Read Online Seams Like Murder by Betty Hechtman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Betty Hechtman
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teacher showed up. All it would take was Sheila to start apologizing about her problems and Mrs. Shedd would have her own anxiety attack.
Finally my boss reluctantly left, and I let out a sigh of relief. I let out another when Sheila showed up. “I’m here,” she said, sounding nervous but determined. She glanced around at the closed bookstore and finally to the back table. “Is CeeCee coming?”
“Adele left word for her, but considering what happened, I would think not.” Her face fell at the news. “But Dinah’s coming. I spoke to her myself.” I gave Sheila a reassuring pat. “The only no-show is Eduardo. He has something to do with his business.” Sheila seemed okay with the news and headed back to join the others.
I had hoped Dinah would arrive early, but I was still hanging by the door waiting for her when to my complete surprise CeeCee showed up, along with Babs, who had wisely brought a tray of brownies. I sent them back to the yarn department and continued to wait for my friend. I’d gotten her voice mail when I called, and I had given her only the most basic information on the events at CeeCee’s, hoping to fill her in when she got there. I was glad when I saw her rush past the front window and come inside.
“Sorry I’m late. I miss all the excitement. Really—a body in CeeCee’s guest quarters,” Dinah said, giving me a fast hug. I started to lead her toward the back.
“I need more time to give Commander an answer,” Dinah was saying as we approached our friends, presumably talking about Commander’s proposal. “When I was young, I just jumped into things, but now I can’t help but think about all the consequences.” She stopped just before we reached the table. “And that’s the last you’ll hear of it tonight. Now it’s all about Sheila.” Her eyes locked on Babs as she circulated withthe brownies. “I miss one get-together and you find a mysterious body and get a new member!”
No surprise, the conversation at the table was all about finding the body, what the cops had asked people and what was going to happen next. There was certainly a connection between chocolate and upset women. The brownies had disappeared at an alarming rate. By the time I finally sat down, there was only one left on the plate. I gestured for Dinah to take it.
“How long do you think the body was there?” Dinah asked me between bites.
“Too long,” I answered, making a face. Adele was quick to add her commentary about the horrible smell.
“Eww.” Dinah held the brownie out with sudden distaste.
But nothing seemed to affect CeeCee’s sweet tooth—she asked Babs if there was a chance there were more brownies in her car. Poor Babs seemed upset that there weren’t, and she profusely apologized.
“I would have made more if I’d known. I love having a purpose. Mostly all I do is watch the nannies take care of the kids. The first time I actually got to put them to bed was last Thursday. The nannies had the night off, and my son and daughter-in-law went to a party.” Babs looked around and was embarrassed that she had vented so much. “I’m so sorry. It’s just that I feel like such a third wheel here. I don’t understand why my son was so anxious for me to come and stay with them. Every minute of those kids’ lives is programmed with dancing lessons, tennis lessons, reading lessons, swimming lessons. How about a few minutes just to pretend and be kids?”
The members of the group made some consoling noises, but conversation quickly turned back to the events of that afternoon.
“When I told my officer that I was a police fiancée—”Adele paused and held up her hand to show off her engagement ring to the group, as if there was any chance we hadn’t seen it. Her gaze stopped on Babs, and she realized Babs might not know everything about Eric. “He’s a motor officer and first responder.” At that Adele turned to the whole group. “When my officer realized I was almost a police
Finally my boss reluctantly left, and I let out a sigh of relief. I let out another when Sheila showed up. “I’m here,” she said, sounding nervous but determined. She glanced around at the closed bookstore and finally to the back table. “Is CeeCee coming?”
“Adele left word for her, but considering what happened, I would think not.” Her face fell at the news. “But Dinah’s coming. I spoke to her myself.” I gave Sheila a reassuring pat. “The only no-show is Eduardo. He has something to do with his business.” Sheila seemed okay with the news and headed back to join the others.
I had hoped Dinah would arrive early, but I was still hanging by the door waiting for her when to my complete surprise CeeCee showed up, along with Babs, who had wisely brought a tray of brownies. I sent them back to the yarn department and continued to wait for my friend. I’d gotten her voice mail when I called, and I had given her only the most basic information on the events at CeeCee’s, hoping to fill her in when she got there. I was glad when I saw her rush past the front window and come inside.
“Sorry I’m late. I miss all the excitement. Really—a body in CeeCee’s guest quarters,” Dinah said, giving me a fast hug. I started to lead her toward the back.
“I need more time to give Commander an answer,” Dinah was saying as we approached our friends, presumably talking about Commander’s proposal. “When I was young, I just jumped into things, but now I can’t help but think about all the consequences.” She stopped just before we reached the table. “And that’s the last you’ll hear of it tonight. Now it’s all about Sheila.” Her eyes locked on Babs as she circulated withthe brownies. “I miss one get-together and you find a mysterious body and get a new member!”
No surprise, the conversation at the table was all about finding the body, what the cops had asked people and what was going to happen next. There was certainly a connection between chocolate and upset women. The brownies had disappeared at an alarming rate. By the time I finally sat down, there was only one left on the plate. I gestured for Dinah to take it.
“How long do you think the body was there?” Dinah asked me between bites.
“Too long,” I answered, making a face. Adele was quick to add her commentary about the horrible smell.
“Eww.” Dinah held the brownie out with sudden distaste.
But nothing seemed to affect CeeCee’s sweet tooth—she asked Babs if there was a chance there were more brownies in her car. Poor Babs seemed upset that there weren’t, and she profusely apologized.
“I would have made more if I’d known. I love having a purpose. Mostly all I do is watch the nannies take care of the kids. The first time I actually got to put them to bed was last Thursday. The nannies had the night off, and my son and daughter-in-law went to a party.” Babs looked around and was embarrassed that she had vented so much. “I’m so sorry. It’s just that I feel like such a third wheel here. I don’t understand why my son was so anxious for me to come and stay with them. Every minute of those kids’ lives is programmed with dancing lessons, tennis lessons, reading lessons, swimming lessons. How about a few minutes just to pretend and be kids?”
The members of the group made some consoling noises, but conversation quickly turned back to the events of that afternoon.
“When I told my officer that I was a police fiancée—”Adele paused and held up her hand to show off her engagement ring to the group, as if there was any chance we hadn’t seen it. Her gaze stopped on Babs, and she realized Babs might not know everything about Eric. “He’s a motor officer and first responder.” At that Adele turned to the whole group. “When my officer realized I was almost a police
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