Chapter 1
Dear Sophie,
My mother-in-law takes great pride in her cooking. But it’s so hot that I can’t eat it. Seriously, my tongue goes numb. I watch the others eat with gusto. Do you think she’s adding something to my plate so I won’t come to dinner at her house?
Mrs. Numb Tongue in Hazardville, Connecticut
Dear Mrs. Numb Tongue,
Next time, surreptitiously swap plates with your husband. I think you’ll have your answer soon enough.
Sophie
Daisy, my hound mix, sniffed along the bank of the Potomac River following her nose. She wore a halter and a long leash so she could wander in the park. I let her investigate scents that I couldn’t smell and trailed along after her.
A breeze blew off the Potomac. The summer humidity was beginning to abate, and the air already held the promise of brisk days ahead. Sun glinted off the water as it rippled with the wind.
Daisy had stayed with my ex-husband, Mars, for the last four weeks. I had promised her a long walk and a visit to the river as soon as I wrapped up a marathon of events. As a self-employed event planner, I realized that I had scheduled myself non-stop, without so much as a hint of a breather, but when you work for yourself, sometimes you just have to keep going while the opportunity is there.
Mars had thoughtfully brought Daisy to my house earlier in the day. When I arrived home in the afternoon, sweet Daisy had been waiting for me. I had quickly swapped my suit for stretchy jeans and taken her for that long-promised stroll while I wound down.
A shout from the pier alarmed both of us. On this beautiful Sunday afternoon in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, quite a few people were out walking or fishing. Daisy tugged me in the direction of the pier, and I went willingly, thinking someone might need help.
“I’ve caught something huge!” The man was a stranger to me, into retirement age and well fed. “Must be a catfish. It’s fighting like the dickens! Here, can you hold on to my fishing rod? Good and tight now. That’s my lucky one.”
I took it from his hands and immediately felt the pressure of the fish. The rod bent precariously. I hoped it wouldn’t snap in two. “This is really heavy. Can the fishing line take this much pressure?”
“I sure hope so. He’s a big one. Keep reeling in. I’ll try to snag it with my fishing net. . . .”
He had stopped talking, and I understood why. I didn’t know of any blue fish that came with a handle on top.
He lay down on the pier, and as the object came within reach, he nabbed it with a bony hand.
I kneeled on the rough wood and helped him pull a blue suitcase out of the water.
The man looked at me with rheumy eyes. “I have no idea how to cook this.”
I giggled. “Do you think it’s packed full or just waterlogged?”
“We’re about to find out.” He clicked the latches and opened the top. “Mmm. This is a pretty skirt. But it’s not my size.”
He was very cute. I found myself smiling even though I was wondering why and how a woman’s suitcase had come to be in the Potomac River. “I think we’d better report this to the police.”
He stared at me with obvious confusion. “I don’t think they’ll be interested.”
“Don’t you find it odd that someone’s suitcase is in the river?”
The fellow scratched his head. “Well, now that you mention it, I can’t think of a good reason for it to be there among the fishes.”
I called the Old Town Alexandria police department on my cell phone and told them about the suitcase.
“Ma’am,” said the 911 operator, “is this an emergency?”
I winced. “No.”
“No one is drowning?”
“No. But why would someone lose a suitcase in the river?”
The operator laughed aloud. “Why would there be garbage, motorcycles, or furniture? People are slobs. One lady dumped her husband’s golf clubs in the river to get back at him for seeing another woman.”
Clearly, this was not a priority for them. “Thank you for your time.” I hung up. “I guess it’s yours if you want it.”
The old fellow was peering into the water. “I can’t see anything. Do you think the owner is down there, too?”
I hoped not.
He stood up and held out his hand. “Sam Bamberger.”
“Sophie Winston. Can I help you carry it to your car?”
“Naw. I’m old, but I can still carry a lady’s suitcase. Even if it is drenched.”
I said goodbye to the funny man and headed home, looking forward to a quiet evening.
* * *
The next morning, I fed Mochie, my Ocicat, who was supposed to have spots but instead had a fur pattern more like that of his American shorthair ancestors. In various shades from white to cream and dark brown, he had necklaces and bracelets. And on his sides, his coat colors created circles like bullseyes. In lieu of my usual routine, I suited up Daisy in her halter and headed to my favorite coffee specialty shop for a treat.
The barista at the take-out window waved her hand at me, refusing my money.
I squinted at her in confusion. “I’m not sure this is my order. There’s an extra drink and two chocolate croissants here.”
“The gentleman paid for it.”
Gentleman? I groaned inwardly. I hadn’t showered and wore no makeup. I had pulled on elastic waist stretchy jeans and an oversized top, feeling secure in the knowledge that the entire world was busy. It was ten o’clock on Monday morning. Why wasn’t everyone at work?
Trying to hang on to Daisy’s leash without spilling my mocha latte and her Puppy Paw-Tea, I twisted around to see who the barista was talking about.
My ex-husband, Mars, short for Marshall, came to the rescue. “It’s my two favorite girls!”
Daisy made a fuss, wagging her tail and turning in circles at the sight of him. I was more subdued. Even though we had divorced, Mars and I got along well. Neither one of us could bear to give up Daisy, so we had arranged a schedule and she went back and forth, living with both of us. I didn’t have to worry about my appearance. He had seen me without makeup and in far worse clothes before. I relaxed. “Thanks for picking up the tab.”
Mars took Daisy’s leash and led us to an outdoor table. Daisy didn’t know whether to be more excited about Mars or her Puppy Paw-Tea, a dog-safe scoop of ice cream with a bone-shaped cookie on top.
“Are we celebrating something?” asked Mars.
A chilling breeze blew, making me glad I had worn the cozy fleece pullover. I sipped my hot drink. “Four back-to-back medical conventions are over. I worked non-stop for a month. I’m looking forward to a break.”
Mars held out his coffee in a toast and touched it to the latte I held. “A break. How fortuitous.”
Fortuitous? Ugh. What was he up to?
Mars smiled at me. “Soph, I need a big favor.”
I never should have looked into his eyes. They crinkled at the outer edges and always softened any resolve I had to stay out of his business. A political consultant, Mars had been blessed with looks that could compete with his telegenic clients.
“I’m taking a break,” I said very clearly, imagining that he probably needed me to arrange a party for five hundred people in two days.