Drop Dead Chocolate (3 page)

“Of course, but I can’t be certain I’ll win.”

“Trust me, Cam Hamilton’s support is not what it used to be. He’s double-crossed too many folks in this town to keep getting away with it.”

“We’ll see,” Momma said. She glanced at her watch and then said, “Suzanne, you must be starving. Let’s go home and I’ll whip something up for us.”

“Tell you what, Momma. I’ll take you out to eat tonight. This is a cause for celebration, don’t you think? Should we call Chief Martin? He can come, too.” I’d slowly grown to accept the fact that my mother was dating our chief of police.

“Thank you for the offer, but he’s working the desk tonight,” Momma said. “I probably should have told him before I did this, but it was a time that called for quick action.”

“You don’t have to ask his permission, do you?” I asked. My mother and the chief of police had been dating for a while, but I hadn’t realized they’d gotten that serious yet. Of course, he’d been pining over her ever since they dated in grade school, but they’d both married other people. Momma hadn’t even been able to think about another man for years after my dad’s death, but then Chief Martin’s marriage had fallen apart and he’d finally summoned the nerve to ask her for a date.

“Don’t be silly, but he should find out what I’m doing before he hears the rumors around town. If you don’t mind, I believe I’ll go tell him right now.”

As she trailed off to the police annex, Polly commented, “I didn’t know they were that close. I knew they were dating, but she sounded serious.”

“I’m sure she’s just touching base as a courtesy,” I said.

“Tell that to Evelyn,” Polly said.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“What are you talking about, Polly?” I didn’t like the way she’d said that last bit, and I wasn’t afraid to let her know it.

“The chief’s ex-wife has been making some snide comments about your mother breaking up her marriage. I told Evelyn that she’d lost him long ago, but she wouldn’t listen to me.”

“But they’ve been divorced for over a year,” I said, amazed that I was defending a man I’d butted heads with several times in the past.

“She thought he’d get tired of being single and come back to her, but when it was clear he wasn’t just getting your mother out of his system, she finally started to realize that it was over.”

This was all news to me. “I can’t believe this. Does Momma know?”

“Not as far as I can tell,” Polly said. “Maybe you should tell her to keep her eyes open. Evelyn looks all sweet and timid to the outside world, but I know that woman, and she’s got a mean streak.”

“I’ll talk to Momma,” I said, wondering how in the world I was going to bring that particular topic up.

As Momma made her way back across the grass, I asked Polly, “Care to join us for dinner? You’re most welcome, and that way you can tell Momma about Evelyn yourself.”

“Sorry. I’d love to, but I have plans tonight,” Polly said.

“Coward,” I said with a grin.

“You’ve got that right,” she answered, returning my smile.

“What were you two talking about?” Momma asked me as she neared.

“Nothing much.”

“Suzanne, I know better than that. I saw the expression on your face.”

I took her hands in mine and said, “Momma, we can talk about it tomorrow. Tonight, let’s just celebrate. What did the chief say?”

“He asked me what took me so long,” Momma said with a grin. “Jake’s more than welcome to come along, you know that, don’t you?”

Jake was my steady boyfriend, if you can call a man in his forties that. I’d met him on a case, which was natural enough, since he was a state police inspector, going where the crime dictated. He wasn’t often in town for very large chunks at a time, but we managed to make it work for us. “I’m sure he’d love to, but he can’t. He’s in Hickory right now,” I said.

“Is there a case? I hadn’t heard anything was going on there.”

“For once it’s not a murder. It seems a wealthy businessman is being blackmailed, and the man asked the governor specifically for Jake’s help.”

“My, your young man has friends in high places, doesn’t he?”

I shrugged. “Sometimes I wish he weren’t quite so good at his job.”

Momma put an arm around me. “That’s what we face when we both see lawmen. So, what do you say to a girls’ night out? We can ask Grace as well.”

“She’s most likely busy,” I said. “This new boyfriend of hers is tying her up most nights.”

“Is she happy with him?” Momma asked as we walked toward the Boxcar Grill. It was one of the nicest things about living in a small town. We could usually walk just about anywhere we needed to go.

“She seems to be,” I admitted, “but I miss her company.”

“Then tell her that,” Momma said. “I’m sure that she’ll make time for you if let her know that you’re feeling neglected.”

I had to laugh at the thought of that particular conversation. “Maybe. I’ve got an idea. Instead of the Boxcar, let’s go to Napoli’s.”

“What a delightful idea,” Momma said. “That sounds like great fun.”

“Then let’s do it.”

Momma took in my jeans and T-shirt as we neared the car. “Don’t you want to change first?”

Normally I might fight her on it, but it was her night, after all. “Okay. Let’s swing by the house so I can grab a quick shower and change, and then I’ll be ready.”

“Thank you,” Momma said.

“Hey, it’s not every night your mom decides to run for mayor,” I said with a laugh.

“Let’s just hope neither one of us has any reason to regret it.”

*   *   *

Angelica DeAngelis met us when we walked into the restaurant. Usually, the mother of three girls and the main chef there was working in the kitchen, but not tonight.

“Angelica? You aren’t cooking?” I asked after I hugged her briefly.

“Suzanne,” my mother said sharply.

“No, it’s a fair question, Dorothy.” She turned to me and said, “There’s been a coup tonight. They threw me out of my kitchen.”

“What happened?” I knew it had to be dire for Angelica’s daughters to gang up on her like that.

“They want to prove themselves to me,” Angelica said. “They’ve worked shifts alone before, but never an entire night without me.” In a lower voice, she added, “I’m proud of them. Honestly, I’ve taught Antonia all I can, and Maria is not far behind.”

“But you’ve still got Sophia, right?” I asked. I knew the youngest DeAngelis was still almost completely under her mother’s wing.

“She’s running the dining room,” Angelica said.

“It’s amazing how quickly they stop needing us, isn’t it?” Momma asked.

Angelica nodded. “Sometimes it’s difficult to accept, isn’t it?”

“It can be,” Momma said as she took my hand. “But they can be rather nice all grown-up, too.”

I wasn’t about to say anything to that. After all, it was one of the sweetest things my mother had ever said about me in my presence.

“What’s the real reason they’re doing this?” I asked Angelica.

“They want me to go on a cruise,” she admitted.

“What a wonderful idea,” I said. “You work so hard, you deserve a real vacation. Are you going to take them up on it?”

“We’ll see how tonight goes first,” she said. “At least they’re allowing me to hostess. Come this way.”

We followed her from the ornately decorated lobby into the restaurant. There was a good crowd there already, but Angelica found us one of their best tables. As we were seated, Angelica handed us our menus. “Enjoy, ladies.”

“We will,” I said.

As Momma and I scanned our menus, I said, “Angelica runs this place with an iron hand. They’ve got guts, I’ll give them that.”

Momma laughed, and I asked, “What’s so funny?”

“There are folks in April Springs who say the same thing about you. It’s well-known that I don’t suffer insolence lightly, and yet you continue to get away with things others would suffer direly for.”

“I suppose no child is ever in awe of their parents, no matter how tough they may look to the outside world.” I glanced back at the menu, then set it aside. “What are you going to have?”

“I was thinking about a small salad.”

I looked at her in disbelief. “Don’t you trust Angelica’s daughters? They’re great cooks in their own right.”

“I’m sure they are. I just thought I’d eat light tonight.”

“Momma, you have to order some kind of pasta, even if it’s just a small side of spaghetti. There’s more than dining at stake here. These girls need us to show that we believe in them.”

“Very well,” she agreed. “And you?”

“I’m having the lasagna-and-ravioli combo plate,” I said.

“Can you actually eat all of that?”

I grinned at her. “If there’s anything left on my plate, I’ll take it home for later.”

When Sophia came to take our order, I said with a gentle grin, “Congratulations on the revolution.”

Sophia smiled broadly, making her look more beautiful than she already did. All of Angelica’s daughters were visions of loveliness, and I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the single men who came into the restaurant hoped to catch their attention, but Sophia was the loveliest of them all. “We’re still amazed we managed it.”

“Just make it good,” I said.

She nodded. “Believe me, my sisters are living and dying with every dish they prepare. It’s one thing to assist Momma, but it’s something else entirely trying to replace her. I’ll get your drinks, and then I’ll get your order into the kitchen.”

Momma and I were enjoying ourselves when I looked up to see our mayor entering the restaurant.

I pointed him out to Momma. “Did he actually have the nerve to follow us here?”

“I don’t see how he could have,” Momma said dismissively. “We didn’t even know we’d be dining here until an hour ago.”

“What should we do?” I asked.

Momma looked at me with a slight smile. “We continue to enjoy ourselves. I won’t let him run me out of my favorite restaurant.”

“That’s the spirit,” I said.

I was hoping Cam would avoid us, but instead of following Angela to a table, he came straight toward us. “Hello, ladies. We meet again.”

“Hello, Cam,” Momma said. “I assume it’s okay to call you by your given name now that you’re out of your office.”

“That’s fine with me,” he said. “Just don’t get used to it. I’ll be back there tomorrow, bright and early.”

“Enjoy it while you can,” Momma said.

“For years to come,” Cam agreed.

“Your table is ready,” I said, staring pointedly at him.

“So it is,” Cam said, and then turned and followed Angelica the rest of the way.

“Do you want to know something, Suzanne? I’m going to really enjoy grinding him into the dust,” Momma said.

“Wow, you surely sound motivated,” I admitted.

“Just wait. This is going to be fun.” She snapped her fingers and then added, “It just occurred to me. I’ve got the perfect place for campaign headquarters.”

“Where, the donut shop?” I asked.

“No, but nearby. Suzanne, there’s too much activity at your place, and not enough room. I was thinking more along the lines of Hannah’s Notions.” Before it had gone out of business as a sewing shop, Hannah’s had been a place next door to mine on the opposite side of ReNEWed and across the railroad tracks. It had been empty for years, and I had no idea who even owned the building.

“Can you get them to lend it to you?”

“I shouldn’t have any problems,” she said. “Wouldn’t it make a great headquarters?”

“It’s probably filthy with dust,” I said, “but I’ll help you clean it up. When do you want to do it? Tonight?”

She laughed. “As much as I appreciate your enthusiasm, I believe tomorrow will do nicely. We can meet there after you close the donut shop. How does eleven fifteen sound to you?”

“You’ve got a date. I’ll bring some volunteers with me, too.”

Momma smiled. “The more the merrier. This is going to be such great fun.”

“Cleaning, or going after the mayor?”

She smiled at me. “Guess.”

As we ate, I tried my best to ignore our mayor, but it was difficult. His date had arrived, late, but for all of the attention Cam paid her, I was amazed she bothered showing up at all. He stayed on his cell phone throughout most of the meal, and he was still talking on it as we left.

“That’s pretty rude,” I said. “Did he even acknowledge that woman’s presence?”

“Cam has always been more focused on himself than anyone else,” Momma said.

Angelica had clearly been waiting for us at the register. “How were your meals tonight, ladies?”

“Marvelous,” I said as I handed her my money. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”

“Their food was as good as mine?” she asked. Was she actually a little disappointed by our response?

Momma spoke up. “I’d have to say that they were extremely close to being as good as your usual offerings. After all, they’ve had an excellent teacher. Your daughters are wonderful chefs. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Good,” Angelica said. “I’m happy to hear that.”

“So, you’ll book your cruise now?” I asked with a grin.

“We’ll see,” Angelica said with a smile of her own.

She gave me my change, and Momma and I walked out into the evening air. It was a lovely night, cold and crisp, with the stars shining clear and bright above us. Not even the mayor’s appearance had managed to dampen our evening, and as we drove back home I said, “That was fun. We should do it more often.”

“When do we get the chance, now that we both have men in our lives?”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure how frequent a visitor Jake is most of the time,” I said. “But at least you can count on Chief Martin.”

“Phillip
is
rather attentive these days, isn’t he?” Momma said.

“I’m amazed you get a night to yourself now and then,” I said.

Momma laughed, a rich and lovely sound I cherished. “He wants to make up for lost time.”

“Well, that’s one thing I have to give him credit for.”

“What’s that?” my mother asked.

“He has excellent taste in women.”

She grinned and patted my arm lightly. “I could say the same thing about Jake.”

I’d managed not to bring up Chief Martin’s ex-wife during the entire evening, and I’d planned on waiting until tomorrow to broach the subject, but driving back was a perfect time to do it. There was a dark silence in the world around us, and we were isolated within it.