Read Online Whispers of Fate: The Mistresses of Fate, Book Two by Deirdre Dore - Free Book Online Page B

but there were tasks to be done. She had to get dressed for church, meet her friends for their weekly Sunday lunch date, check on the grooming salon, and hopefully hear from Tyler about his uncle. She chewed on her lip. Only part of her excitement was the hope that she would find out something about Summer, the rest simply had to do with getting to interact with Tyler, maybe meet him for coffee. Could it be that after all these years they could work out their differences?
    She shook off her agitation and left her bedroom through another set of French doors; these opened to a long hallway with the original farmhouse wood floor and a long Persian runner that had been around since she was a girl.
    At the end of the long hallway and around the corner, the entry opened into an enormous open-plan kitchen. It was Tavey’s favorite room in the house even though she didn’t cook. She’d had it renovated a few years back. The floor was the same original hardwood, expertly restored in places to look like the original. The slate countertops and warm reddish-brown paint on the walls made it seem very welcoming. The French press full of hot coffee made it even more so.
    She looked around but didn’t see Thomas. Something in the oven smelled wonderful, though. Feeling like she was being nosy—which was ridiculous—she opened the door to the top oven and peered inside. Mini-quiches—they smelled heavenly.
    “Good morning, Miss Tavey,” a voice said from behind her.
    Tavey turned, closing the oven door with one hand. Sylvia Pascal had been the Collins family housekeeper since Tavey was little, but more important, she was Chris’s mother, and she prided herself on being very professional. Tavey wished she’d relax a bit; after all, it had been several decades since she’d had an affair with Chris’s worthless father, Robert Carlson, who’d been her employer at the time.
    “Good morning, Sylvia.” Tavey made herself busy getting down mugs for coffee. Sylvia was wearing a pink suit with low tan heels and pearls—all ready for church, while Tavey was still wearing her silk pajamas and slippers.
    “I’ll get that.” Sylvia moved to take over.
    “I’ve got it.” Tavey smiled at her, but she didn’t let the woman take over. “It’s your day off. Would you like some coffee?”
    “No, thank you,” Sylvia said, but her voice was stiff.
    Tavey poured coffee into her own cup and fetched the cream from the fridge, telling herself the whole time that this awkwardness was not her problem and she didn’t need to fix it. Nevertheless, as soon as she swallowed her first sip of coffee, she blurted, “Sylvia, why don’t you just talk to her?”
    Sylvia straightened the lapels of her suit jacket and sniffed. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    Tavey leaned against the counter and gave her a level look. “Come on, people don’t change churches after twenty years on a whim. You don’t have to do this—just call her.”
    Sylvia’s mouth pruned up. “If you’ll excuse me, Miss Tavey, I have a few errands before church. I think I’ll drive myself this morning.”
    Tavey sighed and took another sip. So much for trying to meddle in someone else’s business. She assumed Sylvia was upset because her daughter had brought scandal on her once again—after all, it was her online profiles that lured the serial killer to Fate last fall. Sylvia had maintained a low profile since her scandalous affair with Chris’s father over thirty years ago, and all the media attention resulting from the psychopath’s killing spree had brought the old stories to the surface once again. Tavey had heard the whispers and seen the sidelong glances at Sylvia in church. Bad blood will out , they said, which was nonsense, but it seemed neither Chris nor her mother appreciated her efforts to repair the rift between them. “Of course, Sylvia. Enjoy your day.”
    Sylvia left, but Tavey had barely taken another sip of her coffee when Thomas popped his head into