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

but I’m confused. Do I want porcelain or bone china? What’s the difference?
    â€”Setting the Table in Tabler, Oklahoma
    Dear Setting the Table,
    Porcelain and bone china are both considered fine china. Each has its strengths and flaws. Bone china is thinner and more delicate but may break more easily. Porcelain is thicker, but more brittle and therefore more prone to chipping.
    â€”Sophie
    â€œSophie! Thank heaven it’s you.” Callie breathed hard, with her mouth open. “Do you see him?”
    She held on to me like I was a life raft, but she looked back in the direction she had come.
    We walked her beneath the streetlamp. “Callie, this is my ex-husband, Mars.”
    â€œWhat’s going on?” asked Mars. “Is someone bothering you?”
    She bobbed her head. “Following me. I thought I was imagining things but when I turned the corner he lunged at me.”
    She was still grasping my arm. The sleeve of her light cotton jacket was torn. “Did he do this?”
    Callie released her grip and felt the open flap. “I guess so. I just ran as fast as I could. I’ve never been so scared.”
    â€œDo you know who it was?” I asked.
    She paused for a second, for a beat too long. “No. I don’t.”
    Mars pulled out his cell phone and dialed. “Wong had better know about this.”
    â€œNo! No police. Please.”
    Mars threw me a doubtful look. “Somebody broke into my house and attacked my girlfriend last night. It could be the same person. You have to report it. It might prevent this person from hurting someone else.”
    Callie appeared to be thinking about it. “I’d really prefer to go home. Would you walk with me? It’s not far from here, just a few blocks.”
    â€œWhat’s your name? Callie?”
    â€œCallie Evans.”
    Right in front of her, Mars called 911 and reported the incident.
    We waited for an officer. I found myself straining to peer into the darkness around us. “What did he look like?”
    â€œI didn’t see much,” Callie said. “You know the feeling that someone is watching you? I started glancing back but didn’t really see anyone. But I had the creeps, so I walked faster. And when I turned the corner, somebody grabbed me from behind, and I ran.”
    A young cop arrived. She asked Callie to step away with her.
    While they were talking, I asked Mars, “Do you think some whacko is running around and jumping women?”
    â€œI think you won’t be walking Daisy alone at night anymore until they catch this guy.”
    No problem. I certainly didn’t want to be his next victim.
    The officer finished with Callie and promised to see her safely home. Mars and I hurried back to my house. We didn’t talk much. I suspected he was keeping an eye out for the guy, just like I was.
    When we entered the kitchen, Mars said, “If you don’t mind, I’ll bunk in the den tonight. I don’t like you being alone.”
    The sad truth was that I welcomed his presence.
    We spent the rest of the evening by the fire. Even though I saw Mars now and then, there was a lot to catch up on, especially regarding his work. Probably because of the assailant on the loose, neither of us wanted to drink liquor. We settled on hot chocolate. It seemed like old times having him around the house.
    I rose at seven to a gloriously blue sky. I threw on a bathrobe and tiptoed down the stairs so I wouldn’t wake Mars. The old wood of my stairs creaked as usual but if he heard it, he didn’t budge. I put on the kettle for tea and fed Mochie chicken in pumpkin sauce. He ate heartily, signaling his approval.
    Daisy whined at the front door and a moment later, someone banged the knocker. I had a hunch that the person who was attacking women probably didn’t bother knocking, but I peered out the peephole anyway as a precaution. Natasha stood outside, looking impatient.
    I swung the