Read Online Murder Most Maine by Karen MacInerney - Free Book Online
Authors: Karen MacInerney
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deprivation despite her late-night sortie. “We don’t leave until nine, so why don’t you go ahead and enjoy this delicious breakfast!”
Bethany reluctantly returned to her table, and after one more bite of the fragrant oatmeal, Vanessa headed for the stairs, leaving her charges to grumble over the small portions.
“This oatmeal is delicious,” said Cat, who had traded in her formless blue sweater for an equally formless purple sweatshirt and a pair of black cotton pants. “Just like pumpkin pie—only healthy!”
“I would have preferred an omelet,” complained Sarah as she cracked a soft-boiled egg onto a piece of dry toast. She was looking smart in white-trimmed pink workout pants and a matching jacket. “I don’t know how I’m going to run on this little food.”
“Just think how gorgeous you’ll be for the reunion,” Boots reminded her, reaching down to adjust her sleek black Spandex jogging pants. She’d paired them with a tank top and a trim aqua jacket that brought out the deep blue of her eyes. I tugged at my own bulky jacket enviously; Boots, I decided, should give classes to full-figured women on dressing to flatter your shape.
“I’m not sure it’s worth it,” Sarah said, adjusting her waistband. “Did Vanessa say there would be snacks along the way?”
“I hope so,” said Cat, “or she’s going to have to carry me back.”
“I don’t know. Ever since we got here, I’ve just had so much more energy ,” said Bethany. “It must be all the clean eating.”
Sarah rolled her eyes and took a bite of egg and toast as I headed back to the kitchen.
“I’ll serve the rest of the guests. You’d better go get ready,” my niece said.
“Thanks, Gwen. Marge should be here by nine thirty. Why don’t you plan on heading over to Fernand’s as soon as she gets here?”
“We’ll see how it goes,” she replied, tucking a stray strand of dark hair behind one ear. I couldn’t help smiling to myself as I headed upstairs to change. When Gwen first arrived, her housekeeping skills had been minimal at best. Now, she was concerned that the help I’d hired wasn’t up to her exacting standards.
At nine o’clock, everyone had left the dining room, Gwen was elbow-deep in soapy water again, and the rest of us were all assembled outside the inn, breathing in the cold morning air. The sun had come out from behind the clouds again, and the contrast of the robin’s-egg-blue sky against the green and gray of the island was breathtaking.
John showed up as we gathered in front of the inn, and after kissing me briefly on the top of the head, had been pulled into Vanessa’s orbit. As Vanessa smoothed down her sleek black windbreaker, I pulled my puffy jacket around me, wishing yet again that I had invested in something a bit more stylish. I looked around at the rest of the group, who were standing on the front porch with their hands burrowed into their pockets. Things with John might not be going swimmingly, but I was happy to see that despite the size of the breakfast, everybody looked pretty chipper. There was only one thing missing: Dirk.
“I keep looking for that gorgeous man who’s supposed to be leading us,” my friend said, her blue eyes scouring the area for signs of the trainer. “Shouldn’t he be here by now?”
Charlene wasn’t the only one who had noticed his absence. “Where’s our leader?” asked Bethany, looking up at what I knew to be Dirk’s window. “He didn’t even come down to give us our supplements this morning.”
“I don’t know,” said Vanessa, a small furrow appearing in her otherwise flawless brow. “He said he might go for an early run this morning. I’m sure he’ll be back soon, but “I’ll go knock on his door again. Maybe he’s in the shower. But if he’s not here by ten after, I promise we’ll go on our own. After all, we have an excellent guide with us.” Her sleek hair shone as she nodded toward John, who was standing on the front
Bethany reluctantly returned to her table, and after one more bite of the fragrant oatmeal, Vanessa headed for the stairs, leaving her charges to grumble over the small portions.
“This oatmeal is delicious,” said Cat, who had traded in her formless blue sweater for an equally formless purple sweatshirt and a pair of black cotton pants. “Just like pumpkin pie—only healthy!”
“I would have preferred an omelet,” complained Sarah as she cracked a soft-boiled egg onto a piece of dry toast. She was looking smart in white-trimmed pink workout pants and a matching jacket. “I don’t know how I’m going to run on this little food.”
“Just think how gorgeous you’ll be for the reunion,” Boots reminded her, reaching down to adjust her sleek black Spandex jogging pants. She’d paired them with a tank top and a trim aqua jacket that brought out the deep blue of her eyes. I tugged at my own bulky jacket enviously; Boots, I decided, should give classes to full-figured women on dressing to flatter your shape.
“I’m not sure it’s worth it,” Sarah said, adjusting her waistband. “Did Vanessa say there would be snacks along the way?”
“I hope so,” said Cat, “or she’s going to have to carry me back.”
“I don’t know. Ever since we got here, I’ve just had so much more energy ,” said Bethany. “It must be all the clean eating.”
Sarah rolled her eyes and took a bite of egg and toast as I headed back to the kitchen.
“I’ll serve the rest of the guests. You’d better go get ready,” my niece said.
“Thanks, Gwen. Marge should be here by nine thirty. Why don’t you plan on heading over to Fernand’s as soon as she gets here?”
“We’ll see how it goes,” she replied, tucking a stray strand of dark hair behind one ear. I couldn’t help smiling to myself as I headed upstairs to change. When Gwen first arrived, her housekeeping skills had been minimal at best. Now, she was concerned that the help I’d hired wasn’t up to her exacting standards.
At nine o’clock, everyone had left the dining room, Gwen was elbow-deep in soapy water again, and the rest of us were all assembled outside the inn, breathing in the cold morning air. The sun had come out from behind the clouds again, and the contrast of the robin’s-egg-blue sky against the green and gray of the island was breathtaking.
John showed up as we gathered in front of the inn, and after kissing me briefly on the top of the head, had been pulled into Vanessa’s orbit. As Vanessa smoothed down her sleek black windbreaker, I pulled my puffy jacket around me, wishing yet again that I had invested in something a bit more stylish. I looked around at the rest of the group, who were standing on the front porch with their hands burrowed into their pockets. Things with John might not be going swimmingly, but I was happy to see that despite the size of the breakfast, everybody looked pretty chipper. There was only one thing missing: Dirk.
“I keep looking for that gorgeous man who’s supposed to be leading us,” my friend said, her blue eyes scouring the area for signs of the trainer. “Shouldn’t he be here by now?”
Charlene wasn’t the only one who had noticed his absence. “Where’s our leader?” asked Bethany, looking up at what I knew to be Dirk’s window. “He didn’t even come down to give us our supplements this morning.”
“I don’t know,” said Vanessa, a small furrow appearing in her otherwise flawless brow. “He said he might go for an early run this morning. I’m sure he’ll be back soon, but “I’ll go knock on his door again. Maybe he’s in the shower. But if he’s not here by ten after, I promise we’ll go on our own. After all, we have an excellent guide with us.” Her sleek hair shone as she nodded toward John, who was standing on the front
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