South of Superior - Ellen Airgood [82]
“Mrs. Hansen.”
“It’s the truth.”
“This has all been most interesting. But I’m bringing this back to your bill. Am I to Understand you admit to owing the Bensons over five hundred dollars?”
“Five hundred and thirteen dollars and seventy-two cents. They say I owe seventy-five thirteen more but I don’t.”
“Because you returned those groceries.”
“That’s right. And I don’t feel I should have to pay for them and I won’t pay for them, stick me in jail if you have to.”
“Heh,” the judge said, as if this was funny, but not very. He made a tent of his fingers. After a long pondering moment he said, “I guess I agree with you.”
“Hold on a minute!” Alex Benson shot Up from his pew. The judge fired him a warning look, which he ignored. “We’ve acted in complete accordance with every law!”
“You’ve acted like a couple of jackasses. Lay off the old ladies and be happy you’re getting your five hundred dollars.” He slammed his gavel down and wiggled his fingers to the clerk, wanting the next file.
“Thank you.” Gladys couldn’t help feeling smug. She set her purse Up on the rail in front of her and fished out a large manila envelope. “Since I’ve said my piece and you’ve agreed about those returned groceries, I’d like to pay off my bill, right here in the presence of witnesses, because between you and me, I don’t trust those people any further than I could throw a sack of cement.”
“You want to pay them now, this minute?”
“If I may.”
He shrugged and made a motion with his hand as if to say, Knock yourself out.
Gladys removed a wad of cash from the envelope and set it with care Up on the podium, then dumped the envelope Upside down to catch the change that clattered out: the seventy-two cents. She clutched the change in one hand, gathered the wad of bills in the other, and made her way down from the witness box and across the room to stand in front of the Bensons and pay them in front of God and everyone. She heard John Fitzgerald chuckle and Randi say, “You go, girl.” Mabel Brink clapped her hands together twice and a buzzing murmur of disapproval rose from the Bensons’ side of the courtroom. Arbutus and Madeline sat with their faces aglow, grinning like simpletons. Gladys gave them a little wink and then crossed the room to count five hundred and thirteen dollars and some-odd change out to the Bensons in ones and fives and tens.
19
You think you’re smart, don’t you?” Terry Benson hissed at Madeline as she stepped out into the aisle. “Well I know what you really are.” Tracy York, who worked in the senior apartment’s housing office—she and Madeline had not hit it off when Madeline went in with Emil to get an application—pushed through the crowd to stand next to Terry. Madeline didn’t answer, just aimed toward the door.
“Madeline, wait for me,” Arbutus said from behind her, a little breathless. Madeline closed her eyes for an instant, and waited.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, buying that building,” Terry said. “Alex and I wouldn’t buy it now if you put a gun to our heads, so Gladys Hansen better not ever come asking.”
“I’m surprised they’ll have anything to do with you anyway. Your mother was putting out for a quick buck whenever she needed one, everybody knew it,” Tracy said. Everyone around them turned to look. “I guess that’s how you showed Up, a little surprise at the end of the deal. Do you think anybody really wants you here?”
Arbutus gasped. The people near them were murmuring and staring, or else trying hard not to. Madeline gave Tracy York just one brief look. “At least my mother isn’t turning in her grave over how low I’ve sunk.”
It was the best she could do. She checked that Arbutus was right behind her and made her way out of the courtroom. “I can’t believe that just happened,” she said when they got outdoors. “Those women—”
Arbutus shook her head, watching her feet as she pushed the walker across the Uneven sidewalk.
“Is that how people really are? My God. How dare they?”
Arbutus grimaced,