by Tim Myers
“Good for you,” Jack said to my surprise.
“You’re not mad that we’re using your restaurant for our scheming?” I asked.
“Now, why on earth should I be mad? If you can find out what happened to Eliza Glade, I’ll give you both free desserts for a year. It’s amazing to me how someone could stab her in my kitchen during a banquet and not a soul witnessed it. If your brother doesn’t solve her murder soon, I may be out of business.”
“Is it really that bad?”
“Jennifer, I do well enough with the tourist trade, but it’s the folks who live in Rebel Forge year-round who keep me going. I like my friends to feel welcome here, and right now it’s as if there’s a pall of death hanging over the place that’s killing its spirit.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I never even thought about how it would hit you.”
He touched my hand lightly, and I felt it tingle, despite the fact that I knew the man had more children than I had cats. “You’ve grown into a sweet and kind woman, you know that?”
Before I could stop myself, a giggle escaped. “Thanks,” I managed to mutter before completely embarrassing myself.
Jack smiled, but to his credit he didn’t laugh. “Now let me see about that salad.”
He headed off to the kitchen, and I was studying the furnishings when someone slid across from me at my table.
It was my ex-fiancé. “Greg, you can’t sit there.”
Greg Langston looked around. “Why? Is your date in the bathroom, or did he stand you up?”
“My, aren’t you charming.”
He scowled. “Come on, Jennifer, you’re by yourself. There’s only one place setting.”
“I never claimed I was eating with anyone else. All I said was that you couldn’t sit there.”
At that moment, Lillian walked in with Luke Penwright. She looked surprised to see Greg sitting with me. Well, she couldn’t have been any more surprised than I was. Jack came out of the kitchen, and if he noticed that Greg had joined me, he didn’t show it. He led Lillian and Luke to their table, then handed Greg a menu.
“He’s not staying,” I said.
“Actually, I am.” Greg yanked the menu out of Jack’s hands.
“Jennifer, would you like me to reseat this gentleman?”
I saw Greg tense up, and it was pretty clear that Jack was ready for a little distraction from his slow business. “It’s fine,” I said, trying my best to defuse the situation.
Jack shrugged. “Then it’s all right with me. What can I get you?”
“I’ll have whatever she’s having,” Greg said. I knew he hated salads, but out of sheer meanness, I kept my mouth shut.
Jack nodded and left. I could tell that Lillian and Luke were talking about something, but I couldn’t hear much of what they were saying.
Greg kept trying to talk to me, when all I wanted to do was eavesdrop on my aunt’s conversation. I had to brush him off if I was going to learn anything. “So how is Stephanie going to react when she hears we’re having lunch together?”
“She’ll just have to get over it,” he said. “I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while now, but we never seem to get the chance to have a simple conversation.”
“This isn’t a good time, either,” I said. “Can’t we do it later?”
“We need to do it now,” he said. “Jennifer, I thought Stephanie might be the one, but every time I’m with her, I keep thinking about you. We’ve got to resolve what’s between us, so we can both move on.”
There was a serious undertone to his words that was rare for him. “How do you propose we do that?”
“We need to go out on a date together, one last time, so we can put this behind us forever.”
I was so startled by his suggestion that I nearly choked on my water.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “Do you honestly think a date will help us get past our situation?”
He smiled at me, and I felt my resolve weaken.
After all, how bad could it be, going out with him again? He’d always made me laugh, and when his hand brushed against mine, I could still feel the charge down to my toes.
“No,” I said as emphatically as I could. “I can’t do that anymore. Greg, we don’t fit. Isn’t that obvious by now?”
“So grant me this last favor. We go out, revisit our past, and then maybe we can both move on.”
I looked at him intently. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
His words tumbled out. “I’m just talking about dinner. You don’t even have to kiss me good night if you don’t want to.”
“Where?”
He met my gaze and said, “I was thinking we could go to The Chateau.”
He’d named the most expensive restaurant in town. “Can you honestly afford that?”
Greg shrugged. “Why not go out in style, since it’s our last date?”
Every ounce of my being was screaming no, so why did I say, “Okay. That sounds just crazy enough to work. When do you want to go out?”
“How about tonight?” he asked.
“Tonight is fine with me, but what is Stephanie going to say?”
Greg looked sheepish as he admitted, “To be honest with you, this was actually her idea. She thinks I’m still hung up on you, but Steph is under the impression that a date will clear it up once and for all.”
“That’s a first,” I said. “I can’t say I’ve ever had a date arranged by a man’s girlfriend.”
“So, should I pick you up at seven?”
“Why don’t we just meet at the restaurant,” I suggested.
“No,” Greg said as he shook his head. “This is going to be a date, from start to finish. No cheating, okay?”
“Just as long as you remember that, too.”
He had the decency to blush, but he was saved when our salads arrived.
“You ordered rabbit food?” he asked me.
“Try it. It’s delicious.”
Greg shook his head and spoke to Jack. “Can I get this to go?”
“No problem,” Jack said as he took the salad away. He was back a minute later with a Styrofoam box, and after he handed it to Greg, he gave him the check as well. Greg paid and left, and I found myself watching him walk out the door, wondering exactly what I had agreed to tonight.
I was about to take a bite of my salad when I noticed that Lillian and Luke were gone.
“Can I get this to go, too?” I said after I waved Jack over to my table.
“Is it something I said?” Jack asked.
“No, but I’ve got to find Lillian. Did you happen to notice when she left?”
Jack scratched his chin. “She’s been gone about five minutes. Luke looked like he was going to cry. What in the world was she thinking, bringing him here?”
“It was his idea,” I said.
Jack put my salad into a container like he’d given Greg, and I asked for my check.
“I can’t give it to you,” he said, not even trying to hide his smile.
“And why not?”
“Your lunch date already covered it. What is it with you two, Jennifer? Are you on again?”
“Just for tonight,” I said as I grabbed my salad and headed for the door.
I had the satisfaction of seeing the puzzled look on Jack’s face as I left. He could join the club. I didn’t have any more idea what I was doing than he did.
I found Lillian back at the card shop, and was surprised to see that she’d opened the place back up for business.
“Where did you run off to?” I asked her as I put my salad on the counter.
“I thought Luke was going to fall apart right on the spot. I had to get him out of there. I’m not surprised you didn’t notice us, though. What was that all about?”
I wasn’t ready to get into my social life with my aunt at the moment. “We can talk about it later. Did you get anything out of Luke?”
“Not in the restaurant,
but out on the sidewalk he admitted that he was leaving town. He said being in Rebel Forge made him think about Eliza too much. My heart went out to the poor boy.”
There was something about the man’s behavior that I just didn’t buy. “Lillian, did you ever consider the possibility that he’s crying out of remorse for killing her? If he stabbed his ex-wife, leaving town might be his escape.”
“I don’t know,” Lillian said. “I truly believe he loved her.”
“You’re nothing but a softie deep down inside, aren’t you?”
She shrugged. “What can I say? I’d like to believe that all of my ex-husbands still carry torches for me. Why is it so hard to believe that Luke loved Eliza to k the end?”
“Because she was fooling around with my brother-in-law, remember? I wonder if Bradford’s had any luck tracking him down.”
“I can’t honestly imagine Bailey being that elusive, can you? We really should spend more time with Sara Lynn. It’s not good for her to be alone right now.”
I nodded. “Why don’t you go over to Forever Memories this afternoon? I can handle things here.”
“I wasn’t talking about right now. Honestly, she’s surrounded by the things she loves in her shop. Tonight is when she’ll need us the most. What do you think? Should we make it another girls’ night out?”
There was no way I was going to be able to keep from telling her the truth, so I decided to get it out of the way. But first, I wanted a little diversion. “I got a salad from Hurley’s, and there’s more there than I could ever eat. Why don’t we split it?”
“That sounds wonderful,” she said, “but you didn’t answer my question.”
“Why don’t we eat first, then we can talk?”
It was obvious that Lillian thought I was up to something, but she didn’t have a clue what it was yet. She retrieved plates and cutlery from the back room while I grabbed a couple of bottled waters from the refrigerator. After splitting the salad between the two plates, I realized that I still probably had more than I could handle.
I had to give Lillian credit. She managed to hold her tongue ten minutes into the meal before she started grilling me.
“So why can’t you go out with us tonight?”
“I’ve got a date,” I said, hoping she’d drop it, but knowing she never would.
“Is it the mysterious stranger from last night?” Lillian asked.
“No, it’s Greg,” I said. Maybe if I gave her short and simple answers to her questions, it would go quicker.
“You and Greg are dating again?” She sounded surprised by the notion. “I thought you’d written him off for good.”
“I have,” I said. “But his girlfriend thinks it will do us both some good if we go out on one more date so we can get it out of our systems.”
“That is one understanding young woman,” Lillian said.
“It’s just dinner. Nothing more.”
Lillian didn’t look as though she believed it for a second. “And where is this dinner taking place?”
I mumbled the name of the restaurant, again hoping she’d let it go.
No such luck.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Where are you going?”
“The Chateau,” I said, louder than I’d meant to. “He’s taking me to the fanciest restaurant in Rebel Forge. There, are you happy?”
“The question is, are you, Jennifer? Do you really want to get Greg out of your system forever?”
I stabbed an errant lettuce leaf, then stared at it— impaled on my fork—for a second before I ate it. “Most of the time I think so, but then Greg does something charming and I find myself falling for him again. Lillian, I know you think we belong together, but I don’t. And in the end, that’s what matters, isn’t it?”
My aunt patted my hand. “My dear, what you think is the only thing that matters. If you can’t find happiness with him, then you should move on. Just be prepared for the consequences of your decision, though.”
“What do you mean?”
She sighed gently, then said, “This woman wants him in her life, and she wants him all to herself. Sending you two out on a date is her desperate attempt to get all of Greg’s attention, and not just some of it. Are you prepared to lose him forever?”
The finality of Lillian’s words struck home. Was I really ready to let him go? He certainly found ways to upset me, but I had agreed to marry the man, not once, but twice. What if we’d gone through with the ceremony one of the times we’d been engaged? Would we still be married, or would I have a failed attempt under my belt in my thirties. I honestly couldn’t answer the question, and for the hundredth time, I wondered if going out with Greg again was the wisest thing I could do.
I suddenly realized Lillian was still staring at me. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
“You’ll do the right thing when the time comes, Jennifer. I have faith in you.”
“I just wish I did,” I said. “Enough about Greg. What are we going to do this afternoon to solve Eliza Glade’s murder?”
“I was hoping you’d ask,” Lillian said. “I’ve got a great idea about how to approach Kaye Jansen. It’s going to be tough to get her to talk, but I think I know how to do it.”
“She came by the card shop this morning,” I admitted. In all honesty, I’d forgotten all about Kaye, given what had happened since her visit.
“What did she want?”
“She was taking up a collection for flowers. While she was here, I took a chance and asked her a few questions.”
“Did you have any luck with her?”
I related what Kaye had told me, and I swear it was all Lillian could do not to rub her hands together with glee. “That’s excellent work, Jennifer.”
She got up and headed for the door. I asked, “Hey, where are you going?”
“I’m going to track down those rumors and see if my of them are true.”
“And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?”
Lillian smiled at me. “Why, you make and sell cards, of course.”
Before I could stop her, she was gone. It appeared .hat my aunt had ditched me once again, but I wasn’t going to stand idly by, waiting for her to report back in.
There was some snooping I could do myself, and the best part was, I didn’t even have to leave the card shop.
Chapter 8
At first I was afraid she wasn’t there, but after ten rings, Savannah picked up the phone.
“Hey, it’s Jennifer. I wasn’t sure you were working today,” I said.
“That’s the problem. Things are hopping right now. Can I get you something to go, honey?”
“No. Listen, I’ll call you back later when you’re not as busy.” I suddenly felt silly for bothering her. Though it was true that Savannah had the best grapevine of anyone I knew in Rebel Forge, it wasn’t fair to impose on our friendship.
“Now how on earth will you know that all the way over there at your card shop?” Savannah’s laughter matched her personality perfectly: warm and joyful. “I’ve always got time for my friends. What can I do for you?”
“It’s nothing, really. I was just wondering if you’d heard anything about Eliza Glade’s murder.’’
“Do you honestly think folks around here can about anything else?” She lowered her voice as added, “I’m afraid your sister’s ears must have burned off by now, the way people are talking about her. I wouldn’t blame her if she never left the house again.”
“Have you heard anybody else’s name mentioned as a suspect?”
“Jennifer Shane, what are you up to? Are you digging into another murder?”
“Savannah, I’m afraid if I don’t, Bradford’s not going to have any choice but to arrest Sara Lynn. That would tear my family apart. You know that, don’t you?”
Her voice was suddenly soothing and motherly. “Now take it easy, child. Let me think about it a second. I’ve heard Addie Mason’s name mentioned more than a time or two, and everybody knows how upset Luke w
as with his ex-wife. Let’s see, one woman mentioned Polly Blackburn, but that’s about it. Sorry I don’t know more.”
“Has anybody said anything about Kaye Jansen?” So far, Savannah had named nearly every suspect on my list.
“No, I don’t think so, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I do my best, but some folks just don’t talk loud enough for me to overhear them.”
I heard her husband, Pete, call out to her, “Here’s another order. Savannah.”
She barely covered the phone as she said, “Then trot out here and deliver it yourself. I’m on the phone.”
I walked over to the door with the telephone in my hand and opened it, just so Savannah could hear the chime. “Thanks for your time, but you’re busy, and I am, too.”
“I’ll keep my ears open, Jennifer,” Savannah said. ‘This is important.”
“Thanks,” I said as I hung up the telephone.
I felt better recruiting Savannah to our cause. She’d hear more of the gossip around town in an hour than I would in a month, and now that she was helping out, Lillian and I could focus on the four people who had the most to gain from Eliza’s death. Besides my sister and her errant husband, I amended silently. Since there were no customers in the store, or even prospects on the sidewalk out front, I decided to go through my storeroom and collect some boxes for my move. I hated to leave Whispering Oak, but the cottage was going to be a neat place to live, even if Reggie wasn’t excited about the prospect. That was okay with me. Helena more than made up for it with her own enthusiasm.
I was still amassing my collection of boxes when the front door chimed. I couldn’t have been more shocked if the president himself had just walked in the door when I saw Addie Mason standing there with a gift bag in her arms.
“Hi,” I said warily. “Listen, I’m sorry about before. I was out of line.”
She shook her head. “No, I was the one who lost it. I came to say I’m sorry. Lillian helped me realize that I was just lashing out at you.”
Addie handed me the bag, and I saw it was full of custom-made soaps and candles from her business. “You shouldn’t have,” I said. “But I wanted to.” As she looked around my shop, Addie said, “I’ve always wanted to see how you make, these wonderful cards. It’s fascinating.”
