Page 17 of Vows of Murder

“Nope, she’s already at the diner. Look, I need to go. Was there a purpose to this call besides finding out if I wasworking today?”

“No. I just saw you walking into town this early and hoped you hadn’t forgotten that you were off this week. It happens.”

Now I felt bad that I jumped on her. “Sorry, I’m just a little nervous.”

“You’re getting married Saturday and Greg’s in the middle of a murder investigation. I’d be nervous too. You know how he gets when he’s working a case.” My aunt said something else, but the phone must have been muted. “Harrold’s up and he’s making pancakes. I better go. He likes to flip them and if I’m not there to watch, he gets grumpy.”

As I walked the rest of the way to Diamond Lille’s I wondered how Greg and I would be when we retired. Right now, with his job and mine, sometimes we barely saw each other. Other times, we were under each other’s feet. It was feast or famine in our relationship. I expected to run the bookstore forever. Or at least as long as it made sense, but I did want to travel like my aunt and uncle were now. They’d gone on four cruises since she’d retired from the bookstore. I was sure they would have been out of town this weekend, exceptfor my wedding.

Greg was waiting outside when I arrived and frowned when he saw me alone. “Is Momstill asleep?”

“No, she’s already here. She left me a note saying she was meeting her ex-husband for breakfast. She should be inside.” I hugged him, then stepped into the busy diner. Tiny, Lille’s chef, was famous for his breakfast skillets. And it looked like most of the townies were here before they went off to work. I saw his mom at a booth. I pointed them out as we waited to be seated. “Shall wesit with them?”

“Not unless you want me to lose my appetite. I didn’t get along with Mom’s ex even when they were married. And after, well, she didn’t get what she deserved out of the division of assets.” He smiled at Lille. “Good morning. A booth for two ifyou have one.”

Lille frowned at him and nodded toward Amanda and Vince. “I take it you want it away from those two?”

“Please.” He smiled and glanced out the window. “In fact, you don’t have garden seating yet, do you?”

Lille actually laughed, something I’d never seen her do. Lille ran the diner with an iron fist. And she hated me, even though I was now related to one of her favorite customers, Harrold, at least by marriage. “I have a booth available over here by the kitchen.”

We followed her and sat, looking at the menus she left. A few seconds later, Lille was back and filling coffee cups for both of us. “Congrats on the wedding. I love your location. The mission fountain has always been at the top of my list of venues.”

“Thanks, Greg found it.” I smiled at him, knowing that it would make Lille even happier that I didn’tfind the place.

“Well, aren’t you full of surprises?” Lille smiled at Greg. Totally ignoring me. “Carrie will be right with you.”

Greg sipped his coffee and waited until she was out of earshot. “I don’t get why you don’t like her. She’s very personable.”

“To you. It doesn’t matter, I’m used to it.” I glanced over the menu. “I’m having a sausage skillet and French toast. What about you?”

He shrugged. “Not sure. I need to fit into my suit this weekend. Maybe I’ll have eggs and fruit.”

“You’re kidding, right?” I looked up from the menu and saw him grinning.

“Of course I am. I’m having the omelet stuffed with biscuits and gravy and hashbrowns.” He set the menu down. “You’ve got to know me better than that by now.”

“I’m off my game right now.” I leaned forward. “Have you eliminated Molly?”

“Not talking about the case.” He turned in his seat. “But it is interesting that Vince is working for her and now is chatting up Mom again. Either he wants something for Molly, or he’s pitching her another unique moneymaking opportunity for her to spend her retirement funds on. The guy’s a sleaze. I don’t know what Mom saw in him in the first place.”

“Maybe she was lonely.” Now that I knew what Greg was getting, I wanted that too. But I’d stick with my semi healthy order. I set my menu aside and realized he was watching me. “What, did I say something wrong?”

He shook his head and reached out to stroke my cheek. “No. You are always able to say just the right thing. You’re right. Mom might have been lonely. And the scam artist over there filled some need. But hopefully, she’ll find a nice guy before she takes that kind of leap again. Her financial statement can’t take another hit like King Vince.”

“Sorry that he brings up bad memories. Were you still at home whenthey married?”

Greg paused when Carrie came to get their order, then he continued. “No. He came after both Jim and I were out of the house. She met him at a church retreat. I think he was just looking for a good mark. The marriage only lasted a few years, but most of that time he was already gone and they were working on the divorce. She told me everything one night a few years ago. She was so embarrassed.”

“Things happen. People lie. And there are a lot of people who live on hope, even after getting their teeth knocked in time after time.” I snuck a look at Amanda. She didn’t look like she was falling for the lines again. But you never knew. “Just one more reason I left family law. If you buy a bad book, you’re out thirty, thirty-five dollars, tops. If you marry the wrong man, it’s expensive.”

“You’re not worried about marrying the wrong man this time, are you?” He took my hand and kissed the top of it. “I’m a workaholic. I snap at you for pushing buttons you don’t realize are there. And my family can be challenging.”

“You’ve met my aunt. I own my own business so it’s all on me. And I don’t know what button I pushed. Unless you’re talking about the resume. Greg, if I stepped over a line, I’m sorry.” I didlove this man.

“You didn’t know there was a line, or rather a cliff, there. I’m the one who should be sorry. We’ll talk about it later. Mom and her friend are coming to the table.” Greg stood and greeted his mom with a kiss on the cheek. “Mom, I thought we were having breakfast. Vince.”

Vince reached out a hand. “I guess I was just faster on the invite, sport. How are you? I hear congratulationsare in order.”

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