Chapter 1 #2
Now I was worried. Deek Kerr liked everyone.
He could read auras, or at least he thought he could.
Sometimes he told me things that, when I looked them up, didn’t match the aura lore published on the internet.
But when you’re talking about magic and seeing things that aren’t there, maybe the internet didn’t have all the information.
Deek was a good guy and he saw people clearly, which made him an excellent barista and bookseller.
I decided to change the subject. “Are you coming to Thanksgiving at the house? I haven’t heard from either of you.”
“Mom’s out of town, so I thought I’d just hang at the house.” Deek moved back behind the coffee bar. “I’ll grab the boxes of books that need to be shelved.”
“Deek Kerr, you stay right there.” I didn’t use my boss voice often but this was going to be one of those times. When he froze and turned to me, I continued. “There is no way you’re not coming for dinner now that I know your mom’s not going to be home. So what are you bringing?”
“Jill, it’s your first family dinner since you’ve been married. You don’t need strays hanging around.” He blushed as he glanced over at Tilly, who now had her hands on her hips.
“Oh, so you don’t think I should go, either?” she challenged him. “I don’t appreciate being called a stray.”
“I didn’t say that.” Deek stumbled over his words. Finally, he let his shoulders drop. “Look, I don’t want you to invite me because I’m some loser who doesn’t have family for Thanksgiving. Mom’s just not into those traditions, so she’s going on a cruise. I’m used to this.”
“Which is why you’re coming. My family isn’t just those people who are related to Greg or me.
You should know that by now. I won’t have you sitting around the apartment eating ramen while we’re having a turkey dinner.
Besides, I think Harrold is bringing Lille, so I’ll need some of my people to watch my back. ”
Lille Stanley, the owner of Diamond Lille’s, was one of my Uncle Harrold’s favorite people. Lille liked Greg and my Aunt Jackie too. She just hated me. Thanksgiving dinner should be fun. Not.
I’d say Lille would have Jim to chat with since he used to hate me too, but since he started dating Beth, he’d been more open to my presence. Besides, since Greg and I were married now, Greg’s first wife Sherry was out of the picture.
“She hates you? How can anyone hate you?” Tilly’s eyes widened.
She was such a nice young woman, she didn’t understand the concept.
“Well, I’ll be there to watch your back.
I don’t have the money to visit my folks now that they’ve moved to Tennessee.
I don’t want to be in the house all by myself.
I love the holidays. Mom left me all the old Christmas decorations, so I’ve been working on getting the house looking like Santa’s workshop for weeks. ”
“My mom never decorated,” Deek admitted. “I hated the holidays growing up because we were always the one family who didn’t have a tree or lights on the house.”
“Well, Greg is going to get everyone to help string lights outside the house and we’ll be decorating the tree after dinner.
It’s one of the King family traditions.” I was looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving this year.
“Aunt Jackie and Harrold are leaving for a cruise on Friday. So you won’t see her for two weeks if you don’t come. ”
Deek stared at me. “I thought you wanted me to come.”
“Stop it.” I started laughing. “You love Aunt Jackie. I know you do.”
“Did I tell you she updated my author questionnaire last week for people who want to schedule book events here? She thinks we should charge an event fee if they don’t hit a certain amount of sales.” Deek threw a clean towel over his shoulder as he talked.
I groaned. Aunt Jackie had been harping on that for a while.
And she hated the Cove Connection book club.
She thought that members should be required to buy the book from the store to participate.
I didn’t care where they bought or borrowed the book from, I just wanted people to be reading more.
Besides, we worked closely with our local library on author events.
“I’ll talk to her. Just file away the changed copy and don’t make any drastic movements.
We’re doing fine financially on author events overall.
Some are just more popular than others. Everyone needs a shot in the arm every once in a while. ”
“Thanks. I’d rather not tell my newly published authors I don’t think they’re big enough to bother with.” Deek nodded to the back door. “Am I excused? Those books aren’t going to shelve themselves.”
“Are you coming to Thanksgiving?” I stared him down.
He blinked first. “I’ll bring focaccia bread. I’ve been working on my recipe.”
Tilly watched him head to the back room. “He reads, he’s cute, and he bakes? How on earth is he still single?”
From the look in Tilly’s eyes, Deek might not be that way for long.
* * *
Greg came into the shop just before my shift ended at eleven. “Do you have time for lunch at Diamond Lille’s?”
“I’d love to.” I nodded to Deek. “You have the helm, good sir.”
Deek laughed and pointed at Tilly. “This one thinks she’s in charge. If I didn’t know better, I would think I was still working with your aunt. Tilly loves the checklists.”
Tilly playfully slapped his arm. “There’s nothing wrong with a little organization now and then. With the sieve of my brain, writing things down is the only way I know I’ll remember to do something. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I’m going to bring pumpkin cheesecake if that’s okay.”
I was a little thrown by the change of subject, but Tilly’s mind just worked like that. And anything she thought came out of her mouth. Mostly. “Sounds great. I’ll see you both on Thursday. Call if you need anything.”
As Greg and I started down the street toward Diamond Lille’s, he glanced back at the bookstore. “Are both of them coming to Thanksgiving?”
“Yes. Judith is going out of town. Toby, of course, will be there and Evie’s already gone to see Sasha.” I ticked off my staff members on my fingers as I listed them. “Anyone from City Hall?”
“Your friends Amy and Justin are heading to see his folks. Esmeralda is going to New Orleans to be with her family. And the rest of them are otherwise committed. I’d hoped that Tim and Dona might come and bring the baby, but they’re going to her parents’ place in Sacramento.
” He nodded to the antique store. “Josh and Mandy are going to her family’s farm. He’s not looking forward to it.”
“He hates being around people.” I knew there was more to the story, but at least Josh was trying to forgive Mandy’s family for a few things that had happened before they were married.
“I should tell you that Jim and Beth are fighting. Mom called this morning to warn me.” He checked the road, then we jaywalked across the street to the restaurant. It was good being married to the head detective, although jaywalking was about all Greg did to skirt the law. He was a rule follower.
“Oh no. What did he do now?” I liked Beth. Probably a lot more than I liked Greg’s brother Jim.
“He’s being a pill about her working once they’re married.
She’s standing up for herself. Mom thinks it will blow over, but they may not want to go to this fundraiser thing on Friday.
You know Jim and bars. Or she might want to go and he would want me to stay behind with him.
” He held the door open for me. “I might just offer to take Mom and them to dinner while you do this. I’ll give you a check for the entrance fees we aren’t paying. ”
“No way. You and your family are coming. I’ve already bought the toys to get us inside.” I was going to say more, but then Lille walked up to seat us.
“Hi, Greg. I’ve got a booth just for you.” She smiled at my husband, grabbed two menus, and walked us to the table. “Carrie will be right with you.”
Then she disappeared without even looking at me.
Rolling my eyes, I slipped onto the red leather bench. I held up the menu to see what I’d read at least once a week for years. “Some things never change. I’m so glad she’s coming for our family dinner on Thursday.”
“Jill, I’m sure it will be fine. She was probably just—” Greg’s phone rang. From the ringtone, I could tell it was his brother, Jim. “Look, I need to take this. I’ll try to keep it short.”
He walked out of the restaurant. I could see him pacing as he talked to his brother.
I had a bad feeling that Beth wasn’t going to make it for dinner on Thursday.