As Red as Any Blood by Patrice Greenwood

Author:Patrice Greenwood [Greenwood, Patrice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, tea, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Wisteria Tearoom
ISBN: 978-1-61138-703-2
Publisher: Book View Cafe
Published: 2017-11-13T00:00:00+00:00

Tony dug into his meat without hesitation. I watched, marveling at his ability to carry on with normal things like eating after spending a day dealing with the kind of awful information he’d been pursuing. I hoped it didn’t mean he was growing callous. I didn’t think so. He had a cynical side, but he also had a heart.

The ravioli was excellent. I took my time, concentrating on savoring the flavors and textures and not thinking about anything else.

Tony was quiet, for which I was grateful. Gradually I felt steadier. The food was helping; as I regained my equilibrium, I realized I’d been a bit light-headed.

Oh, yeah—I’d forgotten lunch again. I really needed to stop that.

I paused for another swallow of wine. Tony’s gaze flicked to me, then returned to his plate.

“About Christmas,” I said. “Are you going to join us Christmas day?”

He nodded as he chewed a bite of his meal.

“Good. And I’m joining you Christmas eve. You mentioned midnight mass...”

Tony swallowed. “Yeah. Mom likes to go. Abuela, too, if she’s feeling up to it. Lately she goes to sleep earlier, though.”

“Do you think we’d have time to walk up Canyon Road between dinner and the mass?”

Tony’s brows rose a little. “Probably.”

“I should have asked if that’s something you’d like to do,” I added. “I usually do it, but not until eleven or so. It’s too crowded before then.”

Tony nodded. “That would work. Angela could drive our mom and Abuela to mass, and we could meet them there. Oh—unless you don’t want to go to mass.”

“I’d like to, actually. I’ve gone before, a few times.”

Tony gave me a long look, then a slight smile. “My mom will be thrilled if you go. For all the wrong reasons.”

“That’s not why I’m considering it.”

“I know.”

“Would you be glad if I went?” I asked, then kicked myself. It was a nosy question, and could be misinterpreted.

Tony dodged it. “I go for my family, not for myself,” he said.

I nodded. “Catholics sure do pageantry well, especially at Christmas. And I love the smell of frankincense.”

Tony’s mouth quirked in a smile. He picked up his empty beer bottle again, then set it down.

“Do you want another?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Gotta get back to work.”

“On Saturday night?”

“We’re close. I want to nail it down.”

“But what can you do right now?”

“Go over the reports. Go back over interviews. Think.”

I swallowed disappointment. He’d been generous already, taking the time for a leisurely meal, and a fairly expensive one, for Tony’s budget. To demand more would be ungrateful.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to spend time with me, I knew. It was that he was driven to complete the task. Maybe when that was done, we’d get some time together.

Before the next task came along.

The waiter cleared our plates and offered dessert. I shook my head, knowing the delay would chafe Tony. I didn’t need sweets anyway; what I wanted was quality time with him, and the best way to get that was to let him finish his job.

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