Ruby could hear Sister Helen chuckling.
Miraculously, she and her mother made it all the way to the end of the aisle without another argument.
Apparently, Nora was saving her strength for the battle over vegetables.
“That ear of corn is gross. Get one of the white ones . . . not that onion, for Gods sake, get a Walla Walla Sweet . . . come on, Ruby, that broccoli is half dead. What on earth do you eat in California?”
Ruby dropped the broccoli into the basket and walked away. It was safer that way. She poked her head around the end of the aisle and called out to Sister Helen, “Where are the aspirin?”
Sister Helen chuckled. “Along the back wall, honey, by the Pepto-Bismol . . . which you might want to consider, too. ”
R
uby snagged an industrial-size container of Excedrin and tossed it into the basket. It hit a tomato with a juicy thwack!
“Lovely,” Nora said, wiping her cheek. Then she glanced toward the left corner, where the nuns offered a few T-shirts and shorts for sale. “I could get you some clothes, if youd like-”
“Thats it. Were done. ” Ruby grabbed the handles on the wheelchair and spun it around, then strode up to the cash register. She stopped so suddenly her mother was thrown forward like a rag doll.
Sister Helen was doing her level best not to smile. “Its just like old times, seeing you two together. ”
Nora gave her a tight smile. “Yes, Sister, weve always enjoyed these mother daughter outings. ”
Ruby nodded. “Just remember what she was like to shop with . . . when the police come to question you. ”
Sister Helen laughed at that and started ringing up the groceries. She chattered nonstop about this and that-who was running for mayor come autumn, whose horse had recently foundered, whose well had gone dry-as her fingers flew across the keys.
Ruby left the store and stared at the cars in line for the next ferry. She was just about to turn around when the row of newspaper machines caught her eye.
She glanced back into the store, then hurried down to the box that held USA Today.
And there, in the upper-right-hand corner, was a picture of her mother beneath the headline: WHERE Is NORA BRIDGE HIDING?
Ruby dug into her fanny pack, found two quarters, and slipped them into the machine.
“Ruby, honey?” came her mothers voice from inside the store.
Ruby yanked the paper out, rolled it up, and shoved it into her waistband, pulling her shirt down in front of it. “Just a second,” she hollered, running past the store. At the minivan, she opened the back door and shoved the paper in underneath the backseat. By the time she got back into the store, she was breathless.
Nora was staring up at her. “The bags are on the counter. I can carry two of them if you can manage The third. ”
Ruby was certain that the patented mothers X-ray vision had somehow seen what shed bought.
“Sure. Bye, Sister Helen. ” She snatched the bag off the counter, settled it under one arm, and wheeled her mother toward the car.
As soon as they got home, Ruby helped her mother into the house, carried the groceries in, and put them away. Then she turned to Nora, who was watching her closely.
I . . . uh. . . Im going to walk on the beach. Its such a nice day. " Flashing a fake smile, Ruby went back outside. At the minivan, she retrieved her paper and tucked it under her shirt-just in case-then walked down to the beach.
She sat down on a flat granite rock and pulled out the lifestyle section, using a big chunk of silvery drift wood to pin the rest of the paper into the sand. The wind flapped at the edges of the paper and tried to rip it from her hands.
WHERE IS NORA BRIDGE HIDING?
In the wake of an ugly scandal, Nora Bridge has disappeared. Executives at KJZZ, which broadcasts her popular talk show, “Spiritual Healing with Nora,” are closing ranks, saying only that Ms. Bridge is on a previously scheduled vacation.
Tom Adams, the controversial and outspoken owner ofAdams News Organization, reports that nothing has changed with Ms. Bridges daily advice column, “Nora Knows Best. ”
Yesterday, Adams talked to Katie Couric. He encouraged viewers to write to Nora, promising that “she wants to hear from her faithful readers and she will answer their questions. Even the tough ones. ”