Death of a Mad Hatter (A Hat Shop Mystery) by Jenn McKinlay Read Free Book Online Page B

think of him?” I asked Viv.
    “He had a nicely shaped head,” Viv said.
    “That’s it?” I asked. “He is going to be so disappointed.”
    “I expect he’ll live,” Viv said.
    “Well, now that we’re going to the tea, I’m sure he’ll try to charm you senseless,” I teased. “Unless, of course, your interest is elsewhere?”
    Viv didn’t say anything to this—very annoying of her. Instead, she headed over to the kitchenette and took a sparkling water out of the minifridge.
    “You’re not going to talk about your personal life, are you?” I asked.
    “There’s a reason it’s called a personal life,” she replied.
    “Oh, come on,” I insisted. “How many hours did I spend listening to you try to decide which Backstreet Boy was your favorite?”
    “Shaming me will not get you into my confidence,” Viv said. “Besides, I listened to you, too.”
    “That’s because I was going to be Mrs. Nick Carter,” I said.
    “Who?” Fee asked.
    “Please do not tell me you’ve never heard of the Backstreet Boys,” I said.
    “Sorry, I’m more of a Jonas Brothers girl,” Fee said.
    Viv and I exchanged a look. It was a horrible thing to be age-stamped by the boy band of your heart.
    “Back to the topic at hand,” I said. “I realize that due to my own selfish neglect, I have no idea what’s been going on in your personal life, so is there someone special that you haven’t told me about?”
    “If I haven’t told you before, what makes you think I suddenly will now?” she asked.
    “Because I’m asking,” I said. This seemed pretty obvious to me.
    Viv tipped her head and studied me. “Sometimes you are such an American.”
    “That sounded like an insult,” I said. I looked at Fee. “Did that sound like an insult to you?”
    She raised her hands as if to show she was unarmed. “Impartial apprentice here.”
    “It’s not an insult,” Viv said. “Just an observation. Americans tend to be more—how do I say it?”
    “In-your-face?” I suggested.
    “Yes,” she cried. “You have fewer boundaries.”
    “So you’re telling me that you have a boundary around your personal life and I am to butt out,” I said.
    Viv tossed her long blonde curls over her shoulder. “Yes, I’d say that’s about right.”
    “And you really think that’s going to work with me?” I asked.
    To her credit, Viv looked at me and laughed. “Right. Whatever was I thinking?”

Chapter 6

    Apparently, Viv wasn’t just thinking it. Much to my surprise, she evaded my every attempt to get information of the relationship sort out of her. Obviously, she underestimated my staying power.
    I decided my best chance for information would be to observe her at the tea and see how she responded to Liam now that she knew he was interested in her. This at least made the idea of an afternoon of awkward conversation and finger sandwiches seem bearable.
    In the days before the tea, the Grisbys were in and out of the shop to pick up their hats. Geoffrey Grisby even said his hat had turned out better than he had anticipated, which Viv and I took as high praise from him. Unfortunately, he also used his handkerchief to touch the doorknob on the way in and out of the shop, as if we were unclean somehow. I still didn’t like him and could not imagine why Tina was married to him. I supposed it was none of my business, not that that stopped me from pondering the situation.
    On the day of the tea, I was riddled with doubt as to what to wear, but Viv helped me pick a pretty ecru dress with bunches of blue hydrangea blossoms on it. I chose a matching blue sun hat with an ecru ribbon from the shop’s display to advertise Mim’s Whims and wore a strappy pair of navy sandals to complete the look.
    Viv looked amazing in a pale-rose-colored dress with white eyelet trim and a white cap that sported a burst of rose-colored eyelash feathers on the right side. She wore taupe sandals that kept us about the same height.
    “Think we’ll do?” she