Wedding Cake Killer by Livia J. Washburn Read Free Book Online Page B

case,” she said. “Sometimes, though, you can be fairly droll.”
    “I reckon I’ll take it,” he said with a shake of his head. “Looks like all I’m gonna get.”
    Carolyn said, “I can’t imagine what the surprise could be, unless they brought us presents of some sort from the Bahamas. You don’t think they’d bring us some of those ridiculous grass skirts, do you?”
    “Those are from Hawaii,” Phyllis pointed out.
    “Yes, I suppose you’re right, but they’re still tacky.”
    “And with these knobby knees of mine, I’d look downright foolish in one of ’em,” Sam said. He held up both hands in a gesture of surrender. “I know, there I go again. I’ll stop.”
    Eve had sounded excited about the surprise, whatever it was, Phyllis thought, but at the same time, she had detected a slightly forced note in her friend’s voice, as if Eve had been trying to be happy about it but not completely succeeding. That worried Phyllis. She didn’t think anything major had happened, or Eve would have just gone ahead and told her about it. But it would certainly ease her mind to find out what Eve had been talking about.
    That slight worry Phyllis was experiencing made the time seem to pass more slowly, and after a couple of hours had gone by, the minutes really dragged.
    Carolyn seemed to be concerned, too. “I thought they would be here by now,” she said.
    “They’re probably sittin’ in a traffic jam somewhere,” Sam said. “At this time of day, you’ve got to expect that. I’m not sure there even is a good time of day to come or go from that airport.”
    Phyllis knew he was right about that, but it didn’t make her feel any better. Finally, more than three hours after Eve’s call, headlights pulled into the driveway and car doors slammed outside.
    “It’s about time,” Carolyn said. “Supper’s ready.”
    That was true. The pot roast was done, but it could continue simmering in the Crock-Pot with the potatoes and carrots for a while without being hurt by it. Phyllis went to the front door and opened it as she turned on the porch light. Eve and Roy smiled up at her as they came along the walk. Both of them had tans that it would have been difficult to get in Texas at this time of year.
    “Come in!” Phyllis said as she held the door open. “My goodness, it’s wonderful to see you both!”
    The reunion in the hallway was an effusive one. Phyllis hugged Eve, and then, after only a second’s hesitation, hugged Roy as well. Sam pumped Roy’s hand and slapped him on the back. Carolyn hugged Eve but shook Roy’s hand. Everybody was talking at once.
    After things had settled down a little, Roy took a deep breath and said, “That smells wonderful! Roast, isn’t it?”
    “That’s right,” Phyllis said. “Supper’s ready, but it can wait for a few minutes. Let’s all go into the living room and sit down and catch our breath.”
    “That’s a good idea,” Eve said. “That’ll give us a chance to talk to you.”
    “About that big surprise of yours, I imagine,” Carolyn said.
    “Actually, that’s right. I think we should get that out of the way first.”
    “Well, come on,” Phyllis said. “Goodness knows, we’re all curious.”
    When they went into the living room, Eve saw the banner over the fireplace and exclaimed, “Oh, my! That was so sweet and thoughtful of you.” She grew solemn. “I’m afraid this is just going to make things harder.”
    That feeling of unease cropped up inside Phyllis again. She said, “What do you mean by that?”
    “Well . . . the banner, and the way you were all so happy to see us, and the lovely dinner that you obviously fixed to welcome us home . . . that’s going to make it more difficult to tell you what we have to tell you.”
    “What in the world are you talking about?” Carolyn asked.
    Roy put a hand on Eve’s shoulder and said, “Would you like me to explain things to them, dear? It was my idea, after all.”
    Eve shook her head.