Title Wave (18 page)

“Perhaps it's time for a toast,” Angelica said, picking up her champagne flute.

With reluctance, Tricia picked up her glass, but there was nothing on earth she wanted to celebrate. The day had been full of too many painful memories and surprises.

“This sister,” Angelica said, indicating herself, “has the best sister in the world.”

“Now you're joking,” Tricia said.

“No, truly. I couldn't have asked for a kinder, smarter, more generous sister than you. I'm so sorry we weren't closer when we were growing up, but I now realize exactly why that was.”

“You promised we weren't going to talk about her.” No need to clarify who
her
was.

“That's all behind us now. You're my sister, and you're my best friend.” Angelica moved her glass to clink Tricia's.

“You're my best friend, too.”

Angelica smiled, her eyes growing moist.

They drank, and the bubbles tickled Tricia's nose. “Good stuff.”

“It sure is.” Angelica set her glass back on the tablecloth and picked up the cucumber sandwich on her plate, taking a bite. “I wish I'd brought my phone so I could have taken a picture of the table setting and these darling little sandwiches. We'll have to do this again before we return to New York. We're going to begin afternoon tea at the Brookside Inn the first weekend in April. I thought it might be fun to have a trial run for the Chamber members. What do you think?”

“I think they'd love it. I know I would.”

“Good. The Brookview Inn's sous chef's specialty is pastries. I want to give her an opportunity to shine.”

“If you do that, you might not have her much longer,” Tricia pointed out.

“Ah, but when she goes on to work at bigger and better places, she'll tell everyone where she got her break, and that will be fabulous PR for the inn.”

“Everybody wins?” Tricia asked, amused.

“Why not?”

Tricia found herself smiling. For many years she'd been too blinded by her animosity toward her sister to notice the depth of Angelica's generous nature.

“The next time we have tea, we should try to get Grace, Mr. Everett, and Antonio and Ginny to join us. Wouldn't that be fun?”

“Our real family,”
Angelica had said of them back at the Hamilton Contessa Hotel. Yes. That's just how Tricia thought of them.

She let out a breath and reached for the cucumber sandwich on her plate, taking a nibble. The combination of bread, sweet butter, and cucumber was delightful. She ate the rest of it and enjoyed every last morsel.

Angelica decided
that after such a stressful day she needed a deep tissue massage and a nap, and went off to book the former or attempt the latter. Tricia went back to the stateroom and changed clothes, filled her tote bag with several books and her e-reader, and went off in search of somewhere to rest, relax, and possibly reflect, although the latter wasn't going to be high on her list of things to do.

The temperature never did go up to where she thought it would be warm enough to sit by the pool (unlike some sun-starved passengers), and she decided to find a cozy niche in the ship's Garden Lounge.

The ship seemed quiet with so many of its temporary denizens off to take in the sights in Bermuda, and she found a seat in the sun with no trouble.

Tricia read for nearly an hour before she looked up from the page and out the window to the pier below, where she saw Cathy Copper
approach a man holding a duffel bag. He wasn't a lover, or even a friend, for Cathy offered her hand and the man shook it. They stood looking at the big ship for a couple of minutes, conversing, and then Cathy led him to the gangplank. Was he going to board the ship?

Tricia sat back in her comfortable chair, placing a bookmark between the pages of her book and setting it aside. Who could the mysterious man be? Was he from EM's publishing company? Could he be a member of EM's family here to claim the body, or at least accompany it back to New York? Tricia's curiosity was certainly piqued, and she wondered if she might accidentally run into Cathy again at another of the cruise's book-related functions—or maybe later that night at one of the bars.

“Tricia?”

Tricia looked up to see Ginny heading in her direction without Antonio or Sofia.

“There you are. Angelica thought you might be here.”

“Did she get her massage?”

“I don't think she ever made it down to the spa. She's holding court at the Portside Bar, talking with a bunch of authors. She seemed to be doing Chamber networking.”

Tricia sighed. “I don't think Angelica knows how to relax.”

“I think she's having the time of her life,” Ginny said, smiling.

Tricia nodded. “You may be right.”

“We did have a moment to speak, though.” Ginny's voice softened. “I'm sorry things didn't work out with your visit with your parents.”

“So, Angelica let you and Antonio in on the secret of the big reunion, but she kept it from me?”

“Don't be angry with her, but, yes, she did discuss it with us. She strongly discouraged us from meeting your mother.”

“As I thought,” Tricia muttered.

“It was your father who wanted the meeting.”

“Really?”

Ginny nodded. “When he found out the two of you were making the trip, he engineered the meeting, but I guess Angelica was worried that if you knew you wouldn't want to come on the cruise. I guess your mother didn't know until this morning that the two of you would meet them for lunch.”

They'd both been duped.

Tricia shook her head. “When you think about it, the situation is really quite pathetic.”

“I understand your mother's loss, but I would have thought she'd have poured all her love into you, instead of blaming you for that loss.”

“There's no explaining the ways of the heart,” Tricia said sadly. “But oddly enough, I feel a sense of closure. I love my mother; I always will. But I don't know as I need to have her in my life.”

“As a new mom, I can't imagine what it would take for Sofia to feel that way.”

“That's because you love her unconditionally.”

Ginny's smile held a touch of sadness. “That's true. And I feel terribly sorry for your mother. She has no idea what she's missed.” Ginny lunged forward and gave Tricia a hug. She pulled back. “I know that nobody can ever compensate for the loss of a mother's love, but since I found out that Angelica was Antonio's stepmother, I've felt that we were all family. I feel proud to think of you as the big sister I never had.”

“Oh, Ginny,” Tricia said, her lower lip trembling, her eyes filling with tears. “Thank you,” she somehow managed to say.

“And I have good news. I found my phone!”

Tricia raised a hand to wipe her eyes. “Where was it?”

“Antonio found it tucked down the side of Sofia's stroller.”

“That's one mystery solved.”

“Yes. We took it to the ship's security officer and they downloaded
the pictures from yesterday's lunch. Apparently, they've now spoken to everyone who was at our table.”

“And?”

“If they've come to any conclusions, they weren't sharing it with any of us.”

That wasn't surprising.

“I guess we've done all we could to redirect their thoughts away from the idea that EM committed suicide and to look at the possibility she was murdered.”

“Why would you say that?” Tricia asked.

“Oh, come on. You had to think it was murder right from the get-go. If her keycard wasn't in her cabin's power slot, how could she have seen what she was doing to hang herself?”

So Ginny, too, had noticed the significance of that little piece of the puzzle.

“Angelica didn't want you to worry and was concerned you'd be upset about Sofia's safety.”

Ginny sighed. “I admit it: I'm not comfortable knowing there's a killer on board, but then how much safer are we back home where a murder seems to happen a couple of times a year? But I don't think I want to leave Sofia with a sitter anymore, especially since she may have picked up the sniffles.”

“Angelica and I were talking about perhaps taking the rest of our meals at the Lido Restaurant. That way we wouldn't have to wait for the late seating and could all have dinner together without worry about the baby making noise.”

“She's liable to make noise, but at least we wouldn't have to get all dressed up. It was fun the first time, but it's getting old fast. I think if we stick together—especially during the evenings—we'll be fine. Can you believe our vacation is already half over?”

“Time has gone by fast,” Tricia admitted. “But I must admit I'm
psyched to get home and start renovating my apartment and the new storeroom.”

“I've learned a lot during my time at the Happy Domestic. I'd love to help you pick out colors and accessories.”

“I think Angelica's got her heart set on doing that—but I'm sure she'd be thrilled to share that duty with you. I like the exposed brick, and I want to make sure there's an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in the new living room.”

“Oh, that's a given,” Ginny said, and laughed, then sobered. “Are you okay?”

“You mean am I okay to be left alone?”

Ginny nodded.

“I'm perfectly safe in any of the common areas. Remember, we're all on Candid Camera,” she said, nodding in the direction of one of the dark globes that was mounted on a wall in the corner of the room.

Again, Ginny laughed. “You're right about that. Okay, I'm going to catch up with Antonio. We're heading for dinner at the Lido around six thirty if you want to join us.”

“We had a very late lunch. I'm not sure we'll be hungry by then.”

“That's okay. If you make it—you make it. If not, we'll catch up in the morning, okay?”

“Right. See you later, then.”

“Bye.”

Tricia watched as Ginny retraced her steps, heading for the lifts.

The late-afternoon sunshine felt wonderful, and Tricia turned her gaze back to the pier. A number of couples were ambling along the dock, hand in hand, making their way back from their time on shore. Among them were a few stragglers, including Dori Douglas. She carried several plastic bags, and Tricia wondered if she'd been buying souvenirs. She frowned. Dori had been gone an awfully long time. Tricia glanced at her watch—almost eight hours. Dori must have done a
lot
of shopping.

Tricia picked up her book once more, but found she could no longer concentrate on it. What she needed was a pick-me-up. After all, she hadn't had an opportunity to finish her lunchtime martini. Okay, she had had a glass of champagne during afternoon tea, but that hadn't hit the spot. Champagne was for celebrating, and while she felt good about her relationship with Angelica, the events at the Contessa had left her feeling relieved, but mildly depressed. Alcohol was a depressant, but at that moment Tricia really didn't care.

She collected her book and bag and started off for what was becoming her favorite of the ship's bars.

It was early, and the drinking crowd was sparse, but Tricia smiled as she saw a familiar face sitting by the window gazing out over the harbor. She approached.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

Angelica looked up and smiled. “There you are.”

“I see you started without me,” Tricia said, eyeing the untouched martini that sat on one of the ship's embossed cocktail napkins. “I was waiting for you.”

“Lies. Otherwise you would have ordered one for me, too.”

Tricia sat down and looked up to see a waitress coming toward her, carrying a tray with yet another martini.

“Just in time,” Angelica told the waitress, and surrendered her keycard. They watched as the waitress retraced her steps to the bar to make the charge.

“Have you become psychic?” Tricia asked in awe, and reached for her glass.

Angelica smiled and did likewise. “Maybe. What shall we drink to?”

“Home,” Tricia said, and they clinked glasses. “As lovely as the ship is, and as terrific as the food is, the truth is . . . I miss my cat. I miss my bed. I miss my store. I just want to go home.”

“We'll be on our way tomorrow,” Angelica said.

“I may bow out of the rest of the activities and just be lazy and read.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Angelica agreed.

Tricia took a sip of her martini. She was really beginning to like them. “I caught up with Ginny, and we're on for dinner at six thirty.”

“I hope I can work up an appetite by then,” Angelica said.

“There's always soup.”

“That's true. And rolls—with butter. Lots and lots with butter!”

That actually sounded pretty good to Tricia.

“Anything new happen?” Angelica asked.

“It's only been a couple of hours since we talked.”

“A lot can happen in a couple of hours,” Angelica said.

“Well, I did see Cathy Copper meet someone out on the pier. A man,” Tricia said coyly.

“Really,” Angelica asked, her eyes widening. “A lover?”

“I don't think so. They shook hands.”

Angelica scowled. “Well, that's no fun.” She looked up and over Tricia's head and blinked in surprise. “Speak of the devil.”

Tricia looked around, and then turned back to her sister. “That's him,” she whispered.

Cathy and the stranger stood talking by the open entrance to the bar. The man had lost his duffel. He'd probably stowed it in his cabin.

“I didn't know we were picking up any passengers,” Angelica said.

“Neither did I.”

Angelica's smile widened and she waved, and then gestured for the couple outside the bar to join them. Tricia turned to see a thin-lipped Cathy and the newcomer approach. “Looks like you found a new friend,” Angelica said, grinning.

“Harold Pilger,” Cathy began, “this is Angelica and Tricia Miles. They're booksellers.” She didn't sound thrilled.

Harold reached down to shake their hands. “Nice to meet you. Were you friends of EM's?”

“Uh, no,” Tricia answered honestly.

Harold shot a puzzled look at Cathy.

“Harold is a lawyer who works for my publishing company.”

“Ah,” Angelica said, nodding.

“So you're on board representing the publisher's interests?” Tricia asked.

“You could say that,” Harold said, his gaze wandering over to the bar.

“Did you fly into Hamilton?” Angelica asked.

“Yes. I got in last night. I stayed in a lovely pink hotel that overlooked the harbor.”

“The Hamilton Contessa?” Tricia guessed.

“Why yes. Have you ever stayed there?”

“No,” Angelica answered emphatically.

Harold blinked, apparently startled by her blunt tone.

“Are you investigating EM's death?” Tricia asked.

Again Harold blinked. “Investigating?”

“Perhaps I should have said
looking into
,” she amended.

“I guess you could say that,” Harold said, but he didn't sound all that sure.

“Harold and I have a lot to talk about,” Cathy said, sounding more than a little uncomfortable.

“Don't let us keep you,” Angelica said.

“I hope you enjoy your few days at sea,” Tricia said.

Harold nodded. “It was nice meeting you.” He turned to Cathy. “Shall we snag a table?”

“Yes. We'll see you ladies around,” Cathy said.