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

“Please call me Evangeline, dear. After all, we’re almost like family.”

Not if I can help it. I gave Connor’s hand a squeeze.

“I’ve never been to your lovely town,” Evangeline said. “Such a delightful place, but we’re not exactly short of seafront pleasures in Massachusetts.”

“How about you?” Josie asked Ricky.

He grinned at her. He’d been looking at my cousin a lot. Then again, men tend to do that. Josie’s a beautiful woman and looked particularly so tonight, dressed in slim-fitting jeans and a frilly white off-the-shoulder blouse, with her long golden hair pulled back in a high ponytail and just a hint of pink on her lips. She and Jake had been married over the winter, and that newlywed glow still bounced off her.

“I might be persuaded to come again, given the right reason,” Ricky said in a low, slow voice.

“Josie’s married to the owner of this restaurant,” Evangeline snapped at her son.

“Then I’m sure we’ll get a good meal.” He gave me a crooked grin. “In answer to your question, Josie—no, I’ve never been. My dad comes for the fishing most years, but fishing isn’t how I prefer to spend my time.”

No one asked him how he preferred to spend his time.

“Your dad fishes?” Amos said. “What’s he after?” My uncle’s a keen sport fisherman, and now that he was leaving more and more of his law practice to his partner, my friend Stephanie Stanton, he was looking forward to opportunities to get out on the open water.

Ricky shrugged. “The biggest fish, of course. What else would Dad want? It’s a working vacation for him. He has clients with summer homes down here, and he takes them fishing once a year.”

“You’re not interested in fishing, Evangeline?” Connor asked.

My mom smothered a snort.

Evangeline shuddered. “I tried it once when we were first married. Worst experience of my life. Not to mention the most boring. But that doesn’t matter. I have always maintained that it’s healthy for a long-term, stable marriage when a husband and wife have separate interests. As you’ll find out, Ricky and Lucy.”

Ricky waved to the waiter to bring him another double Scotch.

“Shopping in Paris is one of Evangeline’s interests,” my mom said.

“As you well know, dear,” Evangeline replied through gritted teeth, “I go to Paris for the art.”

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to remind Evangeline that I was engaged to Connor, not to Ricky, but Josie beat me to it. “Jake and I not only have the same interests, we work together sometimes. He helps out in the bakery, and I come here a lot to give him a hand with dinner prep. We believe closeness makes a good marriage. It will be up to Connor and Lucy to find what works best for them.”

“Hear, hear.” Uncle Amos raised his glass. “To Connor and Lucy.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Ricky said.

His mother glowered at him, but she lifted her glass along with the others.

Connor and I smiled at each other. I felt tears behind my eyes.

“Compliments of the chef.” The waiter placed a platter overflowing with crispy brown hush puppies in the center of the table.

“Thank him for us,” I said. Jake knows hush puppies are my favorite, and no one makes them as good as he does.

My mom leaned over and whispered something into my dad’s ear. He nodded, and then he got to his feet. “As the father of the bride-to-be, I’d like to welcome Connor to our family.” Dad lifted his glass of soda to Connor.

“They’re not married yet, Millar,” Evangeline growled.

“What was that, dear?” Mom said. “I missed it.”

“Nothing.”

Connor was next to stand up. “My thanks to you and Suzanne for creating this marvelous woman who has been kind enough, or foolish enough, to want to spend the rest of her life with me.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Ricky said again, and again he did so. Evangeline looked as though she was considering knocking the glass out of his hand.

“Speaking of dinner prep,” Josie said. “I was in the kitchen before y’all arrived, and bluefish is the special tonight. Bought straight off one of those fishing boats you want to go out on, Dad.”

“Sounds delightful,” Mom said. “I think I’ll have that. We’ve kept the staff waiting long enough; I’m ready to order. Josie, I’m going to have the bluefish. What would you recommend for a starter?”

The menu was discussed at great length, and finally the waiter went around the table taking our orders.

He left, and a man approached our table. “I thought I recognized you, Mrs. Lewiston. And Ricky. What brings you folks here?”

Ricky leapt to his feet and took the man’s extended hand. Evangeline’s face twisted, and she might have been considering spitting on the floor. Connor didn’t look entirely pleased either, but he pasted on his politician’s smile and stood up. “Gordon.”

“Mayor McNeil.” Gordon pumped Connor’s hand enthusiastically.

He was a big man, tall and round bellied with pale skin, greasy gray hair, a bushy gray moustache that could use a trim, jowls that bounced when he spoke, and small but intense dark eyes behind thick glasses.

“My mother and I are visiting friends,” Ricky said. “Everyone, this is Gordon Frankland. Mr. Frankland’s an important client of my father and me.”

Connor stared at Ricky in surprise. “You’re his lawyers?”

Ricky nodded.

“I recognize the name.” Dad stood and extended his hand. “Although we’ve never met. Millar Richardson.”

“Pleased to meet you at last, Millar,” Gordon said.

Evangeline picked up her napkin. She twisted it in her freshly manicured fingers. Her face was stiff, her lips tight with what might have been suppressed rage. My mom gave her a worried glance.

“Your dad not here?” Gordon said to Ricky.

“He couldn’t get away,” Ricky said. “You know what the law’s like. I should be back in the office too, but I wanted to escort my mother.”

“I know what the business of the law’s like. I also know when a well-compensated lawyer’s falling down on the job. I planned to give you a call later