Looming Murder by Carol Ann Martin Read Free Book Online Page B

he’ll probably want his privacy when Blondie—I mean Amanda—comes to visit.” I must have blushed, because Marnie gave me a slow, knowing smile.
    Jenny’s eyes widened. “Oh, didn’t you know? He and Amanda broke up.”
    What? How come I hadn’t heard about this? “When did that happen?”
    Jenny looked thoughtful. “I guess it must have been early in the new year. He told me that he had feelings for somebody else. When I asked who, he refused to say.”
    So he was already involved with someone else. Why was it that some men could not be without a girlfriend for a second? “Hello-o.” Marnie waved a hand in front of my face.
    I snapped back. “Oh, uh, did you say something?”
    The older woman must have taken pity on me because she gave me an almost imperceptible nod and changed the subject—at long last.
    “By the way, you’re right. This is really good coffee.”
    “Jamaican Blue Mountain—it’s crazy expensive. We might as well enjoy it because when this bag is finished, I won’t be able to afford it again anytime soon.”
    Jenny poured in another drop of milk and stirred, looking pensive. “I used to dream of starting my own business too, you know. I wanted to start a tea salon where I could do aura and tarot readings.”
    I almost laughed.
Tarot readings? Really?
    “But I have no sense when it comes to numbers. I’d go under in no time.”
    To my surprise, Marnie was nodding enthusiastically. “I think that’s a brilliant idea. I love having my fortune told. And I know a lot of women who see astrologists and clairvoyants regularly.”
    She had a point. Just because I scoffed at that kind of stuff didn’t mean others didn’t believe in it. Besides, if this was Jenny’s dream, who was I to laugh? My own dream sounded just as nutty to a lot of people. “You don’t have to be good with numbers to run a successful business. Most successful business owners don’t do everything themselves.”
    Marnie jumped in. “That’s what employees are for.”
    Jenny looked doubtful. “Maybe.”
    “Marnie’s right. Why don’t you make a business plan?” She looked at me as if I’d just sprouted a second head. “I can help you if you like.”
    Marnie seemed to be getting more and more excited at the idea. “If you open a tea shop, you’ll need cakes, and muffins, and cookies. I can bake all of that for you. You do like my muffins, don’t you?” She slid the basket across the table toward Jenny. “Here, have another.”
    She put a hand up in protest. “I love them, thanks, but I’m full.”
    Marnie pulled the basket away almost regretfully. And then her eyes twinkled. “Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll make a list of all my favorite recipes and you can pick whatever you want for your menu.”
    Jenny rested her chin in her hand. “Whoa. Not so fast. Let’s see. I’d need to hire an accountant. I’d also have to rent a space, buy tables and chairs and dishes and . . .” She smiled. “I
could
do all that, if I only had the money.” She let herself fall against the back of the chair, chuckling. “I guess I’ll have to stick to what I’m doing now. There’s nothing wrong with working part-time at Franny’s.”
    Marnie pouted. “Oh, well. It was a fun dream.”
    “What’s Franny’s?” I asked.
    Marnie’s eyes widened, “You’ve never been to Franny’s? Oh, you must go. I buy all my clothes there.”
    I almost laughed. I
so
didn’t see myself wearing floral or zebra pants like hers, or for that matter, yoga pants and gauzy tops like Jenny’s—unless I was willing to give up eating, which I was not. And to punctuate that thought, I took another bite of my muffin.
    Jenny nodded enthusiastically. “It’s at the other end of Main Street. I’m there three mornings a week. If you come by, you can tell me what you like and I’ll get it for you with my employee’s discount.”
    Marnie said, “I’d ask you to do the same for me, but—” She patted her ample stomach.