Chapter 5
Even after the entrées were cleared away, Katie and Jason continued talking.
And while normally Ellie would be happy to intervene and tell her sister her behaviour was unkind as it was excluding others, it was far more difficult to do so in front of people who didn’t know them.
Poor Chris. He might be grinning and bearing it, but she could tell he didn’t like feeling shunted to the side as soon as a younger, more handsome male specimen came along.
Still, to his credit, he continued to hold up his end of the conversation with Ellie and Ethan, acknowledging his faith, which sustained him in his line of work.
He soon excused himself to go to the restroom, leaving Ethan to focus on Ellie.
“So, you go to church.” Ethan smiled at her. “Are you involved in any kind of ministry?”
Her heart warmed. Oh, she loved feeling this sense of connection with him. It was rare to find a young man who was a Christian, let alone one who served in the church.
She explained about how she often served on Sundays by running the computer for the church projector, and by managing the social media accounts of the church. “I design a lot of the graphics too. Oh, and run the website.”
“A woman of many talents,” Ethan murmured.
“That’s me.”
“And do you do it voluntarily?”
“Of course. Our church isn’t large enough to pay me, even if I wanted it to. Which I don’t. I think it’s good for Christians to serve in church, and I’m blessed to have other part-time jobs that mean the church doesn’t have to.”
Was that too much of an overshare? It was so easy to talk to Ethan, like she’d known him all her life.
And the fact he’d seemed interested in her, one hundred percent focused on her, was such a rare thing, she barely knew how to deal with it.
Still, she couldn’t get carried away. Chris was obviously hurt that Katie was not paying him much attention, so Ellie wanted to make him feel included.
Especially as the rude couple obviously weren’t wanting conversation with anyone else.
“I wish I had your social media skills,” Ethan said. “I tried to do a graphic for the youth group I help at, but it was hopeless.”
“I could do one for you.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering.” And while she cared about the kingdom of God, it wasn’t completely altruistic. Because if offering to do Ethan’s social media graphics meant that they got to continue talking after this weekend, well, that was extra great.
He showed her his attempt, and yes, the poor man did need her help. She made a few suggestions, and he asked for her number. “Or, if that’s too forward, then we could talk via Instagram. I got it so I can pretend to be a bit more hip, and it helps with privacy issues with the kids.”
“True.” Although she’d be very happy to have his number. Except now that he’d mentioned it, it did seem a little forward for her to be handing it out to a near stranger. Instagram it was, then.
They swapped details, and she followed his Instagram. When she mentioned how few posts he had, he confessed that his was new. “It’s a private account. I resisted a long time, as there have been, uh, some issues with my family in the past. I’ve found you can’t be too careful.”
Curiosity ate at her as to what particular issues he meant. But asking felt rude.
“E A B Design.” He read her handle aloud. “Thanks. That way I can send you what I’ve got, and if you get the time and can improve it a little bit, I’d be really grateful.”
“I’d be very happy to.”
“Thank you.” Ethan smiled at her. “I really hope we can stay in touch after this.”
“I’d like that too.”
Her heart skipped a beat or two. Was this internal fluttery sensation how Liv had felt when she and Liam had finally connected? Or how EJ felt when she and Jordan finally progressed from being friends to more?
Heat flushed her cheeks at the knowing look in Chris’ expression as he returned, and she ducked her head, draining the rest of her mocktail. She’d be really grateful if the friendly server returned with another round.
The emcee returned to the microphone and explained what would happen next.
“So by now, you may have gathered that the setting is a train travelling through Switzerland in the 1920s.” He then introduced the main characters, who wandered through the various tables, ensuring audience participation.
A pretty blonde wearing a silver flapper dress trailed a hand along Jason’s shoulders and winked at him, which made Katie bristle, until the actors all met in the middle and performed a scene.
Then the lights went out. There was a scream.
And the blonde lay in the middle of the floor with “blood” staining her chest.
“That’s what happens to brazen hussies,” Katie muttered.
“And now,” the emcee continued, “it’s time for you to open the first clue in your envelope, in the middle of your tables.”
The rude woman from before snatched up the envelope and threw a catlike smile around the table, as if savouring her victory.
“Well? Are you going to read it?” Katie asked.
The woman sniffed, then read the card aloud. “‘Jimmy T. Hugg’—ooh, that’s thug, get it?”
“We get it,” her husband said. “Keep reading.”
“Jimmy T. Hugg has booked one of the train’s first-class cabins.” She read more details. “And he has a special request for three large steamer trunks to be stored in his cabin.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jason asked.
“What do you think?” Ellie asked Chris.
He shrugged. “I think we need a little more to go on. And I’m not the expert.”
Jason sneered. “Weren’t you the one calling yourself that just a few minutes ago?”
“Actually,” Ellie raised her hand, “I was the one who said that about him.”
“And I’m definitely no expert,” Chris said.
“But you are!” Katie cried. “You’re a police detective. I don’t think anyone could be more qualified than that. How could you not want people to know that?”
“Maybe he wants a night off,” Ellie said.
“Or he’s not very good,” Jason muttered.
Wow. Ellie glared at him, but Katie seemed oblivious to what had been said. But then, given she was basking in the attention of two men, she was probably revelling in some kind of fantasy, with herself as the heroine.
The next course was served, the little pies and quiches similar to the ones they’d enjoyed at the afternoon tea yesterday.
The actors returned and did their thing, as the clues were read aloud to all, and various guests were invited to speculate about what it all might mean.
The rude woman at their table insisted on giving her opinion, cutting across Ellie’s suggestion that Chris be given the chance to speak.
Other people—like Jason—seemed more interested in the cocktails being offered.
Ellie was glad to see that Katie refused, as she and Ethan did too.
Her heart pinched at how Chris kept watching Katie. It was kind of sweet, and also kind of creepy. “Chris, you need to forgive me for asking this, but you seem rather taken by my sister.”
His head tilted, and he frowned at his water glass. “She reminds me of someone I used to know.”
Fair enough. But judging from the way he swigged his water, those memories weren’t super happy ones. Which begged the question of what happened and how this linked to Katie.
Maybe he sensed this, for he glanced at her.
“You asked before about the reason I got into police work. Five years ago, a niece of mine disappeared, and your sister has an uncanny resemblance to her. Not only in her looks but in her sweet innocence and trusting nature. My sister had a breakdown, so I left the army to care for her. I—I can’t believe she’s gone, but it looks like my niece must’ve died. ”
She grasped his arm. “I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. “It’s my poor sister who is beside herself, wondering. In some ways, it would be easier to know if she was dead, because then we could move on. But with nothing, no body, no chance to bury her, then it becomes this awful game of what happened to Eliza?”
“Truly, I’m very sorry.”
He nodded. His mouth curved halfway. “I never speak about this. I don’t know why I am with you. It must be your thoughtfulness that’s making me overshare.”
“I’ll be praying that she’s found one day. Alive and well.”
“I will too,” Ethan murmured beside her.
“Thank you. You’re both very kind.” He pushed back his chair. “Please excuse me for a moment.”
He stood, and Ellie noticed how his movement didn’t raise an eyelash from Katie, who continued talking to Jason.
Then she noticed how Chris’ look grew wry again, as if he’d noticed, and her heart hurt for him afresh.
Silly Katie. Caught up in her romantic fancies and oblivious to the pain her actions were causing a good man.
She bit her lip, then turned to Ethan, who was watching her. “Poor Chris.”
“He’s had some challenges, that’s for sure.”
She nodded, her heart tight with unexplained emotion.
“Hey.” Ethan drew closer, placed a hand on the back of her chair. “I’m sure he’s got people around him who are doing their best to help. You don’t need to feel responsible for him.”
“How did you know I felt like that?”
“Because I have this feeling like I’ve known you all my life. Is that weird?”
“No, I feel the same.”
She stared into his eyes, his dark brown eyes, behind his glasses. Oh, this man was certainly handsome.
Katie gave a shriek of laughter, dragging Ellie’s attention from Ethan to notice the room had paused, with all eyes their way.
“Katie!” she murmured, before standing. It was high time her sister realised she was making an exhibition of herself. “Will you come with me to the restroom?”
“What? Why?”
“Because it’s a well-known fact that women can’t visit the restroom by themselves,” Jason drawled, his gaze fixed on Ellie.
She fought to keep her expression neutral as she focused on Katie. “I need you to fix my hair.” Mm. She should’ve thought this one more clearly and pulled her hair out to back up her claim. Oh well. Too late now.