The Proof is in the Pudding by Melinda Wells Read Free Book Online

pale, but her hair was brushed and she was dressed in a clean blue tracksuit.
    “Hi, you two. What’s going on?” To someone who didn’t know her well, Eileen sounded normal, but I knew it was an act of will.
    I said, “Phil borrowed three designer gowns for me to choose one to wear for . . .” I stopped, feeling awkward.
    Eileen faked a smile. Her lips curved up, but the expression didn’t make it all the way to her eyes. “That’s okay,” she said. “I know it’s for the big gala tomorrow night.”
    She studied the peach chiffon gown with the empire waist that I was wearing, and then the black silk and the blue jersey dresses on hangers.
    “The one you’re wearing looks great,” she said. “But the asymmetrical neckline on the black dress isn’t going to be flattering. The blue jersey matches your eyes, but it’s going to cling in the wrong places.”
    Phil made a circle with his right thumb and forefinger. “You’ve got a good eye. The peach chiffon gets my vote, too.”
    The sudden ringing of the phone caused Eileen to flinch. Her composure slipped for just a moment. I wanted to whisper a word of comfort to her, but I couldn’t do that in front of Phil.
    When I answered, I heard Car Guy’s voice. He got right to the point.
    “The red VW—it belongs to the cutie who lives with you, right?”
    “Yes, it’s Eileen O’Hara’s. Do you know what’s wrong with it?”
    “Just a loose wire to the distributor cap. No big deal. It’s ready to go. If she picks it up herself, I’ll give her the company discount.”
    “Careful. Her father’s with the LAPD.”
    “Don’t worry—I did my time. If she threw herself at me, I wouldn’t catch her. Seriously, I’m not going to charge for a loose wire. I found the problem in about five seconds.”
    “You’re a nice man, Car.”
    “Yeah, well, keep that to yourself,” he said gruffly.
    I relayed the repair information to Eileen.
    She took the receiver and thanked Car warmly, then looked at me and asked, “Can you drive me over there?”
    “I’ll take you,” Phil said. He was putting the two rejected gowns back into their garment bags. “I’ve got to go out to the studio anyway.”
    “That’s great,” Eileen said. “Thanks.”
    While I was in the bathroom, carefully stepping out of the borrowed designer gown, Eileen knocked on the door. “Aunt Del?”
    “You can come in.”
    She opened the door only enough to say, “After I get my car, I’m going to our store to do the inventory.”
    “How are you feeling this morning?”
    “Not great, but I’ll keep busy.” She paused, looked at the floor, and then looked up at me. “Have you thought of some way to stop Keith?”
    “Not yet, but there is a solution and we’ll find it. Please believe that.”
    “I’ll try.” There was a note of childlike disappointment in her voice; one of her three parent figures—me—had just let her down. I felt terrible.
    Changing the subject, I asked, “Will you be home for dinner?”
    She shook her head. “Daddy’s working, and Mother was going to be alone, so I’m meeting her for an early bite.”
    Dressed in my own clothes again, I came out of the bathroom. “Where’s Phil?”
    “Waiting for me in his car.”
    “Eileen, we are going to solve your problem. In the meantime, promise me you’re not going to do anything foolish.”
    “You mean more foolish than what I’ve already done?” Her voice had a bitter edge. “I don’t think I could.”
    We heard the discordant bleep-bleep we recognized as the horn in Phil Logan’s Mercedes.
    “The Publicity Man Honk-eth. I gotta run.” She gave my hand a quick grasp, and then she was gone.
    I was left alone to worry about her, and to wonder how in the world I was going to protect her from Keith Ingram.
    If the girl in this fix had been anyone except his own daughter, I would go to John O’Hara for help. But John was the last person on earth in whom I dared confide now. As controlled as he was