Read Online Pleating for Mercy by Melissa Bourbon - Free Book Online Page A

also untruthful. I’m sure she knew I’d poured a glass or two over the years, but I’d learned my lesson. I was past the point of settling for someone who wasn’t in it for the long haul.
    “What if he’s the one that . . . that . . .” Josie looked at me and said, “What if he did this to her?”
    I was asking myself the very same question. “Did you tell the sheriff all of this?”
    She nodded. “He said they’d look into it. They’d search her apartment. Look through her computer.”
    “If they took her computer, I’m sure they’ll be able to find out who she dated and see if there’s a connection. Can I get you something?” Josie looked like she could use a stiff drink, but I offered tea or coffee.
    “Coffee,” she said.
    I went into the kitchen, grabbed a couple of black-and-gold Maximilian mugs from the cupboard, and opened my coffee drawer to contemplate the selections. Emeril’s Vanilla Bean, Extra Bold Dark Magic, Mudslide, and Southern Pecan were my favorites. I took a wild guess as to which Josie would prefer and went with Southern Pecan. I popped the sealed pod of flavored coffee into the machine, pressed a button, the coffeemaker purred to life, and thirty seconds later a steaming cup of brewed coffee was ready. I didn’t know if the wedding was on or off, but right now, it seemed Josie just needed a friend.
    I brewed the Dark Magic for myself, added cream, and carried both cups back to the sitting area. “Here you go,” I said, sounding much more chipper than I felt. Josie had painted a picture of Nell as a damaged woman. She’d never found the happiness she’d been searching for. This realization felt like a cold fist closing around my heart.
    We sipped in silence for a few minutes. Finally Josie set her mug down on the coffee table and reached for her purse. Hers was not designer like Nell’s had been, which made me curious. “Where did Nell get her Gucci purse? One of her boyfriends, maybe?”
    “From Mr. Right.”
    Even though Josie was marrying one of the richest bachelors in town, she carried an ordinary inexpensive cloth handbag. It had tiny little colorful flowers on a cream background—and it fit her, just like everything else she wore. Maybe it was like the engagement ring. Josie knew who she was and what she liked. It was all comfortable, casual, and understated. No pretense.
    Nell had not embodied the same philosophy with her accessories.
    Josie pulled out her checkbook and the next second she was tearing out a check and handing it to me. “We didn’t talk price,” she said, “but I hope this’ll be enough to get started on the dresses.”
    I faltered, recoiling as if the check was one of the hundred-plus varieties of snakes in Texas. “The wedding’s on?” I hated to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I was not an opportunist, either. One more reason I wasn’t a good fit in the cutthroat world of New York fashion.
    Her olive skin was sallow. “We can’t postpone it,” she said. “Nate’s brother and father have been gone for almost three months, on and off. His dad’s flying in from Angola to be here. Too many out-of-town guests coming, arrangements that can’t be canceled . . .” She sounded like she was repeating verbatim what had been drilled into her. “No, I talked to Nate this morning. We’re going ahead with the wedding.”
    I glanced at the check—a thousand dollars—and lost my breath. That, combined with the final bill for the gown and three—er, two—dresses, would be enough to keep Buttons & Bows afloat for a while. But the slip of paper felt like a lead weight in my hand.
    I handed it back to her, suddenly remembering what Nell had said about hoping Nate didn’t break Josie’s heart. Things happened for a reason. If Nell’s death was a way for Josie to have more time, she needed to take it. And if Nate loved her, he’d understand. “Josie, you don’t have to rush it.”
    She paled even more. Her lips quivered. “How can I smile