Read Online The Diva Serves High Tea by Krista Davis - Free Book Online

about it.”
    â€œPeering in her window isn’t going to help,” Nina pointed out.
    Poor Callie probably didn’t even realize that Francie and Velma thought they had adopted her.
    â€œMaybe we can see more from my place.” Velma shuffled across the street with Francie. Nina and I followed.
    Velma unlocked a cream-colored front door. A cone-shaped gray metal container held fresh sunflowers, assorted greenery, wheat stalks, orange berries on stalks, and two tiny sugar pumpkins.
    â€œAre those real?” I asked.
    â€œEverything except for the berries. I’m mighty proud of that arrangement.”
    She opened the door and hurried up the stairs, with Francie right behind her.
    â€œAre we supposed to follow them?” asked Nina.
    I shrugged, taking in Velma’s cozy living room. White trim accented warm beige walls. Two windows overlooked the street. An old grandfather clock ticked quietly in the corner. A brocade sofa in shades of blue faced the fireplace, along with wingback chairs in a blue and beige pattern. An Oriental rug covered part of the gleaming hardwood floors. Oil paintings hung around the room in ornate frames. A huge collection of teapots covered the built-in shelves next to the fireplace. On the other side, mysteries fairly spilled from the shelves.
    It bordered on formal, yet drew me in with comfort. I could imagine Velma there with a cup of tea, wrapped up in a throw and reading quietly.
    We set the baskets of books on the floor.
    â€œWell, I’m going up there,” Nina said. “What’s with them and that Callie person anyway? It’s like they’re obsessed.”
    I followed Nina up the stairs and along a hallway into a bedroom. Wallpaper covered the walls from the chair rail up to the ceiling. A print of leafy green vines crisscrossed a white background and in each resulting diamond was a lush peony in shades of pink. Tall windows that reached to the ceiling lined the wall that faced the street. Gauzy white curtains hung on them. Two plush armchairs had been turned around to face the windows. A table between them held a lamp.
    Velma and Francie perched in the chairs and peered through binoculars.
    â€œI knew we should have bought that telescope,” said Velma.
    Francie groaned. “It wouldn’t help you see through Callie’s curtains.”
    I cleared my throat so they would know we were there. They didn’t even turn around. “Francie! What do you think you’re doing?”
    â€œVelma’s windows overlook Callie’s apartment and Robert’s house. It’s the best seat in town.”
    â€œFor spying?”
    â€œOh, honey,” Velma said without moving the binoculars, “we’re not spying. We’re like a neighborhood watch keeping an eye on people. I don’t believe Robert is home yet. Maybe customers are keeping him busy at his store.”
    She must not have noticed him sitting with Natasha’s mother at The Parlour. Given the current situation and what was beginning to appear to be an unhealthy obsession, I didn’t think I should mention that little fact. “What should we do?” I mouthed to Nina.
    She hunched her shoulders and held up her hands.
    I didn’t have a clue, either. Were they Peeping Toms? Could they be considered stalkers? Could they get into trouble? I would have to ask Alex—if we were still speaking.
    â€œI guess we’ll go. Velma, we’ll leave your books downstairs. Is that okay?”
    â€œSure. Thanks for carrying them.”
    We left them at their post. On the way down the stairs,Nina said, “If they can’t see anything, why are they still sitting there?”
    â€œI have no idea. They didn’t just turn the chairs around, either. We would have heard them being moved. I have a feeling this has been going on for a while. I’m worried that they could get into trouble for being Peeping Toms or something.” We reached the