Read Online Rita Hayworth's Shoes by Francine LaSala - Free Book Online

raising her glass. Everyone drank. And then drank some more as a long, uncomfortable silence followed.
    Impatient, Joshua nodded to Zoë. “Come on, child. You should know this cold by now.”
    Zoë signed deeply and then began. “Right. Sorry,” she cleared her tiny throat. “Why is this night different from all other nights?” she said in what had become her trademark monotone this evening.
    As the ritual unfolded, Amy tried to sneak a quick inconspicuous glance at Brendan, mortified to find he was staring at her. He waved, throwing her for a bigger loop. She turned her head to make sure no one was standing behind her, causing him to chuckle and shake his head. He waved again and mouthed a small “Hello.” She waved back and quickly looked away as the four questions ended.
    â€œBon appétit,” said Lauren, and everyone dove in.
    â€œSo, Amy,” said Joshua. “Tell everyone how you killed your boss.”
    â€œJoshua!” Lauren gasped.
    Clarabelle shouted across the table at Enid. “What did he say?” And then to Morty, “What did he say ?” Morty leaned in and whispered to Clarabelle. “She did what?!” Now Clarabelle gasped.
    â€œDad! Honestly,” said Jane, shaking her head. “Amy didn’t kill anyone. Her boss choked to death on a cookie.”
    â€œHow do you choke on a cookie?” asked a puzzled Enid.
    â€œIt was a biscotti,” Amy chirped, thinking this would help somehow.
    â€œOh,” said Enid, as if it had.
    â€œPappy, come on,” laughed Zoë. “Amy’s not a killer. I mean, seriously. Just look at her outfit.” Now Ava looked Amy up and down, and nodded in agreement when Zoë added, “Doesn’t exactly scream ‘femme fatale’.”
    â€œZoë Mary-Alice Austen-Rabinowitz!”
    â€œI kind of dig a chick in a jumper,” said Brendan from across the table. “Seriously,” he said, as if no one believed him.
    â€œI still don’t see how you could choke to death on a cookie,” said Enid, looking worriedly at Grant, who had just taken a large bite of a macaroon. Sensing his mother’s displeasure, he immediately tossed the macaroon back onto his plate. When she turned away, he picked it up again, considered it, and shoved the rest of the cookie into his mouth.
    â€œI’m Brendan,” Brendan waved to Amy. “I think I was invited here to meet you, right?” he asked, now looking around. Lauren pretended to be looking at her fingernails when his eyes fell on her. He smiled again at Amy. “You know, I’ve hated every boss I ever had. So I have to say, it’s especially nice to meet you.”
    Amy flushed bright red. “Well, thanks. But I didn’t kill—”
    â€œYou never did like that Heimlich, did you?” asked Joshua.
    â€œAnd those shoes,” said Ava, out of nowhere, and miraculously now smiling at Zoë. “Yes, I see. I think I know exactly what you mean—”
    â€œSpeaking of shoes,” said Amy, coughing as she desperately tried to change the subject. “I had the strangest experience yesterday with a pair of shoes.”
    â€œReally,” said Zoë, now enjoying an audience with Ava. “Because I—”
    â€œZoë!” shouted Jane.
    Amy cleared her throat and continued. “I was walking by Smitty’s—you know, that second-hand store down on the strip?”
    â€œYes!” exclaimed Clarabelle. “Such bargains. I bought this scarf there and for such a bargain,” she nodded to Enid, who looked crossly at Clarabelle. Clarabelle looked away and absently tugged at the hairs on her chin.
    â€œRight. Well, anyway,” Amy continued. “There were these shoes there, shoes like I’d never seen before. They were red and so shiny and…” she drifted off. “I can’t explain it.”
    â€œDid you buy them?” Ava craned