Read Online Murder with Macaroni and Cheese by A.L. Herbert - Free Book Online Page A

bookstore in an hour?”
    Momma nods and goes looking for the bible-study group while Wavonne and I continue to walk the lengthy perimeter of the church in search of the café.

CHAPTER 10
    W avonne and I reach the café, and as we step inside, we realize the café is really more of a full cafeteria with a long line of people making their way through the serving area.
    â€œOver here,” Alvetta calls to us from a table along the wall. Raynell is seated with her. Michael and another man who I recognize from TV as Terrence are standing next to the table.
    â€œHello again,” I say to Alvetta as we reach the table and turn and smile at Raynell. “Hey there,” Alvetta says. “This is my husband, Michael, and Raynell’s husband, Terrence.”
    â€œHalia Watkins.” I shake their hands. “And this is my cousin, Wavonne Hix.”
    The gentlemen smile, and we exchange a few words. I tell Michael how much I enjoyed his sermon, and how beautifully I thought the choir sang. Then I chat a bit more with Michael about how impressive the church is while Wavonne cozies up to Terrence.
    â€œSo, you’re a former Redskins wide receiver?” Wavonne asks him.
    Terrence is slighter than I imagined. By no means is he a little guy, but when I think “football players” I think of big burly men—Terrence is built more like a baseball or soccer player. I’m guessing he stands at around six feet tall, and I wouldn’t put him at any more than one hundred and eighty pounds or so.
    â€œYes,” Terrence says. “Guilty.”
    â€œWhat a career. Three hundred and one catches for 5,220 yards and forty-one touchdowns.”
    Wavonne knows less about football than I do, which is almost nothing. Clearly, she’s been studying up on Terrence.
    Terrence laughs. “Very impressive.”
    â€œI’ve followed your career since you started with the Skins in ninety-five,” Wavonne lies. She was probably scanning his Wikipedia page when I saw her sneaking looks at her phone during the service.
    â€œNinety-five? You had to have still been a child.”
    While Wavonne laughs and curls a strand of synthetic hair, Raynell, who has barely acknowledged us thus far, decides it’s time to put the kibosh on Wavonne’s flirting. “I hate to break up Wendy’s little rehash of my husband’s career, but—”
    â€œMy name is Wavonne .”
    â€œYes. Wavonne, ” Raynell says, then looks at her husband. “Aren’t you and Michael due in the theater for the big football game?”
    â€œIt’s just a preseason game, but I guess we are,” Terrence says.
    â€œTheater?” I ask
    â€œIt’s more of a large media room,” Alvetta clarifies. “It has a big projection screen . . . seats forty people . . . leather recliners. . . it’s quite nice.”
    â€œIt was good to meet you.” Terrence shakes my hand again and then Wavonne’s.
    â€œYou too,” Wavonne says. “Before you jet, let me axe you somethin’. Do many Redskins players attend church here? Ever have any . . . any meet and greets?”
    â€œWe actually do have quite a few players on the rolls here. Meet and greets? Hmm . . . we don’t have anything specific planned with the players at the moment, but if you join some of the church’s ministries and come to service regularly, you’re bound to run into some of them.”
    Raynell rolls her eyes at Wavonne’s obvious attempt to gain some introductions to professional sports players. “Terrence. Get!” she says. “We have reunion plans to discuss.”
    Terrence smiles and looks at Michael. “Guess we better do as the boss tells us.”
    â€œPleasure meeting you,” Michael says before he and Terrence make their exit.
    â€œPlease have a seat,” Alvetta says, and Wavonne and I slide into the booth across from her and Raynell. We’ve