A Bite of Blueberry
Page 17
Anna’s shoulders slumped. “I’m never going to get a better job than this, Priscilla. Are you going to turn me out on the street?”
“Don’t be so melodramatic. You’d find another job.”
“Not like this one. I can’t find another place where I get to work with my best friends.”
Borrowed blood rushed to Priscilla’s cheeks and for the first time in centuries, she blushed.
“I’m your friend?” she asked.
Anna beamed. “Forever.”
Priscilla sighed. She really couldn’t deny the girl anything important, could she? She bumped the divider and strode over to the door, flipping the sign.
“Fangs in Fondant is officially back in business,” she said. “Now get in the kitchen. We have baking to do.”
Joseph surprised her by staying for another hour and a half. She’d assumed that after being turned back into a human being, he’d want to get out of Bellmare as quickly as possible. Instead, he’d been poking around the town, getting stories on her. To “round out his script,” of course.
Between him and Anna, Priscilla got the skinny on everything that had happened in Bellmare during her absence. It had apparently been a bad week to be one of the remaining members of the Montgomery family. After Lupton’s death, Dr. Montgomery had been slammed in the press for his apparent negligence. The hospital hadn’t fired him—yet. But it was on the horizon, once they’d distanced themselves from him professionally.
Benjamin Montgomery had willingly resigned from his position as coach, rather than be fired by the school board for his actions. He was currently living with the bewildered Wick family, until he could find another job. Octavia, who’d been upset by his resignation, had given Dr. Montgomery a call and had spilled Nora’s dark secret.
Now Nora Montgomery was undergoing divorce proceedings, and trying to research whether or not artificial insemination actually counted as infidelity under a prenuptial agreement. Priscilla didn’t envy her, trying to win a case against Dr. Montgomery’s lawyers.
“It’s like a soap opera,” Priscilla said, shaking her head ruefully. “How is it that Benjamin is the one who got off lightly? His kids died. And yet he’s probably going to end up being one of the happiest in the whole affair.”
Anna shrugged. “I’m not sure. But you’ll be relieved to know that DeLoreto has been linked to dozens of crimes all across the U.S. Scott Allen is having a field day. He’s going to put him away for a long time.”
Priscilla nodded. That was good to hear. “What about Mark Lupton?”
Anna sighed. “His sister came to pick up the remains yesterday. He’s being buried back in LA, sometime soon. And speaking of burials, Benedict and Clarissa were buried while you were in the hospital. I’m sorry you didn’t get to go to the funeral.”
Priscilla was sorry too. She wished she could have been there for Benedict, at least. The young man had been so good. It was a tragedy that he’d been killed for the sins of his false father.
“I wish there was a way I could help all the people that his death affected.”
Anna’s face brightened. “Right! Dad said I had to give this to you when I saw you next.” She dug in her pocket, withdrew a battered piece of paper, and handed it to Priscilla.
“What’s this?”
“Your check,” Anna explained. “Dad said he’d pay you for your consultancy work.”
Priscilla handed it back to Anna. “I told him I didn’t want his money. Tell him to donate it to a charity of his choice.”
“Or,” Joseph mused. “You could start your own. You did say you wanted to help people.”
Priscilla was floored. Why hadn’t she thought of something like that? She glanced down at the check and the amount it contained. It wouldn’t be enough to help everyone. But it would be a start.
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this … but that’s brilliant, Joseph. It’s a good idea.”
He smirked. “Does this mean I get a complimentary cookie for the road?”
“I would, but I’ve packed you a lunch for the road,” Priscilla said sweetly. “I wouldn’t want you to spoil your appetite. Anna, would you go grab it? It should be in the back with the cleaning supplies.”
Anna scurried into the back. Priscilla heard a delighted laugh and Anna returned a few minutes later with a baggie that contained several small goldfish. Joseph’s lip curled.
“That’s just cruel, Priscilla.”
“Come on, I bought them just for you,” Priscilla said with a grin. “You have to take them with you on the road.”
“I think I’d rather eat worms again.”
“I still have some left,” she said brightly. “If you’ll just follow me upstairs—”
Joseph stood abruptly. “I think I’ll go.”
Priscilla rounded her counter and caught him before he could go. She stuffed a still-warm chocolate chip cookie into his hand. “Thank you,” she said sincerely. “You saved me from doing something I could never forgive myself for. Let me know when your movie is in theaters, all right? I’ll buy the first ticket.”
Joseph finally smiled. “You can come to the premiere in Hollywood, if you like. I could still make you a star.”
Priscilla shook her head once. “I’m a small-town vampire, Mr. Reed. I’d never survive in the big city.”
“If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me,” he said.
“In my banana nut batter,” she teased. “Yeah, I know.”
He let out a snort of amusement and left the shop. The bells tinkled merrily in his wake. They’d certainly parted on better terms than they had last time.
“If you really wanted a shift in career, Hollywood would pay better,” Anna mused.
Priscilla smiled tightly. “I don’t think the spotlight is for me.”
Besides, she thought, she’d had enough drama for one lifetime. The killer had been caught. Maybe she’d have an uneventful year from here on out.
But somehow, she doubted it.
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