Read Online Veiled Passages by Terri Reid - Free Book Online Page A

he died ten years ago and we really have nothing to go on.”
    Mary paused for a moment and sighed, “And he really had a lot of people angry with him. And he was a fairly miserable man with a huge ego. And everyone who was connected to him was very familiar with different ways to kill people.”
    Margaret picked up her cup of tea and took a sip.  She put the cup down and looked at Mary. “So, you’re telling me that you’re fairly sure about the caterer, right?”
    Mary chuckled and nodded. “Right.  And in the meantime, Rosie is making meatballs.”
    “Good! Everyone likes meatballs.”
    Margaret sat back in her chair. “And when was the last time you and your handsome fiancée went on a date?” she asked.
    “A date?” Mary asked slowly.
    She thought about it for several minutes. “Well, there was the one time he asked me out, but then there was a train derailment and so we ended up just going for a run in the park,” she said. “That was the night he asked me to marry him.”
    “And you’re telling me that you and Bradley have never gone on a date?” her mother asked incredulously.
    “Well, we spend a lot of time together,” Mary prevaricated.
    “Chasing bad guys and freeing ghosts does not count as quality time,” she lectured. “You need to spend some time together, to get to know each other without the stresses of work or home.”
    “Well, yes, but we just don’t have time,” Mary explained.
    “So, you’re going to marry each other without even going on one date? I don’t think so,” Margaret said.
    “What do you mean?”
    “I want you to call him up, right now, and tell him your mother is babysitting tonight so the two of you can go out together.”
    “Really?” Mary asked, a smile brightening her face. “No, I couldn’t ask you…”
    “You couldn’t ask me to spend the evening alone with my granddaughter-to-be?” she said. “And why would that be?”
    Mary shook her head. “No, I didn’t mean that,” she explained. “It’s just that Clarissa has homework…”
    Margaret stood up and carried her cup and saucer to the sink. “So, you’re saying I’m too stupid to help an eight-year-old with her homework?” she asked, her eyebrow raised over a twinkling blue eye.
    “No, ma,” Mary replied. “But…”
    “Have you had a chance to wear that little black dress you bought a while back yet?” her mother interrupted once again.
    Leaning back against her chair, Mary shook her head. “No, I was wearing it the night of the train derailment,” she confessed. “But it’s been on the hanger since then.”
    Margaret came back and picked up Mary’s cup and saucer. “And don’t you want to knock his socks off before he sees you walking down the aisle?”
    A small smile grew into a grin. “That would be nice.”
    “Call the man,” Margaret insisted. “And Clarissa and I will do homework, eat pizza and watch a movie together.”
    Mary picked up her cell phone and dialed, and with her eyes on her mother, she said, “Hi, it’s Mary. My mother just insisted on babysitting tonight so we could go on a date. That is, if you’re interested.”
    Her smile grew wider and a slight blush brightened her cheeks as she listened to his response. “Okay,” she replied softly. “I’ll see you then.”
    She hung up the phone and inhaled deeply.
    “So he liked the idea?” Margaret asked with a smile.
    Mary nodded, “He really liked the idea.”
    She got up and hugged her mother. “Have I mentioned how grateful I am that I have a wise and wonderful mother?” she asked.
    Margaret laughed. “No, you haven’t, but feel free to mention it at any time.”
    “You are amazing, thank you,” Mary said, kissing her mother’s cheek.
    “How much time do you have to get ready? You’ll want to give yourself enough time to be pampered.”
    Mary glanced at the clock. “I’ll have enough time,” she said. “But first I have to meet with a couple of authors about a ghost.”
    “Well, you