"Not that again!" I growled, grabbing her thin shoulders and shaking her. Her glasses bobbled on her nose. "I'm not your darlin' Billy, and you well know it. Admit it!"
She closed her lips over her buck teeth and sniffled. "I reckon not," she said, raising her head and looking at me without flinching. "I lied to you."
"Why?"
"Kind of made me feel more decent about bein' divorced."
I gave her a last shake for the lie. "Let's have it," I went after her. "How much of what you've been feeding me is just window dressing?"
She shrugged, but stayed silent.
"Have you been married?" I insisted.
"Yes, Billy Joe."
"And divorced?"
"Oh, darlin' Billy," she sighed. "I jest shouldn't never a done that. But I did," she added.