Poison Heart by Mary Logue

Author:Mary Logue
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery
ISBN: 9780345462251
Publisher: Fawcett
Published: 2004-12-31T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Claire allowed herself a second doughnut at the kaffeeklatsch. She usually tried to limit herself to one, but today she felt the need to bribe herself to keep quiet about Patty Jo. She couldn’t spread gossip around, but she would have loved to discuss Debby’s information with the crew gathered at Le Pain Perdu.

As she passed the plate around to see if anyone else needed another doughnut, Edwin Sandstrom stood up.

“I’ve got good news that I’d like to share with everyone. I wanted you all to be the first to know. We’re going to get married,” Edwin announced, holding up the hand of his bride-to-be, Ella Gunderson, to show off the ring she was wearing on her finger.

The kaffeeklatsch erupted: forks clanging glasses, hoots and hollers from the group gathered around the table. Stuart, the owner of the bakery, came running from the kitchen to see what was going on.

Claire had thought the two of them were up to something when they walked in the door that morning. They both looked like the cat that swallowed the canary, as her mom used to say. It had never occurred to her they might be engaged. Funny how events went in cycles or circles. She still wasn’t used to the idea of Bridget and Chuck splitting up, and now a nuptial was being announced.

At the commotion, Meg looked up from her book. She had insisted on coming along this morning. Said she didn’t feel like being home alone, but brought a book along in case it got boring. She was at the age, Claire had noticed, where she got bored when she didn’t get her way.

Claire asked, “Is this like the reading of the banns?”

Ruth held up her coffee mug and proposed a toast. “To the nicest couple around. May you both live long and celebrate many anniversaries.”

“For the time being, we’ll each keep our own place,” Ella said with a nudge to Edwin. “Just in case it doesn’t work out.”

Ruth offered her barn as a place they could hold the ceremony, since Ella wasn’t particularly churchgoing.

Ella turned to Claire and asked her if she would be her best woman. “I don’t have any nieces, and I like the idea of a strong law-enforcing woman to be there by my side.”

Her request thrilled Claire. “I’d love to.” She immediately wondered what she would wear. As Ella was having only one matron of honor, at least she wouldn’t have to match someone else’s dress.

“When’s the wedding?” Stewart asked.

“Can’t wait too much longer,” Edwin quipped. “We’ve got our health, better act fast. We’re thinking early November.”

Ella turned to Rich. “How’s your mom doing in the nursing home?”

“She hates it. She came to our house for dinner and didn’t want to go back.”

“I don’t blame her,” Ella said. “If she’s up to it, ask her to come to the wedding. Who knows, maybe she’ll meet some nice guy.”

How wonderful to have something to celebrate, Claire thought. She was having a hard time pulling her mind away from the news from Debby.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.