Read Online A Crouton Murder by J. M. Griffin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J. M. Griffin
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joining me later this evening for a taste-test?”
Cheerfully, I agreed to go out and drink his brand of ale as long as I didn’t have to drive my car. Ale is much stronger than beer, and I’m not a heavy drinker to begin with. One large mug of brew could put me under the table. I said as much and watched the laugh lines crinkle around Aidan’s eyes. Gosh, he was gorgeous.
The doors opened and Seanmhair strutted through them, a happy smile for Aidan. “Glad to see you, Aidan. Where have you been?”
“Busy with shipments. I apologize for neglecting you, Sean,” Aidan murmured as he kissed her cheek. “Melina and I are going out for a taste of my ale tonight. You wouldn’t care to join us, would you?” he asked.
Seanmhair glanced at me and then said, “Thank you, but I have a date with my own Scotsman. You don’t mind, do you?”
I breathed a light sigh of relief and waited for Aidan to charm her some more. “Should I be jealous over you finding another Scot, and all?” he bantered.
“Nah, get on with you,” Seanmhair said with a pleased expression.
While she readied to leave, Seanmhair coolly told me she’d locked the shop door and the daily proceeds were in the deposit bag on the counter. I thanked her and watched as she waddled out the rear door with a wave of her hand.
“What’s this about?” Aidan asked.
“Seanmhair kept going on about moving to Scotland. I was quite short with her, and she didn’t take it well.”
“And then what?” he asked. His keen stare saw more than I’d thought.
I shrugged. “I said if she wanted to relocate to Scotland with her new man, she was welcome to do so, but I have no intention of going. End of story.” Guilty over my actions, it renewed its pressure on me as I explained what had happened.
“You didn’t say those things, tell me you didn’t,” he remarked with surprise.
“Aidan, she kept going on and on, every other minute, about the possibility. No matter what I said, she wouldn’t let up. When she told me about this Graham fellow, I’d had enough.”
“You two need to sort this out. As soon as possible,” he said.
“I know. She’s been quiet around me since then. I know I hurt her feelings, but by gosh, enough already.”
“She’s your gran and there’s no excuse for your actions, Melina. Clear it up, while you still can. The longer this goes on, the harder it will be to talk about.”
Chastising was the last thing I needed. I’d beaten myself up over it without having someone else add their opinion. He was right, of course. I gave him a nod, said I’d get together with her and thanked him for his opinion. Which had left me feeling worse than before, but I left that out.
With a kiss to my forehead, Aidan said, “Good, you’ll both feel better when you’ve cleared the air. I’ll come round for you at seven.”
“See you then.” His departure left me with an emptiness that I’d come to feel whenever he was away from me. I shook my head, muttered about getting a life, and picked up the phone to call Seanmhair. Her voice came across the line.
“Is everything all right, Melina?” Sean asked.
“Can I come by for a bit? I think we need to talk,” I said.
Her hesitation left me holding my breath. Suddenly, she said, “Come by now. I’ll be going out soon, so hurry along.”
“Sure thing. Be right there, Seanmhair,” I answered and hung up. Yep, this would be harder than I’d anticipated. Crow was on the menu at the moment and I had no taste for eating it. We all have to give a little to gain some, right?
I whisked my handbag off the coat hook and made a beeline for my car. The distance to Sean’s apartment complex wasn’t far and I was there before I knew it. I pressed her apartment number button and waited until the door unlocked, so I could enter the building. These security measures were mandatory in all senior citizen complexes and I was glad for it.
I took the elevator to her floor and forced my reluctant
Cheerfully, I agreed to go out and drink his brand of ale as long as I didn’t have to drive my car. Ale is much stronger than beer, and I’m not a heavy drinker to begin with. One large mug of brew could put me under the table. I said as much and watched the laugh lines crinkle around Aidan’s eyes. Gosh, he was gorgeous.
The doors opened and Seanmhair strutted through them, a happy smile for Aidan. “Glad to see you, Aidan. Where have you been?”
“Busy with shipments. I apologize for neglecting you, Sean,” Aidan murmured as he kissed her cheek. “Melina and I are going out for a taste of my ale tonight. You wouldn’t care to join us, would you?” he asked.
Seanmhair glanced at me and then said, “Thank you, but I have a date with my own Scotsman. You don’t mind, do you?”
I breathed a light sigh of relief and waited for Aidan to charm her some more. “Should I be jealous over you finding another Scot, and all?” he bantered.
“Nah, get on with you,” Seanmhair said with a pleased expression.
While she readied to leave, Seanmhair coolly told me she’d locked the shop door and the daily proceeds were in the deposit bag on the counter. I thanked her and watched as she waddled out the rear door with a wave of her hand.
“What’s this about?” Aidan asked.
“Seanmhair kept going on about moving to Scotland. I was quite short with her, and she didn’t take it well.”
“And then what?” he asked. His keen stare saw more than I’d thought.
I shrugged. “I said if she wanted to relocate to Scotland with her new man, she was welcome to do so, but I have no intention of going. End of story.” Guilty over my actions, it renewed its pressure on me as I explained what had happened.
“You didn’t say those things, tell me you didn’t,” he remarked with surprise.
“Aidan, she kept going on and on, every other minute, about the possibility. No matter what I said, she wouldn’t let up. When she told me about this Graham fellow, I’d had enough.”
“You two need to sort this out. As soon as possible,” he said.
“I know. She’s been quiet around me since then. I know I hurt her feelings, but by gosh, enough already.”
“She’s your gran and there’s no excuse for your actions, Melina. Clear it up, while you still can. The longer this goes on, the harder it will be to talk about.”
Chastising was the last thing I needed. I’d beaten myself up over it without having someone else add their opinion. He was right, of course. I gave him a nod, said I’d get together with her and thanked him for his opinion. Which had left me feeling worse than before, but I left that out.
With a kiss to my forehead, Aidan said, “Good, you’ll both feel better when you’ve cleared the air. I’ll come round for you at seven.”
“See you then.” His departure left me with an emptiness that I’d come to feel whenever he was away from me. I shook my head, muttered about getting a life, and picked up the phone to call Seanmhair. Her voice came across the line.
“Is everything all right, Melina?” Sean asked.
“Can I come by for a bit? I think we need to talk,” I said.
Her hesitation left me holding my breath. Suddenly, she said, “Come by now. I’ll be going out soon, so hurry along.”
“Sure thing. Be right there, Seanmhair,” I answered and hung up. Yep, this would be harder than I’d anticipated. Crow was on the menu at the moment and I had no taste for eating it. We all have to give a little to gain some, right?
I whisked my handbag off the coat hook and made a beeline for my car. The distance to Sean’s apartment complex wasn’t far and I was there before I knew it. I pressed her apartment number button and waited until the door unlocked, so I could enter the building. These security measures were mandatory in all senior citizen complexes and I was glad for it.
I took the elevator to her floor and forced my reluctant
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