Chapter 7 #2
“The thing is, I agree with you. If I allow him to bully me out of this job, where do I draw the line? Number of kids? What color do we paint the kitchen? What books I can read? Is Jim thinking that a marriage means he makes all the decisions?”
I shook my head. “Sorry, I’m not a ‘Jim whisperer.’ Maybe you should ask Greg. I’m sure he’s going to say Jim’s an idiot. He tells me that all the time.”
Beth laughed, which was what I’d hoped.
“Come on, let’s walk and then go see what we have for lunch.
We might have to run to that local seafood place you love and eat there.
” I stood and held out my hand. When she took it, I pulled her up to her feet.
“No moping today. We’re going to talk about what your life would look like in your new position.
And we’re going to eat. And maybe walk some more.
Then make plans for the rest of the time you’re here.
What do you want to get done this week?”
As Beth mapped out her goal list for the upcoming week, we headed out to walk the beach. We were following the couple that had come down earlier, but the beach was straightforward. There wasn’t much else we could do.
When the couple turned around and got close enough for me to recognize them, I stopped talking mid-sentence. We’d been discussing my work schedule, and I was about to tell Beth that we could visit the college library in the afternoons.
“Josh, where’s Mandy?” I asked.
Josh Thomas was walking with the mean girl from the jewelry store. Matty. She narrowed her eyes when I said Mandy’s name, and Josh turned beet red. He might not think this was a date, but Matty had other plans.
“She’s at the farm. Her cousin’s having a wedding shower this weekend, so she’s helping to decorate. We were just walking and talking about the holiday programming for South Cove.” Josh stammered a few times as he tried to explain.
“It’s unfair for the motorcycles to be let onto Main Street. If the street is closed to traffic, then it should be closed to all traffic. Especially since that gang was probably involved in poor Chip’s murder,” Matty said, her eyes flashing her anger about the city’s regulation.
“There’s no evidence that any of the Demon Dogs killed Chip.
” I didn’t understand why this woman was using lies and rumors to talk others into joining her lynch mob, but I didn’t like it.
“And if you don’t like the council’s ruling, maybe you should go to a meeting and tell them.
I don’t believe I’ve seen you at any of the city council meetings.
No one came to complain about the street closing. ”
Now those angry green eyes were aimed at me. “I shouldn’t have to tell the council. Isn’t that your job?”
I laughed and shook my head. “Nope. Sorry. I bring the business group together to talk about marketing and ways to help each other. I told the group last year about the change and how to protest. But no one did anything.”
“Well, that’s beside the point.” Matty started on another tirade, but I held up my hand, stopping her.
“Sorry, I only discuss business council issues during our monthly meetings. If you want something added to January’s agenda, you can send an email to my council account.
I’ll add it and you can talk then.” I turned to Josh.
“I’m surprised you didn’t tell her how to get something on the agenda, both for our group and the city council. You’ve followed the procedures enough.”
“Whatever.” Matty took off, then realized Josh wasn’t following. “Are you coming?”
He shook his head. “Sorry, I need to talk to Jill about something. I’ll see you at the next council meeting.”
Her mouth dropped open, then she narrowed her gaze. “Maybe I’ll just talk to Mandy then.”
She turned away and stormed off the beach, sand flying.
“I bet she wishes she was on hard ground so she could stomp off,” Beth observed.
I laughed, then turned to Josh. “Boy, you need to stay away from her. She’s trouble. You love Mandy, right?”
“Of course I do,” Josh sputtered. “This was just business.”
“Maybe for you, but I think that woman would do anything to hurt someone else. You need to call Mandy and tell her you took a walk with Matty on the beach. Because that woman is telling her as soon as she can find Mandy’s phone number.
I don’t think she’ll be as truthful about what really happened.
And the worst thing is, even if you are in love with her, all she wants is to cause trouble.
She won’t be there once she breaks up your marriage. ”
“Jill, it’s not like that. Matty wouldn’t do that,” Josh defended her. “Besides, she knows I love Mandy.”
Beth put her hand on his arm. “I know I’m an outsider, but I could see what she was doing. You need to talk to your wife. Now. She can’t be blindsided by this. If you tell her before Matty does, she won’t be wondering if you still love her. Take it from me, it’s hard to rebuild that trust.”
Josh’s eyes widened. “You really don’t think…”
“Yes, Josh, I do think Matty would torpedo your marriage just for fun.” I squeezed his arm. “Call Mandy, now.”
He met my eyes. We’d become friends as much as anyone besides Mandy could with Josh during a stressful situation a few months back.
He knew I would do anything for him because I had.
I had proven my loyalty. He nodded as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.
“Sorry to hurry off, but I need to make a call.”
Beth and I watched as he hurried toward the stairs, his phone to his ear.
“I hope he’s calling his wife and not that other woman,” Beth mumbled.
That thought hadn’t occurred to me. I’d assumed that he would call Mandy, but it wasn’t my decision either way. But it was interesting that Matty was trying to point a finger at Dom for Chip’s killing. And if not Dom, one of his guys.
Josh wasn’t the only one who needed to make a call.
But first, we needed to finish our walk and plan out our week.
I needed some time to do some research into Matty Leaven.
As a jewelry store owner, she had high-end merchandise in her shop.
I wondered where exactly she was sourcing those items from.
Okay, maybe I was being a little passive-aggressive. Just because I didn’t like the woman didn’t mean that she’d killed Chip. But at least it wasn’t one of my favorite townsfolk that I was researching. It was one I didn’t like.
And sometimes, my hunches played out. I needed to visit Mandy soon and make sure she was okay. Without divulging Josh’s secret in case he hadn’t told her.