by Kathi Daley
“Wow. What a mess.” Josie just shook her head.
“I feel really bad for Kevin,” Jemma said. “He must be devastated.”
“He was pretty upset,” I agreed. “I think this visit had him of the mindset that perhaps he and his childhood friends were no longer on the same page, but I know he didn’t expect it to end like this.”
“It’s tough when you outgrow those who once meant the world to you,” Josie agreed.
The conversation had veered away from the murder and onto upcoming events when Jemma’s sister called. Jemma said she needed to talk to her, so she trotted up to her room to take the call, and Parker announced that she had to leave. I offered to help Josie clean up after it was just the two of us.
“So speaking of childhood friends, how was your visit with Val?” I asked.
“Exhausting. It’s always exhausting.”
I had to admit I was surprised to hear Josie say that.
“I guess you could have suggested that she not come,” I offered.
She shook her head. “Val is a self-indulgent prima donna who drives me to the edge of sanity when she shows up here, but as far as I’m concerned, when she does show up, she’ll be met with open arms.”
I didn’t say anything, but I must have frowned.
“I owe Val,” she said. “More than I can ever repay.”
“I see,” I said. “And I guess I understand. There are some debts that are so great that they stay with us for all time.”
“Exactly.”
I didn’t ask Josie why she felt she owed Val a debt of gratitude. I supposed it was none of my business, and she hadn’t offered an explanation, but it did seem that Josie was as happy to see Val gone as Jemma was, so whatever had occurred, it must have been significant.
“So tell me about your mystery,” Josie said after we started the dishwasher.
Josie had been so busy with Val that it seemed like forever since I’d spoken to her so I filled her in the best I could. By the time Jemma came downstairs, Josie was in a good mood, and I’d noticed that any tension there had been between the roommates was gone. I was really happy to see that. It had been a crazy couple of weeks, and I was ready for some calm. I was ready for long walks with the dogs and evenings with my friends. I was anxious to get my first real client for the business I was optimistic about, and I was excited to get to know Adam better now that he planned to be home for a few months. Most of all, however, I was curious to see where, if anywhere, my relationship with Adam might end up. I guessed only time would provide the answer to that particular question, but now that I was settled here in Gooseberry Bay, I felt I had all the time in the world to find out.
Coming Next from
Gooseberry Bay
https://amzn.to/38unV5j
USA Today best-selling author Kathi Daley lives in beautiful Lake Tahoe with her husband, Ken. When she isn’t writing, she likes spending time hiking the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home. She’s authored more than a hundred and fifty books in thirteen series. Find out more about her books at www.kathidaley.com