The Cruel Ever After by Ellen Hart

Author:Ellen Hart [Hart, Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Cozy, Lesbian, Women Sleuths
ISBN: 9781429927109
Google: iwC9GkKrriwC
Amazon: B003P8Q5OY
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2010-12-06T16:00:00+00:00

19

Late Saturday night, Jane was hard at work in her office at the Lyme House, completing the pub’s summer weekend music schedule. Her concentration was continually broken by thoughts of Chess, what he’d done or hadn’t done, what his real reason was for coming to the Twin Cities and how his sudden reappearance had set in motion a series of damaging reverberations through her own life. Every so often she would shake herself out of a reverie, only to realize that she’d been staring into space for several minutes, completely unaware of the passage of time. It was during one of those reveries that she received a call from Sigrid.

“Hey,” said Jane, dropping her pen on the desktop and leaning back in her chair, glad to change the channel in her brain, if only for a few minutes.

“Thought I’d see if you were free Monday afternoon.”

“If I’m not, I’ll make myself free.”

“Excellent. I wanted to stop by, have that conversation I promised—the one about me and Peter, and other various and sundry earth-shattering issues.”

“Did we firm up a date yet when I can take Mia to the Art Institute?”

“We’re thinking next Thursday. How does that sound?”

“Perfect. Maybe I’ll take her out to lunch first.”

“You know, this is really nice of you. In the mood she’s been in lately, she could use another adult in her life.”

“I should have been there all along. What time on Monday afternoon?”

“Peter’s meeting with Julia over at her loft at four. He’s bringing Mia with him because he says the view is incredible and wants her to see it. He’ll be there about an hour. Thought I’d swing by after dropping them off. Maybe we could share an adult beverage and talk.”

“It’s a date. By the way, Julia told me last night that she’s hired Peter to film a documentary.”

“He’s had a couple of offers in the last month. He’s really pumped about it. Life is good, Jane. Really good. Anyway, gotta run. See you Monday.”

Life is good, thought Jane, repeating the comment to herself as she rose from her chair and walked down the hall to the pub. As she was about to go inside to grab herself a beer, she saw Cordelia and a woman she’d never seen before barrel down the stairs from the first floor.

“You’re here,” said Cordelia, her expression full of enthusiasm. “I have someone I want you to meet.” Turning to the woman next to her, she said, “Jane, this is Val Brown. I’m on the cusp of hiring her to be Hattie’s new nanny.”

Jane held out her hand. “You’ve got a big job ahead of you.”

“I love kids,” said Val, glancing over Jane’s shoulder into the bar.

“Cordelia said you’re from Sacramento. What made you move to the Twin Cities?”

“To be closer to my girlfriend.”

From Cordelia’s startled expression, Jane figured she hadn’t done a particularly thorough job interview.

“She lives here?” asked Cordelia.

“No, in Fargo.”

“Then why didn’t you move there?” asked Jane.

“Ever been to Fargo?”

“Actually, I haven’t.”

“My girlfriend’s a sheep rancher, lives about forty miles out of town.

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