Come, Bitter Poison: A Stratford Upon Avondale Mystery (The Stratford Upon Avondale Mysteries Book 2) by Knightley Monica

Author:Knightley, Monica
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Monica Knightley
Published: 2016-04-08T00:00:00+00:00

Luckily, I had a key to the back door of Friar’s Book Shoppe. Nate and I had exchanged business keys soon after meeting, in case there was ever an emergency.

I let myself in, and breathed in the sweet smell of books. If I had been given the choice between buying a tea shop or a bookshop, I’d have been hard pressed to make the decision. I found both intoxicating.

After dropping my suitcase by the back door I made my way from the back of the shop to the front, scanning the space for Nate. Not seeing him I went up to the register expecting to find Frank there. Instead, Amy Nesbitt, one of the British sisters who had bought the Lady Grey Bed and Breakfast, stood behind the counter helping a customer.

Amy wore a flippy, floral skirt, tank top, and soft pink cardigan. Only a hint of lipstick and perhaps some mascara accented her perfect porcelain doll’s face.

When she’d finished with the customer I reintroduced myself.

“Of course I remember you. So good to see you again, Maggie!” Her tone was genuine and warm.

“Are you working here now?”

She smiled broadly. “Yeah, at least for a while. Nate mentioned needing some help while he was at rehearsals and I thought it would be a great way to meet some of the locals. It isn’t many hours, so I still have plenty of time to work at the B and B.” I took a nanosecond to wonder when Nate and Amy would have been chatting and sharing work schedules.

“”So, he’s at rehearsal now?”

“Yeah. I expect him back pretty soon though. Did you need to talk to him?

“Yeah, I was kind of hoping to.”

“Well, he said it would be a short rehearsal for him. He should be back by seven, I think.”

A half an hour. I could immerse myself in books for thirty minutes, no problem.

“Okay. I think I’ll just browse the shelves while I wait.”

“Sure. Just let me know if you need any help.”

Right. Me needing help in the bookshop. The one she’d just started working in and that I knew almost better than my own tea room kitchen.

Amy was a sweet, friendly woman and even when I first met her I thought we could become good friends. So what was it about her working there that was bothering me?

Just as I was about to meander over to the finance section, Amy’s sister, Sophia, and a boy of about nine or ten years old came through the door.

“Mom!” the boy called out.

“Hi, Ryan!” Amy greeted him with a warm, motherly smile. She turned to me and said, “Maggie, you’ve met my sister, Sophia, and this is my son Ryan.”

As any nine-year-old boy would do, he looked down at his shoes and mumbled something when I told him it was nice to meet him. Ryan had to resemble his father, because there was little of Amy there. Curly blonde hair hung just below the tops of his ears, and I saw a glimpse of bright blue eyes before he cast them downward.

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