Winter’s Return: Winter Black Series: Book Ten by Stone Mary

Author:Stone, Mary
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-06-07T00:00:00+00:00

21

Winter arrived at Huntstown Seafood Restaurant ahead of schedule, wanting to be seated and prepared for her encounter with Laurel-Anne, who had agreed to meet after her hospital shift ended at four.

The hour was a bit early for dinner, but according to Fitz, Laurel-Anne’s shift as a psychiatrist at a busy Austin hospital always started at six in the morning, and she was in bed by eight o’clock every night. He claimed she was both a stickler for routine and a seafood addict.

Fine by Winter. She didn’t care if they were meeting for communion at a crack house where Laurel-Anne served as the resident witch doctor. She wanted to talk to the woman and see if a single person in the Fitzgerald household might possibly have a single good thing to say about her client.

Insight into Fitz’s past was what she sought, and his sibling was bound to have some.

Good or bad.

She placed an order for the crab cake appetizer and an iced tea, her server disappearing into the back of the restaurant just as an attractive blonde woman wearing gray slacks and a soft blue button-down top stepped through the entryway.

Winter did a double take. Fitz’s sister could have been his twin. Tall, blonde, and graced with the same attractive, symmetrical features, she caught Winter’s eye and waved, weaving her way to the small table without waiting for the hostess to seat her.

“You must be Winter.” Laurel-Anne slid into the chair across from her. “Fitz had only good things to say about you.”

She lifted a hand, catching the attention of the nearest server and requesting “the usual.” There was no entitlement in Laurel-Anne’s tone. Just friendliness and familiarity.

Winter hesitated as she floundered for a safe icebreaker. Fitz hadn’t shared many complimentary details regarding his sister. “Fitz says you’re an early riser.”

Laurel-Anne chuckled before her expression grew sober. “I’m sure he said a good deal more than that, if I know anything about my brother. Fitz has never been one to mince his words.”

“Families are complicated.” Winter’s lame attempt to smooth over such a personal and awkward situation fell flat between them. Grimacing, she tried again. “Look, I understand. Trust me.”

Cocking her head, Laurel-Anne examined Winter with a psychiatrist’s gaze. “I did a quick search on you, and your brother came up. Whatever complaints I have about Mahoney will more than likely seem unimpressive by comparison. That’s fair, but my issues aren’t insubstantial.”

Much sooner than Winter could have believed was possible, the server arrived with their orders. Winter’s crab cakes sat on an elaborate bed of greens, creating a picture that was almost too pretty to eat.

Laurel-Anne’s usual meal was far more complicated. A small plate of oysters and mini baguettes paired with a seared salmon filet, roasted asparagus, and a bottle of sparkling water. She poured the liquid into a flute, thanking the woman by name.

“I take it you come here a lot?” Winter speared a piece of the cake with her fork.

“Oh,” Laurel-Anne sipped her water, “just every day that I work.

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