A Roux of Revenge (22 page)

Lucky tried to quell the rising panic and tell herself that everything was fine. Janie must have woken early and headed to the Spoonful. Lucky pushed the thought out of her mind that something might have happened to her. If it had, then she, Lucky, was responsible. Janie, though technically
not a minor, was in her care. How could she ever explain another disappearance to Miriam?

She hurried back to the kitchen and grabbed the phone. Dialing the number of the Spoonful with one hand, she poured the still hot water through the filter. She was in desperate need of caffeine. She had to think.

Sage answered on the second ring. “Sage, it’s me. Is Janie there with you?”

“No.
She’s not due here for a while anyway, is she?”

“You’re right. I was just hoping . . .”

“Is something wrong?”

“No. At least I hope not. When I woke up this morning, she was gone.”

“She might have gone out to do an errand, or maybe she went to Meg’s.”

“I’m kind of nervous because I got in late last night, and stupidly, I didn’t think to check on her. I just assumed she was already
asleep. Can you do me a favor? Can you call Meg and see if she’s at her house, but don’t say I’m worried? Find an excuse to call.”

“Sure. I can do that. But don’t worry; I’m sure there’s an explanation.”

“I hope so,” Lucky replied as she hung up the phone. She poured cream into her coffee and stirred it, downing three large gulps. She dialed Miriam’s number, groaning inwardly.

“No,
she’s not here.” Miriam’s voice rose in pitch as though Lucky’s panic was contagious. “When did you see her last?”

“Um, yesterday evening. She left the Spoonful. Jack and I stayed behind. As far as I know, she was heading back here.”

“And you didn’t see her when you came in.”

“Actually, Jack and I . . .” Lucky trailed off, unwilling to explain her visit to the travelers’ campsite to
Miriam. “We, uh, we had something to take care of, so I didn’t get back until very late. I just assumed she was already asleep.”

“You didn’t check on her?” Miriam’s voice was sharp. There was an accusatory tone to her question.

Lucky cringed. “No. I’m sorry. I didn’t.”

“Oh, no.” Miriam sounded close to tears. “Where could she have gone now?”

“Sage is checking at Meg’s house, and
I’ll stop by next door at the Clinic in a few minutes. Maybe Rosemary has seen her. Don’t panic, Miriam. I’m sure there’s an explanation.”

“You don’t understand how hard this is for me, Lucky. Janie’s always been so . . . dependable, good about telling me where she is so I won’t worry. She’s not your normal teenager.” Miriam hesitated. “Did she leave you a note or anything?”

“Not that
I saw.” Lucky neglected to mention that the living room looked more like the Russian army, not a normal teenager, had camped there for a week. “But I’ll check all around and make sure I didn’t miss anything. I’ll call you right away as soon as I locate her. Please try not to worry.”

Lucky hung up and gulped down the rest of the coffee. She dumped the mug into the soapy pile in the sink and
showered and dressed as quickly as she knew how. She brushed her hair, not bothering with makeup, and grabbed her purse. She hurried down the stairs and ran next door to the Snowflake Clinic. The front door was unlocked, and Rosemary was on duty at the reception desk. She looked up in surprise. “Lucky! Nice to see you.” She glanced down at the appointment book. “Did you have an appointment today?”

“Oh no. I’m on my way to the Spoonful. But I was wondering, have you seen Janie? This morning or last night?”

“No. In fact, I’ve called her, and she hasn’t returned any of my calls. Is something wrong?”

Lucky wasn’t sure how much or how little Rosemary knew. She didn’t want to give away any of Janie’s secrets. “No. Nothing’s wrong. We were supposed to meet, and she’s not here. Maybe
she misunderstood. Maybe she’s at the Spoonful already.”

“That must be it,” Rosemary replied.

Now that she was actually here at the Clinic and no one seemed to be waiting for an appointment, it might be a good time to try to see Elias. Truth be told, she was embarrassed about her reaction at the Pub earlier in the week, and wished she had handled it better. Did she have a right to be put
out that Elias had never mentioned a prior relationship to her? Maybe. Or maybe it was as he said—no longer important. Was she threatened by his hiring of a former lover? Well, yes. It certainly didn’t make her feel very comfortable. Did the fact that he hadn’t called but had been seen having dinner with Paula at the Lodge bother her? Absolutely. But what really galled her was the energy she had
felt when she had entered his office. An atmosphere of intimacy, an overfamiliarity inappropriate to a working situation and a direct impression that Paula was out to seduce him.

So far she only had Elias’s words to hang on to. Elias was right; she had acted like a jealous lover. More than anything, though, she wanted him to confirm or deny the rumors that Sophie said were flying around town.

“Is Elias in yet? There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to him about.”

“Oh, sure. I think he’s in his office. Only one patient’s arrived so far. Go right ahead.” Rosemary turned back to her computer screen.

“Thanks.” Lucky pushed through the waiting room door and walked down the corridor. She tapped on Elias’s office door and stepped in.

Elias stood against the light from
the window. He was leaning forward, his head bent toward Paula, whose face was inches away. Lucky’s heart stopped beating. Was he about to kiss her? Elias turned and looked over quickly at Lucky standing in the doorway. He straightened. Paula’s cheeks were flushed. Her eyes hardened when she saw who stood in the doorway.

Already upset about the gossip Sophie had conveyed, Lucky was stunned.
Just what was going on?

“Lucky!” Elias spoke first. “I didn’t know you were coming in.”

Lucky remained silent, staring at Elias. She was sure her cheeks were flaming red.

“Uh . . . Paula had something in her eye . . . uh . . .”

“I wanted to ask you something.”

“Oh.” Elias cleared his throat. “What was it you wanted?”

Before Lucky could answer, the intercom on the desk buzzed.
Rosemary was letting Elias know a patient had arrived.

“Excuse me a second.” He moved toward the desk and grabbed the phone. “Yes?” He seemed flustered. “Room 3? Okay. I’ll be right there. Thanks.”

He turned back to Lucky. “Sorry. My patient just arrived. Can I call you later?”

“Of course,” Lucky replied, doing her best to keep any hint of anger from her voice.

With a nod to both
women, he left the room.

Paula was silent. She remained by the window. She stared at Lucky as though a cockroach had just landed on her plate. There was no mistaking her animosity. “Elias told me,” she stated flatly.

Lucky hesitated. “Excuse me?”

“He told me how upset you were about my being hired.”

Lucky knew without a doubt that another flush was creeping up her cheeks. How could
he? What did he do, run directly to Paula and convey everything she had said to him? She felt humiliated. How could he do that? Worst of all, she wasn’t in a position to deny it.

She took a deep breath and counted to three. Taking the high road was the best course of action. “I’m sure everything will work out just fine. I certainly wish you the best in Snowflake.”
Or better yet, fall off a steep cliff
, she thought
.

“I know you’ll come to understand how close Elias and I have
always
been. One can’t simply ignore those feelings, don’t you agree?” She smiled slowly.

Lucky felt as if her face had frozen. What exactly was Paula saying? That something had already happened, that it was just too bad if it caused a rift between Lucky and Elias.

“I know that it must hurt you,
and I’m sorry if that’s the case. But I think it’s best to be honest, don’t you?”

Lucky wanted nothing more than to put her fist into Paula’s face and wipe that smirk off of it forever. Just like she had done to Jimmy Pratt in grade school. It took every ounce of dignity and restraint she had left not to do just that. As if Paula could read Lucky’s mind, she raised an eyebrow and waited, a
superior expression on her face. Perhaps she would welcome the attack, proving once and for all to Elias how unsuitable for him Lucky really was.

“Absolutely,” Lucky replied. “Honesty is always the best policy.” If there had been any lingering doubt in Lucky’s mind about Paula’s agenda, there wasn’t any longer. She was determined to seduce Elias and drive Lucky out of the picture. The real
question was where Elias stood in this milieu.

Lucky turned away and shut the office door behind her, managing not to slam it in her fury. She hurried down the hall, through the waiting room and out to the sidewalk, not looking in Rosemary’s direction.

Chapter 32

T
ORN BETWEEN HUMILIATION
and a furious anger, Lucky stomped through the back door of the Spoonful, slamming the door behind her. What was Elias trying to say? That something was in Paula’s
eye? What nonsense! She couldn’t bear to think what she had interrupted. If she did, she’d burst into tears. The rumors must be true. She was such a fool! She had fallen in love with Elias. And in her defense Elias had done everything but get down on one knee and actually propose. He hadn’t said those words, but he had done and said everything that could lead up to that moment. She had been the
one who was hesitant, fearful, afraid of losing independence, not sure if she was on solid ground since the death of her parents. She wanted to enjoy the romance, but she wasn’t in a hurry to rush into a permanent commitment. In spite of all that, she was crazy about the man. She felt as if a serrated blade had been plunged into her chest. If only she hadn’t been so cautious. Elias was ready for that
kind of change in his life. He had been alone for a long time and was more than ready. If only she hadn’t been such a scaredy-cat, then perhaps Paula could not have come between them. But what if that wasn’t the case? What if Elias had harbored feelings for his former love all along, but didn’t know it? Lucky cringed when she pictured herself stomping into his office. She, with her hair stuck
on her head, no makeup and old jeans. Paula, elegant in an expensive outfit, her hair shaped perfectly, makeup subtle but enhancing. Lucky felt like the proverbial bull in a china shop. She could imagine the comparison between her and Paula. No wonder Elias was smitten and ignoring Lucky.

She slipped into the office and shut the door, taking deep breaths to stop the tears. Sophie was right
to tell her what was happening behind her back. Only a good friend would take the chance of being the bearer of unpleasant tidings. Lucky pulled a tissue from the box on the desk and wiped her eyes and blew her nose, finally regaining some level of calm. She had to pull it together. Another long day was starting, and she still didn’t know where Janie was.

She heard voices in the corridor.
First Sage and then, unmistakably, Meg’s voice. Lucky slipped her jacket over the chair and stuck her purse under the desk. She walked out to the hallway, pulled a fresh apron from the closet and headed to the kitchen.

“There you are,” Sage said. “I thought I heard the door slam in the back.”

Meg stood by the worktable. She spoke breathlessly. “I heard you were looking for Janie. Sage
told me. But I haven’t seen her since yesterday. Have you called her mom?”

“Yes,” Lucky replied. “I just got off the phone with her. I’m concerned, but I’m sure there’s an explanation.”

“She’s scheduled to start at nine this morning. She’ll show up.”

Lucky nodded. She didn’t trust herself to speak. The way this day was going, she was certain of nothing. She glanced at Sage. He was
quiet, but she was sure he saw through her controlled demeanor.

Nine o’clock came and went, and there was still no sign of Janie. Meg was rushing back and forth, doing her best to fill the breach. The morning regulars, Hank and Barry, had come and gone, and now the restaurant was crowded with later arrivals. Lucky glanced over the counter and around the restaurant. It seemed everyone had descended
on the Spoonful at once. Now several people were preparing to leave. In another half an hour, things would settle down. She’d check in with Miriam at the first opportunity.

Lucky looked up as Ernie White and the big man who must be Rory came through the front door. Jack glanced over quickly and then ignored the new arrivals, intent on making change for exiting customers. Ernie headed straight
for the counter, his companion followed.

“Hello, Lucky,” Ernie said. The other man grabbed a menu and didn’t look up.

“Ernie. What can I get you?”

“How ’bout coffee to start?”

“You got it.” Lucky returned with two cups of steaming hot coffee and placed them on the counter.

“Lucky, this is Rory. He’s working for me out at the festival.”

Lucky smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

“We’re not all ruffians out there,” Ernie said. “Lots of nice people have a stall going. You’d enjoy it. I know you would.”