Lunch with the Ladies

The rustic restaurant buzzed with the hum of conversation, and the aroma of delicious meals wafted from the kitchen. Amidst the worn wooden tables and dim candlelight, Eleanor's presence was striking. She sat with impeccable posture, her dark curls piled atop her head in an intricate bun. The jade brooch at her collar matched her sharp, emerald eyes – eyes that always seemed to be appraising and judging.

"So, I told her if you drop another plate, I'll personally make sure you never work in this town again," Eleanor declared, her voice dripping with superiority. Her green eyes sparkled with mischief, underscoring her pride in her actions and enjoyment in the retelling.

A chorus of laughter echoed from the group, although Val's polite smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Eleanor, ever observant, noticed Val's reluctance immediately.

"So, anyway," Eleanor continued, her gaze piercing as she turned to Val, "Martha tells me you live just down the road from her. How did you end up in our quaint little town?"

Val shifted uncomfortably under Eleanor's scrutinizing gaze. But before she could find the right words, Martha interjected, her tone playful, aiming to ease the tension.

"Have any of y'all been to that new apothecary on the outskirts of town?" Martha began with a teasing grin. "I went in there to get something for my boy's cold and left with something special for me and my husband."

Muffled giggles resonated around the table, and Val's eyes lit up with interest.

Kathy, another woman at the table, leaned in, whispering, "You know, her kind are good for that sort of thing. I heard the Barts had trouble conceiving. One visit to her, and a month later, they were expecting!"

Martha's laugh was hearty. "That woman is a miracle worker. The lotion she gave me had me and Lloyd going at it like rabbits!"

Eleanor's jade eyes glinted with disapproval. "I just don't understand how you can trust one of them. A good Christian woman like myself has no need for witchcraft."

Martha, never one to miss a beat, retorted, "Well, maybe I should see if she has something to get that rattlesnake out of your dress."

Laughter filled the air as Eleanor's lips curved into a reluctant smile, her earlier iciness dissolving.

As the evening wore on, Val's spirits lifted, the weight of her worries temporarily forgotten.