquered hair stood several inches high, matched only by the spiked heels on her feet and a handbag bigger than a small country. All of this fit in the late 1970’s Caddy she drove around town like a menace.

And her presence was big too. Polly Chase was the town matriarch. Her family was one of the oldest in Petal and her husband’s just as old. Both the Chandlers and the Chases had a hand in the building and governance of Petal for five generations. When Polly married Edward Chase thirty-five years before, it had been the ultimate marriage.

Still, Maggie had always thought Polly—who sat with her on the historical society and Edward, an attorney in Petal—were very nice people. However, seeing how rude her oldest was, she began to wonder.

Standing up, Maggie took off her gardening gloves and tossed them on the walk. “Yes, Mrs. Chase, it is. What can I do for you?” As if she didn’t know. “Why don’t you come on in? I was just going to get myself some hot tea. Would you like a cup?”

“Oh that would be perfect, shug. Thank you.” Polly followed Maggie into the large house that belonged to her parents at one time and now was hers.

“Please, sit down and I’ll get the water on.” Maggie swept into the large kitchen and lit the burner under the teakettle. While she waited, she prepared the teapot, measuring the loose tea, spooning it into the mesh ball. Hanging it into the pot she turned and put a few oatmeal cookies on a pretty plate.

Steeling herself, she took a deep breath before going back into the living room a few minutes later. She put the tray down on the coffee table and sat across from Polly.

“It’ll need steeping for another three minutes or so. Would you like a cookie? They’re fresh baked.”

When Polly had taken a few bites of the cookie, Maggie poured her a steaming cup of green tea. “What can I do for you today, Mrs. Chase?”

“Honey, I heard what my boy did to you last night at The Pumphouse. I’m just mortified! So naturally I wanted to come by and apologize. Because it also came to my attention that he failed to do that on top of everything else.”

Softening at the sight of Polly’s distress, Maggie leaned across the space separating them. Reaching out, she squeezed the other woman’s hand. “Mrs. Chase, please don’t be upset. Whatever Shane did, he did on his own. You have nothing to do with it. I’d never think that.”

“Honey, you’re too nice. Now I’m just embarrassed. They weren’t raised to talk to anyone that way, much less a woman! Don’t think I haven’t been on his tail all morning. He’s managed to avoid me so far, but mark my words I’ll find him before the day is through. And when I corner that rat, you can be assured I’m gonna tan his hide!”

Maggie stifled a laugh at the picture of Polly spanking her nearly thirty-year-old giant of a son, badge and all. “Well if it’s any consolation to you, Kyle did come over with some napkins and asked me if I was all right.”

“Oh he sang like a bird when I got out to his worksite this morning. He’s a good boy, Kyle. Always treats people with kindness.” Polly smiled with pride. “They might be big, giant boys but they’re my boys and I’m still their momma. I heard you called Shane a dumbass.”

Maggie blushed fiercely. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have, it wasn’t nice but he was just really obnoxious and I lost my temper.”

Polly burst out laughing. “Honey, it sounds to me like he was being a dumbass. You don’t have to apologize to me. They get it from their daddy you know.” She gave Maggie a wink.

After tea and cookies and a discussion on the next historical society function, Polly excused herself. “I have to run now, Maggie honey. Rest assured I’ll wrangle that boy into doing the right thing. Thank you for the tea and cookies.” She gave Maggie a big hug and teetered on her spiky heels back down the front walk, giant handbag in tow and sped off.

“You and I have a double date.” Liv stood on Maggie’s doorstep several hours later.

Automatically, Maggie opened the door to let her in. “What?” Maggie took in the garment bag and the big train case in Liv’s arms and tried not to panic. God only knew what her best friend was up to.

“Jeezus, Maggie, get the freaked out look off your face. I’m not going to kill you. Our dates are Shaun Stadey and Alex Parsons. I was shopping at the Piggly Wiggly earlier today and they asked if you and I had a date for the Homecoming Picnic tonight. Of course I told them they’d be filling the bill. And now you’re getting a make-over. No argument. I brought some clothes by, too.”

“A make-over?” Maggie’s eyes moved to the train case and big garment bag. “No way! Liv, do you remember what Toots looked like when you got finished with her? I’d give you one of my kidneys but you don’t have the best record with make-overs. Anyway, I have to get out to the car wash with the kids, I just came home on a break.”

Unmoved, Liv stared for a long moment. “Okay, but Maggie, Toots was a dog and we were eight. So shaddup. And no, you don’t need to get back to the car wash. It is pointless to try and think of ways out of this. Dee and Arthur are over there now and doing just fine. You know how much that freaking precious Arthur loves kids. Honestly, sometimes don’t you think he’s got to be a pod person or something because he’s so perfect?” Liv hustled Maggie up the stairs and into her bedroom.