Page 43 of Merry Murder Season
I rubbed my face. Everyone knows my business before I even do anything. “I don’t know why Greg worries. He has spies all over to keep me in line.”
“Or he knows you too well.” Amy hung up the sign and locked the door. “Let’s get out of here before Marvin or Tina open the door with something elsefor me to do.”
Chapter 17
Lille seated us as soon as we walked in the door. “Where’s your little friend? Maybe she wants to know more about Dom’s family tragedy.”
“Beth is working, and she’s almost my sister-in-law,” I said, hoping to remind Lille that she was engaged. “We’re heading over to the library later today to get more information about this cult. You know she’s writing a book, right? And she’s leaving on Monday.”
Lille’s eyes flickered a bit when I said Beth was leaving on Monday. Whatever Lille thought was going on, at least the problem would be ended when Beth goton that plane.
“I didn’t realize Dom’s sister was in a cult.” I softened my voice a little since Lille was still standing there. “I bet when the New Hope group moved here it must have been hard on him.”
“And if you’d known, you would have looked at Dom for Kane’s murder too. Is that what you’re saying?” Lille challenged my connection attempt, slapping the menus on the table.
“No, I just meant it must have been hard for him and his family to have them open shop here.” I stood my ground. I was trying to be nice, but if Lille couldn’t hear my words, there was nothing I could do.
Instead of responding, she nodded. “He was a mess when New Hope first moved here. I’m sure it was hard on his mom, too. Carrie will take your order.”
I watched as Lille went back to the hostess stand, then turned away before she could see me watching. That was almost the most civilized conversationwe’d ever had.
“She’s warming up to you, I see,” Amy snickered behind her menu. “Soon, you two will be best friends and braiding each other’s hair while you talk about boys.”
“I don’t think we’ll ever be friends, but I’d like to stop fearing being banned from eating Tiny’s food forever.” I set my menu down. Since Beth and I were eating out tonight, I was going to get Tiny’s fried chicken salad. It had probably as many calories as the fish-and-chips, but at least it had some vegetables to make it seem a little more healthy.
Carrie came over and took our order. And for the second time that Amy and I ate together, she ordered something healthy. Baked fish and broccoli with a side salad and just water. I was having iced tea. I wasn’t that upset that I needed a milkshake.
Carrie left and I studied my friend. “What’s up with you?”
She dropped her gaze and moved her fork from one side of the table to the other.“Nothing. Why?”
“Just that you’ve been acting weird. And, come to think of it, you didn’t have coffee at the business-to-business meeting. Are you pregnant?” My eyes widened as I said the words. “Or sick? Tell me you’re not sick. You haven’t been surfing in forever, either.”
Amy narrowed her eyes. “How doyou know that?”
“When you’re out surfing on the weekend, you come in on Monday or Tuesday and have a tan. Besides, you always brag about how amazing the surf is. I know Deek hasn’t gone lately. He’s pale and gaining some weight from being at his desk all the time.” I stopped talking and waited for Amy tosay something.
Finally, after Carrie dropped off our drinks, Amy leaned forward. “Just between us, Justin and I are trying to get pregnant. I’m not right now. But the books say if you’re healthy going in, you have a better chance to have a healthy baby. So we’ve been working out at home and saving money, just in case I need some time off when the baby comes.”
I should have known that my intense friend and her equally intense husband would have an intense plan for creating their family. “I’m sohappy for you.”
“Don’t be happy yet. It’s been six months since I’ve been off the pill and no baby yet. Maybe I missed my fertile years.” Amy grimaced as she sipped her water.
“I’d blame him first,” I said as Carrie set my salad in front of me. “Carrie, this looks amazing. Please tell Tiny he’s a god.”
“Not in this lifetime. The guy already has a big enough head. Dom’s been trying to get him to run his kitchen too.” She sat Amy’s lunch in front of her. “I don’t see you guys out as much lately.”
“The holidays.” Amy waved the statement away. “Jill’s too busy with the bookstore now that her aunt has turned cruising into a lifestyle.”
Carrie shook her head. “That’s not the reason, but whatever. Hey, Jill, Chris told me to say thanks for coming with her last night. She didn’t think she could have done it alone. I don’t know how she thinks she can run the bar.”
After Carrie left, Amy waved at me with her fork. “What’s Carrie talking about you and Chris? I was kidding about you replacing me as your best friend. Although Beth’s auditioning for the part, I think. When is she going back to Nebraska again?”
I chuckled. “Beth is leaving on Monday. Chris just needed someone to go with her when she went to the bar to figure out what she needed todo to reopen.”
“Seriously? She thinks Greg’s just going to let her reopen?” She looked up from her meal. “Oops. Forget I said that.”
“Please don’t tell me that she moved up on Greg’s suspect list. The woman’s a wreck.” I carefully stacked all the bits of salad, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and chicken on my fork to make it a full bite. When Amy didn’t answer, I looked up and saw her biting her lip. “What?”
