Death of an Irish Diva by Mollie Cox Bryan Read Free Book Online Page B

bit with John’s job. This is the first time we’ve been here for any length of time. A lot of people tell me I look familiar,” she said and smiled. “I guess I just have one of those faces.”
    â€œAnd it’s a beautiful face, my dear,” her husband said.
    â€œWell, now, who’s ready for dessert? There’s custard pie and apple cake. Who wants what?” Beatrice asked.
    Vera stood and gathered the dishes, while everybody else followed Beatrice into her living room, where hammer dulcimer bluegrass music was being played. The conversation turned to music.
    Vera was a little uncomfortable sharing a meal with the people who were renting her house, but her mother had insisted. After all, it wasn’t their fault that she was next to broke. They were helping her out a good deal. They were going to rent only for a year, during the time of Dr. Reilly’s teaching gig, and then he’d be heading back to Carolina.
    Handsome couple, Vera thought as she rinsed off the dishes and opened the dishwasher. Laughter came from the next room. There was something odd about them, though. She didn’t like the way he looked at her. Bill seemed to notice. Even though they weren’t married anymore, they still had this unspoken communication, a mix of body language and glances. Dr. Reilly couldn’t be flirting with her right in front of his wife, could he?
    Well, of course he could, she reminded herself. The older she became, the more she saw that most men just weren’t to be trusted at all. The situation with Bill was like a veil being lifted from her eyes. She saw the world much more clearly now. It seemed as if everywhere she looked, there were men cheating on their wives. Why hadn’t she noticed before? Was she just naive?
    Jon entered the kitchen. “Can I help?”
    She turned around and smiled at him. “Of course you can.”
    She handed him a stack of dessert plates and reached into the refrigerator for the pie. Everybody wanted the pie. Fancy that.
    â€œFascinating couple,” Jon said. “Good thing they showed up in Cumberland Creek when they did. Good for you. Good for them. Not much of a commute to the university for him, given that he teaches only two days a week.”
    â€œNice situation,” Vera said, slicing the pie, then scooping a piece up and onto the plate Jon held for her.
    â€œElizabeth is pleased to see her father,” he added. “The dinner seems to be a success.”
    The last slice of pie placed on a plate, Vera reached for the bottle of wine that she carried into the kitchen from the dining room table. Only a sip left in it. She uncorked it and lifted it to her mouth.
    Jon gaped as he held the tray of desserts.
    â€œTo success,” Vera said and smiled, lifting the bottle in a mock toast.

Chapter 12
    Annie was chopping onions and crying. She didn’t know if it was just the onions or not. Her eyes stung, and once the flow started, she couldn’t stop it. Finally, she placed the onions in the frying pan, wet a paper towel with cool water, and held it to her eyes.
    â€œAre you okay?” Mike walked in for a beer, opened the refrigerator door.
    â€œOnions,” she said.
    He grabbed her and kissed her on the head. “Poor baby,” he said. “Whatchya making?”
    â€œAn omelet,” she said. “I’m using up the eggs and milk before we get our next delivery.”
    â€œI wish Adam was coming over today. What a great guy,” he said.
    Annie rolled her eyes.
    â€œC’mon, Annie. You worked with him last night. You know he’s not that bad,” he said, leaning against the counter.
    â€œI helped him out a bit last night,” she said. “When he found out Emily had those tattoos, he just assumed I could help.”
    He grimaced. “Yeah. He’s kinda like that. He makes assumptions. I don’t think he means anything by it. Underneath it all, he’s got an