Miami Interlude by Linda Bennett Pennell

Author:Linda Bennett Pennell [Pennell, Linda Bennett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2024-12-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

When the waitress put her supper on the counter, Della found she was actually hungry. Breaded veal cutlets, mashed potatoes, and English peas reminded her of the Sunday dinners she and her parents enjoyed at the hotel restaurant around the corner from their church. She, Mama, and Papa would walk from First Methodist to the hotel after the service for an hour of good food and family time interrupted only by friends stopping by the table to say hello. No problems were spoken of—only happy talk was allowed. It was one of her favorite memories, so different from tonight’s conversation.

She sat sandwiched between Auggie and Luke, allowing her to talk to both. Auggie had promised to do some research, but he had not yet revealed his findings. The note in the mail had pushed everything else from her mind. Fortified by food, the subject of his research rose to the surface.

Placing her fork on her plate, she turned to Auggie. “Did you go to the county records office today?”

She caught him mid-bite. Chewing and swallowing took a few seconds. Finally, he said, “I did, but you will not like the results.”

“Has there been anything about this whole mess I have liked?”

“I suppose not.”

“Okay, then tell me what you found out.”

Auggie looked around her at Luke, apparently seeking support. Luke nodded while moving a little closer to Della.

Auggie drew a quick breath and sighed. “Well, you see, the matter is that I had forgotten about the island.” Infuriatingly, he stopped speaking and forked another bite into his mouth.

Della shot him a look filled with irritation and confusion. “How could you have forgotten something we so recently discovered?”

After making sure his food was properly, painstakingly masticated, he said, “I don’t mean our trip. I mean I had completely forgotten that Art’s grandfather bought the island back around 1890. He’d planned to use it for fishing trips, thus the lodge he started but never finished. I forgot it because I had not visited it before we went out there. So, the fact is, Art inherited it, and you are now the legal owner.”

Stunned hardly described how Della felt. She blinked and jerked around to face him. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. After swallowing hard, she whispered, “If that’s so, why would someone warn me to stay away from my own property?”

Auggie leaned forward and waved his fork in Luke’s direction. “Care to make a guess?”

Della turned to Luke, tilting her head in silent question.

He took a sip of water, then wiped his lips with a paper napkin. His eyes sought Della’s, mouthing the words, I’m sorry. “If we’re to answer that question, I’m afraid we’ve got to consider some upsetting possibilities. The most obvious is that someone has plans for the island that aren’t legal. Why else would they want to keep people away?”

Della held out her palm to stop the men from continuing. Her head swiveled from one to the other and back. “Y’all are dancing around the real issue.

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