What Price Paradise by Katherine Allred

Author:Katherine Allred [Allred, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
ISBN: 1419902644
Publisher: Cerridwen Press
Published: 2005-07-14T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Abby chewed on her bottom lip as she surveyed the material spread out on the kitchen table. There was no way she could finish a gown by tonight, but at least she could get started and maybe have one ready by tomorrow night. She’d chosen a white cotton from the stack upstairs and, if she worked it right, she could get several gowns out of it with enough left over for something else.

She picked up the scissors and began cutting, trying to concentrate on what she was doing instead of on Tate. It wasn’t easy. He was sitting in the living room pretending to read the newspaper, but she could feel his gaze on her every time she moved. She was beginning to feel like a bug under a microscope.

Buddy strolled though the kitchen, stopping at the fridge to take out a can of soda. “Nice party last night,” he commented. “Everyone really liked you.”

“They did?” She looked up.

“Yep. Don’t be surprised if you have a steady stream of visitors from now on.”

Abby smiled. “That would be nice. I’ve never really had any friends before. We moved too much at first, then later I was too busy.”

“Just don’t forget you promised to go to the library with me. I thought maybe we could go Tuesday evening.”

“What are you going to the library for?” Tate asked from the living room.

Buddy turned slightly. “Abby is going to help me find some books for my term paper in history. It’s due at the end of next week.”

Tate shook the newspaper out then turned the page. “I might go with you. There are some errands I need to run. I can do those while you two are busy.”

Abby smothered a grin when Buddy rolled his eyes. “Big brother strikes—” His words were cut off when the phone rang. Buddy almost knocked her down getting to it and she wondered if he were expecting a call from Amy Fletcher.

“Hello?” There was a slight pause as he listened.

“Nope. Gone and won’t be back for two weeks at least.” He slammed the phone down.

Abby stared at him in puzzlement and she could see Tate doing the same thing. Tate spoke first.

“Who was that?”

“Prank call.” Buddy took a long drink from his soda.

“What did they say?”

“Wanted to know if this was the town mortuary. Said they had to speak to the mortician right away.”

Tate started to get up. “Maybe I should try that star sixty-nine and see who it was.”

“Don’t bother,” Buddy said hastily. “Sounded like it was coming from a pay phone in town. I could hear kids laughing in the background.”

Tate settled back into the chair but he was watching Buddy intently. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” His brother stretched. “Well, I think I’ll go upstairs and watch TV for a while before bed. ‘Night.”

Abby watched him go, then carefully folded the material. “I think I’ll go take a bath. I feel like I’ve still got dirt all over me.”

“I know what you mean. But the garden does look good.

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