AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Thanksgiving dinner.
“I couldn’t even look at turkey.” Linda sat back and sipped her water. “I swear I ate my weight in it yesterday.”
I plucked a piece of breast meat out and nibbled. My mouth watered so much that I crossed the room for our stash of plates and cutlery. Five minutes later, it was warmed in the microwave and I was plowing my way through it.
He’d brought me Thanksgiving dinner.
I wasn’t quite sure what to think about that. In fact, confusion was tipping the scales in all ways tonight.
Linda stood with a sigh. “I wish a guy brought me dinner.”
“No luck with Jax?”
She snorted. “Yeah, that man is for a lost weekend, not bagged lunch. Though your guy brought ultra fancy bagged lunch.”
I poked at the stuffing, my initial hunger receding finally. “Yeah.” Wait—not my guy. I looked up, but Linda was already heading out with a wave. I hurried to do the same. I went to scrape the rest in the garbage, but changed my mind.
I couldn’t really waste food
right now. And this was more than enough for an entire second meal. I tucked everything back into the tins, and then stashed them in the fridge. I cleaned up in the little bathroom, and popped a breath mint from the roll I kept in my pocket.
I took a deep breath before jumping back into the fray. I recognized two of the more gossipy blue bloods on the cove.
Abort. Go around.
All of the bells and whistles were sounding off, but it was too late when Catherine Bishop smiled at me.
“Grace, dear.”
“Hi, Mrs. Bishop.”
“It’s so nice to see you in the gallery again. We all miss Annabelle so much.”
I forced a smile. “Yes, we do.”
“I just wanted to congratulate you on the sale of your angel. I was bidding on it before I even knew it was yours.”
“Bidding?” I asked.
“Yes. The price was too much for my blood by the end of it.”
“Oh, Cat, you ruin all my fun.”
I turned to Phil’s voice. “Fun?” I realized I sounded a little thick, but what the hell had happened since I escaped for my impromptu turkey dinner?
“Yes. You’ll be so very pleased with the sales figures.”
I blinked. “Truly?”
“Oh, yes. You did quite well. I’m going to require at least another six pieces, Grace. People love this new style of yours.”
I squeezed her hand. “Thanks, Phil.”
“It was a pretty penny. I know you’ve fallen on hard times.” Mrs. Bishop’s smile was serene, but I saw the glee lighting her eyes.
And it was one of the reasons I’d been hiding away from everyone. Everyone knew everyone’s business in Lady’s Cove. It was a small curve of beach with many old and established houses along the shoreline. The Bishop and Gregory houses represented the oldest families as well as the oldest money.
Once upon a time that had been me as well. I lifted my chin. “Feels good to earn my own money.”
