Something horrible had happened, and Fancy’s curiosity was on high alert, but she kept her silence, giving him time to put his thoughts into sentences.“Maria called,” he finally said.“I got that much. Is she dead or something?” Fancy asked. “She wouldn’t be calling if she were dead,” he said. “You remember how you felt that night you told me about Hattie? How stunned and shocked you were?”She nodded.“Multiply that times a thousand, and you’ll understand the turmoil I’m in right now. Maria suggested I bring someone with me, and I could only think of you. You’re so good with the little kids at Sunday school, and you’ve taught first grade all these years. I don’t know a blessed thing about three-year-old girls.”Three-year-old girls? “Slow down, Theron. Start from the beginning. Do you want me to drive?”“No, I can drive. It’s two hours to Decatur in good weather. If I’m not there by eleven, all deals are off.”“Okay, we’ll get there by eleven if we have to stick our arms out the windows and fly.
