by Leena Clover
Jenny insisted on cooking Jason’s favorite pan seared fish in a wine butter sauce. He had brought a bottle of local wine Jenny loved. They lingered over chocolate brownies and ice cream on the patio. Jason had built a fire in the pit. The scent of roses and gardenias perfumed the air. Water gurgled in the stone fountain.
Jenny sighed with pleasure as she looked around her. This was her home now.
The Magnolias were all fired up about the Spring Fest the next day. Star had produced some designs for the festival T-shirts. The ladies pored over them, arguing over which one best represented Pelican Cove.
“I like this one with just the crab,” Molly said. “It’s simple but elegant.”
“I prefer this one,” Heather opposed her. “Crab, oyster, sea bass in a basket and the light house and beach in the background. It’s all the best of Pelican Cove.”
“Did you post that photo of the waffles on Instagram?” Jenny asked, bringing out a plate of warm muffins.
“Already done, Jenny. It has some five thousand likes. Get ready to make plenty of waffles.”
Adam Hopkins came in sight, flanked by two men in uniform. He was leaning on his cane heavily, wincing with every step.
“Is your leg bothering you?” Jenny asked with concern. “Have you taken any pain pills this morning?”
Adam gave her a quelling look. He didn’t like being fussed over in public.
The two men accompanying Adam had gone to stand beside Heather.
“What are you doing here, boy?” Betty Sue demanded.
“You need to come with us, Heather,” Adam said curtly.
Jenny put her arms on her hips and glared at Adam.
“Not again! You are making a habit of this, Adam. I think you like coming here and harassing us.”
“Just doing my job,” Adam muttered.
“What has my child done?” Betty Sue asked imperiously.
“Heather was seen going home with Gianni Costa the night he died. We need to question her.”
“You don’t think I hurt Gianni?” Heather asked fearfully. “I cared for him. Very much.”
“We can discuss all that in my office,” Adam told her. “Let’s go.”
“Jenny!” Heather’s eyes filled with panic as she looked around at the group. “What am I to do?”
“You’ll have to go with him,” Jenny said with a sigh.
“We are right behind you,” Star said, getting up.
Heather looked bewildered as she stood up and followed Adam down the café steps. She kept glancing back at her friends, looking wild eyed.
“I’m calling Jason,” Jenny said, rushing inside the café.
Betty Sue Morse had dumped her knitting on the table. She looked ashen. Molly helped her up and the ladies started walking down to the police station. Jenny ran a few steps and caught up with them.
“He’ll meet us there,” she said breathlessly.
Jason Stone was pacing up and down the police station lobby when they got there.
“She’s inside. Don’t worry. They can’t hold her for long.”
“I thought my Heather was rid of that awful man,” Betty Sue sobbed.
“Hush, Betty Sue,” Jenny warned. “Be careful what you say.”
“I’m not afraid of anyone,” Betty Sue puffed up. “Least of all, that beau of yours.”
Jenny knew Adam had a job to do. His way of carrying out his duties often rubbed her the wrong way. Jenny realized none of that mattered in the present situation. If Heather was in trouble, she would do anything to help her clear her name.
Heather came out of a tiny room an hour later, looking bewildered. The Magnolias surrounded her immediately, throwing all kinds of questions at her.
Heather gently pushed them away and stared at Jenny.
“I need your help, Jenny. Are you going to find out who killed Gianni?”
Chapter 4
Jenny thought about Heather while frosting chocolate cupcakes. Heather had come to mean a lot to her. She was like her baby sister. Jenny resolved to do whatever needed to help Heather. The first step was going to be getting some background information on Dr. Gianni Costa.
Gianni had been in town only a short time. No one knew much about his past. Jenny had looked for his profile on social media the previous night. He had posted some photos of the beaches at Pelican Cove. There were some photos with Heather plastered to his side. But all the photos only went back a few months. There was nothing about his family or his previous life. Jenny had brought her laptop to work. She was going to dig deeper as soon as she got a chance.
Jenny fired up her laptop after lunch and began looking for Gianni Costa. Jenny was surprised when an address showed up for Gianni in Delaware. It was a small town on the coast, roughly a hundred miles from Pelican Cove.
Jenny felt a surge of energy as she spotted a phone number next to the address. She fed the number in her cell phone and crossed her fingers as she hit the green icon that would dial the number.
The phone barely rang twice before it was answered. The woman sounded brusque, as if she was just stepping out of the door.
“Does this number belong to Dr. Gianni Costa?” Jenny asked.
“Who is this?” the woman shot back.
“My name is Jenny King. I live in Pelican Cove.”
“Are you Gianni’s harpy?”
“Excuse me?” Jenny sputtered.
“Are you that girl he’s been hanging out with lately?” the woman asked patiently.
“I’m not,” Jenny said firmly. “I’m her friend.”
“What do you want?”
“May I know who I am talking to?”
“Gianni’s wife. Mrs. Gianni Costa.”
The woman’s smug tone carried over the phone line. Jenny found herself speechless.
“I didn’t know Gianni was married,” she finally managed to blurt out.
“You and everyone else, sister!”
“I would like to talk to you about Gianni,” Jenny burst out. “Do you think we can meet?”
“You have my address,” the woman said in a bored voice. “Give me a call when you are in town.”
Jenny hung up. She was still trying to digest the fact that Gianni was married. Had Heather known about it?
Star came into the café’s kitchen and flopped down into a chair. Her face was set in a frown.
“Had a fight with Jimmy?” Jenny teased.
“How old do you think I am, girl? Sixteen?” Star was rarely short with her.
“What’s wrong, then?” Jenny asked, offering her aunt a freshly frosted cupcake.
Star considered the platter before her and chose one from the center. She took a big bite and licked the frosting off her lips.
“Are you reading minds now?” she asked Jenny.
Jenny waited patiently. She knew her aunt was just trying to buy time.
“There’s a new art gallery in town.”
“Where?”
“It’s on the other end of town,” Star explained. “Near to where all the rich people live. It’s the first place they see when they come down the hills.”
“Who told you about it?”
“I heard someone talking about it at the market. He has a big collection all ready to go.”
“Why are you worried? People love your art.”
“They didn’t really have a choice all this time,” Star grumbled. “My gallery was the only place you could get paintings of the region.”
“And now you have competition,” Jenny summed up.
“More importantly, the buyers have a choice,” Star said.
Her fear and uncertainty were written clearly on her face.
“What if they don’t like my stuff anymore?”
“I don’t think that’s possible,” Jenny said loyally. “How long have you been doing this? Thirty years, forty? You are a pro at this. It’s evident in your work.”
“Art is subjective,” Star pointed out. “What if people like his work more than mine?”
“You said it yourself,” Jenny smiled. “Some people might like this new guy’s paintings and some will like yours. Tourist trade is picking up in Pelican Cove. And most people roam around on Main Street. Anyone walking on the boardwalk or the beach can see your art gallery. They can’t help but walk in.”
“You think so?” Star asked.
“I know so. And we have your website set up too. You have more orders than you can fill right now. I don’t see why you are getting so worked up.”
“I have always been the only artist on the island,” Star muttered.
“Have you met this guy yet?” Jenny asked. “What’s his name, anyway?”
“Frank something,” Star said. “He’s not from around here. I can’t understand why he came to Pelican Cove.”
“Go meet him,” Jenny suggested. “Introduce yourself.”
“He could be a recluse,” Star mused.
“So? He’ll turn you away. But you will have tried.”
“I think that’s a good idea. Can I take some of these cupcakes with me?”
“That’s a great idea,” Jenny said brightly. “He’s going to like you, don’t worry. Everyone does.”
Star could be outspoken but she was always ready to lend a helping hand. Although she wasn’t born in Pelican Cove, she had endeared herself to the locals. After forty odd years on the island, she was almost a native.
“I guess I can finally talk shop with someone,” Star said eagerly.
“That’s the right attitude,” Jenny cheered. “You’ll be fine.”
Jenny pulled out one of the fancy boxes they had recently ordered. With more and more people wanting to carry Jenny’s sweet treats away with them, Petunia had suggested they print some fancy boxes with the Boardwalk Café’s logo on them. Jenny packed four cupcakes in the box and tied it with a satin ribbon.
“Does he have any family?” she asked. “Will these be enough?”
“I don’t know,” Star shrugged. “I guess I’ll find out.”
Star took the box and went out. Jenny hoped she would hit it off with the new artist.
The phone rang. It was Betty Sue. Jenny was almost done with her day’s chores. She rushed to the Bayview Inn to see what was wrong with Heather. The next hour was spent consoling Heather and letting her cry on her shoulder. Jenny didn’t think it was the right time to tell Heather about Gianni’s wife.
“How long is she going to mope around like this?” Betty Sue said worriedly.
She was twisting her lace handkerchief in her hands. Her hands were never still, even when she wasn’t knitting.
“We have to give her time, Betty Sue,” Jenny sighed. “Grief is personal, I guess. We can’t predict how long she will take to get over Gianni.”
“I hate that man,” Betty Sue spat. “He misled my Heather when he was alive, and now he’s messing with her even after he’s dead.”
Jenny fully agreed with Betty Sue.
“Why don’t you find some dirt on him? I’m sure he wasn’t a good man.”
Jenny debated how much she wanted to reveal to Betty Sue.
“I’m working on it,” she nodded. “Although I’m not sure if it will make a difference. Gianni has become some kind of hero in Heather’s eyes.”
Betty Sue surprised Jenny by what she said next.
“Heather needs to go out on a date. Why don’t you fix up something for her on that Internet?”
“She has to be ready to meet other people, Betty Sue. Don’t worry, just give it some time.”
“You need to get some dirt on that man, and soon,” Betty Sue insisted.
“I did find out something,” Jenny finally admitted. “I spoke to his wife today.”
Betty Sue sucked in a breath.
“Keep digging, Jenny. Make my Heather smile again.”
Jenny went to the seafood market to shop for dinner. Chris met her as soon as she entered.
“The catch just came in,” he told her. “I put aside all your favorites for you.”
Back home, Jenny drew a bath for herself. She lit some scented candles and poured herself some lemonade. The hot water soothed her and she dozed a bit in the big clawfoot tub. The renovators had suggested installing a jetted tub in the lavish bathroom but Jenny had opted against it.
She dressed in her favorite faded jeans and an old sweatshirt and hopped down to the kitchen. There was some warmth in the air but she craved something rich and comforting. She slid a bread pudding in the oven and made her special whiskey and butter sauce to go on top. Then she made a simple sauce with olives and cherry tomatoes to go with the fish.
Star regaled them with an account of her encounter with the new artist.
“He didn’t say much, but his eyes gleamed when he saw the cupcakes.”
“Nobody can resist those cupcakes,” Adam said lovingly, placing his hand over Jenny’s.
“You have nothing to worry about, babe,” Jimmy told Star loyally.
Jenny yearned to go for a walk. Adam and Jimmy loaded the dishwasher and helped clear up. Tank came over with his leash in his mouth and dropped it at Jenny’s feet.
Jenny clipped the leash on and hugged Tank.
“Are you coming?” she asked Adam.
Tank strained on his leash, almost dragging her to the door.
The salty breeze and the flowers from the garden perfumed the air with a peculiar fragrance. Jenny closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A familiar arm came around her shoulders and she snuggled close to Adam.
They walked away from the house, Jenny throwing a ball for Tank.
“The contractor called today,” Adam told Jenny. “They are almost done at my house. I should be able to move back soon.”
“Do you have to go?”
“I’ve imposed on you long enough.”
“Don’t say that,” Jenny argued. “I’ve enjoyed having you here at Seaview. The house is big enough.”
“So is your heart,” Adam crooned in her ear.
He planted a kiss on her head and stared into her eyes.
“I enjoyed these past few months, Jenny. We have been living in a dream.”
“And I don’t want to wake up from it,” Jenny nodded.
“There are things to consider,” Adam said cryptically.
Adam’s twin girls were at college. They came home periodically. Jenny had welcomed them at Seaview but she guessed they missed their own home.
“Have the twins said something?”
“The twins have said a lot,” Adam smiled. “I think I agree with them.”
Jenny blushed at the suggestion. They had never discussed the status of their relationship. Jenny maintained Adam was her friend and a guest in her house. And yes, they were dating. What was the next step in their relationship?
“Tank and I are going to miss you.”
“You’ll still come here for your walk, won’t you?” Jenny asked with a pout.
Months ago, she had run into Adam and Tank while walking on the beach. They had struck up a conversation and continued meeting with tacit agreement.
“We will try, but we may not make it out here every night.”
“Then stay,” Jenny urged. “Don’t go yet.”
Adam knew he needed to move out of Seaview before he could take any next steps. He had a solid plan and he couldn’t wait to put it into action.
“We’ve got a couple of weeks,” Adam consoled her. “But I will be gone by Spring Fest.”
“Is something special happening then?”
“Wait and see,” Adam grinned. “Now, did someone mention dessert?”
“Don’t change the subject,” Jenny said, glaring at him with her hands on her hips.
They had reached the patio at the back of the house. Star and Jimmy sat outside, enjoying their bread pudding. Adam pulled out a chair for Jenny.
“Adam’s moving out,” Jenny told her aunt. “It’s going to be just the two of us again.”
Chapter 5
Jenny brewed a fresh pot of cof
fee and wondered how to tackle Heather. Lately, Heather had the tendency of bursting into tears at the slightest provocation. But Jenny wanted to tell Heather about Gianni’s wife before she heard about it from somewhere else.
“Can you come here before the others?” Jenny asked Heather over the phone. “We need to talk.”
“Whatever,” Heather mumbled without an ounce of interest.
She arrived at the café half an hour later, looking like she just got out of bed. Her eyes were sunken and there were circles under her eyes.
“How are you holding up, Heather?” Jenny asked with concern.
“Never mind that,” Heather snapped. “Why did you want me here?”
Jenny led Heather to a small table inside the kitchen and made her sit down. Heather declined the offer of a freshly frosted cupcake but grabbed the cup of coffee Jenny poured for her.
“I found something out yesterday,” Jenny began. “It doesn’t make any difference now.”
“What is it?”
“Promise me you won’t flip.”
“Spit it out already, Jenny!”
“I was looking Gianni up on the Internet.” Jenny didn’t know how to break it gently. “He was married, Heather. I am so sorry.”
“Not for long,” Heather said coolly.
“You knew about it?” Jenny burst out. “You never mentioned it.”
“It wasn’t a big deal,” Heather shrugged. “It was a sham of a marriage. Gianni was going to divorce her pretty soon. His lawyer was drawing up the papers.”
Jenny reflected over her conversation with Tiffany, Gianni’s wife. Tiffany hadn’t been aware of the impending divorce.
“Why was he leaving her?”
“She cheated on him,” Heather drawled. “Gianni wasn’t too happy with that.”
Jenny stifled a laugh. It was the pot calling the kettle black.
“Who would be?” she said lamely. “Does she know about you?”
“I don’t know,” Heather shrugged. “Like you said, it doesn’t matter now. What’s with all the questions, Jenny?”
The Magnolias came in one by one and Heather went back to sulking in a corner.
Jenny went to The Steakhouse on her way back home. She had left her scarf in the restaurant the last time she was there. The hostess had told her to come and look in their Lost and Found. It was a pricey scarf with a designer label, a remnant of Jenny’s old life. She admitted she still had some pleasant memories attached to it though and she didn’t want to lose it.