Hello Friends what an awesome week it has been so far! Thank you once again for checking in each week and either reading along or “tuning in” to my Video Blogs of If Oak Trees Could Talk! As stated before when I started doing videos on by book I had no idea how long it would take, but again so appreciate all of you for hanging in here with me. We only have three chapters to go after this video so we will come to the end of the story in just a few short weeks.
I also want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for going on to Amazon.com and downloading my free book Tell the Enemy to Scat! During the free promotion, I stayed around #2 in two categories which were awesome and even #13 in another one. However, if you didn’t get the chance to get my book free, you still can as I am giving it away as a free gift to you! So I again I am so grateful for you guys and gals for all of the follows and support.
Now on we go to the end of Chapter 20 Common Friends!
As the two women were laughing, the waiter brought them their pie and coffee.
“Oh, yummy, this looks delicious.” Melba announced. “Thank you. I have had a sweet tooth a lot lately. This pie should hit the spot!” She said with a little giggle.
“Do you want Ice cream on yours?” Amelia asked as she too was eager to dig into hers. I can have them to heat it up and top it with Ice cream and caramel sauce!” She said as she pretended to drool.
“Oh goodness, no I think I will just enjoy it without the frills.” Melba said as she plunged her fork in to get the first bite. “Oh my goodness, that is so delicious?” She continued.
“I’ve never had a better slice of pie anywhere! Now, my Momma is a wonderful cook, but even she can’t make pies like Ms. Maggie makes them!” Amelia said as she licked the back of her spoon to get some of the gooey filling off.
“So you say that you’ve not lived in Mason Creek very long?” Amelia asked, just to get to know Melba a little better.
“No, I’ve been here a little over six months. I moved when my father got transferred to Glenview. Unfortunately I have not made one friend since I’ve gotten here. It’s my own fault though. The people in Mason Creek seem friendly enough, but I work a lot of hours so that I can spend time with my father!” Melba answered.
“Well, I will be your friend!” Amelia suggested as she licked her spoon again. “I need someone that I can go hang out with! I need someone that will eat delicious fattening pie with me!” She continued with an impish smile that looked like her Dads.
“Well, you got it! I love pie! Melba agreed as she accepted Amelia’s invitation.
“So, how is your father doing today?” Amelia asked.
“Well, he is probably like your parents. He has his good days and bad. The important thing for my Dad is that he keeps looking ahead. He battles with depression because of my mother passing. Honestly, If I didn’t keep after him, he would probably rather give up then live. He’s all that I have. I do not have brothers or sisters. I have only one great aunt that lives in Savannah, but we do not have a close relationship. I sometimes feel like I’m being selfish, but I need him!” Melba said as she felt like she could be open with Amelia since they had so much in common.
“No, it is not selfish to want your parents to live and to be well and happy! Outside of my husband and boys, my parents are my life. I don’t have siblings either, so my parents doted over me!” Amelia shared. “That’s why I am so determined, that I will not let anyone hurt them!” Amelia stated as she alluded to the reason for her and Melba’s meeting.
“Well, that is why I work the way that I do. I guess I think if I am with my father that no one can get to him. They cannot get to him without going through me first!” Melba said with a stern look that appeared upon her face.
“I understand. I was blown away when I found out about the threats to my parents. I probably would not have believed any of it if I had not argued with Mr. Hodges myself!” Amelia said as she whispered his name. “I can’t tell you about all that he tried to get by with today. He must have thought I was stupid, but he has made the mistake of letting me see who he really is. He is an evil person and he’s going down! Even when my parents go home, I will not rest while knowing what he is doing to those poor precious people. Most of those people are friends and neighbors that I grew up knowing. They were honest, hardworking, souls who do not deserve to live their last days on earth tormented by some tyrant!” Amelia ranted as she realized the more she talked the louder she became. She then whispered again, “I have a lot of evidence already, but I need to know what you know! Right now, everything would be just my word against his word. He’s got so many people deceived into thinking that Glenview is a nice peaceful place, instead of what it truly is. It makes me sick to think of him living out his little egotistical fancy at the expense of our parents!”
The more that Amelia talked the angrier she became. Mr. Hodges would have to go through her as well if he thought that he would harm her parents in anyway. She was determined with or without Nurse Applegate’s help to see him go to jail and fired from Glenview.
“I totally agree. Count me in. I have a lot that I’ve seen and know is happening. I just prefer to find a safer place to tell about them. I do not want retaliation paid to my father because that tyrant is pissed at me! You understand, right?” Melba whispered, so as not to be heard.
“Okay, I have someone I want you to meet. He had already been investigating but he needs more people to come forward. I will let you know when. We can meet at my house if you want. I will buy one of Maggie’s pies!” Amelia bribed.
“That’s extortion!” Melba chuckled. “I will do what I can to help. I knew that I could not do this alone. I am so glad that we met. I promise I will keep an eye out on your parents. If I see anything suspicious at all I will let you know. I just have to do it in a way that it does not bring attention to me. I have to protect my father and cannot lose my job!” Melba said again at a whisper.
When the two ladies finished off their pie and coffee, it was getting late. Amelia wanted to get to Glenview early the next morning so as to see how her parents were. The fact that her Daddy suggested that he was going to try to be the “inside man” made Amelia feel very nervous. She knew her Daddy. Henry was like an ornery cat in that he was curious and poked his nose into things that he shouldn’t. She knew that he would not rest until Mr. Hodges was arrested. Amelia, however, did not want him to fall prey to Mr. Hodges until that happened.
Thank you once again for “tuning in” or reading along with me! It is my hope that you have been enjoying my Romance/Suspense novel, If Oak Trees Could Talk, for it has been my pleasure to share it with you! As always I would love to hear from you. I want to thank all of you that have begun following my WordPress blogs. Please continue to “tune it” as we are moving right along through the book.
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