A Shush Before Dying by Dale Ivan

Author:Dale Ivan [Ivan, Dale]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dale Ivan Books

Meg put a cup of coffee in front of Theo and then sat in her chair at the kitchen table, opposite his. When they arrived back at her apartment, she made them macaroni and cheese for dinner, with canned peas. A very basic dinner, but Theo had enthused about the meal.

“You’re not having any?” he asked, lifting his cup to drink.

“I don’t want to stay up all night. I still don’t know how you can drink it in the evening and still sleep after.”

He shrugged. “Goes with the acting territory. I’m not usually getting to bed until after midnight.”

She should have guessed.

“You sure you want to discuss this at the kitchen table, rather than lounging in the living room?” he asked. “I promise I won’t get coffee on your furniture.”

“I’m sure. Helps me focus.”

He made a face. “Okay, but I feel like I’m back in college. That’s what I get for having a sister who is training to be an academic.”

She pursed her lips. “You make it sound like a bad thing.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Mom and Dad are academics, remember?” She got up and started the kettle. She needed something to energize her for this conversation. She rooted around on her tea shelf, found that box of loose-leaf ginseng that Shirley had given her, and spooned some into a tea ball.

Theo leaned back in his chair, arms folded behind his head. “But that’s not you, Meg. You’re not a professor, not at heart.”

She stopped in mid-fasten of the tea ball, narrowing her eyes. “I am! I’ve been training for this all my life, except for that break I took in 1982 and 1983 after getting my bachelor’s.” Following in her parent’s footsteps was what she was meant to do. The break had been just a break. Yes, it had been Gavin’s idea, and she’d been in love with him, but still, that bookstore had meant something.

“The Bookstore Years,” Theo said bitterly. He sighed. “I’m sorry, Meg, I never liked the guy. I didn’t trust him.”

Meg fastened the clasp and dunked the tea ball, hard enough that hot water splashed over the table, and she had to rush to the kitchen and find a sponge to mop up her mess. She still felt a pang about Gavin dumping her for another woman, but the bookstore had been important to her.

“I liked working at that bookstore. I enjoyed helping people find the books they needed. I even got to do research while I was there.” Her face was hot. “I kept the place running.”

“That’s because you’re an organized person, at least when it comes to supervising. I’ll bet it’s why you were picked to run your library while your boss is on that ’round the world dream vacay.” His expression softened. “You’re good at the library. Academia is a different matter.”

She sighed. They had had this argument before. Theo had graduated with a degree in theater. He cared about her, that was obvious from the way he kept playing the annoying big brother. She brought her tea to the table.

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