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Authors: Jessica Fletcher
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information into a short period of time. And I hesitate to rewrite someone else’s copy unless I’m asked. It would be disrespectful.”
“Well then, what are you going to do?”
“Learn my lines, and when the time comes, raise my hand to object.”
There was a knock at the back door. I waved in Seth Hazlitt, my old friend and one of Cabot Cove’s preeminent physicians. Seth had chuckled when I’d telephoned from New York to tell him that I was going to appear coast-to-coast in a commercial for Permezzo.
“I hope they’re paying you well,” he’d said.
“More than well,” I’d replied. “I’m going to donate the money to charity.”
“Assuaging your guilt?” Seth had said. “I thought you never wanted to endorse a product. Seems to me I might have heard that over the years.”
“Your memory is too good,” I had said before hanging up.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” Seth said as he came through the door, settled in the seat next to Robin’s, and helped himself to a sugar cookie. “Had a feeling I might find one of these here.”
“We were just finishing up,” Robin said. “If you don’t need me anymore, Jessica, I have to check in with the theater group. They’re meeting this afternoon to decide what the spring play should be.”
“Of course, Robin. I hope I haven’t kept you away,” I said, escorting her to the door. “Thank you so much for your help.”
“It was nothing. You’ll do beautifully. You’re a natural actress. Anytime you want to join us, we’ll find a part for you.”
“That’s very kind, but I’m afraid my travel schedule makes it too difficult to make any long-term commitments.”
“You’ve used that excuse for years,” Seth said after Robin had left.
“Now, don’t you start,” I said, going to the sink to wash our mugs.
“Just remarking on the obvious. I’ve managed to find a little extra time in my busy life to contribute to raising the cultural level of my fellow citizens.”
“And I’ve enjoyed watching you onstage. I make a much better audience member than I would an actress.” I dried the mugs and returned them to the cupboard.
“So you say.”
“Have another cookie,” I said. “You can’t criticize me with your mouth full.”
Seth took a second cookie and chewed it thoughtfully.
“Would you like some tea?” I asked, drying my hands on a dish towel. “I’m fresh out of coffee. I’m out of just about everything. That’s why I asked you to give me a lift to the grocery store.”
“Got any milk?”
“I think I can squeeze out half a glass,” I said, taking the bottle from the refrigerator and emptying what little was left into a glass.
“Sit down, woman. You’re making me crazy with your nervousness.”
“What am I doing?” I asked, taking the chair I’d abandoned a few minutes ago.
“If you wring out that dish towel any more, it’ll be nothing but shreds.”
I looked down at the coiled mass of cotton in my lap and carefully spread it on the table, smoothing out the wrinkles I’d twisted into it.
“What’s on your mind?” Seth asked softly. “As if I didn’t know.”
“It’s Grady.”
“Thought as much.”
“He has so much going for him, Seth. He’s smart and personable, and knowledgeable in his field. Donna says he’s the sharpest accountant she knows.”
“And she would know, being an accountant herself,” Seth said.
“Just so. Grady has a wonderful home, a wonderful marriage, and a wonderful child. I’m so proud of him.”
“Yet he seems to have a knack for picking the wrong company to work for. Has he done it again?”
“I’m not certain, Seth, but I’m worried that might be the case. A producer complained to him about a payroll issue. Grady was concerned and told me he was going to see what he could find out. I called him at the office before I left for the airport, but he was in a meeting. He hasn’t called me back.”
“You’re probably worrying for nothing, Jess. A man
“Well then, what are you going to do?”
“Learn my lines, and when the time comes, raise my hand to object.”
There was a knock at the back door. I waved in Seth Hazlitt, my old friend and one of Cabot Cove’s preeminent physicians. Seth had chuckled when I’d telephoned from New York to tell him that I was going to appear coast-to-coast in a commercial for Permezzo.
“I hope they’re paying you well,” he’d said.
“More than well,” I’d replied. “I’m going to donate the money to charity.”
“Assuaging your guilt?” Seth had said. “I thought you never wanted to endorse a product. Seems to me I might have heard that over the years.”
“Your memory is too good,” I had said before hanging up.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” Seth said as he came through the door, settled in the seat next to Robin’s, and helped himself to a sugar cookie. “Had a feeling I might find one of these here.”
“We were just finishing up,” Robin said. “If you don’t need me anymore, Jessica, I have to check in with the theater group. They’re meeting this afternoon to decide what the spring play should be.”
“Of course, Robin. I hope I haven’t kept you away,” I said, escorting her to the door. “Thank you so much for your help.”
“It was nothing. You’ll do beautifully. You’re a natural actress. Anytime you want to join us, we’ll find a part for you.”
“That’s very kind, but I’m afraid my travel schedule makes it too difficult to make any long-term commitments.”
“You’ve used that excuse for years,” Seth said after Robin had left.
“Now, don’t you start,” I said, going to the sink to wash our mugs.
“Just remarking on the obvious. I’ve managed to find a little extra time in my busy life to contribute to raising the cultural level of my fellow citizens.”
“And I’ve enjoyed watching you onstage. I make a much better audience member than I would an actress.” I dried the mugs and returned them to the cupboard.
“So you say.”
“Have another cookie,” I said. “You can’t criticize me with your mouth full.”
Seth took a second cookie and chewed it thoughtfully.
“Would you like some tea?” I asked, drying my hands on a dish towel. “I’m fresh out of coffee. I’m out of just about everything. That’s why I asked you to give me a lift to the grocery store.”
“Got any milk?”
“I think I can squeeze out half a glass,” I said, taking the bottle from the refrigerator and emptying what little was left into a glass.
“Sit down, woman. You’re making me crazy with your nervousness.”
“What am I doing?” I asked, taking the chair I’d abandoned a few minutes ago.
“If you wring out that dish towel any more, it’ll be nothing but shreds.”
I looked down at the coiled mass of cotton in my lap and carefully spread it on the table, smoothing out the wrinkles I’d twisted into it.
“What’s on your mind?” Seth asked softly. “As if I didn’t know.”
“It’s Grady.”
“Thought as much.”
“He has so much going for him, Seth. He’s smart and personable, and knowledgeable in his field. Donna says he’s the sharpest accountant she knows.”
“And she would know, being an accountant herself,” Seth said.
“Just so. Grady has a wonderful home, a wonderful marriage, and a wonderful child. I’m so proud of him.”
“Yet he seems to have a knack for picking the wrong company to work for. Has he done it again?”
“I’m not certain, Seth, but I’m worried that might be the case. A producer complained to him about a payroll issue. Grady was concerned and told me he was going to see what he could find out. I called him at the office before I left for the airport, but he was in a meeting. He hasn’t called me back.”
“You’re probably worrying for nothing, Jess. A man
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