Chapter 3
Evie was sitting outside the coffee shop, reading, when I arrived. She’d dressed in a floral, flowing shirt and skinny jeans with wedge heels. I was in my favorite evening going-out clothes: jeans and a T-shirt with “Give Me Coffee and No One Gets Hurt” on the front. I like to warn people how to deal with me in advance. I checked the cover to see what had her so engrossed. It was one of the recent female empowerment books on finding your true self. “Hey, I loved that book.”
Evie started, then closed the book and tucked it into her tote. She stood and glanced over at the Drunken Art Studio down the street. “I’m not good with change, so this whole life makeover has me a little on edge. I know it’s the best for me and for Homer, but I liked most of my life in New York.”
“Most of?” I hadn’t talked to her about what brought her to the total opposite coast yet. I figured she’d tell me when she was ready.
“My husband was a jerk. But he was gone a lot. I didn’t realize how much of a jerk he was until he changed jobs and stopped traveling.” She shook her head. “Lots of people have it worse than me, so I should just be grateful.”
“Just because there is suffering in the world doesn’t mean your experiences are null.” I nodded toward the shop and we started walking. “My experiences have shown me that I need to talk through things before I can put them behind me. And good news? There are a lot of people in South Cove who will tell you what to do; some even have their counselor’s license.”
“Girl, you’re funny.” She bumped her shoulder with mine. “No wonder Sasha talked so highly of you and this place. I thought she’d stay around once she got done with school, but I guess that ship sailed.”
“I got that feeling too.” We crossed the street after checking for any traffic. It was already dark and most of the traffic now would be from people either coming from or going to the winery or Diamond Lille’s for dinner. “Are you going to Olivia’s birthday party?”
“Of course! I wouldn’t miss it.” She glanced over at me. “Do you want me to take something with me?”
“Am I that transparent?”
She laughed. “I told her that no one in their right mind without kids would come to this party, but Sasha wanted to invite the world. She’s pretty proud of that little girl. Just wait until Olivia graduates from college. That party will be a week long.”
I felt a little better, knowing that Evie understood my lack of excitement about going. “I’m going to call Sasha to let her know, but I’m getting together a book basket for Olivia, so if you’d take that, I’d appreciate it.”
“You got it.” Evie stopped and looked inside the window of the studio.
Art easels stood on each long table, a clean canvas on each one. Paintings lined the room, apparently the results of other classes. And by the wall, a long table with several bottles of wine and a bucket of beer on ice stood with some appetizers and breadsticks. Several people were already inside and the wine was flowing.
Justin hurried up the sidewalk and stopped next to us. “Why are we out here? Let’s go in and get something to drink. I’m really not an artist and I tried to get Amy to bow out of this, but you know our girl.”
I took his arm and turned toward Evie. “Justin, have you met our newest CBM family member? This is Evie Marshall.”
“We met at the coffee shop last weekend.” Justin nodded to Evie and offered his other arm. “Nice to see you again. May I escort you inside?”
Evie turned to look at me. “Is he always this polite?”
I nodded as I stepped closer to the shop. “At least he is around me.”
“It’s an unfortunate side effect of my upbringing. My mother was Miss Manners.” When they reached the door Justin moved ahead and held it open. “After you, ladies.”
When we got inside he excused himself to meet up with Amy. Evie took a wineglass Greg had brought over when he saw us enter the room. She pointed to Justin. “He’s kidding about his mother, right?”
Giggling, I took my glass from Greg. “I believe so. From what I know, Justin’s mom is a Legal Aid attorney in Nebraska.”
“Ohio,” Greg corrected.
I shook my head. “I’m pretty sure it’s Nebraska.”
“Bet? Loser gets to clean the bathrooms this week?” Greg sipped his wine, watching me.
I nodded. “Evie, would you go ask Justin where he’s from? That way there’s no interference with the bet.”
“You guys take fighting seriously here.” Evie moved toward Justin and Amy.
Watching her leave, Greg put his arm around my waist. “Darling, this isn’t fighting. This is flirting.”
We moved toward the snack table and I snagged a breadstick from the basket. “Sadie’s doing a new line of breads now. Like she had time for anything else. Did you know she and Pastor Bill are talking about marriage?”
“He proposed?” Greg filled a plate with cocktail hot dogs and meatballs.
I filled my plate with rolls, butter, and a slice of vanilla cheesecake before it disappeared. “Not yet, but they’re talking about what if.”
“They’re good together.” Greg took my plate and went to a table. “Come over here and let’s eat before this thing gets started. I didn’t get chicken ordered before I had to leave.”
“You should have said something. You could have picked up some food before you came.” I didn’t like it when Greg didn’t eat during the day. It usually happened around murder investigations. “What’s got you so worked up you’re not eating?”
“Who said I was worked up?” He set down the plates and pulled out a chair for me. “I’m going to run and get a beer. Want one?”
I held up the still-full wineglass. “I’m good.”
As he hurried away, I notice his glass was still almost full too. What was going on?
“Okay, everyone find a seat. We’re all here and it’s time to be creative,” Meredith called out to the room.
“Okay if we sit by you?” Amy sat next to me, pulling Justin into the seat next to her. “This is going to be so much fun. Do you know what we’re painting?”
“Probably a seascape.” Greg came back with two bottles of beer and handed one to Justin. “Here, buddy, you looked like you needed this.”
They clinked bottles.
I turned around in my chair. “Where’s Evie?”
“Darla nabbed her and took her over to the side table. I’m pretty sure she’s planning on interviewing her for an article on South Cove’s newest resident.” Amy sipped her wine. “I don’t think she’s going to get much. Evie’s pretty closemouthed about her past. I’m not even positive where she’s from.”