Deadly Start by Clark Nefri (summer beach reads .txt) 📕

to drink?” She wheeled out of the kitchen and across to a small bar. “I have wine, most spirits, even some beer I always keep in case Trev visits unexpectedly.”

“Anything. Whatever you are drinking is fine. How often does he do that?” she followed Rosie.

“Visit? Not nearly enough. Can’t tell you how much I miss him.”

A small pang of something resonated in Charlotte’s chest. She missed him too. A little bit. “You won’t move to River’s End?”

“I love my life here. And one day maybe he’ll get a posting closer again.” Rosie held out a glass. “Gin and tonic, if that’s okay. The gin is from Kangaroo Island in South Australia. My friend there sends me a case every so often.”

Charlotte accepted the glass and followed Rosie, who placed her own drink on a side table and manoeuvred her wheelchair to one end of a sofa which had no arm rest. As Charlotte sat opposite, Rosie manipulated her body to slide from chair to sofa. She positioned her legs and picked up her drink with a smile.

“Now this feels better! Cheers, darling!”

“Cheers, Rosie.”

Mellow jumped onto Charlotte’s lap as she sipped. The cat purred, circled twice, then curled up, warm against Charlotte.

“Oh, she likes you! But if she’s a nuisance—”

“She’s a delight.” Charlotte stroked the cat’s glossy fur. “This is soothing.”

“For you both. Now, I want to hear what really happened last night. All of it.”

Chapter Thirteen

“He was waiting for me to see him. The way he looked at me turned my stomach.” Charlotte had filled Rosie in on more of the details of the night, punctuated by sips of the rather nice gin and tonic.

“But he said nothing?”

“Nope.”

Rosie shook her glass to release the last of the gin from the ice cubes and finished it. Mayhem leapt onto the far end of the sofa and meowed at her. “I fed you already. Stop complaining.”

“Does Sid treat all newcomers like this?”

“I’m afraid it is more by association.”

“I don’t understand.”

“There’s what you might call bad blood between him and Trev. Not my place to discuss, but they’ve had words in the past and the fact you are here with me is enough to draw his attention. I am sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Charlotte grinned. “I was profiling him yesterday. I came up with a long list of issues I could help with, not that I would. A person needs to want help first and I imagine he enjoys the little world he’s created around himself.”

“You’ve got that right! Would you make us another drink? I’m rather comfortable.”

Charlotte carefully moved the now-sleeping Mellow onto the next chair and collected Rosie’s glass. “You mentioned you knew Octavia at high school. What about the others?”

“Marguerite and Sid moved into Kingfisher Falls about fifteen years ago. She and Octavia hit it off immediately and when Glenys began the book club, they all became good friends. Glenys’s lived here as long as I have.”

After making the drinks, Charlotte handed Rosie hers. Mellow was back on her original chair and blinked up as if to say not to bother moving her again. “Fine, I want to sit on the other chair anyway.”

“Cats have their own agendas. We simply do anything in our power to avoid upsetting their plans.” Rosie was so solemn that Charlotte had to look twice to see the mirth in her eyes. They both laughed. There was a sense of happiness in this home. A contentment with life and enjoyment of her own company.

Charlotte gazed around the room. “This is such a pretty house, Rosie. And is that one of Darcy’s trees?” In the corner near the sliding door was a dark green pine.

“Thank you. And it is one of his. My husband and I always took a tree each year and then planted it. There was a land care group who arranged places and the town area still enjoys the benefit our, and many other people’s trees provide.”

“It is a lovely thing to do. Once my tree is strong again, I’ll find a home for it. Mind you, it looks better even after a few hours with plenty of water and a nice outlook.”

“Yes, it’s important trees have a nice view.”

“I’m beginning to understand we have a similar sense of humour. Although I have quite a sarcastic streak I need to keep in check.” Charlotte said.

“Feel free to be yourself around me. I do love my customers, for the most part, but there are days when being perpetually polite and accommodating is exhausting.”

Charlotte reached across to the other chair to stroke Mellow. “Speaking of customers, have you ever had a wishing tree set up?”

Rosie leaned forward, interested. “Tell me more.”

“Not that it needs to be a tree, but a place in the shop where customers might donate a book for someone less fortunate. They select a book, or one of our other gift ideas, and pay for it then we wrap it up and the customer writes a card.”

“And we donate the gifts to those less fortunate?”

“Yes. The customer can either donate with their name or anonymously, and the card would include an indicator of the suitable age if for children, or genre if for adults.” Charlotte smiled as Rosie clapped her hands.

“What a wonderful suggestion, darling! Do we have time to do it this year?”

“We’d need some signs, but I can make those tonight. And some little cards—”

“I have a stockpile of cards so that’s an easy one. I wonder how we let people know?” Rosie sat back with a frown. “Too late for the newspaper.”

“Will you let me set up a Facebook book for Kingfisher Falls Bookshop? I can manage it and get word out to locals. If you’ll trust me.”

“Everyone says I should be on Facebook but I’m not one for this whole social media thing. But wouldn’t it take a lot of your time?” Rosie said.

“Not really. And once it’s up and running, it will be perfect to put anything onto.”

“Anything?”

Charlotte nodded. “Opening hours. Photographs of the shop. Images of