Chapter 51
The crafters sauntered off for dinner. Jane and Cora stayed in and dined at Jane’s place. She baked a whole-wheat crust pizza with tomato sauce she’d made from tomatoes bought at the local farmer’s market. And the cheese was from a local cheese maker.
“I feel like this pizza should be in an ad for local food,” Cora said.
“Thanks?” Jane said as she opened a bottle of wine.
“Maybe we should have gone out to dinner with some of the crafters,” Cora said. “I like that they are getting so close.”
“Besides, we need some downtime, too,” Jane said, pouring the wine.
“This retreat has been a bit stressful,” Cora said.
“How are you doing?”
“I’ve had a few near misses,” Cora said. “But I’ve managed without taking medicine. So that’s good.”
Cora took a bite of her pizza. “Mmmmm.” She chewed her first bite, and her mouth exploded with the flavors. “Oh my God, it’s good.”
Jane beamed. “Yes, the fresh tomato sauce makes a difference.”
After they finished eating, the conversation turned to Jo.
“It’s hard to believe she’s the violent sort,” Jane said. “It’s interesting how, when some people are pushed, they become capable of so much more.”
“Indeed,” Cora said, then downed the last bit of wine in her glass.
“So my artist trading card friend is coming to town next week,” Jane said.
Cora sat forward. “How cool!”
“I’ve invited him to stop by,” she said.
“Are you sure that’s wise? I mean, he could be an ax murderer,” Cora said, half joking. It’s what Jane’s mother would say every time they went off to meet someone new.
“Why don’t you come, too? It’ll be fun. We can get axed together,” Jane said, and smirked.
“I don’t know. I’ve not seen Adrian in a while,” Cora said.
“Bring him, too,” she said. “There’s enough room for all of us.”
“Okay, besides Adrian can protect us if there’s an ax involved,” Cora said.
Jane lifted an eyebrow. “If we need protection, I’m betting on you.”
Cora laughed. She loved her geeky librarian boyfriend. He may not appear so, but he was strong. Jane didn’t need to know how she experienced that facet of her boyfriend.
“Hey,” Jane said. “What’s going on in your head? You’re starting to blush.”
“Nothing,” Cora said, turning her head. It was the scourge of being a redhead. She blushed like a teenager.
“I bet,” Jane said, and rose from the table, starting to clean up a bit.
“The place seems empty without London, doesn’t it?”
Jane nodded. “So much of the time, I’m craving peace and quiet. Now that I have it? I want the happy noise only she can give.”
“She’ll be home tomorrow,” Cora said. “Making all the noise you want, I’m sure.”
“Think we’ll have Jo by then?”
“Brodsky is on the case,” Cora said. “I assume he’ll have her soon.”
“I’m not sure I buy that she killed him, but I do wonder about her.”
“Yes, I feel a bit betrayed,” Cora said, and gathered her silverware and plate and took them to the sink, rinsing them off, handing them to Jane, who was loading the dishwasher. “I felt so sorry for her. She manipulated me.”
“Abusers are great at manipulation,” Jane said. “You ought to know that.”
“I do,” Cora said. “I didn’t know she was an abuser then.”
Jane’s eyelids drooped over her blue, dark-circled eyes. With her awareness of Jane’s weary state, Cora’s own kicked in. “I better go. I’m tired.”
Jane yawned. “Me too. One more day of retreating, then it’s on to firming up plans for the next one.”
Cora exited the carriage house after bidding Jane a good night and strolled through the garden to Kildare House. She stopped for a few minutes to enjoy the garden in the moonlight. Almost a full moon and the night sky lit with starlight. The light played off the greenery and flowers, giving them silvery hues. The magic of darkness and moonlight.
She continued up the back porch steps to the house, which was quiet and empty. She then climbed the stairs to her apartment, where a hungry Luna waited.
Cora stroked her, fed her, then readied herself for bed. She hoped her guests remembered to lock the door behind them when they came back from their evening out. She had a feeling they might.
She lay on her pillow, covered by her quilt, and stroked Luna. Cora was on edge. Not frightened, exactly, but worried about the situation with Jo. She was at-large and could be anywhere. Was she the killer? What would have been her motive? Poor Stan had plenty of people who might have considered killing him.
She rolled over, tucking the quilt close under her chin. Luna switched positions, purring, rolling into a ball. The moonlight was streaming in through Cora’s lace-covered window, making patterns on the floor. She drifted off, thinking about patterns.
She dreamed of Adrian. Him slipping into bed beside her, his arms circling her. So warm. She awakened with a start. “Shhh,” he said. Adrian! He’s here. It isn’t a dream.
“How did you get in?” she said.
“I have a key, remember?”
“But—”
“Shhh,” he said. “I just needed to hold you. I promise I’ll leave early. Your guests won’t even know I’m here.”
As he gathered her closer to him, with not a space between them, Cora drifted back off to sleep. She hadn’t realized this was exactly what she needed to lull her into rest.