Prose and Cons by Staub Wendy Corsi

Author:Staub, Wendy Corsi [Staub, Wendy Corsi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Paranormal, Contemporary
ISBN: 9780727850164
Amazon: 0727850164
Goodreads: 58203832
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2021-12-07T08:00:00+00:00

EIGHT

As Bella dries the last of the breakfast pans, her phone, lying face up on the counter, lights up with a text. Leaning in, she smiles when she sees who it’s from.

Dr Drew Bailey: Want to try for that walk this afternoon?

She still has to make up the guestrooms and tend to the laundry and a few other chores, not to mention catch up on her book club reading. She probably shouldn’t say yes, but she’s going to. And now that she finally has a free moment, she’s also going to change his contact information to just ‘Drew’.

She puts the skillet into the cupboard, flips off the overhead light and grabs her phone, eager to escape the kitchen at last.

‘Good morning, Isabella,’ Pandora says, framed in the doorway. She’s wearing one of her signature floral frocks, and her hair is braided, same as always, but in a slightly lopsided fashion. Her complexion is even paler than usual, with dark circles beneath her eyes.

‘Good morning,’ Bella replies, then glances at the stove clock. ‘Just about afternoon, really. Are you hungry? There’s leftover sausage and baked beans in the fridge, if you—’

‘No!’ Pandora pauses to swallow audibly. ‘No, thank you. I’ll just have some tea and toast, please. Earl Grey. White bread. And please, no …’ She swallows again and sinks into a kitchen chair. ‘No butter or jam.’

Bella hadn’t been offering to serve her. But this rare glimmer of vulnerability in the indomitable Pandora moves her to say, ‘Sure. I’ll get it for you.’

‘Thank you.’

Bella turns on the light. ‘I take it you had a nice time last night?’

Pandora winces. ‘I’m right here, Isabella, no need to bellow. And that overhead fixture is blinding. I feel as though I’m in the midst of a garish and cacophonous carnival.’

Bella flips the switch off and lowers her voice to a near whisper. ‘How was your evening?’

‘It was lovely, thank you.’

‘I heard you saw Calla.’

‘Yes. She was waiting tables, poor lass.’

‘I don’t think she minds helping out at the café,’ Bella comments as she takes a loaf from the breadbox.

‘Well, it’s certainly not good for her image.’

‘Her … image? How so?’

‘One can hardly take her literary accomplishments seriously when she’s slinging hash at a canteen.’

Bella shakes her head and reaches for the kettle.

‘Isabella, please just boil the water in the microwave.’

‘What? I assumed you wanted “proper” tea.’

‘I’ve a bit of a headache and I’d prefer to avoid the shrieking whistle. Where are Eudora and Nigel?’

‘They went for a walk around the Dale.’

‘What?’

‘Yes, Odelia told them about the Fairy Trail and they wanted to see it.’

‘What?’

‘Odelia told them—’

‘Isabella! Do moderate your volume.’

‘I thought you couldn’t hear me. You keep saying “what?”’

‘Not because I’m impaired, but because I’m astounded. How on earth is Odelia involved in any of this?’

‘She was here earlier. She helped me make breakfast.’

‘You allowed that woman, with her bizarre culinary skills, to prepare a meal for a world-renowned culinary genius? Are you mad?’

‘I needed a hand. Since you were sleeping, I called Odelia.

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