Page 86 of Rebel Bride
Rosie took a seat beside me and clinked my glass as the Miracles oohed the intro to “The Tracks of my Tears.”
“The dogs are awesome. Even more awesome, you got a delivery!”
“I did?”
Adeline put her glass down and picked up a box at the side of the armchair. “Someone sent you a present.”
Sure enough, that was my name on the label. The return address was something called Boarderie.
“Open it!” Rosie handed me a steak knife.
A minute later, we were gazing in wonder upon a gorgeously arranged cheese board. A handy legend listed off aged Gouda, Cranberry Wensleydale, a creamy Camembert, Rosemary-pepper crackers, figs, almonds, candied ginger, and more.
“Wow, that looks soooo good,” Adeline said as she picked up the accompanying card before I could. I knew who had sent it. Please God, let him have had the common sense not to own up to it.
Adeline read off the card, “Just in queso you need a friend, I’m right here. No name.”
“Cute.” Rosie narrowed her eyes at me. “Who sent this?”
“I really can’t say.” True to the letter, if not in spirit. I hated lying, but there was no way I could fess up.
“Looks like you have a cheesy admirer.”
“Someone who really brie-lieves in you,” Adeline said with a grin. “I really can’t say.” She repeated my words, slightly exaggerated. “That accent of yours has always thrown me.”
“That’s Mississippi.”
Rosie’s brow lined. “I thought you were from the Bay Area.”
“I—well, I might have fudged the truth there. Long story.”
Adeline smiled. “Worth telling over cheese? I was going to make pasta but maybe we should have a cheese night. If you don’t mind eating it.”
“It is very pretty, but yeah, let’s smash this thing.”
“And then we can settle in for Summer’s thrilling backstory and a few episodes of Downton,” Rosie said. “Got to get caught up ahead of the movie.”
I grasped her arm. “You guys are Downton fans?”
Adeline’s smile was wry. “Of course we are. I’m kind of hoping they find a way to have Bates accused of murder for a third time in this entry. I want to see Anna rushing to the gallows with evidence of his innocence.”
Rosie laughed. “And Lady Mary throwing her title around as she talks down her nose to the prison governor. But to be fair, Bates needs to alibi himself every time he leaves the house!”
I could have cried. How lucky I was to have fallen in with this crew. While Rosie grabbed plates, I headed to my room to change and shoot off a text of gratitude.
Me
Thank you for dinner tonight.
Dino Boy
Glad to feed your cheese habit, Sunshine.
Me
The board is so beautiful. I hate having to ruin it, but cheese.
Dino Boy
