Read Online Without Any Warning (A Samantha Jamison Mystery Volume 2) by Peggy A. Edelheit - Free Book Online Page B

just as good a place as a cabin in the woods, a house in the mountains, or any other location for that matter. The whole thing in a nutshell? I needed to get away from all the old memories and old familiar places, wanting something completely different that I’ve had no previous ties to. You know, a fresh start.”
    I nodded sympathetically unable to speak right away thinking of Stephen.
    He smiled, slightly embarrassed. “Sorry, but it’s sort of complicated explaining how strange I’ve felt lately.”
    I leaned forward. “Hey, I understand. I found myself questioning my past, present and future, and then finally realized that I needed to go in a new direction.”
    “I knew you would understand, since Bill filled me in about Stephen,” said David. “Well, I guess, that settles it. We aren’t very threatening to each other at all. Got any more questions?”
    I set my coffee mug down. “Is that how you knew my name was Sam?”
    David nodded, smiling. “Yes. Bill suggested I give you a call, making a point of emphasizing what a wonderful neighbor I would have next door if I were to go through with the rental, you know, quiet surroundings and all.”
    I was about to take another sip and stopped before I choked. Quiet? I didn’t think so. Obviously, Bill didn’t mention the statue incident, thank goodness. I realized David hadn’t been around for the baseball catastrophe or cleaning incidents either. Why bother explaining, when he was under the impression I was quite normal and not a magnet for trouble.
    “Oh, I’m sure,” I countered, “eventually you’ll see another side to me you might not have expected.”
    He leaned in. “Do you mind me asking you a few questions?”
    “No, not at all,” I replied, realizing I had better be on guard. After all, he was the one who called me. Was it innocent curiosity on his part? I had no idea. But I wanted to be in a flexible position for a change. It wasn’t often I held the upper hand in an exchange.
    “Tell me that woman at the casino wasn’t really your mother, because both of your dress codes seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. Not that she didn’t appear to be likable under all that…red.”
    He actually managed to keep a straight face with that statement. I had a feeling he already knew the answer, but was not exactly sure who she really was. I laughed. “She’s not really my mother, just a friend visiting for a while. I wasn’t ready to deal with you in the middle of the day, when I had my hands full with her running around loose and unaccounted for at the Borgata.”
    David smiled. “Then maybe we should get together some evening when you’re not babysitting. After all, we seem to have bonded over caffeine. Surely there’s no harm in that, right?”
      I smiled back. “You know, getting to know you over this little get-together wasn’t all that bad. How about we have lunch instead?”

 
     
     
    Chapter 25
    Rolaids And Roland
     
     
    It was Friday night, the night of Martha’s big date. She was as nervous as a cat, pacing back and forth, tugging at her clothes and patting her hair. “How do I look, Sam?” she asked for the tenth time in ten minutes.
    Now, that was a loaded question that I’d skirted by smoothly saying what she wanted to hear ten times over, and pretending to be engrossed in reading the paper so she wouldn’t press me. I set the paper down on my lap slowly, giving myself time to come up with a decent answer. She was wearing a turquoise knit suit, turquoise shoes and, you guessed it, carrying a turquoise purse.
    “Mona helped you pick that outfit out?” I asked skeptically. I couldn’t believe Mona’s tastes had changed so much these last few years. I needed to have a talk with her. Maybe she was more stressed out than I thought.
    “Heck no! She got fed up and wandered off to another store. She was getting bored with me constantly changing my outfits. You know, that girl has no patience. She sure fidgets a lot