Read Online Set the Stage for Murder by Brent Peterson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Brent Peterson
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was that travel was out of the question until the child was born, Meg and Roz had stayed in Poland after filming had finally wrapped on A Renaissance Woman, Roz’s second film. Meg had joined Roz in Europe once she knew she was with child. The three of them had been inseparable since that night in the villa.
Julie had been such a good girl all her life, just like St. Agnes, whose trials and martyrdom were depicted in the windows high above Meg’s head. She had always been quiet, obedient, and eager to please both Roz and Meg. And she was chaste and pure, just like Agnes. Thank God Meg had been able to raise her in the church and keep her safe from the dangers and temptations that had befallen her mother.
Meg had never wanted Julie to become an actress. She knew all too well from firsthand experience that good girls don’t stay that way in the theater. Still, Roz and Juliet had won that particular battle and it all had seemed to be working out okay, thanks to Meg’s prayers to the Holy Mother and Her Son. Julie had received good notices in a couple of small productions, and even Meg had to admit that she was a natural actress, which wasn’t too surprising, considering her pedigree.
Then Teddy McDowell came along with his idea of a sequel to Tuscan Holiday, and Julie had just about burst at the prospect of all of them doing the play together. Meg finally agreed only after the girl literally begged her to do it; there was very little she could refuse Julie. And despite old wounds and hard feelings, it all seemed to be working out just fine. That is until Connor Cortez cast his roving eye on Juliet and Meg’s world started unraveling. She saw the effect he had on Julie; it was clear that the girl enjoyed his attentions, no matter how hard she tried to hide it from Roz and Meg. But Meg couldn’t blame Julie. If there were blame to be assigned, it belonged firmly on Meg’s shoulders. She should have been more careful and never let down her guard. If she had just fought harder against Juliet’s becoming an actress, then this whole situation would have been avoided. But how could she have guessed that this boy who had been underfoot since he was practically a baby and who was quickly becoming more and more like his despicable father would suddenly become interested in Juliet? And even more inconceivable was that this intelligent girl she had helped raise appeared to be falling for this dangerous Lothario. It was ludicrous! She wasn’t even the type of girl he was attracted to, not if all the gossip about his fondness for chorus girls were true. Meg and Roz should have been more watchful. They should have prepared for this, but they hadn’t. Connor Cortez was his father’s son, with everything that entailed, and there was no way he was going to get their Julie. Meg was prepared to enlist every agent in Heaven and on earth to make sure of that.
And now poor Roz had to worry not only about the situation with Juliet but also about this ominous threat someone had made against her. Mostly, Meg had turned a blind eye to Roz’s affairs and indiscretions and instead had concentrated on making a good, stable home for Julie. But the fact that Roz had an enemy came as no surprise to Meg. In fact, the only thing she found surprising was that there was only one. Over the years, there had been many angry wives whose husbands had cheated on them with Roz. And many of those husbands had been just as angry when Roz unceremoniously dumped them, which she inevitably did. Still, Roz was Meg’s closest friend and had always been there when she needed her to make everything right. Just as she promised to do this weekend. And Meg knew that she would, because quite simply, time had run out.
Meg crossed herself, stood, and replaced the kneeling bench in its upright position. She exited the pew, genuflected, and crossed herself again. As she was leaving the church she stopped and gazed up at the last window in the sanctuary, the one that
Julie had been such a good girl all her life, just like St. Agnes, whose trials and martyrdom were depicted in the windows high above Meg’s head. She had always been quiet, obedient, and eager to please both Roz and Meg. And she was chaste and pure, just like Agnes. Thank God Meg had been able to raise her in the church and keep her safe from the dangers and temptations that had befallen her mother.
Meg had never wanted Julie to become an actress. She knew all too well from firsthand experience that good girls don’t stay that way in the theater. Still, Roz and Juliet had won that particular battle and it all had seemed to be working out okay, thanks to Meg’s prayers to the Holy Mother and Her Son. Julie had received good notices in a couple of small productions, and even Meg had to admit that she was a natural actress, which wasn’t too surprising, considering her pedigree.
Then Teddy McDowell came along with his idea of a sequel to Tuscan Holiday, and Julie had just about burst at the prospect of all of them doing the play together. Meg finally agreed only after the girl literally begged her to do it; there was very little she could refuse Julie. And despite old wounds and hard feelings, it all seemed to be working out just fine. That is until Connor Cortez cast his roving eye on Juliet and Meg’s world started unraveling. She saw the effect he had on Julie; it was clear that the girl enjoyed his attentions, no matter how hard she tried to hide it from Roz and Meg. But Meg couldn’t blame Julie. If there were blame to be assigned, it belonged firmly on Meg’s shoulders. She should have been more careful and never let down her guard. If she had just fought harder against Juliet’s becoming an actress, then this whole situation would have been avoided. But how could she have guessed that this boy who had been underfoot since he was practically a baby and who was quickly becoming more and more like his despicable father would suddenly become interested in Juliet? And even more inconceivable was that this intelligent girl she had helped raise appeared to be falling for this dangerous Lothario. It was ludicrous! She wasn’t even the type of girl he was attracted to, not if all the gossip about his fondness for chorus girls were true. Meg and Roz should have been more watchful. They should have prepared for this, but they hadn’t. Connor Cortez was his father’s son, with everything that entailed, and there was no way he was going to get their Julie. Meg was prepared to enlist every agent in Heaven and on earth to make sure of that.
And now poor Roz had to worry not only about the situation with Juliet but also about this ominous threat someone had made against her. Mostly, Meg had turned a blind eye to Roz’s affairs and indiscretions and instead had concentrated on making a good, stable home for Julie. But the fact that Roz had an enemy came as no surprise to Meg. In fact, the only thing she found surprising was that there was only one. Over the years, there had been many angry wives whose husbands had cheated on them with Roz. And many of those husbands had been just as angry when Roz unceremoniously dumped them, which she inevitably did. Still, Roz was Meg’s closest friend and had always been there when she needed her to make everything right. Just as she promised to do this weekend. And Meg knew that she would, because quite simply, time had run out.
Meg crossed herself, stood, and replaced the kneeling bench in its upright position. She exited the pew, genuflected, and crossed herself again. As she was leaving the church she stopped and gazed up at the last window in the sanctuary, the one that
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