“Mary over at By Hook or By Book said the same thing.”
“Don’t you want to know about it?” Angelica asked.
Tricia shrugged. “Antonio knows.”
“Yes, and apparently he’s not saying anything. I mean, if Ginny had mentioned it to you, wouldn’t you have said something about it to me?” Angelica asked, and dumped the soup into a small saucepan.
“Definitely.”
Angelica lit one of the burners on the big commercial stove and transferred the pot from the counter to it. “So come to the meeting tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to go. Although it’s said Nigela Racita herself might show up.
Angelica’s eyes widened and she almost grinned. “Really?”
Tricia nodded. “But it’s only a rumor. I’m not sure I want to waste my time without proof. You can tell me what happened on Tuesday.”
“Oh, all right,” Angelica said with a shrug. She sighed. “What’s gotten into you lately? You’re almost as grumpy as me.”
It was Tricia’s turn to sigh. Maybe it was time to level with Angelica about at least one thing that was bothering her. She took another breath to work up her courage and forged ahead. “Ange, there’s something I’ve been keeping from you.”
Angelica looked stricken. “My God, Tricia—you’re not dying, are you? Is that why you went into town this morning? To see a doctor?”
Tricia’s heart skipped a beat. “No! Why would you even think that? Besides, it’s Sunday. No doctor I know has office hours on Sunday.” Then again, Russ had gotten his dentist into the office only hours before.
Angelica leaned against the counter and fanned her face with her hand. “Don’t scare me like that. And what on earth could you have ever kept from me? Your life is an open book—and it’s not a mystery.”
Tricia sighed, and reached beneath the collar of her sweater to pull out the chain and the locket attached to it. “Look at this.”
Angelica stepped close, lifted the locket with its calla lily motif, and gazed at it. “Pretty. Where did you get it?”
“You won’t believe this, but from Christopher—for my birthday in June.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” Angelica accused.
“I wasn’t sure what to make of it.”
Angelica opened the locket and frowned. “Why is there a picture of Miss Marple in there?”
“The note that came with it said, ‘To remind you of the one you love most.’ ”
“Is Miss Marple the one you love most?” Angelica asked, looking and sounding offended.
“Besides my family? I guess so. Not that I would admit that to anyone but you.”
“Trish, Miss Marple is a cat.”
“Duh!”
“Was Christopher jealous of your pet?” Angelica asked.
“I never thought so. The last time I spoke to him, he said he missed her.”
“And when was that?”
“Almost two years ago.”
Angelica sighed, closed the locket, and gently replaced it on Tricia’s chest. “Weird.” She grabbed a wooden spoon from out of a crock holding utensils, and stirred the soup.
“You want double weird? Those earrings you admired yesterday—” Tricia began.
“The cubic zirconia?”
“They’re not.”
“Not what?”
“Cubic zirconium. I had them checked by a jeweler in Milford this morning. They’re the real thing—one-carat diamonds. Christopher sent them.”
Angelica smiled. “Not bad. What was the occasion?”
“What would have been our thirteenth wedding anniversary.”
“Why would a man who dumped you suddenly start sending you gifts?” Angelica asked, paused in her stirring, and sampled the soup. She frowned.
“Guilt?” Tricia suggested.
“Wouldn’t flowers be a lot cheaper?’ Angelica asked.
Tricia shrugged.
Angelica’s eyes widened and she positively grinned. “Maybe he’s trying to win you back.”
“I hardly think so. I mean, if he was that interested, wouldn’t he call—or at least send an e-mail?”
“He sent the jewelry snail mail?”
Tricia nodded. “Without insurance—or even delivery confirmation.”
“Well, that’s was just plain dumb. Have you contacted him to say thank you?”
Tricia shook her head. “I’m not sure I should encourage him.”
“ ‘Good manners above all,’ ” Angelica said, quoting their long-dead grandmother.
“I know. But what’s his agenda?” Tricia asked. “He dumped me and moved two thousand miles away.”
“You said it, guilt!” Angelica reiterated in a singsong cadence.
“And I repeat—what am I supposed to do?”
Angelica shrugged. “Say thank you, wear the jewelry, and move on.”
“But why is he doing this?”
“Didn’t you just hear what I said? The man feels guilty for leaving you. He always did buy you jewelry, right?”
Tricia nodded.
“So wear it in good health and get on with your life.”
“You make it sound so easy,” Tricia said, suddenly feeling weary.
“It doesn’t have to be difficult. Look at me. I’ve had to move on four times. And I’m wondering if it’s time to move on from Bob, too.” She grabbed a bowl from the stack of dishes on the shelf behind her, and transferred the soup to the bowl. “Do you want anything?”
Tricia shook her head. “I’ve noticed you haven’t been seeing much of Bob lately. So why are you going to the Board of Selectmen’s meeting with him?”
Angelica shrugged. “Maybe I don’t like to be the first to leave.”
“And maybe it’s about time you changed that habit.”
“Maybe.” Angelica grabbed a spoon and pushed the swinging doors that separated the small kitchen from Booked for Lunch’s dining room. Tricia followed her to the counter where they both sat down. Angelica grabbed a paper napkin from the stainless-steel holder, tucked one in the collar of her blouse, picked up her spoon and scooped up a mouthful. For a moment she held it on her tongue and then swallowed. Her frown deepened and she looked squarely at Tricia. “I hate to admit it, but you’re right. This is the best seafood chowder I’ve ever eaten. Where did you say you got it?”
“At some little diner in Milford.”
Angelica spooned another mouthful, closed her eyes, and groaned in ecstasy. “I must go talk to the cook. I’ve got to have this recipe for my next cookbook.”
“It’s their signature dish. They’re hardly likely to just give it to you.”
Angelica leveled her steely gaze on Tricia. “Never underestimate the power and reach of Angelica Miles.”
Tricia didn’t. Still, she had to stifle a laugh. The great and powerful Angelica? She’d been even more unlucky in love than Tricia.
“So, what else have you been up to today?” Angelica asked, and plunged her spoon into the chowder once again.
Tricia related her meeting with Russ and told of her efforts to collect money on Davey Black’s behalf.
“You’ve been a very good girl,” Angelica said. She wiped her mouth and folded her napkin. Tricia could hear the but in Angelica’s voice. She didn’t have to wait long for it to come, either. “But you’re expending an awful lot of time and energy on all of this. Is it a wise time investment?”
Tricia wasn’t sure how to answer. The Deborah she’d learned about since Thursday bore little resemblance to the woman she thought she’d known for over two years.
“If something happened to me that you found suspicious, would you trust law enforcement to figure it out?”
Angelica shook her head. “I’m still not convinced anything suspicious happened to Deborah. I witnessed her death. What you suggest seems incredible. And I think you were probably a much better friend to her than she ever was to you.”
“But if it was me, would you push to find out the truth?”
Angelica’s eyes narrowed. “If anything suspicious ever happened to you, I’d move heaven and earth to get to the bottom of it. No one messes with my loved ones—ever.”