Read Online Diva 01 _ Diva Runs Out of Thyme, The by Krista Davis - Free Book Online
Authors: Krista Davis
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, Crime, Mystery Fiction, Large Type Books, Murder, Investigation, Murder - Investigation, Cookery, Women Cooks, Entertaining, Thanksgiving Day
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soup and stuffing, not to mention two pies and a batch of my famous brownies. I thanked my lucky stars it would just be six of us for Thanksgiving dinner the next day and that, except for the colonel and Craig, it was really all just family. They’d understand if things weren’t perfect.
I’d anticipated being too tired to cook after the contest and had prepared a vegetable lasagna on Monday, before my parents arrived. When I joined everyone in the kitchen, the heady scents of oregano and garlic already mingled in the air as the lasagna heated. The others set the table for dinner while I quartered an onion, peeled six carrots, and washed celery. I popped them all into a stockpot along with a whole chicken, a large bay leaf, and four cloves of garlic. Dad built a fire while Mom cooked sweet potatoes for a dish she’d promised Craig. Except for my exhaustion and the fact that I’d found two dead men, everything seemed almost normal.
After dinner, I brewed a pot of strong French vanilla coffee to drink with the leftover Bourbon Pecan Pie. In spite of the caffeine, I felt myself relaxing. The fire crackled and bathed the kitchen in a warm light. My family bantered in a friendly way, evoking laughter and sly grins. Maybe the worst was behind me.
Craig and Hannah insisted on cleaning up, although I couldn’t recall the last time Hannah washed dishes without complaining. They were playful and sweet, teasing each other gently. Maybe I hadn’t given Craig a fair chance. After all, he seemed far different from the drop-dead gorgeous, girl-in-every-port types she usually lusted after.
But there was still something about Craig that made me keep my distance. It wasn’t the bad comb-over. That was unfortunate but not off-putting. And it wasn’t his looks. Tall and broad-shouldered, he’d been blessed with good bone structure, high, defined cheekbones, and a strong jawline. I was baffled, and returned to my Thanksgiving meal prep.
I chopped carrots and celery for the stuffing and asked, “So where did you lovebirds meet?”
Hannah giggled. “Don’t tell Mom and Dad, okay? On the internet.”
I swung around and stared at Hannah. She was serious.
“You should try it.” Craig handed Hannah a goblet to dry. “We could help you fill out the questionnaire.”
I wanted to snap at Hannah. Did she know anything about him? I’d spent part of the day with him and I knew nothing. “What’s your specialty?”
“I’m an internist.”
Hannah beamed.
It sounded impressive. But wouldn’t an internist have come to Simon’s aid today? Had Craig crowded into the room with the others?
He nuzzled Hannah’s hair and I knew I couldn’t just come out and ask a question like that without starting a sibling squabble.
“At Berrysville Community Hospital?” I asked.
“In West Virginia. Where do these go?” He held up serving spoons.
I pointed to a drawer. “Where in West Virginia?”
He shut the drawer. “Morgantown.”
Had his voice grown tense? “Where did you go to med school?”
Hannah tugged at him. “Let’s watch a movie. I’ll make some popcorn but would you be a sweetheart and get my pale pink sweater from the bedroom?”
As soon as he left, she turned on me. “Stop it. You’re jealous because you don’t have Mars anymore. It’s your own fault for letting Natasha steal him. I’m finally happy and you’re being mean because Craig is wealthy and successful and handsome and you can’t stand it. This time it’s me who landed the great guy. Get used to it. You’re so obvious. He knows you don’t like him.”
I longed to hug her to me, to protect her, but instead I twisted a dish towel in my hands. I knew she must be right. Craig hadn’t done anything to deserve my suspicion. “I’m sorry, Hannah. I’m on edge because of the murders.” I wanted to bite my own tongue off as soon as I said “murders.”
But she didn’t notice. She shut the microwave door and set the
I’d anticipated being too tired to cook after the contest and had prepared a vegetable lasagna on Monday, before my parents arrived. When I joined everyone in the kitchen, the heady scents of oregano and garlic already mingled in the air as the lasagna heated. The others set the table for dinner while I quartered an onion, peeled six carrots, and washed celery. I popped them all into a stockpot along with a whole chicken, a large bay leaf, and four cloves of garlic. Dad built a fire while Mom cooked sweet potatoes for a dish she’d promised Craig. Except for my exhaustion and the fact that I’d found two dead men, everything seemed almost normal.
After dinner, I brewed a pot of strong French vanilla coffee to drink with the leftover Bourbon Pecan Pie. In spite of the caffeine, I felt myself relaxing. The fire crackled and bathed the kitchen in a warm light. My family bantered in a friendly way, evoking laughter and sly grins. Maybe the worst was behind me.
Craig and Hannah insisted on cleaning up, although I couldn’t recall the last time Hannah washed dishes without complaining. They were playful and sweet, teasing each other gently. Maybe I hadn’t given Craig a fair chance. After all, he seemed far different from the drop-dead gorgeous, girl-in-every-port types she usually lusted after.
But there was still something about Craig that made me keep my distance. It wasn’t the bad comb-over. That was unfortunate but not off-putting. And it wasn’t his looks. Tall and broad-shouldered, he’d been blessed with good bone structure, high, defined cheekbones, and a strong jawline. I was baffled, and returned to my Thanksgiving meal prep.
I chopped carrots and celery for the stuffing and asked, “So where did you lovebirds meet?”
Hannah giggled. “Don’t tell Mom and Dad, okay? On the internet.”
I swung around and stared at Hannah. She was serious.
“You should try it.” Craig handed Hannah a goblet to dry. “We could help you fill out the questionnaire.”
I wanted to snap at Hannah. Did she know anything about him? I’d spent part of the day with him and I knew nothing. “What’s your specialty?”
“I’m an internist.”
Hannah beamed.
It sounded impressive. But wouldn’t an internist have come to Simon’s aid today? Had Craig crowded into the room with the others?
He nuzzled Hannah’s hair and I knew I couldn’t just come out and ask a question like that without starting a sibling squabble.
“At Berrysville Community Hospital?” I asked.
“In West Virginia. Where do these go?” He held up serving spoons.
I pointed to a drawer. “Where in West Virginia?”
He shut the drawer. “Morgantown.”
Had his voice grown tense? “Where did you go to med school?”
Hannah tugged at him. “Let’s watch a movie. I’ll make some popcorn but would you be a sweetheart and get my pale pink sweater from the bedroom?”
As soon as he left, she turned on me. “Stop it. You’re jealous because you don’t have Mars anymore. It’s your own fault for letting Natasha steal him. I’m finally happy and you’re being mean because Craig is wealthy and successful and handsome and you can’t stand it. This time it’s me who landed the great guy. Get used to it. You’re so obvious. He knows you don’t like him.”
I longed to hug her to me, to protect her, but instead I twisted a dish towel in my hands. I knew she must be right. Craig hadn’t done anything to deserve my suspicion. “I’m sorry, Hannah. I’m on edge because of the murders.” I wanted to bite my own tongue off as soon as I said “murders.”
But she didn’t notice. She shut the microwave door and set the
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