by Bobbi Holmes
“When I came out of the bathroom, he was in the hallway alone. He approached me, told me he wanted to ask me out, but that he didn’t want to make me uncomfortable if I wasn’t interested.”
Expressionless, Seraphina stared at Phoebe. “He asked you out?”
“Yes! And I told him I would love to go out with him!” Phoebe giggled.
“I…I thought you didn’t feel he was good enough?” Seraphina asked.
Phoebe rolled her eyes and laughed. “Silly, I said he wasn’t good enough for you. Goodness, he is so out of your league it isn’t even funny.” Phoebe paused a moment and silently studied Seraphina.
In her best dramatic performance, Phoebe abruptly stood from the bed, “Oh, Sera, if you are seriously interested in him, then I’ll tell him I don’t want to go out with him. Fact is, I’m sure he would rather go out with you anyway. Heck, he probably just figured you would say no, so he asked me. But I can tell him no.”
Seraphina didn’t respond immediately but just sat quietly. Finally, she began shaking her head and said, “No. Don’t do that. He was nice to me, but if he asked you out, then it’s you he’s interested in.”
“But I’m sure he’s interested in you,” Phoebe insisted.
Seraphina stood. “No. It’s fine. Chris is a nice guy, and I hope you have a great time with him.”
Bentley stepped back from the doorway just as Seraphina walked into the hallway. She barely noticed him standing there and didn’t seem to realize the door had not been closed all the way. When Bentley walked into his room a moment later, he found Phoebe sitting at the dressing table, humming and brushing her hair while admiring herself in the mirror.
“You’re a scheming little number, aren’t you?” Bentley asked in disgust, closing the door behind him.
Phoebe glanced over to her roommate. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t believe Chris asked you out.”
“She told you?”
“I overheard. You’re spinning lies again, Phoebe,” Bentley accused. “Chris isn’t interested in you. I saw how he looked at Seraphina.”
Phoebe shrugged and looked back into the mirror. “Men always look at Seraphina that way. It doesn’t mean they aren’t also interested in me. Look at Barry.”
“I wonder if I ask Chris, what will he say?” Bentley asked.
Phoebe swung around on the vanity stool and glared at Bentley. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“I wouldn’t? Watch me.”
A smile curled the corners of her lips as she set the brush she had been holding on the vanity top. “Then I will just have to tell Jackie about Vegas.”
The smile faded from Bentley’s face. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You know that ‘everything stays in Vegas’ slogan? Not true,” she smirked.
Bentley licked his lips nervously and stared at Phoebe, his expression blank. “You don’t know anything. You’re bluffing,” he challenged.
The next moment she told him exactly what she knew. Upon hearing, Bentley glared at Phoebe. “You are a piece of…”
“Now, now,” she interrupted. “Be nice. I will keep your secret if you keep mine.”
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing. But it’s not going to matter anyway. I don’t have to say anything to Chris. Not sure why you want him in the first place. I thought you were interested in his boss. I would think getting Seraphina and Chris together would make it easier for you to meet Glandon. But if you’re dating Johnson, doesn’t that mess up your plans?”
“See, smart guy, you don’t always know everything. Don’t try to figure me out. I’m always going to be a step ahead of you. Now what are you doing up here anyway? I thought Jackie wanted you in the library with them so you could take notes?”
Glaring at Phoebe, he turned abruptly and walked to his bed, grabbing his briefcase off the mattress.
Seraphina found Danielle and Polly sitting at the kitchen table, chatting. What she couldn’t see was Marie, who also sat at the table.
“Can I join you?” Seraphina asked softly.
“Certainly,” Danielle said, immediately standing up and pulling out the empty chair for Seraphina. If the woman thought Danielle was simply welcoming her, she would be wrong. In truth, Danielle didn’t want her guest sitting on Marie.
“Would you like a piece of double fudge chocolate cake?” Danielle asked, still standing. “It’s homemade.”
“Oh…I probably shouldn’t,” Seraphina said unconvincingly. “As it is, I missed my morning jog. Can you recommend a good place to go?”
Danielle laughed. “Do I look like I jog?”
Seraphina glanced Danielle up and down. “You look great. But you know that camera, they say it puts on twenty pounds, and I need to keep in shape for the movie.”
“You met Heather today,” Danielle said.
“Yes, what about her?” Seraphina asked.
“She jogs just about every morning. I’m sure she would be happy if you joined her. She lives one door down from here.”
“That would be great,” Seraphina said.
“If you’re going to go jogging, you sure you don’t want a piece of that cake?” Danielle teased.
“It really is good,” Polly said, picking up the empty plate in front of her to show Seraphina. A sprinkling of chocolate cake crumbs and a smudge of chocolate frosting decorated the plate.
Seraphina flashed Polly a smile and then looked to Danielle. “Actually, I need a little chocolate right now.”
A few minutes later, after Danielle had brought Seraphina a slice of cake and cup of hot tea, she sat down and asked, “Is something wrong? When someone needs chocolate, usually they have a problem…Although now that I think about it, I always need chocolate.” Danielle grinned.
Stabbing the slice of cake with the tip of her fork, Seraphina let out a sigh and said, “It’s nothing, really. And I probably shouldn’t say anything anyway.”
Polly reached out and touched Seraphina’s wrist. “Oh, please do. I was just whining to Danielle about how I need to rejuvenate my acting career. Now tell us, what is the problem?”
She looked up from her plate and glanced from Polly to Danielle. “Promise you won’t say anything?”
“Promise,” both Polly and Danielle agreed, each adding a nod.
Seraphina looked to Danielle and said while cringing, “I think your friend Chris is nice. He’s different from other men I meet. I like him.”
Danielle grinned. “I know he likes you.”
Seraphina looked embarrassed. “I just thought we might be able to get to know each other better this week.”
“I know he’d like that,” Danielle said.
Seraphina smiled sadly. “I don’t think you understand. I was interested in your friend…I mean not just as a new friend.”
Danielle laughed. “Well, good. Because I’m pretty sure Chris would like that too.”
“No.” Seraphina shook her head. “Chris is interested in getting to know Phoebe better, not me. At least not like that.”
“No way,” Danielle blurted. “Seriously, no. Chris is definitely interested in you. Although, I’m starting to feel like I’m back in high school again.” Danielle laughed.
“He’s asked Phoebe out. And that’s okay. They’re both great people, and maybe something will come of it beyond this weekend.”
“I don’t know where you got the crazy idea he asked Phoebe out,” Danielle said. “I understand she is a beautiful woman, and she seems quite nice, but Chris isn’t interested in her. Heck, I don’t even think he’s noticed her.”
Seraphina shook her head. “No, he noticed.”
“I know how we can end this nonsense, I’m going to ask Chris,” Marie announced before vanishing.
Danielle said, “Listen, Chris is one of my closest friends. He made it very clear to both Walt and myself that he would love to get to know you better. As Marie would say, he’s rather smitten with you.”
“Wh
o is Marie?” Polly asked.
“Umm…” Danielle looked over to Marie’s now empty chair. “Just an old friend. But the point is, I know for a fact Chris would be interested in getting to know you better. And Chris isn’t a player. He’s not the type to decide you wouldn’t be interested—after all, you are Seraphina Bouchard—and then seek out a substitute.”
“Chris is also extremely good looking and seems like an interesting guy,” Polly added.
“True,” Danielle agreed and then went on, “But he’s not one to simply give up and settle on some other woman he feels he has a better chance with. Just not going to happen. Serious about this.”
“I agree with Danielle,” Polly said. “I saw how he looked at you today. He could not take his eyes off you. And you were always making each other smile. I was a little jealous…”
“Over Chris?” Seraphina asked.
“Not like that,” Polly said. “I just mean, I kept wondering if Teddy and I ever looked at each other like that. I know we don’t now.” She looked over at Danielle and said, “I notice you and your husband look at each other that way.”
The next moment Marie reappeared. Only Danielle could see or hear her.
“Chris is not interested in Phoebe,” Marie announced. “And he certainly did not ask her out. He may be calling you in a minute to ask what in the heck is going on. Once I got him to answer the question, I headed back here.”
Danielle looked to Seraphina. She reached out and took her hand, giving it a slight squeeze. “I can’t say how I know, but Chris did not ask Phoebe out—he has no intention of asking her out, even if you aren’t interested in him. I don’t know where you got that idea, but trust me on this one.”
The next minute Danielle’s cellphone rang.
Sixteen
After leaving Polly and Danielle in the kitchen, Seraphina started to go to her bedroom when Birdie walked out of her room. Instead of going upstairs, Seraphina retreated to the parlor with Birdie.
“So how was your nap?” Seraphina asked Birdie after the two were alone in the parlor, its door shut.
“To be honest, I never nap when I say nap. I was reading.”
Seraphina smiled. “You could have just told us you wanted to read.”
“True. But I’ve found when people think you’re napping, they tend to leave you alone—but not so with reading. I had a book I wanted to finish.”
“Did you?”
“I did. And I wasn’t even able to guess the killer until the last chapter,” Birdie said, sitting down on a chair.
“Ahh, you were reading a mystery.” Seraphina sat on the sofa, Danielle’s black cat, Max, sleeping by her side.
“Yes. My favorite genre. Now, what have you been doing the last couple of hours?” Birdie sat primly facing Seraphina.
“I was visiting with Danielle and Polly.” Seraphina absently reached over and stroked Max’s back. He woke up, lifted his head, and meowed.
“He is the most beautiful cat,” Birdie cooed. Max turned his head and looked at Birdie. “I’ve never seen a cat with markings like that. All black but with white-tipped ears.”
“You like cats, don’t you?” Seraphina asked.
“Oh, yes. I always considered myself a cat person. But Randy was allergic.” Birdie gave her lap several pats, trying to coax Max to her. Taking her invitation, he stood up, walked to the edge of the sofa cushion and jumped down to the floor. He sauntered to Birdie and then jumped up on her lap, making himself comfortable. She began to pet him as he closed his eyes and started to purr.
Seraphina watched Birdie and Max for a moment and then asked, “Can I ask you something?”
“Why certainly. Anything,” Birdie said.
Seraphina then went onto recount the conversation she’d had with Phoebe, and then the one with Danielle and Polly, about Chris.
“I didn’t tell Danielle and Polly that Phoebe was the one who told me Chris had asked her out. I don’t think Danielle knows her friend as well as she thinks.”
“Or perhaps you don’t know Phoebe as well as you think,” Birdie suggested.
“You think she lied?”
“I believe Phoebe has a problem with the truth,” Birdie said softly.
“But why? Why would she lie about something like that?”
“She obviously has her sights set on Chris. That’s probably why she was so dismissive about him in the beginning. She didn’t want you to get interested,” Birdie suggested.
“Doesn’t she realize I could find out the truth?” Seraphina asked.
“I don’t think Phoebe considered that. Another thing I’ve noticed about the girl, she doesn’t think these things through. Look at Barry.”
“I was wrong about that,” Seraphina said. “Nothing happened. Barry instigated it, and I just walked in at the wrong time. I feel horrible I never listened to her when she tried to explain. She has always been there for me, always. I trust Phoebe. It was all my fault.”
“Why was it your fault?” Birdie asked.
“I knew how Barry could be. He promised it would never happen again—the cheating. I just never thought he would try to force himself on someone. I should have protected Phoebe—she worked for me. I put her in situations where she was alone with Barry. Instead of protecting her, I fired her.”
“I’m sorry, dear, but that’s not what happened. I was going to say something earlier, but then I saw her, and she did seem to be trying. And I know how much she has always meant to you. Everyone deserves a second chance, so I didn’t say anything. But I think I need to now.”
“What are you talking about?” Seraphina asked.
“Phoebe lied. She lied about all of it.”
“She didn’t,” Seraphina insisted.
“After you kicked Barry out, he came to me. Begged me to talk to you. He wanted you back. Claimed he had made a mistake. He said he knew he had a problem and was willing to go to counseling—therapy if you wanted—if you would try to work it out with him. Of course, I told him I wouldn’t help him.”
“I’m glad you didn’t. Trying to force himself on her was more than a mistake.”
“That’s not what happened. The reason I know Phoebe lied to you, she called him when he was with me. She didn’t know he was with me at the time. Barry let me listen in on the phone call; he wanted me to know her part in all of it.”
Polly and Danielle were in the midst of laughing about something one of them had said when Walt walked into the kitchen. Danielle’s laughter subsided, and she glanced up at the kitchen clock and saw that she and Polly had been talking for almost two hours.
“Are you guys finished for now?” Danielle asked, no longer laughing. “Or have you just come for sustenance?”
“We’re finished for now, but sustenance would be nice.” He walked to the cake pan and lifted its lid, finding one lone piece of double fudge chocolate cake. He looked to Danielle, silently asking permission.
“Go ahead,” Danielle told him. “Polly and I each had a piece, but you’d better grab it before someone else does.”
Walt didn’t need to be told twice. He reached into an overhead cabinet and snatched a small dish.
“Is Teddy still in there?” Polly asked, watching Walt plate the remaining slice of cake.
“He’s in there with Chase, but when I left them, they were talking sports, not the movie. Jackie and Bentley went upstairs, I think,” Walt said.
Polly stood up. “If you will excuse me, I think I’ll go see if Teddy would like to take a little walk on the beach before dinner.”
By the time Polly left the kitchen, Walt was sitting at the kitchen table, eating his chocolate cake with Danielle and Marie.
“I really like Polly. She has a great sense of humor,” Danielle told Walt.
“She’s a sweet girl, but that husband of hers is a putz,” Marie said.
Danielle looked at Marie. “About that. I wish you would withhold some of your comments when you’re sitting in on a conversation. It would be differen
t if Polly could hear you. You have no idea how difficult it was sometimes to pay attention to what Polly was saying while you constantly made cracks like your husband is a jerk and you can do better.”
“As long as she isn’t saying that to you, I don’t see what the problem is,” Walt teased as he took another bite of cake.
“Well, he is a jerk, and I do believe she can do better,” Marie insisted.
In Chase Wilks’s youth he had played high school football. He wasn’t particularly good at it, but those hours of practice helped keep his weight off, something that had been difficult for him to do in his forties. Sitting at the computer hours a day, along with his junk-food habit, didn’t help the situation. He only wore loose-fitting button-up shirts with his slacks to help conceal his girth. His height, standing over six three, played to his advantage. His shortly cropped beard was his reaction to thinning hair, which was also kept short like the beard.
Chase sat in the library, talking with Teddy. “I wanted to tell you, I’m impressed,” Chase said.
“Impressed? What do you mean?” Teddy asked.
“Takes some cojones to spend a week with your wife and girlfriend under the same roof.” Chase laughed.
“Please, Phoebe is hardly my girlfriend,” Teddy said with a snort. “I can hardly stand the woman.”
“That’s not how I remember it,” Chase said.
“And we both moved on. It was fun while it lasted,” Teddy said.
An audible gasp came from the doorway. Both men turned to see who it was. When they did, they caught a glimpse of Polly, who had just run from the room.
Pearl Huckabee stood at her bedroom window, looking over at Marlow House. Those movie people were there. Cars had been driving up and down the street all day—looky-loos trying to get a glimpse at some celebrity.
Three unfamiliar vehicles were parked in front of the house, and people had been coming and going all day long. Just minutes earlier a young woman with short dark hair came running from the house and headed toward the pier. The silly thing didn’t even have a jacket on; she was going to catch pneumonia if she wasn’t careful. A few minutes later a bearded man came running out of the house after her. Pearl could tell he was calling for her. Either the woman couldn’t hear him, or she was ignoring the man. Pearl watched as the pair ran down the street, heading for the pier, the woman a good distance ahead of him.
