Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates (smart books to read TXT) 📕

county club with a new boyfriend. “Oh, yes. I remember. Do you remember the New Year’s Eve party where I couldn’t find Ricky at midnight for a kiss because he was in the kitchen with that waitress from Northeastern?”

The concrete smile cracked. “That was a total misunderstanding. That so-called friend of yours who delighted in spreading that nasty rumor wanted Ricky for herself.”

“She got him eventually, didn’t she? Although it didn’t last long, I hear.” I took a deep breath and spoke quickly before my courage failed me. “Evangeline, please go home. You and your family have been close to my family for many years, and I’m sorry it’s come to this, but you’re not wanted here.”

A floorboard creaked behind the men’s room door. Ricky was listening. If I’d been at all inclined to consider going back to him, the fact that he wasn’t brave enough to come out and stand with me in defiance of his mother would have been enough to tell me he wasn’t the man for me.

A footstep sounded behind me. “My daughter’s correct.” My mother had worked hard to get the Outer Banks out of her accent and speak as though she also had ancestors who came over on the Mayflower. At this moment her years of practice worked. Evangeline’s a good deal taller than Mom and I, but Mom peered down her nose at the other woman. “It would be for the best if you and Ricky left first thing in the morning.”

Evangeline’s eyes flashed. “It’s what you want too, Suzanne—don’t try to deny it. We always intended our children would marry.”

“So we did. I hoped they’d fall in love. That didn’t happen. It isn’t going to happen. My daughter will marry for love.” My mother put her arm around my waist.

“Like Elizabeth Bennet,” I said.

“Do I know her?” Evangeline said.

“Apparently not,” I said.

Evangeline looked at me. She looked at my mom. “You don’t want to make an enemy of me, Suzanne.”

“No, I don’t. It’s up to you how this ends.”

Evangeline gave us a final glare and walked down the hallway, her head high, her heels tapping on the floor.

“Thanks, Mom,” I said when Evangeline had disappeared.

My mother sighed. “I feel sorry for her, in a way. Her world is changing and she doesn’t know how to cope.”

“She can cope without me.”

The men’s room door opened, and Ricky came out. He ducked his head and slithered past us.

When he’d gone, I said, “Mom, is Evangeline closely involved in the business of the firm? I wouldn’t have thought … “

“She’s always been more involved than I have. Which isn’t difficult, considering I know nothing that goes on there and I want to know nothing. But if Rich is in trouble and he’s dragging Ricky down with him, then I can easily assume Evangeline has made it her mission to know precisely what’s going on. She doesn’t care for surprises. Why do you ask?”

“Just something she said to Ricky.”

Mom and I waited a few minutes and then went back to our table, passing Ricky at the bar, where he was leaning toward the bartender. “What time do you get off work?” he asked as she handed him a fresh Scotch.

Evangeline’s chair was empty.

“Did something happen?” Dad asked. “You two were gone for a long time. Evangeline said she’d taken ill and would drive herself back to the hotel.”

“Happen?” Mom said. “Nothing at all.” Our first-course plates had been cleared away and the main courses served. Mom picked up her fork. “This fish does look delicious.”

Ricky didn’t rejoin us, and now that the Lewistons had left, the mood at our table lifted considerably, and I enjoyed the rest of my meal.

“I thought this dinner was on Evangeline,” Dad said as he scraped the last of his key lime pie off his plate. “Just like her to take off, sticking me with the bill.”

Connor and Uncle Amos both reached for their wallets. Dad waved them away. “Just kidding. It’s my pleasure to toast my beautiful daughter. Leaving suddenly isn’t like Evangeline at all, truth be told, but it’s certainly like her husband. And her son.” He glanced through the windows into the main room of the restaurant. Ricky had gone. “There are going to be some changes at Richardson Lewiston soon, Amos. My offer stands.”

Uncle Amos chuckled. “You’re asking me to leave being the biggest fish in my two-person law firm to become a minnow swimming among the multiple sharp-toothed partners in the big tank that’s your corporate offices? I turned you down forty years ago, Millar. Nothing’s changed. Except us. Thinking of retirement yourself?”

“I’d like to,” Dad said. “Think of it, I mean. Right now, the time’s not good.”

“Anyone for a nightcap back at the hotel?” Mom asked.

“Dad’s never been to the library,” I said. “Let’s go there for a drink. It’s lovely at night.”

“Not for me,” Josie said. “Morning comes early.”

For her, it sure did. Josie got up at four every morning to get started on the day’s baking. “I’m popping into the kitchen to say good-night to Jake.” My cousin rounded the table to give everyone hugs in turn. “ ’Night, all. I hope you come again soon, Aunt Suzanne, Uncle Millar.”

“I believe we will,” Mom said.

We gathered handbags and wraps and prepared to take our leave.

“It’s been a long day for me too,” Uncle Amos said. “So I’ll pass on the drink. See you in the morning, before you leave?”

“Sure,” Dad said.

“I’ll get a lift with Connor,” I said. “I shouldn’t be driving tonight, and I can pick my car up in the morning before work.”

“I came with Amos and Ellen,” Dad said, “and Suzanne with Lucy. Connor can drop us at the beach house on his way home.”

My mother gave him a sharp jab to the ribs. “That won’t be necessary, Millar. Connor might not be going our way.”

“Nags Head’s not that big,” Dad said. “Amos’s house isn’t far from the highway.”

“We’ll call a cab,” Mom said.

Dad looked as though he was about to argue,