Read Online Miz Scarlet and the Bewildered Bridegroom by Sara M. Barton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sara M. Barton
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didn’t take a
rocket scientist to figure out she had a man in mind. “Any chance
there’s an empty seat at the dinner table tonight?”
“Sure,” I smiled. “Just
let me know by six, Lacey.”
“I will. Believe me, I
will.”
“Oh,” said Jenny,
coming into the kitchen as we finished our conversation. “How many
places was I supposed to set for dinner? I only did
eight.”
“Put another one on,” I
smiled. “We can always take it off if we don’t need
it.”
By the time my mother
and Thaddeus returned from their day’s excursion, Bur had arrived,
ready for dinner and Scrabble. Judging from the frown Lacey wore, I
guessed that her plans had gone awry. Just before everyone sat down
to eat, Jenny quietly removed the extra place setting, wisely
keeping her tongue.
The Wilkies joined us
for dinner, but begged off on game night, telling us they wanted to
retire to their room, since they had an early flight to catch in
the morning. Jen and I cleared the table, and once the dishwasher
was loaded and the pots scrubbed, I cut the blueberry pie, topped
each piece with vanilla bean ice cream, and carried the tray into
the dining room. Jenny followed me with mugs of freshly brewed
coffee.
“We’re short a fourth
for one team, now that Florence is gone.” My brother was
disappointed. “Should we call Myrtle and see if she wants to join
us?”
“I already asked,”
Lacey shrugged. “She’s going to the movies tonight with friends.
And Willow’s doing an extra shift at the hospital. We’ll have to
make do with seven.
“I have a date at eight
o’clock,” Jenny piped up, “but I’ll play until
then.”
“If we don’t eliminate
you first, squirt.” Bur did his evil laugh as he shook the cloth
bag filled with wooden Scrabble tiles. “Ha, ha,
ha!”
“Like that will happen!
Think fast!” She poked the bottom of the bag, catching Bur unaware
and making him scramble to keep his grip on it.
“Time to choose up
teams,” Laurel announced. “Bur, grab that pad of
paper.”
Thaddeus tore a sheet
of yellow-lined paper into seven pieces. We each wrote our names on
the tiny slips of paper, folded them, and deposited them into a
bowl on the dining room table. Kenny was in charge of picking four
to form the first team.
“Laurel, Scarlet,
Thaddeus, Lacey -- you’re in the living room,” he announced. “Jen,
Bur -- we’re in the dining room.”
At that moment, the
doorbell rang, sending the dogs scrambling down the hallway in
their mad dash for the door. I stood up, more than a little
surprised. Was I just still jittery from the earlier events of the
day?
“Who could that be at
this time of night?” my mother wondered aloud. “Are we expecting
anyone?”
“Not to my knowledge.
I’ll go see who it is.” I left the guests at the table and headed
down the hall to answer the front door. January was still yapping
up a storm. I shooed her away and took a peek through the
sidelight. Under the overhead glow from the porch lantern stood a
silver-haired stranger. I turned the knob, opened the door, and
greeted him.
“May I help you?” I
smiled, thinking the man was lost and in need of directions. Was he
looking for Karin Frendlind’s party house?
“Hi.” He seemed
hesitant, gazing down at the three pooches with the wagging tails.
In his hands was a New York Yankees cap. “I’m Bob Morelli. I’m
looking for Lacey Googins. Is she here?”
Lacey Googins? For a
moment, I thought I misheard him. Why did he call her by her maiden
name? Who was this mystery man?
“As a matter of fact,
she is.” I stepped back, inviting him inside. “She’s in the dining
room. Please follow me.”
“Maybe I should wait
here.” He seemed apprehensive, his fingers fiddling with his
baseball cap.
“Of course. Have a
seat.” I paused as he eased himself into the chair beside the
console table, wondering if I should leave him on his own. Bob
seemed to have a trustworthy face
She was reaching for a
packet of
rocket scientist to figure out she had a man in mind. “Any chance
there’s an empty seat at the dinner table tonight?”
“Sure,” I smiled. “Just
let me know by six, Lacey.”
“I will. Believe me, I
will.”
“Oh,” said Jenny,
coming into the kitchen as we finished our conversation. “How many
places was I supposed to set for dinner? I only did
eight.”
“Put another one on,” I
smiled. “We can always take it off if we don’t need
it.”
By the time my mother
and Thaddeus returned from their day’s excursion, Bur had arrived,
ready for dinner and Scrabble. Judging from the frown Lacey wore, I
guessed that her plans had gone awry. Just before everyone sat down
to eat, Jenny quietly removed the extra place setting, wisely
keeping her tongue.
The Wilkies joined us
for dinner, but begged off on game night, telling us they wanted to
retire to their room, since they had an early flight to catch in
the morning. Jen and I cleared the table, and once the dishwasher
was loaded and the pots scrubbed, I cut the blueberry pie, topped
each piece with vanilla bean ice cream, and carried the tray into
the dining room. Jenny followed me with mugs of freshly brewed
coffee.
“We’re short a fourth
for one team, now that Florence is gone.” My brother was
disappointed. “Should we call Myrtle and see if she wants to join
us?”
“I already asked,”
Lacey shrugged. “She’s going to the movies tonight with friends.
And Willow’s doing an extra shift at the hospital. We’ll have to
make do with seven.
“I have a date at eight
o’clock,” Jenny piped up, “but I’ll play until
then.”
“If we don’t eliminate
you first, squirt.” Bur did his evil laugh as he shook the cloth
bag filled with wooden Scrabble tiles. “Ha, ha,
ha!”
“Like that will happen!
Think fast!” She poked the bottom of the bag, catching Bur unaware
and making him scramble to keep his grip on it.
“Time to choose up
teams,” Laurel announced. “Bur, grab that pad of
paper.”
Thaddeus tore a sheet
of yellow-lined paper into seven pieces. We each wrote our names on
the tiny slips of paper, folded them, and deposited them into a
bowl on the dining room table. Kenny was in charge of picking four
to form the first team.
“Laurel, Scarlet,
Thaddeus, Lacey -- you’re in the living room,” he announced. “Jen,
Bur -- we’re in the dining room.”
At that moment, the
doorbell rang, sending the dogs scrambling down the hallway in
their mad dash for the door. I stood up, more than a little
surprised. Was I just still jittery from the earlier events of the
day?
“Who could that be at
this time of night?” my mother wondered aloud. “Are we expecting
anyone?”
“Not to my knowledge.
I’ll go see who it is.” I left the guests at the table and headed
down the hall to answer the front door. January was still yapping
up a storm. I shooed her away and took a peek through the
sidelight. Under the overhead glow from the porch lantern stood a
silver-haired stranger. I turned the knob, opened the door, and
greeted him.
“May I help you?” I
smiled, thinking the man was lost and in need of directions. Was he
looking for Karin Frendlind’s party house?
“Hi.” He seemed
hesitant, gazing down at the three pooches with the wagging tails.
In his hands was a New York Yankees cap. “I’m Bob Morelli. I’m
looking for Lacey Googins. Is she here?”
Lacey Googins? For a
moment, I thought I misheard him. Why did he call her by her maiden
name? Who was this mystery man?
“As a matter of fact,
she is.” I stepped back, inviting him inside. “She’s in the dining
room. Please follow me.”
“Maybe I should wait
here.” He seemed apprehensive, his fingers fiddling with his
baseball cap.
“Of course. Have a
seat.” I paused as he eased himself into the chair beside the
console table, wondering if I should leave him on his own. Bob
seemed to have a trustworthy face
She was reaching for a
packet of
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