Arsenic and Ole
Page 16
He trailed off, turning a bit red. Almost everyone at our table and even a few of the guests at the other two tables were now looking at him. “I mean, my production company has several properties under consideration that would be perfect for your dad. And we’re always looking for investors, too, if he’s reluctant to leave the West Coast.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card, hesitating before handing it to me. “Ignore the company name...we’re in the process of restructuring. But that’s my cell number at the top, if you’d be so good as to pass it along to your father.”
I glanced down at the business card. Gilandale Productions was in bold print inside a Broadway marquee, with three numbers beneath it, one of them circled. I thanked him and stuck the card into my handbag, where it would no doubt sit until the next time I was waiting at a doctor’s office or somewhere else with nothing to do other than clean out the accumulated junk in my purse.
Conversation at the table returned to normal for the most part after the odd silence. The sole exception was Jade, who looked as if she were about to cry. She continued staring at her father for a long moment, then stormed off toward the stairs leading down to the bedrooms.
Evan shot Gilbert an exasperated look. “Great. Now she’s upset again.” He pushed away from the table, but the older man held up his hand.
“I’ll talk to her. Go have a drink with your groomsmen.”
“Or,” Crystal said, “you could both ignore her. Maybe she’d grow up and stop being such a drama queen.”
Gilbert gave her a reproachful look, and then he took off after his other daughter.
Melinda glanced at the clock and announced that the limos would be arriving in a little over ten minutes. She managed to add a touch of regret to her voice, but I could hear the giddiness beneath it as she realized this ordeal was almost over. Just one more day.
“There are restrooms on all three levels if any of you need to freshen up,” she added. “It’s a bit of a drive back to Carova.”
I hadn’t felt the need to freshen up until she mentioned it, but it was also a bit of a drive back to my house in Caratoke so I went off in search of a bathroom. The two rooms on the upper floor were already occupied, so I headed down the circular staircase to find one on the level below.
When I turned off the faucet a minute or so later, I heard raised voices on the other side of the wall. “I don’t understand why you couldn’t have waited!” Jade said angrily. “Uncle Dale should be here. You ruined everything.”
“Sweetie, don’t say that.” Gilbert Anthony sounded miserable. “I know you’re disappointed, but I didn’t have a choice. Cryssie and I both saw the evidence. To be honest, I should have taken it to the police, instead of simply telling him to resign. I hoped he’d show for your wedding anyway. It would have been the decent thing to do as your godfather, but I guess he thought it would be awkward. Everything else will be perfect, though, I promise. Just the way your mother would have wanted if she could be here. She’ll be watching, smiling down, and wondering how her baby girl grew up so quickly.”
“Except she could have been here.”
There was a long pause and then he said, “That’s not fair, Jade. If you’re going to blame anyone, blame me.”
“I can blame more than one person. And while we’re on that topic, you need to stop flirting with that friend of Melinda’s.”
It took a second before I realized she meant me. Flirting? Thinking back over the past half hour, I really couldn’t pinpoint anything flirtatious in his conversation.
Gilbert sighed. “I wasn’t flirting, Jade. Just talking to someone who could be a good business contact. Anyway, I’m not sure if you noticed Kyla—”
“This isn’t about what Kyla does. It’s about you.” There was another lengthy pause, and then Jade said, “Okay. Fine. I’ll see Uncle Dale when we get back from the honeymoon. But...there will be horses tomorrow, right? You talked to the tour people and the ponies will be there?”
Jade had to be nearly thirty, but her voice had taken on the petulant whine of a toddler.
“Absolutely, sweetheart. I promised, didn’t I?”
His words were unequivocal, but I noticed a slight tremor at the end. He was worried he couldn’t keep that promise. As well he should be. There was zero chance that any of the wild horse tours had told him banker ponies would show up for someone’s wedding.
I cracked the bathroom door open, breathing a sigh of relief when I realized they were in one of the bedrooms and not in the hallway. If I hurried back to the stairs, they’d never know I’d overheard them.
Not that I had any idea exactly what I’d overheard. Just a family argument...and a father making a promise that he had no hope of keeping.
Click now to order OFFED OFF-BROADWAY!
More Cozies from Jessa Archer
Legal Beagle
Thistlewood Star
Coastal Playhouse
Hand Lettering
Canterbury Golf Club
Hidden Harbor Tea Shop
Knitting
A note from Tig: I’m too curious to resist a good mystery, and I’m guessing you are, too. Sign up to get the latest information about the great stuff Jessa offers subscribers—giveaways, excerpts, and new release notifications.
www.jessaarcher.com/newsletter.html
Every time a reader leaves a review an author gets her wings…and dozens of new readers find their next new adventure. If you enjoyed ARSENIC AND OLÉ, would you please take just a moment to go online and let others know? Thank you!
About the Author
Jessa Archer writes sweet, funny, warm-hearted cozy mysteries because she loves a good puzzle and can't stand the sight of blood. Her characters are witty, adventurous, and crafty in the nicest way. You'll find her sleuths hand lettering inspirational quotes, trying to lower golf handicaps, enjoying a scone at a favorite teashop, knitting a sweater, or showing off a dramatic side in local theater.
Jessa's done many things in her long career, including a stint as a journalist and practicing law. But her favorite job is spinning mysteries. She loves playing small town sleuth and transporting readers to a world where the scones are delicious, wine pairs with hand lettering, and justice always prevails.
www.jessaarcher.com
Copyright © 2019 Jessa R. Archer
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Cover Design: Amy Queau
Arsenic and Olé/Jessa Archer. — 1st ed.