Oregano Meatball Murder by Patti Benning

Author:Patti Benning [Benning, Patti]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Summer Prescott Books
Published: 2020-03-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Ellie walked down the aisles of the grocery store, putting ingredients into her cart as she came across them. She had woken up that Saturday after a long week with the urge to relax and to cook something that didn’t involve pizza crust, cheese, and pepperoni. Since Russell didn’t have to work, it was the perfect day to make them both a nice lunch. Of course, since the reason he didn't have to work was because he was on leave, it made having the weekend free together a bit less exciting.

She hummed to herself as she browsed the rack of spices, trying to remember what they were low on at home. Oregano, she knew, but she was so certain that there had been something else –

“Oh, I'm so sorry,” a woman said as she bumped into Ellie on her way down the aisle.

Ellie pushed her cart further over. “No, not at all. I was in the way.”

“No, I wasn't watching where I was going. I just lost my fiancé and –” She broke off, squinting at Ellie. “Hey, don't I know you? You work at the pizzeria, right?”

“Yeah, I remember you,” Ellie said. “You came in just the other day, didn't you?”

The woman nodded. “My name is Lindsay,” she said, shaking Ellie's hand.

“That's right. Sorry, I just see so many customers. Did you say your fiancé passed away?”

The woman nodded, the smile falling off her face as if it had never been there. “It was so terrible. He was found dead in the sheriff's truck a couple of days ago. No one knows what happened. I always knew there was a chance he would pass a long time before I did – we’ve got quite the age difference between us, you know, but I wasn’t prepared for something as sudden as this…”

She kept talking, but Ellie couldn't seem to focus on her words. All she could do was stand there, staring at the woman who had so proudly showed off her engagement ring just a couple of days beforehand. What were the odds? And it was obvious that the woman didn't know who she was married to, or Ellie doubted she would be this friendly. She felt a strange surge of guilt. She knew, logically, that what happened wasn't her or Russell's fault, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this woman might not see it that way once she realized just who Ellie was.

“I'm sorry,” Ellie said suddenly. “I… I have to go.”

She grabbed her purse and left the cart behind as she walked quickly through the store. She was almost to the front door when she realized that Lindsay was following her.

“Wait,” the other woman said. “I'm sorry. What did I say? Oh, no, are you experiencing a loss too?”

Ellie shook her head, walking toward the doors. “I just really have to go. I can't be here right now.”

“No, wait,” Lindsay said, reaching for Ellie. “I didn't mean to upset you. I… I just wanted someone to

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