“I guess that’s it, then.” He paused as if challenging her to go through with it. When the silence between them became unbearable, Simon turned on his heel and strode toward his car. Over his shoulder he said, “Don’t expect me to call. This time it’s over.”

Skye watched until the Lexus’s taillights were out of sight. What had she just done? Slowly she turned, unlocked the door, and went in. It took a few moments to register, but she finally noticed the light was on in the kitchen. She didn’t think she’d left any lights on.

After that scene with Simon, she was in no mood for another intruder or more vandalism. Skye flung up the hinged seat of the hall bench and grabbed the shotgun. She had just about had it. This time she was shooting first and asking questions later.

As she stepped into the kitchen, Skye let the gun slide to her side. The table was covered with food and there was a note in her mother’s handwriting: I was afraid you wouldn’t have enough time so I made the food for your brunch. I also cleaned up a little. Hope everything is okay. Love, Mom.

Skye shook her head. What a sweet thing to do. It was too late to call and thank her mom, but she’d do that before church tomorrow. Still, she’d have to make it clear to her mother that from now on, Skye would prepare for her own parties or she’d have to take May’s key away. It was all too much. Simon, her grandmother’s murder, her parents’ need to help-Skye curled into the corner of the sofa and buried her head.

Ginger and Gillian arrived together. This was their first visit to Skye’s cottage and curiosity shone on their identical faces. Skye guided them through the foyer and into the great room. She had placed a folding table and chairs next to the sliding glass doors, where the view of the river was best.

“Make yourselves at home. Victoria should be here any minute.” Skye gestured to the sofa.

“Victoria’s coming?” Gillian settled into the corner of the couch.

“She accepted my invitation.” Skye raised an eyebrow. “Is there some reason why she wouldn’t want to have brunch with us?”

Ginger and Gillian looked at each other. Skye could see the silent communication and was frustrated by her inability to interpret what was being conveyed.

The uneasy silence was broken by the ringing of the phone.

Skye started toward the kitchen, saying over her shoulder, “Excuse me.”

Trixie’s voice greeted Skye’s hello. “I talked to my cousin. We can see her today at six. That’s when the pharmacist goes home for his dinner break.”

“I’m surprised the drugstore is even open on Sunday, let alone so late.”

“The owner is trying to compete with the new Wal-Mart in Laurel. He can’t stay open twenty-four hours, but he is open eight a.m. to eight p.m. seven days a week,” Trixie said.

“Great. I’ll pick you up about five to. I can’t talk now. I’m entertaining my cousins.”

“What are you going to do to them? Is this the pay-back for having kidnapped you?” Trixie asked excitedly.

“Nothing and no. I’m trying to forgive and forget.”

“And pry information out of them, I bet,” Trixie guessed.

Skye didn’t comment. “See you tonight. Bye.”

As she rejoined Gillian and Ginger, the doorbell rang. Victoria entered in a miasma of Obsession and a flurry of georgette. Her lilac slip dress and high-heeled white sandals made Skye feel underdressed for her own party.

The twins tugged at their own clothes, making it clear Victoria had the same effect on them.

No one said anything until Skye remembered her manners. “So glad you could make it on such short notice. Please make yourself comfortable. I’ll get us some drinks.”

Victoria chose a canvas sling chair facing the sofa and sank gracefully onto its seat. “I wouldn’t have missed this chance to spend time with my dear cousins.”

“I have mimosas and Bellinis. What would you all like?” Skye stood ready to fetch the glasses from the kitchen.

After Skye explained what both drinks contained, the twins opted for mimosas and Victoria asked for a Bellini. Skye filled her own glass with orange juice and 7-UP, adding a little grenadine to disguise the fact that she wasn’t drinking any alcohol.

Skye returned to the great room carrying a tray of drinks. She had just served the last goblet when Bingo entered the room. He froze in the doorway and sniffed the air. Walking stiffly, he advanced toward Victoria and launched himself into her lap.

Victoria shrieked and held up her hands to stop him but Skye heard the chiffon of her dress rip. Skye scooped up the indignant cat, stuffed him into her bedroom, and closed the door.

She turned to Victoria. “Are you all right? I’m so sorry. He’s never behaved that way before.”

With a stunned expression Victoria examined the tears in the fabric of her dress. “This was brand-new. It cost a hundred and forty-nine dollars plus tax.”

“Maybe it could be fixed,” Skye offered weakly.

“I don’t want it fixed. I want it new!” Victoria’s face turned an unattractive shade of red and her voice screeched like fingernails on a chalkboard.

“I’ll write you a check.” Skye felt a knot in her stomach as she handed over the slip of paper.

After looking it over, Victoria tucked the check into her purse. “I’ll let you know how much the tax was.” Sitting back in her chair, she said, “I believe I’m ready for that drink now.”

Skye sat on the only vacant seat and took a sip from her glass. She searched her mind for a topic of conversation and finally said, “When are Flip and Irv going on that fishing trip?”

“They decided to skip it this year. We’re going to spend their vacations camping at the rec club,” Gillian answered for them both.

“Oh? I’m surprised. I thought I heard them say they had already made all the arrangements.” Skye kept a neutral look on her face.

“Well, with Grandma dying and Momma in the hospital we decided this wasn’t a good time.” Gillian finished her mimosa.

Skye poured her a refill from the pitcher. “That’s too bad. It sounded as if they were really looking forward to it.”

Ginger chugged the rest of her drink. “Maybe if we had got Grandma’s good jewelry, like she promised us, they could have gone, but no one seems to know anything about that.”

Victoria, who had been silent, asked, “Grandma Leofanti had good jewelry?”

“No,” Skye answered, “all she had was the emerald ring that she passed to me on my eighteenth birthday as the firstborn granddaughter, a pair of earrings, and a pendant. As it turned out, we each ended up with one piece.” Skye filled Ginger’s empty goblet.

“What about me?” Victoria pouted.

“Sorry, Hugo chose the living room set.” Skye reappeared from the kitchen with a fresh drink for Victoria. “So, how’s Aunt Minnie doing?”

Gillian looked at Ginger before speaking. “Pretty good. They’ve decided to keep her for a thirty-day observation.”

“That’s as long as most insurance companies will pay for a psychiatric stay,” Skye said.

“That explains it then.” Ginger put her empty glass down.

“Can she have visitors?” Skye asked.

“Just Ginger, Daddy, and me.” Gillian tossed back her third mimosa.

“Did you ever hear about your mom going away for a rest when she was in high school?” Skye picked her words with care.

The twins shook their heads.

Ginger leaned forward. “A rest? What do you mean?”

“Nothing, really. Someone mentioned they thought they remembered your mom going away for a while when she was in her teens.” Skye stood up. “Everyone ready to eat?”

The group moved to the table. Skye had set it with a starched linen cloth and matching napkins. The seafoam green dishes she had inherited seemed to float on the white expanse. Her everyday flatware had been polished until it looked almost like real silver. The pink crystal goblets she had chosen from her grandmother’s estate sparkled in the bright sunlight from the patio doors.