“Yeah, well, there are times when I feel the need to parent you.”
“Huh.”
Justice glanced sideways at Franklin and grinned.
* * *
Nervous apprehension swept through Adrienne as she double-checked her preparations for dinner with the McQuaids. She wanted everything to be perfect this evening. Not knowing whether or not there would be a Mrs. McQuaid joining them, she set an extra place at the formal dining room table. Just as she lit a couple of candles, the doorbell rang.
Smoothing her dress, a simple pale blue sheath, and patting her hair, Adrienne took a deep breath and opened the front door. She greeted them with a smile and said, “Welcome to my home. Come in.”
The McQuaids stepped across the threshold and looked around with interest. The furnishings were comfortable and inviting.
Justice presented the bouquet of red roses. “For you, Adrienne. Thank you for opening your home to us.”
“They’re lovely. And you’re welcome.” Her soft gaze met Franklin’s as she accepted his offering. “Red wine will go perfectly with our meal. I hope you like chicken parmesan?”
“One of my favorites,” Justice assured her.
“I’m glad.” She turned toward the kitchen, and they followed her.
As Adrienne arranged the flowers in a vase, she murmured, “I thought you might bring your mother with you, Justice.”
She felt, rather than saw, Franklin stiffen, and the air suddenly grew tense between them. She knew she’d made a terrible blunder when she turned to face her guests. Franklin looked stricken with grief, but Justice just appeared sad.
“My mother died five years ago,” he replied. “Cancer.”
Adrienne’s countenance reflected her sorrow. “I’m so sorry.” She glanced at Franklin. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know…” Her eyes flicked toward Franklin’s wedding ring which caused her misunderstanding.
“Please, don’t apologize. Here, allow me to pour the wine,” Franklin offered.
His hand brushed hers. Little tingles of excitement rushed through her. She moved away from him, too confused by the feelings he aroused in her to stand close to him.
When they settled around the dining room table, Adrienne asked if they were opposed to saying grace. They shook their heads and reached for each other’s hands. She kept her remarks brief because sparks were shooting up her arm, and she wanted to break the contact with Franklin as soon as possible. Even after she snatched her hand from his, she still felt its warmth seeping into her skin.
While they ate chicken parmesan on beds of spaghetti and fresh garlic bread, conversation flowed freely around the table. They shared their interests and spoke about their careers, and other innocuous subjects, carefully avoiding topics that were too painful or personal. Adrienne allowed the McQuaids to lead the direction of their interaction with each other, enjoying the banter between them. She appreciated their old-fashioned manners. These men understood how to treat a woman. They made her feel special and valued, something she hadn’t felt in a while.
When she announced she’d made a sweet strawberry crème pie for dessert and rose from her chair, both Justice and Franklin leaped to their feet. Justice offered to help and followed her into the kitchen.
While a pot of coffee brewed and Justice cut slices of the decadent pie, he asked, ` “Adrienne, did you know Axel Anderson?”
“Oh, heavens, yes. Everyone knew him. It’s a tragedy what happened to Axel and his family.”
“Did you ever socialize with him and his wife?”
“At dinner parties and events hosted by Mayor Elliot Gage. My husband and I weren’t close friends of his.” She offered a slight laugh. “Not rich enough. I think we were included simply because Joel, my husband, was a colonel and lent them respectability they were otherwise lacking.”
“And the mayor? What do you think about him?”
Adrienne made a face as she poured three cups of coffee. “Fake. About as fake as his wife’s…” She broke off and glanced at Justice, who grinned at her. “Well, you get the idea. I haven’t received a social invitation since Joel died. Elliot insisted on giving the eulogy at Joel’s service just to make himself look good. I think he’s disgusting.”
Justice set the mugs of coffee and slices of pie on a silver serving tray. “Adrienne, what do you think happened to the Andersons?”
“I honestly don’t know. If someone kidnapped the entire family, he, or they, went to a lot of trouble to make the Andersons’ disappearance look as if they just left of their own accord. Not a shred of evidence to suggest otherwise.”
“Is it possible that Mayor Gage…and former Chief Ferguson…know what happened and are keeping it a secret? Maybe because that’s what Axel wanted?”
Adrienne met his inquiring gaze. “It’s possible, I guess. The mayor and the chief did get very friendly with each other after that.”
