Read Online Shaded Light: The Case of the Tactless Trophy Wife: A Paul Manziuk and Jacquie Ryan Mystery (The Manziuk and Ryan Mysteries Book 1) by J. A. Menzies - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J. A. Menzies
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silver Mercedes came around the corner. Ellen hurried out, followed by her son.
Peter cheerfully blamed their delay on Jillian. “She’s never ready on time,” he said. “It’s simply a fact of life I’ve learned to accept. And I hope you don’t mind, but Jillian’s sister is visiting and we couldn’t possibly leave her alone, so we brought her with us. She and Jillian could share a room if it would help,” he said with his endearing smile. “I’ll sleep anywhere, in the car if necessary.”
Flustered, Ellen said that of course he wouldn’t have to sleep in the car and there would be no trouble arranging a place for—what had he said her name was again?
“Shauna Jensen.” Peter laughed again. “Jillian, Shauna, Charmaine, Brandy, and Angelina. Their mother reads Harlequin romances by the dozen.”
A tall, thin woman dressed in beige emerged from the back seat of Peter’s Mercedes. Square black glasses stood out on the pale, though not unpleasant face. Shauna stepped forward. “I hope I haven’t put you out. I didn’t want to intrude, but Peter insisted.”
“Of course he did. ‘The more the merrier,’ as my dad always used to say.” Inwardly, Ellen groaned. What on earth was she to do with this unwanted guest? A couch somewhere? That would never do.
A Cadillac pulled into the drive and came to a stop behind Peter’s Mercedes. Douglass Fischer hurried around to open his wife’s door and help her out of the car. Anne got out slowly, as though she had arthritis. She was wearing an A-line mint green linen skirt with matching short-sleeved jacket, with a white Peter Pan collar. Her shoes and purse were also white. She had pulled her hair back and twisted it into a knot. Large pearl earrings dangled from both ears. She wore dark sunglasses and carried an emerald green tote bag.
Douglass tried to take the tote bag from her, but she ignored him and walked toward Ellen. Douglass shut the car door and followed. He kissed Ellen’s cheek before turning to talk with Peter.
Anne’s words rushed out to fill the empty space. “Ellen, how sweet of you to have us. It’s so nice to get away for a change.”
“Anne,” Ellen responded with equal enthusiasm, “it’s so nice you were able to come. I was thinking afterwards that you should have brought your children. They must be almost grown now.” As they hugged, Ellen wondered why Anne’s makeup looked streaky. And why her voice sounded so brittle.
Peter was opening the trunk to get suitcases. Douglass was stooped over to assist Jillian. Apparently Peter’s wife had dropped her purse in the car and was having difficulty finding the contents. Ellen and Anne moved toward the house. Then Ellen stopped and turned. “By the way, everyone, dinner is at eight. I know that doesn’t give you a great deal of time, but I hope you can manage. Just come as you are, of course.”
Nick was descending the wide sweeping staircase as Ellen and Anne entered the entrance hall. “Oh, Nick, if you’re looking for Kendall, he’s out front with some of our guests.”
Nick paused with a smile.
Ellen introduced Anne and then led her up the stairway. As the two women walked through the upper hall, Lorry’s door opened and she stepped out. Ellen watched in amusement as Anne’s eyes narrowed in a clear appraisal of the younger woman.
Having made quick introductions and shown Anne to her room, Ellen went back to talk to Lorry, who she had asked to wait for her.
“I have a real problem,” Ellen confided. “I hate asking you this, but Peter and Jillian Martin have turned up with Jillian’s sister and I have no more rooms. Would you mind terribly if I asked you to share your room? There are two beds.”
“I don’t mind one bit,” replied Lorry. “The room is so huge I was afraid I’d get lost in it by myself.”
“Thank you so much, dear. I’ll make it up to you. Now, let’s go down and find you something to do until supper is ready.”
As they reached the
Peter cheerfully blamed their delay on Jillian. “She’s never ready on time,” he said. “It’s simply a fact of life I’ve learned to accept. And I hope you don’t mind, but Jillian’s sister is visiting and we couldn’t possibly leave her alone, so we brought her with us. She and Jillian could share a room if it would help,” he said with his endearing smile. “I’ll sleep anywhere, in the car if necessary.”
Flustered, Ellen said that of course he wouldn’t have to sleep in the car and there would be no trouble arranging a place for—what had he said her name was again?
“Shauna Jensen.” Peter laughed again. “Jillian, Shauna, Charmaine, Brandy, and Angelina. Their mother reads Harlequin romances by the dozen.”
A tall, thin woman dressed in beige emerged from the back seat of Peter’s Mercedes. Square black glasses stood out on the pale, though not unpleasant face. Shauna stepped forward. “I hope I haven’t put you out. I didn’t want to intrude, but Peter insisted.”
“Of course he did. ‘The more the merrier,’ as my dad always used to say.” Inwardly, Ellen groaned. What on earth was she to do with this unwanted guest? A couch somewhere? That would never do.
A Cadillac pulled into the drive and came to a stop behind Peter’s Mercedes. Douglass Fischer hurried around to open his wife’s door and help her out of the car. Anne got out slowly, as though she had arthritis. She was wearing an A-line mint green linen skirt with matching short-sleeved jacket, with a white Peter Pan collar. Her shoes and purse were also white. She had pulled her hair back and twisted it into a knot. Large pearl earrings dangled from both ears. She wore dark sunglasses and carried an emerald green tote bag.
Douglass tried to take the tote bag from her, but she ignored him and walked toward Ellen. Douglass shut the car door and followed. He kissed Ellen’s cheek before turning to talk with Peter.
Anne’s words rushed out to fill the empty space. “Ellen, how sweet of you to have us. It’s so nice to get away for a change.”
“Anne,” Ellen responded with equal enthusiasm, “it’s so nice you were able to come. I was thinking afterwards that you should have brought your children. They must be almost grown now.” As they hugged, Ellen wondered why Anne’s makeup looked streaky. And why her voice sounded so brittle.
Peter was opening the trunk to get suitcases. Douglass was stooped over to assist Jillian. Apparently Peter’s wife had dropped her purse in the car and was having difficulty finding the contents. Ellen and Anne moved toward the house. Then Ellen stopped and turned. “By the way, everyone, dinner is at eight. I know that doesn’t give you a great deal of time, but I hope you can manage. Just come as you are, of course.”
Nick was descending the wide sweeping staircase as Ellen and Anne entered the entrance hall. “Oh, Nick, if you’re looking for Kendall, he’s out front with some of our guests.”
Nick paused with a smile.
Ellen introduced Anne and then led her up the stairway. As the two women walked through the upper hall, Lorry’s door opened and she stepped out. Ellen watched in amusement as Anne’s eyes narrowed in a clear appraisal of the younger woman.
Having made quick introductions and shown Anne to her room, Ellen went back to talk to Lorry, who she had asked to wait for her.
“I have a real problem,” Ellen confided. “I hate asking you this, but Peter and Jillian Martin have turned up with Jillian’s sister and I have no more rooms. Would you mind terribly if I asked you to share your room? There are two beds.”
“I don’t mind one bit,” replied Lorry. “The room is so huge I was afraid I’d get lost in it by myself.”
“Thank you so much, dear. I’ll make it up to you. Now, let’s go down and find you something to do until supper is ready.”
As they reached the
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