Page 3 of Merry Murder Season
“He hates being around people.” I knew there was more to the story, but at least Josh was trying to forgive Mandy’s family for a few things that had happened before they were married.
“I should tell you that Jim and Beth are fighting. Mom called this morning to warn me.” He checked the road, then we jaywalked across the street to the restaurant. It was good being married to the head detective, although jaywalking was about all Greg did to skirt the law. He was arule follower.
“Oh no. What did he do now?” I liked Beth. Probably a lot more than I liked Greg’s brother Jim.
“He’s being a pill about her working once they’re married. She’s standing up for herself. Mom thinks it will blow over, but they may not want to go to this fundraiser thing on Friday. You know Jim and bars. Or she might want to go and he would want me to stay behind with him.” He held the door open for me. “I might just offer to take Mom and them to dinner while you do this. I’ll give you a check for the entrance fees wearen’t paying.”
“No way. You and your family are coming. I’ve already bought the toys to get us inside.” I was going to say more, but then Lille walkedup to seat us.
“Hi, Greg. I’ve got a booth just for you.” She smiled at my husband, grabbed two menus, and walked us to the table. “Carrie will be right with you.”
Then she disappeared without evenlooking at me.
Rolling my eyes, I slipped onto the red leather bench. I held up the menu to see what I’d read at least once a week for years. “Some things never change. I’m so glad she’s coming for our family dinner on Thursday.”
“Jill, I’m sure it will be fine. She was probably just—” Greg’s phone rang. From the ringtone, I could tell it was his brother, Jim. “Look, I need to take this. I’ll try tokeep it short.”
He walked out of the restaurant. I could see him pacing as he talkedto his brother.
I had a bad feeling that Beth wasn’t going to make it for dinner on Thursday.
Chapter 2
Once at home, I reviewed my plan for the holiday weekend. I’d taken Wednesday off to get ready for the big dinner. I needed to clean the house as well as start some of the food prep. According to Greg, Jim, Beth, and his mom should arrive later tonight. They had rented a house for the week down Highway One. Beth had told me she was spending as much time as possible on the beach between the time they landed at LAX to the time they climbed back on the plane. I wondered if Beth would end up living nearby with or without Greg’s brother. The phone call had only been to update Greg ontheir flights.
First up, I wanted to make pies. I didn’t need to make a lot, but I wanted to have leftovers after we packed everyone up on Thursday after the big meal. And there was nothing like pumpkin pie with whipped creamfor breakfast.
Emma whined, staring at her leash. I already had the cookbook out on the kitchen table, waiting. “You wantto go running?”
The joy in her bark was too much for me to tell her no. Besides, if I ran, I’d have more calories available for pie later. It had to work that way, right?
I went upstairs and changed from my work outfit to running clothes. Then I’d change into bum-around clothes when we got back. I just hoped we wouldn’t get an invite for dinner tonight, which would mean another outfit for the day. Seriously, I wasn’t that much of a girly girl.
Emma and I headed down to the beach. Esmeralda stood outside her house, packing a suitcase into her car. We crossed the street to see her. “Hey, I heard you were heading to New Orleans. We’ll miss youat the table.”
“I’m heading home to cornbread and oyster stuffing and pecan pie.” Esmeralda closed her car door. “It’s funny, you don’t think about home until the holidays get close. Then all you can think about is thefood. Nic’s place will be filled between his sister’s friends and strays and his own. That family tends to collect people, like you do.”
“I don’t…” I started thinking about Deek and Tilly coming to dinner. “Okay, I’ll give you that one. But I can’t deal with people being alone on Thanksgiving. Besides, we’ll have waytoo much food.”
“Well, I appreciate you taking care of my godson. I invited him to come with me, but he turned me down. I swear Rory never got the importance of holidays and home. When Deek finally does marry, he’ll be living in that house on the corner that has way too many lights and a small town of inflatable cartoon characters on the lawn.”
“I love that image of him.” I laughed at the visual. “You’re probably right. Anything youneed me to do?”
“Deek’s babysitting Precious and will be staying here, so I’m good.” She leaned in to hug me. “Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Mrs. King. I’ll seeyou next week.”
Then she froze, staring at me. Her hands gripped tighter on my arms.
“Esmeralda? You better get going if you’re going to make your plane.” I didn’t like the look in her eyes. I’d seen that look before. Esmeralda was not only the town’s primary dispatcher for the police and fire department, but she was also a fortune-teller or psychic. Maybe medium would be a better title. She’d found her talent in the streets of New Orleans as an orphan. Now, she saw clients in her home and had a strong business of repeat customers.
She also said I had a bit of the sight as well. A talent I’d neverseen in myself.
The freaky thing was, Esmeralda’s predictions were often right.
Her friend, Rory Kerr, Deek’s mom, had her own fortune-telling shop in Bakerstown. And Deek saw auras. Most of my friends were normal. Esmeralda and Deek were just a little more on the woo-woo side of the scale.
She blinked several times, then dropped her hands to her sides. “Jill, I need to tell you something, so don’t freak out.”
“When do I ever freak out?” I asked. I didn’t like wherethis was going.
