Page 4 of Dead and a Best Friend
Pen sat back with a frown on her pale face. "Was he drunk?"
Taken aback by her comment, I opened my mouth to say that I didn't know, but then I thought,“What the actual freak?!”
"Oh god!" Pen grabbed my hands before I could get to my feet. "I didn't mean it that way. You know what the Hallen's are like, and Carlisle is the worst at showing his feelings."
"I know that." I accepted her apology, though I was still hurt by what she said. "I cried when he told me."
“I’m seriously happy for you, Talla. You deserve some happiness."
"I still struggle, Pen. I can't get past my brother being involved in Monica's death. He hid it all these years."
“Tate didn’t kill her. It was my asshole of a soon-to-be ex-husband who did. Aiden is the bad guy in all this. Tate and Trevor stood by and did nothing."
"That is true," I thought. "Has Aiden contacted you again?"
Pen glanced outside toward the town square, and I had the feeling she was about to lie to me.
"Not since last time." And there was the lie.
"So," I said, growing annoyed, "have you put Jessop out of his misery yet?"
"Can we talk about something else?" Pen smiled, her eyes bright and alert. “What are we doing for your birthday?”
I inwardly winced because Carlisle had asked me not to make any plans for my birthday, as he had a surprise in store. Just the two of us. Something romantic, he said. I, of course, had agreed.
"I can see by the look on your face that you have plans with Carlisle. Don't worry about it." Pen stood, so I quickly stood too and grabbed her arm as she was moving past me.
"Pen, I wasn't keeping that a secret. It slipped my mind with everything going on at the hospital. I promise. How about lunch on my birthday instead? We have to do something together."
Out of the blue, Pen wrapped her arms around me and gave me a long hug. I hugged her back, worried that something was going on with her.
She pulled back. "I've got to get back to work. I promised I'd be on time for a change. We're good, right, Talla? Best friends forever, remember?" She kissed me on the cheek and ran out the door.
Lionel came and stood beside me. "Something is going on with Penelope, Tallulah."
I shot him a puzzled glance. "What do you mean?"
"Since all that came out about her husband. She smiles and acts as though she's okay. She snapped at Sheila in the clinic the other day."
That wasn't like Pen. Worry etched my brows into a frown.
Thinking about my friend made a sliver of unease run down my spine. I needed to talk to her alone.
"I'll check in with her, Lionel." I took the elderly man by the arm and led him to his table. “What can I get for you today?”
“Well, Miss Tallulah, I would like a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and a cup of English tea to go with it.”
The bell jingled, and three men in suits walked in. I glanced at them and said to Lionel, "I can get that for you. Will Sheila be joining you?"
“I wouldn't mind fucking that ass!”
My back went ramrod straight.
"Miss Tallulah, are you okay?"
I shook my head, wondering where that thought came from. The thought had entered my mind in a male voice, too. "I'm fine, Lionel." I smiled. "And what's with the 'Miss'?"
He chuckled. "Sheila said I was a Southern gentleman and should act as such."
