Read Online Victoria Hamilton - Vintage Kitchen 04 - No Mallets Intended by Victoria Hamilton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Victoria Hamilton
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“And just why does it seem so unbelievable that Isolde might fall for him, when I did?”
Realizing she had blundered, Jaymie stuttered, saying, “Uh, I… I didn’t even know you’d gone out with him until today. I’m sorry if I was insensitive.”
“Whatever,” the woman said.
Jaymie hesitated, but could not refrain from asking something else. “I heard that he was arrested not long ago. What was that all about?” When that fact came out, the society was scandalized, but Carson had just shrugged and said “no comment,” which effectively stopped the chatter.
“That wasn’t Theo’s fault,” Cynthia said. “It was that
girl’s
fault,” she sniffed, staring with malevolence at Isolde. “I heard all about it. Her former fiancé didn’t like the fact that Theo was dating her, and took a swing at him. He was just defending himself, and the charges against him were dropped. It’s the
other
guy who ended up in jail, not Theo.”
“Theo Carson sure does seem to get a lot of folks upset,” Jaymie muttered, surprised that Cynthia was still defending him, even though she seemed to see him for what he was. How did the guy get such great women to fall for him? He was kind of a jerk, and his attempt to flirt with her had left her feeling queasy.
Cynthia’s eyes glimmered with tears.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Cynthia shook her head, staring at the author. But she swiped the tears away with one manicured hand and turned to Jaymie with a determined smile. “So, it sounds like you’ve got great plans for the kitchen. But why green and cream? I would think you’d do something a little more fun for Christmas, like red and white.”
Jaymie sighed but restrained herself from rolling her eyes, an urge she frequently felt when talking to society members. “I need to go with something that’s going to be relevant all year long. Red and white would have been fine—a lot of the tools I’ve been buying for my own collection come with red and white handles—and I may even use some, but the green and cream color scheme just seemed more fitting for the house. You heard Mrs. Stubbs; it’s authentic to the house. I’ve already bought some Jadeite to use for a display, and I may be able to get a Hoosier cabinet to suit the color scheme.”
Cynthia had already lost interest and was watching Theo Carson again. The writer was holding court with his arm slung casually over Isolde’s shoulder. Cynthia may have said she saw him for what he was, but her eyes still held tears and she was clearly in pain. Jewel hustled over and led Cynthia away to talk sense to her and hopefully to cheer her up. Jaymie knew from experience just how painful a broken heart could be. It had taken her months to get past Joel’s betrayal, time she wasted feeling sorry for herself, hating Heidi and driving past the girl’s home, hoping to catch a glimpse of her ex.
Prentiss Dumpe strolled over and put his arm over Cynthia’s shoulders. Jewel cast him a look of dislike, but Cynthia turned in to a hug from the psychiatrist, clinging to him like a buoy in rough waters, and he pulled her away to a corner, where they sat down on a bench. The woman looked like she was pouring her heart out to the man, who popped a candy from a roll and tossed it into his mouth, munching away as he listened; strange confidant, Jaymie thought. Jewel shrugged and moved to another group of chatting folks, who sipped coffee and punch and munched on treats.
Heidi Lockland bounced over to Jaymie. “This is actually fun! I can’t believe I’m saying that. I thought it would be just a bunch of dry old sticks talking about history, but everyone here likes to gossip.”
“What are they gossiping about?” Jaymie asked, strolling with Heidi to the refreshments table. There were some of Tansy’s butter tarts, and she took one, letting the sugary goodness dance on her tongue. “I wouldn’t think you’d know anyone enough to care what they were saying.”
“I
Realizing she had blundered, Jaymie stuttered, saying, “Uh, I… I didn’t even know you’d gone out with him until today. I’m sorry if I was insensitive.”
“Whatever,” the woman said.
Jaymie hesitated, but could not refrain from asking something else. “I heard that he was arrested not long ago. What was that all about?” When that fact came out, the society was scandalized, but Carson had just shrugged and said “no comment,” which effectively stopped the chatter.
“That wasn’t Theo’s fault,” Cynthia said. “It was that
girl’s
fault,” she sniffed, staring with malevolence at Isolde. “I heard all about it. Her former fiancé didn’t like the fact that Theo was dating her, and took a swing at him. He was just defending himself, and the charges against him were dropped. It’s the
other
guy who ended up in jail, not Theo.”
“Theo Carson sure does seem to get a lot of folks upset,” Jaymie muttered, surprised that Cynthia was still defending him, even though she seemed to see him for what he was. How did the guy get such great women to fall for him? He was kind of a jerk, and his attempt to flirt with her had left her feeling queasy.
Cynthia’s eyes glimmered with tears.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Cynthia shook her head, staring at the author. But she swiped the tears away with one manicured hand and turned to Jaymie with a determined smile. “So, it sounds like you’ve got great plans for the kitchen. But why green and cream? I would think you’d do something a little more fun for Christmas, like red and white.”
Jaymie sighed but restrained herself from rolling her eyes, an urge she frequently felt when talking to society members. “I need to go with something that’s going to be relevant all year long. Red and white would have been fine—a lot of the tools I’ve been buying for my own collection come with red and white handles—and I may even use some, but the green and cream color scheme just seemed more fitting for the house. You heard Mrs. Stubbs; it’s authentic to the house. I’ve already bought some Jadeite to use for a display, and I may be able to get a Hoosier cabinet to suit the color scheme.”
Cynthia had already lost interest and was watching Theo Carson again. The writer was holding court with his arm slung casually over Isolde’s shoulder. Cynthia may have said she saw him for what he was, but her eyes still held tears and she was clearly in pain. Jewel hustled over and led Cynthia away to talk sense to her and hopefully to cheer her up. Jaymie knew from experience just how painful a broken heart could be. It had taken her months to get past Joel’s betrayal, time she wasted feeling sorry for herself, hating Heidi and driving past the girl’s home, hoping to catch a glimpse of her ex.
Prentiss Dumpe strolled over and put his arm over Cynthia’s shoulders. Jewel cast him a look of dislike, but Cynthia turned in to a hug from the psychiatrist, clinging to him like a buoy in rough waters, and he pulled her away to a corner, where they sat down on a bench. The woman looked like she was pouring her heart out to the man, who popped a candy from a roll and tossed it into his mouth, munching away as he listened; strange confidant, Jaymie thought. Jewel shrugged and moved to another group of chatting folks, who sipped coffee and punch and munched on treats.
Heidi Lockland bounced over to Jaymie. “This is actually fun! I can’t believe I’m saying that. I thought it would be just a bunch of dry old sticks talking about history, but everyone here likes to gossip.”
“What are they gossiping about?” Jaymie asked, strolling with Heidi to the refreshments table. There were some of Tansy’s butter tarts, and she took one, letting the sugary goodness dance on her tongue. “I wouldn’t think you’d know anyone enough to care what they were saying.”
“I
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