Death at the Day Lily Cafe by Wendy Sand Eckel Read Free Book Online

mozzarella, and tomato sauce in a ramekin, with a baked egg on top. It’s served with a slice of honeydew topped with basil-infused cream and a small arugula salad with shaved parmesan and a lemon olive oil dressing.” I looked up. “Crystal, could you write the special on the chalkboard? You have such beautiful handwriting.”
    â€œAll of that?” she said with a bewildered look on her face.
    â€œJust write roasted vegetable egg bake and add the sides.”
    â€œI’m drooling,” Kevin said as he folded up the empty box.
    â€œWe should all get together sometime, Kevin.” I poured him a to-go cup of coffee and slipped it into a cardboard sleeve.
    â€œI like the sound of that,” Glenn said. “Not to invite myself, of course.”
    â€œYes, we should definitely do that.” Kevin picked up his cup.
    â€œGood luck with your meeting,” I said.
    â€œOkay, toodle-loo, everyone.” Kevin waved as he walked toward the door.
    â€œSay,” Glenn said, “is Custer here?”
    I looked over at him. “I certainly hope so. He had a late night.”
    â€œHow do you know that?”
    â€œHe was hanging out with Annie.”
    Glenn eyed me over the top of his glasses. “That worries you, doesn’t it?”
    â€œI’m not sure. Do you think it should?”
    â€œHe’s doing a fabulous job so far. You’ve given him a chance working here. I admire you for that.”
    I crossed my arms. “But, Glenn, it’s my Annie.”
    â€œAll right, mother hen.” Glenn smiled. “You go on and worry. I won’t try to stop you.”
    â€œWe have a customer,” Crystal called from the chalkboard. Glenn turned toward the door and stopped abruptly. Gretchen, dressed in a breezy floral dress, waited patiently on the stoop.
    I nudged Glenn. “It’s the woman from yesterday. Gretchen, right?”
    â€œIt is.” He crossed his arms. “We agreed. No free muffins today.”
    â€œThat’s correct. Nothing is free except coffee refills. Glenn, she seems very pleasant. Do you think she came back to see you?”
    â€œI’m not on the menu,” Glenn said as he continued toward the door.
    *   *   *
    I found Custer slicing the honeydew. A tray of egg bakes sat prepared and ready for the oven.
    â€œCiao,” he said without looking up.
    â€œEverything all right?”
    â€œAlways.”
    â€œDid you have fun last night?”
    He looked up and narrowed those gemstone eyes. “You know, boss, I think it’s better if I keep my private life exactly that.”
    â€œExactly what?”
    â€œPrivate.”
    â€œOh.” I felt flustered. Was he right? But he was with my Annie. He continued to gaze at me. “Okay,” I said. “I will try to respect that. But it’s an awfully small town. And families don’t come any tinier than mine.”
    â€œAnd I will respect that.”
    I picked up the bowl of thickened cream and began scooping small dollops onto the honeydew. “Do you come from a big family, Custer?”
    â€œPlenty big.”
    â€œAnd Tyler is your uncle on your father’s side?”
    â€œYes. Why are you so interested?”
    â€œJust curious. Doris said something about fathers yesterday and I’ve been thinking about mine. I used to drive him crazy. He thought I talked too much.” I set the honeydew slices on a tray. “Hard to believe, right? Anyway, after supper he would go out on the front porch and smoke a pipe. He would sit still, just listening to the crickets chirp. The only movement was the whir of the ceiling fan to keep the mosquitos away.” I stared off, remembering the scent of pipe smoke, the glow when he puffed on the stem. “I would sit with him on the swing every chance I got. I would tell him made-up stories about animals and ogres, and when I ran out of things to say I’d push the swing with