Paula Lester - 03 Mummy Issues by Paula Lester

Author:Paula Lester [Lester, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: small town cozy mystery
Publisher: Paula Lester
Published: 2019-08-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

It was a memory that hadn’t surfaced in many years. But while Zoey slept, it floated through her mind as a half-dream. She was with her mother and they were shopping for new school shoes. Zoey wanted fancy pink ones with sparkles. Her six-year-old girl tastes ran toward “the glitterier the better.”

Helen was smiling and tipping her head. She tried to talk Zoey into some nice, practical sneakers, but the little girl pouted and begged, holding the pink Mary Janes close to her chest. And her mother had laughed and pushed the hair back from Zoey’s small face. She’d rubbed their noses together and nodded. Zoey had worn the shoes until they fell apart.

She woke up with tears wetting her cheeks and soaking into the pillow. She wiped them off her face and got up to blow her nose.

Zoey checked the time. It was earlier than she usually got her day started, but there was no way she’d be getting any more sleep. So, she pulled on jeans, a navy blue short-sleeved T-shirt, and some comfortable shoes. As she tied them, she wished they were pink and sparkly.

She trudged down the stairs, dreaming of hot coffee, and found Steve and Hope, heads close together, deep in conversation.

What was she doing there? Zoey didn’t have the energy to deal with Hope Vega’s antics that morning.

Steve looked up and smiled. “Morning, boss. I called Hope because I want to get some protections in place.” He stood and crossed the room to give her a hug, saying quietly, “I heard what Luke said about being careful. I want to make the retirement home as safe as possible for you.”

A rush of warmth hit her. What a sweet guy. But as fast as the feeling hit, another one took over. As Hope approached them, sashaying as though to emphasize her hips, Zoey felt irritated but did the best she could to keep a scowl from overtaking her features.

“Good morning.” Kelli’s arrival gave Zoey something else to focus on. “Roman Aria dropped his grandmother off this morning. He was in a big hurry and got here two hours before his appointment time.”

Zoey rolled her eyes. That guy seemed to have a real problem respecting schedules.

Kelli continued, “I took care of the intake paperwork, and we got her settled into the empty room next to Georgio’s. She’s been resting there ever since.”

“Did Roman leave?”

The receptionist nodded. “I got a phone number from him in case you have any questions. Tillie’s not on any medications or anything, and he said she’s pretty straightforward to care for. I had him talk to Ashley for a few minutes, so she could get a handle on Tillie’s favorite foods. No allergies or anything.”

Zoey smiled. “Thanks. I appreciate you taking care of that for me.”

Kelli nodded. Then her eyes dropped, and she watched the fingers of her right hand tap away at a thigh. “Um. So, my parents are getting back into town later today.”

“That’s great! I can’t wait to meet them—will they be coming here?”

Kelli nodded, still not making eye contact.

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