Kiki Lowenstein Books 1-3 & Cara Mia Delgatto Books 1-3: The Perfect Series for Crafters, Pet Lovers, and Readers Who Like Upbeat Books!

by Joanna Campbell Slan

  “Jodi’s hit a new low.” MJ tapped her fingernail on the table. “Who would guess she’d be so crude? I’ve had other women get jealous and be catty about me, but always behind my back. Your sister has definitely crossed a line. She doesn’t seem to mind letting people see what a skank she is. That surprises me. I thought she had more class than that.”

  “Well, I’m not surprised. Not one bit. It galls Jodi that everyone loves Cara so much.” Skye finger-combed her ponytail. “Her hatred has totally overtaken her good sense.”

  “What happened next?” MJ asked.

  “The manager came over to our table and asked if everything was all right. Jodi settled down. Nathan told her, ‘I think you had better leave, or I’ll call someone and have you arrested for public intoxication,’ and she laughed like a maniac. In fact, she laughed so hard that she could hardly stand up. Cooper grabbed her around the waist. The manager helped Cooper and together they sort of dragged Jodi out of the restaurant. At least, I think they left. I didn’t see her again. But I didn’t stick around. Maybe they took her to a booth in the back and poured hot coffee down her throat. Who knows and who cares?”

  Skye shook her head. “Poor Nathan and poor Cooper.”

  I glared at her.

  “What?” she said. “Cara, they didn’t expect problems with your sister like this. Who would? She’s totally gone off the deep end. I bet Cooper and Nathan were embarrassed, too.”

  “Whatever. I’m all out of sympathy for both men. And I’m tired of feeling like I’m walking in Jodi’s footsteps. It makes me sick. It’s like I’m some sort of cheap second-rate knock-off, and she’s the real deal.”

  “That’s completely wrong. You’ve got it turned upside down,” said Skye. “You’re the upgrade and she knows it.”

  “Did Nathan say anything? Did he apologize to you?” MJ asked.

  “He tried, but I wasn’t interested. I made a big deal about how the past was the past, and how we should enjoy the evening together. The waitress brought the margaritas, the appetizers, and I added a salad. I asked her to put my order in right away because I was starving,” I said with a harsh laugh. “Having grown up in the restaurant business, I knew exactly how to make it impossible for Nathan to cancel all that food. Then I excused myself to go to the bathroom. When I got to the ladies’, I just kept walking.”

  “That’s when she text-messaged me. Lou and I drove to PGA to pick her up. She was hiding out in the bathroom of a gas station.” Skye giggled.

  “I slipped out of the back door of Caliente’s, jogged through the parking lot, walked two blocks down PGA, and ducked into the first gas station I could find.”

  Just then, we heard pounding on the back door. I opened it to see a floral delivery person. “Miss Cara Mia Delgatto?” he asked.

  “That’s me.”

  He handed over a huge bouquet of long stemmed red roses. I thanked him, shut the door, examined the apology note, and tossed everything into the trash.

  “Whoa! I’ll take those home!” MJ nearly leapt from her seat.

  “Suit yourself. I don’t want them.”

  As she collected the roses, she asked, “Are these from Nathan? Didn’t he try to find you?”

  “Of course he did. But Lou and Skye gave me a ride here. The animals were still here, and you’d fed them, so I slept on an air mattress on the floor of my old apartment. I set my phone so that only calls from Tommy would come through.”

  “The way Lou hovered over you when we picked you up was so sweet,” said Skye.

  “Yes, and you fussed over me too, making sure I was comfortable in the apartment and then helping me get my pets settled. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Either of you.” I gave her a hug.

  “What next? How do you plan to avoid Nathan? What’s to stop him from coming to your house?” MJ turned the roses right side up and stuck them back in their vase.

  “See this?” I waved a release form at her. “It’s given to every resident on Jupiter Island. There’s a space for listing people you want arrested if they trespass on your property. I guess it’s to keep tabs on stalkers for Celine Dion and Tiger Woods, since they have homes on the island, too.”

  “You wouldn’t do that,” said MJ.

  “I will, too. I plan to fill it out, scan it, and send it to Nathan’s phone so he’ll know I am serious. I never want to see him again.”

  “But Cara, what he had with Jodi is over. He has been over her for a long while.” MJ threw up her hands. “Now that it’s all out in the open, what difference does it make? I mean, it was only important when you didn’t know, because you needed to know. In case Jodi brought it up. Uh, you’re the winner, aren’t you? Don’t you see that? He’s happier with you! And he’s everything you like in a man. Now you can move forward because there are no secrets.”

  In that moment, it hit me. I pointed my finger at MJ. “You! You’re the one who suggested that Nathan and I go to Caliente. You knew Jodi would be there. You wanted me to know he used to be involved with her.”

  MJ sighed. “Guilty as charged.”

  29

  I could have cheerfully wrung MJ’s neck, but she’s too important to my business. As it was, I counted to ten twice before I could even look her in the eyes. Even then, I was furious. I literally saw red.

  “You needed to know,” she said, in a matter-of-fact voice.

  “What makes you say that? You date all sorts of men, surely some of them overlap.”

  “Right, but I don’t have a sister who wants to hurt me, and I’m not you. You want to settle down. I don’t. Settling down would require me to care, and I’m not interested in exposing my feelings. Never again. You aren’t like that. You wear your feelings like a pashmina wrap around your shoulders. The longer you dated Nathan, the more likely you were to be hurt when you learned he was carrying on with Jodi. I just thought you should know sooner rather than later.”

  Skye poured hot water onto a teabag and handed me the cup with an overturned saucer functioning as a lid. “Valerian,” she explained. “Nature’s valium. Let it steep. You probably need a quart of it.”

  “You knew, too.” I pointed a finger at Skye.

  “But I wasn’t happy about it. MJ and I argued about it,” Skye said. “In the end, it was probably for the best. You were starting to get attached to Nathan. Everyone in the police department knew he and your sister were once engaged. Lou told me, and even he was worried what you’d do when you found out. You were bound to hear about it eventually.”

  “I thought about letting it slide, but there was an incident. It changed my mind entirely.” MJ bit her bottom lip. She’s not usually emotional. However, to her credit, she looked upset. Her hands shook as she twisted a paper napkin into an angry knot before saying, “I didn’t know until last week that your sister goes to Caliente every Friday night. Pete, the vet, took me, and I bumped into Jodi in the ladies’ room. She mentioned she’d heard you were dating Nathan Davidson. It was crystal clear that she was planning something. I wasn’t sure what, but I couldn’t let her get the jump on you.”

  My breath came in short angry huffs. My hand trembled as I lifted the saucer off the tea cup. It smelled like cooked grass clippings. Ugh. I wished I kept whiskey under the counter like my father used to do in the restaurant.

  “Frankly, she scared me,” MJ continued. “Jodi sounded like someone who’s lost her mind. She was cackling like a witch when she talked to me about you. In fact, the entire bathroom cleared out once she opened her mouth. I’ve never seen such a look of pure hatred in someone’s eyes. They actually glittered. And her voice? She was panting with rage. She hinted that she was going to make you pay. She said you were going down because you’d gotten the royal treatment by your parents, and now it was your turn to feel dumped on. The way she sees it, every advantage you have has come to you at her expense. And now she’s going to make you sorry you were ever born.”

  A shiver ran up my spine.

  “By the time I got ba
ck to the table, I felt physically ill. Pete took one look at me and asked if I was okay. I told him what happened. He said she’s got all the symptoms of what they call borderline personality disorder, including a total inability to regulate her emotions. Cara, you have to listen to me on this one,” MJ leaned closer and took my hand. “She’s absolutely nuts. I wouldn’t put anything past her. I talked to Lou about the conversation. You needed to know for your own protection. I don’t scare easily, but she did it.”

  No, MJ doesn’t scare easily. She has this weird way of seeming totally feminine and tough as tanned leather. Her direct way of talking and staring at you signals that she is not about to be cowed. By anyone.

  But Jodi had gotten to her. Even recounting the incident, MJ looked nervous. My friend jiggled her leg, tapped on the table, and twitched. MJ was upset; so much so, that she was barely able to contain herself.

  Pulling out the chair next to mine, Skye sank down and folded her arms around me. “How can we protect Cara?”

  “I wish I knew!” said MJ. “I don’t trust her. I remember when she was pulling all those pranks and now she’s going to up the ante. Are you safe living all alone on Jupiter Island? Is your grandfather safe? What about Sid? He can barely get around. Are we safe here?”

  “Maybe you’ll want to give Nathan a call,” said Skye in a whisper. “He could warn Jodi to behave.”

  “No way. I want nothing to do with him.”

  “He’s a guy,” said Skye. “Consider the source. They don’t always use the brains God gave them.”

  “He’s a grown man who should have known better than to try and keep something that important from me. Last night I left him with a huge dinner check, and this morning, you’re suggesting I apologize?”

  “That bill was punishment enough, and he’s trying to apologize. He sent roses first thing! It’s not just about you, Cara,” said MJ. “Jodi is a whack-job. She’ll take everything out on all of us. All of us. Your pets included. The store is at risk, too. You need to consider the damage she could do.”

  “MJ might be right,” said Skye.

  But I didn’t say a word. My thoughts were bouncing all over the place. Could I depend on the help of the Stuart Police Department if Jodi caused havoc? How far might she go? Okay, I’d moved to Jupiter Island with its robust police presence, but Skye lived here alone in this building. Sure, Lou was here a lot, but what about when he wasn’t around? And what about Poppy? And Sid? How could either of them defend themselves? MJ lived alone, too, and she wasn’t particularly close to her neighbors. Were Honora and EveLynn safe? Would EveLynn recognize danger if it threatened her and her mother? Or could Honora lose her life trying to save her unyielding daughter?

  Luna wove her way through my ankles, purring and staring up at me with trusting eyes. In his crate, Jack whimpered softly. Up by the front door, Kookie began to sing a sailor’s ditty in a minor key. None of the animals could protect themselves from the wrath of Jodi.

  The people and the creatures I loved would be at the mercy of my sister if she had her way.

  What on earth was I going to do?

  Skye bustled around, putting away the herbal tea and refilling the kettle for the next brew. MJ sat at her desk, looking over a list of local estate sales. Stacks of invoices teetered on my desk. Messages filled my Outlook in-box. Two local clubs had left phone messages requesting that I call them to set up private events after hours. There was plenty to be done, but I needed to clear my head.

  “Honora will be in at noon, and I have a couple of errands to run,” I told my friends. “I should be back in a couple of hours. Three at the most.”

  “Don’t forget to make the bank deposit. It’s in the safe,” said MJ. “While you’re gone, I’m going to brainstorm with Skye. We need to come up with a Valentine’s Day promotion.”

  “Will do.” In fact, making a deposit had been on my to-do list. So was a trip to Danielle’s house to drop off the hundred bucks I owed her. A quick glance at the map on my phone suggested she lived forty-five minutes from downtown Stuart. I took that as good news. A drive would give me the chance to reconsider how I’d left things with Nathan. Windshield time was definitely a way to get my thoughts in order.

  The touchscreen on the ATM machine at the bank proved stubborn. I jabbed at it repeatedly with my finger, until it gobbled down our deposit. Getting it to cash my paycheck proved nearly impossible, but I prevailed.

  Pulling out onto Federal Highway, I drove north toward Port Saint Lucie. Yes, there was a lot of traffic since it was a Saturday, but after living in St. Louis, driving on the Treasure Coast was a breeze. I cranked up the radio, listened to an oldies station, and settled back to spend quality time with my car, Black Beauty. She’s a good pal, this Camry of mine, despite the fact her odometer has turned over 100,000 miles. Tommy has suggested that I tint the windows. Although that makes sense, given the merciless heat of the sun, I can’t bring myself to do that. It’s too out of character for me. I pride myself on transparency.

  Cars choked the left turn lane into the Treasure Coast Mall. Seeing parents with kids in the passenger seats reminded me of all the times I’d taken Tommy to the malls in St. Louis. Not to shop, but to meet with his friends. With a lump in my throat, I phoned my son. I was calling early for our scheduled weekly check-in, but he answered right away.

  “Yo, Mom,” he said.

  “How are you baby boy?”

  “Chill. Very chill. Studying for my midterms.”

  That reminded me of our conversation with Binky Rutherford. “Tommy? Can students take their tests early? Are the test dates staggered?”

  “Huh?”

  I explained how Binky had said her grandson was visiting after taking his spring midterms. “Evans Rutherford is a freshman, too.”

  “Yeah, I know him. What a jerk.”

  “A jerk?”

  “We’re in the same English 101 class. He promised to give me a ride home since he was supposed to visit his grandmother on Jupiter Island. But yesterday, he was missing from class. I called his cell phone and left a message. Late last night he sent me a text message saying he couldn’t give me a ride after all.”

  This confused me. “But if you’re in the same English 101 class, how’d he get to take his spring midterms early?”

  “Beats me. The prof made a big point of saying she wasn’t going to let anyone take the test early, and then she must have made an exception for Evans.”

  “You’re sure? Positive you have the right class and the right test?”

  “One hundred percent. The test is scheduled for this Monday at eleven. No one gets to take it early. Last year some idiot got a hold of the test and passed it out to his pals. This year, we all have to suffer and take it in an auditorium.”

  “Weird. Do you need me to come and get you?”

  “Nah. If I can’t find a ride, I’ll take the Tri-Rail to West Palm and you can pick me up there. Or I can use the Uber app on my phone.”

  “Sounds like a deal,” I said.

  “Yup. Hey, I’ve got a tutoring session on Skype for my poly-sci test that’s at eight on Monday. Talk to you later?”

  “Absolutely. Love you, Tommy.”

  “Love you too, Mom. See ya Monday after my tests.”

  The miles clicked by, and the traffic thinned out. North of Stuart is the small town of Jensen Beach. I pulled into the lot with the Hobby Lobby sign, just for a look-see. The next strip mall over, I did the same at JoAnn’s Fabrics. Gazing at the pre-Valentine’s Day offerings gave my spirits a lift. The phone reception in big box stores skips in and out. Glancing down at my phone, I saw that I’d missed a message from Nathan.

  He would have to wait. I’d done a remarkable job of rehabilitating my good humor.

  Twenty minutes later, the navigational system demanded I turn left. That sent me through a residential area. Danielle lived a good distance from her store. However, real estate signs suggested that property was a bargain here. The houses surprised me by being la
rger than those surrounding Stuart.

  After a few more turns on well-kept streets, I stopped in front of a pale blue stucco with a white garage door. A chain link fence was hung with a wrap-around curtain of green woven material, giving the back yard a lot of privacy. Probably, Danielle owned a pool. That would explain her endless tan. The lawn in front had grown to ankle height, a process that takes only a couple of days here in the Sunshine State. A slight breeze brought me the cloying smell of gardenias from a glazed pot on her neighbor’s porch. The clock on my phone assured me I’d arrived right on time. Five minutes before eleven. I knocked on her front door and waited for an answer.

  And waited.

  And waited.

  After five minutes of standing in the sun, I called Danielle. Her phone went immediately to voice mail. The disembodied operator told me that her mailbox was full. Had she forgotten our agreement?

  That didn’t make sense given that she’d been adamant about getting the money for my dress.

  One way to find out if she was home was to peep inside her garage. That necessitated walking in a clockwise direction through her overgrown grass, a process I found irritating, because no-see-ums love to munch on bare skin. They hang out in the grass and bite you so fast, you can’t slap them away. Often, you don’t even feel them, but the next day your skin is dotted with bite marks.

  Cupping my hands over my eyes, I rested my face against her garage window. Her car, a purple Scion, sat there.

  Was she in the bathroom? Taking a nap?

  I trudged back the way I’d come and banged harder on the front door. No answer.

  I am nothing if not tenacious, so I decided to go around back. Maybe she was sun-bathing. Before, I’d gone left, around the front of the garage, to peer in the garage window. This time, I moved right, wading through the grass, until I reached a metal gate. Standing on my tiptoes, I found the latch. With a yank, the contraption flew open and away from me with a loud clang.

  Here, too, the grass was overgrown, but a sparkling blue pool beckoned, so I stayed on the concrete walkway and followed it around back.