Read Online Victoria Hamilton - Vintage Kitchen 04 - No Mallets Intended by Victoria Hamilton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Victoria Hamilton
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know, right? But thanks to you, folks are really opening up to me now.” She threaded her slim arm through Jaymie’s. “I’m so lucky you forgave me for taking Joel away from you.”
Jaymie restrained herself from replying and just choked a little on the butter tart. She swallowed and said, “So, what gossip are you hearing?”
Heidi glanced around and leaned in. “I know you’re super good friends with Valetta, but her brother… he’s a pill, right? Well, I heard he’s having an affair with a married woman.”
“Really?” Brock Nibley, a widower, was not her favorite person in the world, but she hadn’t thought he’d stoop to adultery. Still… it was just gossip and he was her friend’s brother. She had been accused in the past of being a murderess, so she should really give him the benefit of the doubt. Against her better judgment, she asked, “Who is his supposed amour?”
“Some woman he works with.”
“Oh.” That could be anyone: another real estate agent, a client or even one of his commercial clients. He also managed properties in Queensville and Wolverhampton, making a whole other list of those who could be considered coworkers. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” Jaymie said, to change the subject. “What do you think of your cousin?”
Heidi glanced over at Haskell Lockland, who was enchanting the ladies with his oft-repeated tales of travel to far-flung places. “I don’t know yet. Haskell and I are going to get together tomorrow to compare notes on family history,” she said. “He’s glad I approached him. I guess there were some bad feelings between the Queensville Locklands and the New York Locklands over the years, and he says it’s time to mend fences.”
“That’s great,” Jaymie said. “How are you and Joel doing? Have you pinned him down to a date?”
Her expression dimmed, and she shook her head. In August Heidi and Joel Anderson had announced plans to marry in December, but had still not settled on a day nor chosen a venue. It would soon be too late, if it wasn’t already, Jaymie thought, for anything but a quickie city hall kind of wedding. Jaymie wondered if Joel’s perennial cold feet were to blame.
Her forehead pinched in a troubled frown, Heidi said, “I just don’t know, Jaymsie. What am I going to do? He’s avoiding me now, out of town on another freaking sales trip. And when he’s home he’s tired and distracted.” She pouted, her lipsticked mouth puckered, her arms crossed over her chest. “
He’s
the one who said he wanted to get married. I sure as heck didn’t corner him into it!”
This was more information than Jaymie wanted, but Heidi had become a friend, and Jaymie knew Joel as well as or better than she did. “He has seemed a little off lately, hasn’t he? What does he say when you push him about a date?”
Heidi sighed, her narrow shoulders slumped. She relaxed her stance, picked up one of Jaymie’s mini scones and turned it into a pile of crumbs at her feet. “Just that I need to quit pressuring him.”
“Vintage Joel.” Heidi was too good for Joel—the girl was truly a sweetheart—but Jaymie didn’t say that. “One thing I’ve always wondered was why he never took me to meet his parents,” she mused. “I know they’re still living, because I’ve been there when he’s called them, and he had to go to visit his mother once when she was sick. Has he taken
you
to meet them?”
“No; I don’t even know where they live. He just says he’s not that close to them.”
“Still, he should want them to meet you and come to the wedding.” Jaymie paused and eyed her friend. “By the way, have you told
your
folks yet?”
Heidi’s eyes welled and she shook her head. “How can I when I don’t even know when the wedding is?”
Jaymie didn’t see why that mattered; she should have told her parents about Joel long ago. Why spring him on them with a marriage announcement? But it wasn’t her business. She glanced
Jaymie restrained herself from replying and just choked a little on the butter tart. She swallowed and said, “So, what gossip are you hearing?”
Heidi glanced around and leaned in. “I know you’re super good friends with Valetta, but her brother… he’s a pill, right? Well, I heard he’s having an affair with a married woman.”
“Really?” Brock Nibley, a widower, was not her favorite person in the world, but she hadn’t thought he’d stoop to adultery. Still… it was just gossip and he was her friend’s brother. She had been accused in the past of being a murderess, so she should really give him the benefit of the doubt. Against her better judgment, she asked, “Who is his supposed amour?”
“Some woman he works with.”
“Oh.” That could be anyone: another real estate agent, a client or even one of his commercial clients. He also managed properties in Queensville and Wolverhampton, making a whole other list of those who could be considered coworkers. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” Jaymie said, to change the subject. “What do you think of your cousin?”
Heidi glanced over at Haskell Lockland, who was enchanting the ladies with his oft-repeated tales of travel to far-flung places. “I don’t know yet. Haskell and I are going to get together tomorrow to compare notes on family history,” she said. “He’s glad I approached him. I guess there were some bad feelings between the Queensville Locklands and the New York Locklands over the years, and he says it’s time to mend fences.”
“That’s great,” Jaymie said. “How are you and Joel doing? Have you pinned him down to a date?”
Her expression dimmed, and she shook her head. In August Heidi and Joel Anderson had announced plans to marry in December, but had still not settled on a day nor chosen a venue. It would soon be too late, if it wasn’t already, Jaymie thought, for anything but a quickie city hall kind of wedding. Jaymie wondered if Joel’s perennial cold feet were to blame.
Her forehead pinched in a troubled frown, Heidi said, “I just don’t know, Jaymsie. What am I going to do? He’s avoiding me now, out of town on another freaking sales trip. And when he’s home he’s tired and distracted.” She pouted, her lipsticked mouth puckered, her arms crossed over her chest. “
He’s
the one who said he wanted to get married. I sure as heck didn’t corner him into it!”
This was more information than Jaymie wanted, but Heidi had become a friend, and Jaymie knew Joel as well as or better than she did. “He has seemed a little off lately, hasn’t he? What does he say when you push him about a date?”
Heidi sighed, her narrow shoulders slumped. She relaxed her stance, picked up one of Jaymie’s mini scones and turned it into a pile of crumbs at her feet. “Just that I need to quit pressuring him.”
“Vintage Joel.” Heidi was too good for Joel—the girl was truly a sweetheart—but Jaymie didn’t say that. “One thing I’ve always wondered was why he never took me to meet his parents,” she mused. “I know they’re still living, because I’ve been there when he’s called them, and he had to go to visit his mother once when she was sick. Has he taken
you
to meet them?”
“No; I don’t even know where they live. He just says he’s not that close to them.”
“Still, he should want them to meet you and come to the wedding.” Jaymie paused and eyed her friend. “By the way, have you told
your
folks yet?”
Heidi’s eyes welled and she shook her head. “How can I when I don’t even know when the wedding is?”
Jaymie didn’t see why that mattered; she should have told her parents about Joel long ago. Why spring him on them with a marriage announcement? But it wasn’t her business. She glanced
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